David Williams of Newport, Rhode Island. A cross-banded mahogany case tall clock with lunar dial. 223013.

This fine cross-banded mahogany case tall clock was made by David Williams of Newport, Rhode Island.

This very attractive tall clock case is constructed in mahogany, mahogany veneers, sheoak banding, and New England white pine. It retains an older finish that has nicely mellowed over the years. This is a later example. The case stands on four nicely shaped or flared French feet. The feet transition smoothly into a well-formed apron that hangs from the center of the bottom of the base. This section is cross-banded with a sheoak veneer banding that frames a mahogany selection of wood with long, delicate lines. The waist section is fitted with a long rectangular waist door. This door is also cross-banded in sheoak banding. A simple cock-beaded molding trims the perimeter of this door. Reeded quarter columns run the front corners of the waist. These terminate in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet or hood features a traditional New England fretwork pattern which is supported by three reeded finial plinths. Each is capped and is surmounted by three brass ball and spike finials. Smoothly turned bonnet columns ending in brass capitals flank the hood door. The bonnet door is glass-fitted and opens to a nicely paint-decorated dial.

This painted iron dial is of Boston manufacture. It is attached directly to the movement without using a false plate. It was most likely painted by the Curtis & Nolen firm of Boston circa 1817. It is skillfully decorated, featuring traditional themes for this period. The four spandrel areas are decorated with stylized urns and heavy gesso work. The gesso is applied to the dial surface and then painted in gilt. One will find a lunar calendar or moon phase mechanism in the arch. The time track is framed with two gilt circles. The hours are displayed in Roman numerals. The five-minute markers are indicated in an Arabic style. This dial also shows the seconds and the date of the month.

The movement is brass, eight-day duration, and is of good quality. It is weight-driven and features a rack, snail strike system, and recoil escapement. It is designed to run for eight days on a full wind and strikes each hour on a bell. The original wooden stick pendulum features a brass-faced bob.

This case measured approximately 7 feet 8.5 inches tall to the top of the center brass finial and was made circa 1817.

Inventory number 223013.