Benjamin Swan of Augusta, Maine. A classic Maine tall case clock with excellent narrow proportions and retaining its original red wash finish. UU-27.
This birch wood case exhibits the traditional Augusta form and is unusual in that it retains what appears to be the original red wash finish. The finish is dry and is in very good condition. This case stands tall on a cutout bracket base exhibiting excellent height and a developed drop apron. An applied molding around three sides of the base visually separates the feet from the base. The front panel on the base is designed with a large inset panel. The interior of the framing is trimmed with a molded edge. The waist is long and narrow and features a rectangular waist door. This waist door is trimmed with a molded edge along its perimeter. A cross-banded mahogany border frames the veneered bird’s-eye maple panel. The quarter columns are set into the corners of the waist. These are smoothly turned, subtly shaped, and decorated with ring turnings. They terminate in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet is fitted with a traditional Augusta fretwork pattern. Three finely reeded plinths support the three brass finials. The bonnet columns are also smoothly turned, shaped, and decorated with ring turnings. These are mounted in brass capitals. The columns flank the bonnet door, which is arched glazed opening to a very colorfully painted dial.
This dial was painted in Boston by Spencer Nolen. The bright reds and greens are vibrant and contrast nicely with the finish on the case. In the arch is a large ornament. Florals and swags decorated the scene. The spandrel areas are decorated with raised gesso patterns that are painted in gilt. The central theme here is a red apple. A gilt circle frames the time ring. Roman numerals are used to mark the hours. Arabic numerals are used to indicate the quarter hours only. The interior of the dial features a subsidiary seconds dial and a calendar dial. The Maker also signs this clock in this general location. The signature is written in a lovely script format. The working location of “AUGUSTA” is printed in smaller block lettering. The steel hands are wonderfully formed. They are quite intricate.
This movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. It is weight driven and designed to run eight days on a full wind. It is a time-and-strike design having a rack and snail-striking system. As a result, it will strike each hour on the hour. This is done on a cast iron bell which is mounted above the movement.
This clock was made circa 1810. It stands approximately 7 feet 7.5 inches tall.
Inventory number UU-27.
Benjamin Swan, the son of Francis and Abigail (Eliot) Swan, was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on January 15, 1792. Sometime in 1808, the Swan family moved from Haverhill to Augusta, Maine. Previously, a number of Haverhill residents had made this same move. One of which was Frederic Wingate, who had established a clock business in that town as early as 1803. It is Wingate who is thought to have trained Benjamin Swan in the art of clock making. Benjamin worked both in Augusta and the town of Hallowell as a clockmaker, a silversmith, and a jeweler from 1814 through 1867. During the War of 1812, he served as a Sergeant stationed in Wiscasset. In this year, he also marries Hannah Smith of Hallowell. They had ten children. One of which, Moses Moody Swan, worked with his father in about 1818. Benjamin Swan died in Augusta on November 27, 1867. Tall case clocks, Massachusetts shelf clocks, banjo clocks, and mirror clocks are known to us. In addition, a watch is known that is signed B & MM Swan. This is a product of Benjamin and his son Moses Moody.
We have owned a fair number of clocks made by this maker. This is one of the more desirable examples in that it features a dial with an automated rocking ship in the arch.
