Barker & Taylor of Worcester, Massachusetts. A wooden geared 30-hour tall clock. CC-164.
This fine example features a case that is constructed in pine and retains its original painted surface. The pine was washed over in a brown stain and painted to simulate mahogany's coloring and grain pattern. This treatment is still consistent throughout. The case is a typical Ashby form in terms of its shape and construction. This case stands on simple applied bracket feet. These are attached to a molding that is mounted to the lower section of the base. The crotch pattern painted on the base panel starts from the lower left corner and rises to the upper right. The waist section features a large rectangular-shaped door. The crotch veneer pattern painted here runs the entire door length vertically. This door opens to access the interior of the case. The molded arched bonnet features a traditional pierced and open fretwork. Three chimneys or finial plinths help support the frets. Smoothly turned and subtly shaped bonnet columns are fitted aside the bonnet door. This bonnet door is an arched form, is equipped with glass, and opens to access the arched dial.
The wooden arched dial is colorfully painted. The four spandrels and the arch are decorated with a strawberry theme. The time ring is formatted with Roman-style hour numerals, and Arabic numerals are used at the five-minute intervals. Pewter hands indicate the time. This dial is signed by the Makers above the Roman hour numeral VI. It is signed, "Barker & Taylor / Worcester." This dial is attached to the wooden movement with two batons or strips that receive the four wooden dial feet. These are pinned in place.
The wooden geared movement is the construction one expects from the Ashby, Massachusetts, clockmaking school. The winding of this example is done by pulling a cord from inside the waist of the case. The movement is a time-and-strike design. These Ashby-style wooden movements are better quality than their competitors' clocks. They are designed to run 30 hours fully wound. It features a count wheel striking system that will strike each hour on a cast iron bell. The count wheel is located outside of the movement on the back plate.
This clock was made circa 1800. The overall height of this example is approximately 7 feet 1 inch tall.
This clock is inventory number CC-164.
Jonathan Barker and Samuel Taylor formed a partnership as Barker & Taylor sometime before 1807. Little is currently known of these two individuals, and their clocks are considered rare. Based on the number of clocks that have survived, they were not prolific clockmakers. This is only the second we have seen, signed by this partnership in the 55 years of collecting clocks. It is interesting to note that we currently own a clock signed, “J. Barker, Ashby.” It features a wooden geared movement that shares the same construction characteristics and format as the Ashby Clockmaking school. In addition, the painted dial is from there as well. As a result, it is logical to assume that Barker received his training there and later moved to Worcester and joined Taylor in the Barker & Taylor venture. It is recorded that Barker died in 1807. Samuel Taylor was born in 1780 and died in 1864. He is listed as a clockmaker in 1807 through 1856. So it is reasonable to assume that he carried on the business after Barker died.
