Samuel Abbott of Dover, New Hampshire. Tall clock featuring an inlaid cherry case. 2691.
This inlaid cherry case tall clock was made by the Clockmaker Samuel Abbott.
This is a very attractive tall case clock that exhibits a warm and welcoming color. The case is primarily constructed in cherry and features mahogany cross-banding and several complex inlay patterns that are visually interesting. These creatively formed patterns are used throughout the design of the case. The base stands on cutout bracket feet. The union of the feet forms a simply shaped skirt that hangs below the base section. The feet are visually separated from the base panel with a decorative line inlay pattern. The front panel of the base is framed with a cross-banded mahogany veneered border. The waist section is long and is fitted with a large rectangular-shaped waist door. This door is also cross-banded in mahogany and is trimmed on the outside edge with applied molding. This door provides access to the interior of the case. Here one will find the two drive weights and the brass-faced pendulum bob. Inset reeded quarter columns are fitted into the front corners of the waist. These terminate in brass quarter capitals. The capitals are mounted onto plinths that feature an unusual inlay design. The light line inlay contrasts with the very dark background. The bonnet is surmounted with a lovely pierced and open fretwork design. This is a pattern that we see with some regularity of cases made in the Concord, NH region. The three reeded plinths each support a decorative brass finial. The bonnet door is arched and fitted with glass. It is also formatted with a cross-banded mahogany border along its outside edge. The frame for the sides of the door is inlaid with a complex barber pole design. Fully turned bonnet columns flank the sides of the hood door. These are interesting in that they feature a subtle ring turn design. The columns are mounted in brass capitals. The sidelights located on the sides of the bonnet are rectangular in shape. They are fitted with glass.
The iron dial is colorfully painted. It was locally made and painted in Boston by the Curtis & Nolen dial firm. This dial features American shields in each of the four spandrel areas. The arch of the dial is decorated with fruit. This dial is signed below the calendar aperture by the clockmaker, Samuel Abbott. This script signature is now faintly displayed. The subsidiary dial shows the seconds, and the opening below the center arbor displays the date of the month.
This movement is constructed in brass. The plates retain a number of casting flaws that do not affect their performance. I simply point these out to suggest that this movement is locally made. The movement is weight-driven and designed to run for eight-days on a full wind. It is a time, and strike design having a rack and snail striking system that will strike each hour on the hour. This is done on a cast iron bell which is mounted above the movement.
This fine clock stands approximately 7 feet 10 inches tall to the top of the center finial. It was made circa 1815.
Inventory number 2691.
Samuel Abbott was born May 14, 1791, in Concord, NH. He was the son of Stephen Abbott and Mary Giles. Samuel began his career as a clockmaker, watchmaker, silversmith, and jeweler in Dover, NH, in 1812. On March 5, 1813, Samuel married Jane Day of Concord, New Hampshire. Together they had two sons. Their son, John Sullivan Abbott, worked in Montpelier, Vermont, in similar trades. The Abbott family moved from Dover to Boston, Massachusetts, in about 1827. Samuel is listed in the Boston Directories as a clockmaker from 1827 through 1830. He is listed at several addresses: first at 11 Pitt Street, then 64 Hanover Street, and lastly, at 33 Merrimack. In 1830, Samuel left Boston and moved North to Montpelier, Vermont. He first advertised himself as a clock and watchmaker there in January 1830. In 1831-32, he partnered with Mr. Freeman as Abbott & Freeman. While in Montpelier, Samuel trained J. G. Hall as a clockmaker. Abbott was again listed in the New England Business Directories as a watchmaker and jeweler at Montpelier in 1849 and 1860. Samuel lived there until his death on May 4, 1861, at the age of 70. He is buried in the Green Mountain Cemetery in Montpelier, VT.
Examples of tall clocks, shelf clocks, New Hampshire mirror clocks, lyre wall clocks, and patent timepieces have been found. He is noted for his distinctive three-pillar, "grand piano" shaped timepiece movements. Many of these clocks are found with a teardrop-shaped pendulum keystone. A watchpaper also survives. It is in the collection of the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, MA.
