Allen Kelley of Sandwich, Massachusetts. An inlaid mahogany case tall clock. 214020.
This inlaid mahogany case is a diminutive example measuring 7 feet 4 inches tall. Considering the small scale of the case, it still exhibits very delicate proportions and should fit in many of New England's height-challenged homes. The overall proportions are excellent. This case stands on four wonderfully developed flared French feet that transition to a single sweeping apron that swoops down from the center of the base. The front base panel features a narrow inlaid border. The wood used in this location is, interestingly enough, ash. Inside this is an additional thin line inlay of maple. The combination of these two details frames the base panel. The waist is long and narrow. This section is fitted with a rectangular waist door. This is trimmed with a delicate applied molding. This door is also lined inlaid and exhibits an interesting selection of veneer. The quarter columns are fluted and terminate in brass quarter capitals. The columns are supported on plinths that are also veneered in ash wood. The bonnet features a traditional New England style the fretwork. Three ash veneered finial plinths support the three ball and spike brass finials. The bonnet columns are fully turned and fluted. These are free-standing and terminate in brass quarter capitals. The line inlaid bonnet door is arched and fitted with glass. It opens to access the very colorful painted dial.
This dial is of Boston origin. It was manufactured by the Nolen & Curtis firm. They specialized as ornamental painters and painted numerous clock dials for the trade as well as egloimise tablets for looking glasses. Their work is very distinctive. It is nice to note that this dial is an American-made product. The front of the dial is signed across the middle, "Allen Kelley / Sandwich." In the arch of the dial is a colorfully painted decorated ornament. This is surrounded by raised fanciful gesso decorations that are highlighted in gilding. This theme is repeated in the spandrel areas. The time ring is formatted with large Arabic hour numerals. Smaller Arabic numerals mark each of the five-minute markers. A subsidiary seconds dial and a separate calendar dial can be found in their traditional locations.
The time and strike movement is of good quality. This movement features fully skeletonized plates. This is a process where the extra brass in the plates of the movement is removed. It is thought that the removed sections of brass were then used in the construction of an additional project. This is a true New England Yankee practice. This movement is powered by weights and designed to run for an eight-day duration. It is also designed to strike each hour on a cast iron bell. This bell is mounted above the movement.
This example was made circa 1815. This date is pretty early in Allen Kelley's clockmaking career. Yet it would be considered near the end of New England tall case clock production. This fine clock stands only 7 feet 4 inches tall to the top of the center brass finial.
Inventory number 214020.
Allen Kelley was born in Yarmouth, South Dennis, Massachusetts, on November 14th, 1791. His parents were Hattil Kelley (1764-1800) and Mercy Allen (1769-1791). Allen, a Quaker, served his apprenticeship under the Quaker clockmaker Joshua Wilder of Hingham. This Quaker influence likely shaped his work ethic and attention to detail. His apprenticeship began in 1806, and by 1813, Kelley was recorded as being on his own and working as a clockmaker in Sandwich, Massachusetts. From here, he moved to several other locations in the Southeastern Massachusetts region. In 1819, he was listed as living in Provincetown in 1819, Nantucket in 1825, New Bedford in 1834, and back to Sandwich in 1852. He died there on October 13th, 1876, and is buried in the Quaker Meeting House Cemetery in East Sandwich. Allen was 84 years old. Allen Kelley is listed as a clockmaker, watchmaker, silversmith, and jeweler. Tall clocks and Massachusetts Shelf clocks are known.
Allen Kelley, a man of many roles, married five times and fathered ten children. His personal life was as rich as his professional one. He married Mercy Freeman in 1814, Rebecca Kelley after 1818, Betsey Holway Kelley (1897-1866) in 1848, and Mary S. Wing Hall (1832-1922) in 1867. One son, Zeno Kelley, joined him in business as Kelley & Son in New Bedford in 1846-51, a testament to the strong family ties that ran through his life. In 1852, Allen returned to Sandwich, where he reported in a letter that his shop could produce a timepiece a day, a testament to his dedication to his craft. A timepiece is also known as a banjo clock. One of these five workmen was undoubtedly his cousin Ezra Kelley, a further testament to the strong family bonds that shaped his life and work.
