Daniel Porter of Williamstown, Massachusetts. A Rare Federal cherry and inlaid tall case clock. JJ-178.
This is a nicely proportioned inlaid cherry case tall clock. It stands on four nicely formed ogee bracket feet. The base section features an inlaid circular fan that is centered in the front panel. The perimeter of the base is framed by a line inlaid frame that incorporates distinctively formed quarter fans in each of the corners. The long waist section is fitted with a tombstone-shaped waist door that is trimmed with a molded edge. This door is also decoratively inlaid. Quarter fans are located at the bottom of the door. An inlaid oval is centered in this panel. In the arch is a half fan. All of which is framed by a line inlay pattern that conforms to the shape of this door. The frame that supports the waist door is fitted with fluted quarter columns that terminate in turned wooden quarter capitals. Additional inlays, in the form of bookend patterns, are positioned below the bonnet molding. The bonnet features a swan's neck pediment top. A nicely shaped molding follows the contour of this design. Two fully turned and fluted bonnet columns flank the arched glazed door, which opens to allow one access to the colorfully painted iron dial.
The iron dial is paint-decorated and is signed by the Maker, "Daniel Porter." It features colorful floral themes, fancy gilt work, and a cover sugar urn in the arch. The clock face, which has Roman numerals to demark the hour and an outer ring of Arabic numerals to demark the minutes, is framed with classical gilt scroll-form spandrels. This dial also features a seconds bit above the center arbor. The original steel hands are the traditional form for this Clockmaker.
The clockworks or movement is brass and designed to run eight days on a full wind. This clock strikes the hour on the hour on a cast iron bell. It is good quality.
This clock was made circa 1800.
Inventory number JJ-178.
Daniel Porter was born on July 20, 1775, in East Hartford, Connecticut. His parents were James Porter Jr. and Sarah (Porter) Porter. His father died when he was just two years old. Ezekiel Loomis was appointed to be his Guardian. Loomis bound young Daniel to apprentice with the Windsor, Connecticut, Clockmaker Daniel Burnap. Burnap was an active clockmaker and was known to have great skills as a clockmaker and also as an engraver. Burnap is said to have also trained at least ten others who made clocks. The most famous of which was Eli Terry. Daniel Porter arrived at Burnap's shop on July 20, 1792, when he was 17 years old and stayed there until he was 21. His indenture survives, which was signed in 1793. It states that Porter agreed, in return for the training in the art of clockmaking, silversmithing, and watch repairing, that he would not to commit fornication, marry, haunt taverns, play cards, play the horses, etc. Burnap would also provide him with "meat, drink, washing, lodging and mending of clothes..." The fact that an indenture was drawn up suggests that Loomis must have been in debt to Burnap and offered the young man in order to make some level of restitution.
Once a freeman, Daniel first moves from Windsor, Connecticut, to Topsfield, Massachusetts. Here he is recorded as working as a silversmith. He then moved to Stockbridge and is listed there as a silversmith and as a clockmaker. On February 14, 1799, Daniel purchased a house and a lot on Main Street in Williamstown. This was located 10 rods or approximately 160 feet west of a well with a pump in it and a few rods west of Williams College. In 1801, Daniel married Polly Badger of Salem, Conn. Together, they had two children. The most famous of which was his son Royal Loomis Porter. Royal was born on February 24, 1801, and died in Charleston, SC, on June 13, 1844. He was a graduate of Williams College in 1823 and worked as an editor and proprietor of "The American Traveller." He also served in the Massachusetts Legislature. Daniel died at the young age of 35 on November 6, 1809. His nephew Eli married his widow and took charge of the family. Eli continued to work in the clock trades for several years.
We have sold a fair number of tall case clocks made by this Maker. Many of which exhibited wonderfully made and inlaid cherry cases. You can find examples of his work in the collections of the following institutions. Historic Deerfield has a cherry-cased example. Their clock case lacks inlay decoration and features a hood with fretwork. The dial is an English product made by the Wilson firm in Birmingham. The style of their hands is more traditionally found on clocks made in the Concord, New Hampshire, region. The Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont, has a lovely formal example. It features an inlaid case that is somewhat reserved compared to other examples. A tall clock with a musical movement is also known as well as a surveyor's compass made by him.
