Clock, Tall Case

Object Name:

Clock, Tall Case

Object ID:

1972.089.002

Creator:

Blasdel, Isaac (1738-1791)Clockmaker

Place of Origin:

Chester, NH (movement)

Date:

1762-1791

Description:

Tall Case Clock. Movement made by Isaac Blasdel (1738-1791), Chester, N.H. Material: cherry; brass; pewter; lead (?); iron (in movement); secondary wood white pine. Domed hood; dome composed of an ovolo beneath a scotia molding with a cornice above; wooden ball finial on plinth at center with flanking scrolls. Cove-molded main cornice below dome, on top of which, at corners, are pointed, cone-shaped finials. An arch cut into center front of frieze with molded edge. Glazed door having arched top and extending full width of hood. Door hinged at left. Arched sidelights. Engaged half-rounded colonnettes at rear corners. Door has brass knob and is secured by brass hook. Waist with cove molding at top and arched door attached at left with external brass butt hinges; secured with external wooden catch. Base with scotia molding at top and a series of moldings above straight bracket feet and central semi-circular drop. Wrought brass dial with arched top. Applied cherub's head ornaments, in spandrels, of case pewter or lead with copper-colored coating: applied dolphin ornaments of same material, flanking circular pewter name plate in arched top. "ISAAC / BLASDEL / CHESTER" engraved in upper case letters on name plate. Pewter chapter ring with roman hour numerals and Arabic minute numerals at outer edge; no quarter- or half-hour gradations. Pierced, steel, hour and minute hands, differing in design. Date aperture below center of dial. Thirty-hour brass and iron movement with strike and endless chain drive. Inside and back of case painted black. Several nail holes in backboard. No bottom boards in case. A gouged area, on each side in interior of waist, to allow for swing of pendulum. Exhibition labels attached to inside of waist door. Paper label with "4-20" adhered to waist door inner surface. Separately stored parts: sheet iron canister weight filled with lead and scrap iron, pendulum.

Material:

Wood
Cherry
Metal
Brass
Glass

Dimensions:

H-87.5 W-17.75 D-9 inches

Provenance:

Movement maker's name, Isaac Blasdel (1738-1791), on the face of the clock. It was acquired by donor, Charles S. Parsons (1904-1988), 1954 from Richmond's, Holliston, MA. It is part of a large clock (and related materials) collection including not only clocks made in New Hampshire, but also several made elsewhere, acquired in New Hampshire by the donor and probably used here.

Credit Line:

Gift of Charles S. Parsons

People:

Blasdel, Isaac (1738-1791), Parsons, Charles S. (1904-1988)