Clock, Tall Case

Object Name:

Clock, Tall Case

Object ID:

2021.008

Creator:

Aspinwall, Zalmon, Jr. (1783-1814) -- Clockmaker; Bliss, Jonathan, Jr. -- Cabinetmaker

Place of Origin:

Lebanon, NH

Date:

1809, 1812

Description:

Tall case clock, attributed to Zalmon Aspinwall Jr. (1783-1814); case attributed to Jonathan Bliss Jr. (n.d.), Lebanon, NH, 1809 or 1812. Black cherry and eastern white pine; brass, steel, bell metal, sheet iron, lead, glass. Hood with arched top, fretwork, two ball-and-spire brass finials, and central brass eagle. Exterior roof of hood is incised: "Made in 1809 / Made 1812 by J. Bliss Lebanon NH / for Zalmon Aspinwall and given to Eleazar his son [brother?] / and he gave it to his son / Charles in January 1883 / He died in Dec 1908 and his / daughter Ada inherited the clock." Top of right-side cornice molding is inscribed on its upper surface in pencil: "Made 1809 1812 by J. Bliss." Interior of hood is further inscribed in pencil: "Made 1809 or 1812 by John Bliss Lebanon, N.H." Bottom of case is inscribed: "1812." Case has its original feet and fretwork. Standard eight-day brass movement with lunar dial, calendar wheel, anchor recoil escapement, and rack-and-snail striking mechanism that is original to the case. Reverse of lunar dial is inscribed in black paint: "Clock No. 12."

A. Case
B. Hood
C. Movement
D. Pendulum: 43.5" long; brass bob with lead backing, 5" diam.
E. Right weight: cylindrical tin canister,10.25" high x 3.25" diam.
F. Left weight: cylindrical tin canister,10.25" high x 3.25" diam.

Material:

Wood
Cherry
Pine
Metal
Brass
Iron
Glass

Dimensions:

H-87 W-20.5 D-10.3 inches

Provenance:

Zalmon Aspinwall Jr. and Jonathan Bliss Jr. were members of families who settled in Lebanon, NH, before the American Revolution. Aspinwall was apprenticed to clockmaker Jedidiah Baldwin (1769-1849) in nearby Hanover and worked for him there as a journeyman off and on between 1802 and 1808. This clock is a unique survivor given the clockmaker's premature death in 1814 at age 31. Aspinwall is listed in the Boston Business Directories for the years 1809-1813 before he returned home. While in Boston, Aspinwall sent clock and watch parts north to Baldwin until the latter departed Hanover for upstate New York in 1811. Jonathan Bliss Jr. was one of several cabinetmakers who made clock cases for Baldwin between 1798 and 1807.

The clock was apparently made by Aspinwall for his family's use. Cased by Bliss, it descended in the Aspinwall family into the 20th century. It was purchased by Philp Zea at Skinner Galleries, Bolton, MA, on August 11, 1996.

Credit Line:

Gift of Philp Zea and William W. Upton in memory of Howard and Constance Zea

Subjects:

Tall clocks