Attributed to Nathan Storrs, Northampton, Mass. A Tall Case Clock made in Central Massachusetts. 216070
This is a case that we have had in the past. This example is not signed. The previous clock was signed on the dial by the Williamstown clockmaker, Daniel Porter. Both cases shared a number of very similar design features that included the applied bracket feet, the shape of the waist door, and a pagoda-shaped hood fitted with applied frets. In addition, both clock cases were constructed in cherry. When comparing the movements, we noticed that the plate design was also similar. Where they differ is in the shaping of the movement posts. This clock has distinctive posts associated with the clockmaker Nathan Storrs who worked in Northampton and in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
This cherry case retains an older finish. It is elevated off the floor on applied bracket feet. The waist section is fitted with fluted quarter columns that terminate in turned wooden quarter capitals. The waist door is shaped at the top and opens to access the weights and pendulum. The bonnet features a pagoda or a bell-shaped pediment. The bell shape is fitted with applied solid frets. This is a very unusual detail. Three fluted chimneys each support a turned wooden finial in the shape of an urn. Fluted bonnet columns ending in brass capitals support the arch molding. They flank the arched door, which is fitted with clear glass.
The moon phase dial is colorfully painted. It features florals in the four spandrel areas and a lunar calendar in the arch. The time ring is formatted with Roman numeral hour figures. Arabic numerals are used as the five-minute markers. This dial also displays the date of the month calendar and the seconds on a subsidiary dial.
The time and strike movement is of good quality and is designed to run eight days on a full wind and to strike each hour on a cast iron bell mounted above the plates. It is weight driven or weight powered. One can see the influence of Daniel Porter. The brass-shaped plates have a rectangular cutout that is often seen on signed Daniel Porter movements.
This clock was made circa 1800. It stands approximately 7 feet 4 inches tall or 91 inches tall overall.
Inventory number 216070.
Nathan Storrs was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, in 1768. It is currently thought that he was trained as a clockmaker by Jacob Sargeant. Nathan first advertises in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1791, and that he is open for business and is lately from New York. In 1792, he partnered with Samuel Stiles as Stiles & Storrs. This partnership quickly dissolved, and in 1792 and Nathan joined Jedidah Baldwin in business as Baldwin & Storrs. This partnership lasts until 1793, when Baldwin moves to Hanover, NH. In 1827, Storrs & Cook (Benjamin F. Cook) formed a partnership that lasted until 1833. In 1829, they opened an additional outlet in Amherst, Massachusetts. Nathan retired in 1833 and died in 1839.
