Daniel Munroe Junior of Boston, Massachusetts. A tall clock case signed by his brother William Munroe. NN-63.
Daniel Munroe Jr. of Boston, Massachusetts, made this very interesting tall case clock. In fact, it may be the only Daniel Munroe example known to be signed with the working locations as "Boston." A second interesting aspect of this example is that the case is stamped by his brother William Munroe. Very few New England tall clock cases are signed by their cabinetmaker. This is a very unusual combination.
If you collect Munroe clocks, this example has it all.
This superb inlaid mahogany-cased example features excellent Concord proportions. The case is signed with a die-stamp in several interior locations by Daniel's brother William Munroe. His stamp reads, "W*M." The format and construction of this case illustrate that William was a very talented joiner. The wood and veneers selected for this case are first-rate. The veneers are exuberantly figured, and the modern finish highlights the grain-rich patterns. The base stands on four ogee bracket feet applied to the bottom of the double-stepped molding located at the bottom of this case. The base panel is framed with a cross-banded border. Multiple line inlay patterns define the interior panel, which features an exuberantly grained selection of crotch veneer. The front corners of this waist are fitted with brass stop-fluted quarter columns. These terminate in brass quarter capitals. The rectangularly shaped waist door is also cross-banded and lined inlaid in a pattern borrowed from the base section. The veneers selected for this location are also quite special. An applied molding frames the outer edge of this door. This door opens to access the interior of the case. One will find the two tin can drive weights and the pendulum inside. The bonnet features traditional New England-style fretwork. Three-line inlaid, and paneled finial plinths support the three ball-and-spike brass finials. Fully turned and fluted bonnet columns are stopped with brass rods. These columns are mounted in brass capitals and positioned on either side of the door. The two shaped columns at the back of the bonnet are neatly fitted into the corners. The sides of the hood are fitted with tombstone-shaped sidelights. The arched bonnet door is veneered, lined inlaid, and fitted with glass. The dial mask is painted black, and the interior edge of this mask is trimmed with brass piping. The brass decoration here was initially added at an additional cost. The door opens to allow one access to the skillfully painted iron dial.
This large iron dial is 13 inches across and was manufactured and painted in Boston. The artwork is identifiable and is attributed to the Boston artist Spencer Nolen. The artwork is well-executed, and this dial is signed in the arch "Daniel Munroe / Boston." The spandrels, or four corner areas, are decorated with lacy patterns raised on the dial's surface with gesso. This decoration is then highlighted with gilt paint. A medallion featuring a flower is centered in each pattern. The time track is formatted with Roman-style hour figures. Each of the five-minute markers is indicated in Arabic form. The subsidiary seconds dial and month calendar is located in their traditional locations.
The works or movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. Four-turned pillars support the two brass plates. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions and brass gearing. The winding drums are grooved. The escapement is designed in a recoil format. The movement is weight-driven and will run for eight days on a full wind. It is a two-train or a time-and-strike design having a rack and snail striking system. As a result, it will strike each hour on the hour on a cast iron bell mounted above the movement.
This clock was made circa 1808 and is 7 feet 10 inches tall to the top of the center finial.
This clock is inventory number NN-63.
Daniel Munroe Jr., Clockmaker and silversmith, was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, on July 13, 1775. Daniel Munroe senior and his wife Abigail Parker had five sons that they raised in Roxbury. The Munroe family is well connected to American History and the clock trade. Daniel senior's father, Jedediah Munroe, died in the Battle of Lexington. Daniel's mother, Abigail Parker of Roxbury, was the eldest daughter of Jonathan Parker. Jonathan, a farmer living in Roxbury, was one of the 13 Patriots who participated in the Boston Tea Party. This act of defiance against British rule and their taxation policies took place on Griffin's Wharf on December 16, 1773.
Daniel Jr. was trained in the art of clockmaking by America's most famous Clockmaker, Simon Willard, in Roxbury. Daniel served the traditional seven-year apprenticeship. Simon wrote in a letter dated July 13, 1796, that described Daniel as "... one of the best workman in America." After serving his apprenticeship, Daniel worked for a short time as a journeyman clockmaker in Willards Roxbury clock shop before moving to Concord, Massachusetts, sometime before 1798. Here he kept a shop opposite the Clothing Mill and worked as a clockmaker and silversmith. There are a small number of clocks known that are signed by Daniel that are thought to have been made during this brief period of working alone in Concord. From 1798 through 1804, the three Munroe brothers formed a partnership. Nathaniel was also a clockmaker. William was a skilled cabinetmaker. The business was called Daniel Munroe & Co. and operated as such until William left the partnership in 1804.
A fair number of clocks exist today that bear this partnership's label. This label is located inside the case. It is pasted to the inside of the waist door of their tall case clocks. William was a cabinetmaker and left the partnership in 1804. On November 29, 1804, William married Sarah Dakin (1781-1856) in Concord. The clockmaker partnership between Daniel and Nathaniel lasts another three years. In 1805, Nathaniel went to Norfolk, VA, to promote their business. The labels on their tall clocks often reflect this. They mention that their clocks could be shipped. In 1807, Daniel moved back to Boston and opened a shop located at 51 Newbury Street. While in Boston, he advertises at several different Boston addresses, including No. 51 Ann Street, in 1809. In 1811 he was located at No. 35 1/2 Cornhill Street, and from 1813 through 1814, Daniel formed a partnership with Ezekiel Jones as Munroe & Jones. By 1816, Daniel was working at No. 47 Cornhill Street, then in 1823, he moved to No. 38 Congress Street. Interestingly, very few tall clocks are known that are thought to have been made during his return to Boston. In 1839, he moved to New York City. He then moved back to Boston from 1841 through 1856. Daniel died in Boston on October 21, 1859.
