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This tall, elegant clock, made by Jacob Sargeant in Hartford, Connecticut, around 1795, exemplifies the refined Hartford–Windsor case tradition. This clockmaking style developed along the Connecticut River valley in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, blending functional form with intricate decoration. The case, crafted from richly colored cherry wood with a deep chocolate-brown finish, is taller and more slender than most similar clocks, imparting a subtle elegance. The base features ogee-bracket feet, curved brackets, and double-stepped moldings underneath. The shaped waist door is framed by fluted quarter columns, capped in brass. These details closely match casework from Hartford and Windsor workshops of that period.
Aaron Willard of Boston, Massachusetts, crafted this distinguished mahogany tall clock, notable for its refined craftsmanship, automated rocking-ship dial, and original, rare setup label printed from plates engraved by the American Patriot Paul Revere. This clock stands as a rare survivor from a time when New England artisans, including clockmakers, cabinetmakers, and engravers, shaped a distinctly American aesthetic.
A French Marvel in Motion
Emerging from the inventive spirit of the late 19th century is a French industrial windmill-form compendium, a curious and meticulously crafted object, made for the Spanish market. Resting on a circular Belgian slate base, the structure, finished in gilded faux ashlar, resembles a miniature civic monument, its details rendered with notable seriousness for such a whimsical form.
Signed on the dial by Rutland's leading clockmaker, Nicholas Goddard, this tall clock stands as a Vermont masterpiece and one of the finest examples of Federal-era craftsmanship from the bucolic state.
This exceptional D.J. Gale Astronomical Calendar gallery clock ranks among the most intricate and visually captivating American wall clocks of its era. It was crafted in partnership with Welch, Spring & Company, and Daniel Jackson Gale in Forestville, Connecticut.
A Contemporary Master Revives America's "Most Beautiful Clock"
In 2005, the late Massachusetts clockmaker Foster S. Campos crafted what would become his third Girandole wall timepiece of that year. At first glance, his creation appears to be an heirloom from the early 19th century, featuring a mahogany case, a gilded eagle finial, and convex glass panels illuminated with painted ornamentation. However, it stands as a modern reproduction of one of the rarest and most celebrated American clock styles: the Girandole, first patented around 1820 by Lemuel Curtis of Concord, Massachusetts.
Pennsylvania’s Moonlit Masterpiece
Around 1805, Peter Gift Jr. of Kutztown, PA., built a tall case clock that still captivates visitors. Rising in rich, figured mahogany, the case exhibits all the hallmarks of Reading cabinetmaker Daniel Rhein and his apprentice, Henry Quast — a connection reinforced by striking similarities to works signed by Daniel Rose, Benjamin Whitman, Daniel Oyster, and Jacob Diehl, examples of which now reside in the Berks County Heritage Center and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
A Tall Clock from Berwick, Maine, Wears Its Quaker Roots Proudly.
Made around 1795, this tall case clock features a well-proportioned, honey-colored maple case. It probably originates from the work—or at least the influence—of Paul Rogers, a Quaker clockmaker active in Berwick, Maine. Its clean proportions and quality craftsmanship highlight a regional tradition shaped as much by faith and frugality as by skill.
An Important Federal Mahogany Tall Case Clock by the Quaker clockmaker Joshua Wilder, Hingham, Massachusetts, circa 1820, Cabinet by Abiel White (Weymouth, Massachusetts)**
This beautifully crafted Federal tall-case clock showcases the work of the renowned clockmaker Joshua Wilder (1786–1860) from Southeastern Massachusetts. It features a case attributed to Abiel White (1766–1844), a prominent cabinetmaker from Weymouth. The partnership between Wilder and White is one of the most notable collaborations in early 19th-century New England clockmaking. Both artisans played crucial roles in the influential Quaker communities of Hingham and Hanover. Wilder, a student of John Bailey II (1751–1823), built upon Bailey’s connection with White, which resulted in most of Wilder’s movements being housed in White’s elegant cases.
This exquisite Georgian bracket clock was made by Thyar Pitt of London, who was active from 1784 to 1811. Dating to around 1790, it exemplifies the high standards of late 18th-century English clockmaking and is notable for its rare, refined features.