A fine Hepplewhite Mahogany and Inlaid Tall Case Clock by John Bailey III, Hanover, Massachusetts, Circa 1820. DDD-18.
The Quaker clockmaker John Bailey [1787-1883] produced this attractive hepplewhite tall case clock. The Baileys were prolific makers in the Southeastern Massachusetts town of Hanover from the last quarter of the 18th Century through the first quarter of the 19th Century. Many of the attractive clock cases that house Bailey's movements are attributed to the Weymouth cabinetmaker Abiel White [1766-1844]. Bailey had a lengthy and successful relationship with White, which commenced at the turn of the 19th Century. Abiel White apprenticed under the renowned Dorchester, Massachusetts, cabinetmaker Stephen Badlam. White's cabinet work reflects the high-style forms and techniques he acquired in Dorchester. His clock cases are in refined Hepplewhite forms with pleasing proportions constructed of richly grained mahogany with vibrant contrasting inlays. This clock is a latter example that exhibits both regional distinctions and high-style embellishments.
John Bailey III apprenticed under his father, John Bailey II(1723-1823). Soon after he finished training, John III moved to Portland, Maine, for a brief period. When he returned to Hanover, the family was already heavily involved with sending goods to the Southern markets. This was aided by having sales agents in the Carolinas. Colonel Hardy Cross ordered this clock from there. It is recorded that Cross lived in Virginia just over the North Carolina line.
The clock has a pleasing mellow color with a historic surface. The molded hood is mounted with three rectangular chimneys, which frame a fabulous looped fretwork. The chimneys are each mounted with brass ball and spire finials. The fretwork and chimneys rest atop a molded arched cornice, all above a glazed tombstone-form dial door. Smoothly turned bonnet columns with brass capitals and bases flank this door. This door opens to a finely painted iron dial of Boston origin.
The dial features a painted moon phase disk in the lunette, decorated with hand-painted scenes in superb original condition. On one side is a detailed view of a rustic coastal cottage set on a hill opposite a British gunship. At the base of the lunette are two hemispheres, each decorated with terrestrial map transfers. The time ring is formatted with Roman numerals to demark the hour, and the outer ring of Arabic quarter hour numerals and dashes for the remaining minutes. The time ring is bordered with a gilt circle on either side. The area inside the ring features a seconds register positioned above the center arbor fitted with original steel hands. The hour and minute hands are wonderfully scrolled. Below this is the calendar display. The dial is signed below the center arbor with the maker's name and locale in script lettering, "by John Bailey Jun - Hanover." The owner's name is published under the inner gilt time ring circle. This reads, "WARRANTED FOR COL: HARDY CROSS." The brass, weight-driven, time-and-strike, eight-day movement rests on a pine saddle board and is original to the case. The movement retains an original pair of tin can weights and a pendulum with a steel rod and a brass-capped lead bob. The movement has been recently serviced and is in excellent running condition.
The hood transitions to the waist section with a broad flared molding. The waist is set with smoothly turned quarter columns with brass capitals and bases flanking a molded rectangular pendulum door. The pendulum door is line inlaid with geometric stringing framing a choice panel of richly-grained mahogany. This hinged door has a brass lock with a shaped keyhole escutcheon.
The waist transitions to the base section with another broad-flared molding. The base has a similar geometric line inlaid border. The base smoothly transitions into the bracket feet with shaped returns.
The movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. Four-turned pillars support the two rectangular-shaped brass plates. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions, brass gearing, and recoil escapement. The winding drums are grooved. The weight-driven movement is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It is a two-train or a time-and-strike design, having a rack and snail striking system. As a result, it will strike each hour on the hour on a cast iron bell mounted above the movement.
Dimensions: Height: 93 inches with center finial, Width at base: 19.5 inches.
Inventory number DDD-18.
John Bailey III, or Junior, was born in Hanover, Massachusetts, on August 13, 1787. It is thought that he learned the family trade of clockmaking from his father, John II. John III finished his apprenticeship in 1809 at the tail end of the tall case clock's popularity. The wall timepiece and shelf clock became the clock of choice due to their reduction in cost. In June of 1809, he moved to Portland, Maine, and worked mainly as a repairman. In November of 1810, he married Anna Taber, the daughter of a prominent Quaker merchant in Portland. In 1811, they returned to Hanover. During this next period of his life, we find him traveling in the South during the winters, setting up temporary repair shops, and shipping complete clocks from the North to Southern clients while maintaining a shop in Hanover. In 1824, he moved his business from Hanover to the growing city of New Bedford, which is located on the Massachusetts south coast. Here he took the shop formerly occupied by the clockmakers Almy & Wall. In addition to his reputation as a fine businessman, clockmaker, and chronometer repairman, Bailey became well-known for his Anti-slavery convictions. He traveled extensively, including to the South, to preach his message of abolitionism. This was a stance that eventually cost him his business in New Bedford. In 1848, he moved to Lynn, MA, where he operated "The Old Curiosity Shop," a jewelry and repair business on Union Street. He died there in 1883 on March 2. Over his lifetime, he saw the cost of a clock start at $60 and fall to $2 due to the gearing up of mass production methods. Clocks were no longer for the most affluent of a community.
Over the years, we have owned a fair number of clocks made by him. Some of these included numerous tall case clocks, dwarf clocks, and wall timepieces.
