David Wood of Newburyport, Massachusetts. A cross-banded mahogany case tall clock. ZZ-54.
David wood is a prolific maker of clocks. It appears that he may have the largest producer of tall clocks working North of Boston. Interestingly, he did not develop a standardized case style that we associate with him as a maker. His clocks vary greatly in case form from one example to the next. You will find his name on country examples and formal examples such as this one.
This is a formal example. Several kinds of wood were used in the construction of this case. They include mahogany, figured mahogany veneers, rosewood cross-banding, holly inlays, bird's-eye maple decorative panels, and New England white pine is used as a secondary wood. This case has been professionally refinished appropriately. As a result, the vibrant grain formatting in the wood is easy to view and attracts attention. This case is raised up off the floor on four applied French-style feet. These are tall, slightly flared at the bottom, and delicately formed. They are visually joined together with a nicely shaped drop apron. The feet are separated from the base by a complex inlay pattern. This design uses several designs to make up the decorative banding. This banding continues to the back edge of both sides of the case. The base panel and the rectangular-shaped waist door feature the same construction. The figured mahogany veneers centered in this location are first framed in a light-line border. Next, a cross-banded frame is laid out around the perimeter. The waist door is trimmed with applied molding along the outer edge. This door opens to access the interior of the case. The front corners of the waist section feature finely reeded quarter columns. These terminate in brass quarter capitals. Bird's-eye maple panels are positioned at both ends of the quarter columns. The bonnet features a traditional version of a New England-style fretwork pattern. Three reeded chimneys or finial plinths are mounted at the top of the case and support this fretwork. Each plinth supports a brass finial. The molded arch is supported by two finely reeded bonnet or hood columns. These flank the arched bonnet door and are mounted in brass capitals. Reeded quarter columns are located in the back corners of the hood. The side panels of the bonnet are fitted with large tombstone-shaped side lights or windows. These are glazed. The line inlaid hood door is also fitted with glass and opens to access the painted dial. Please note the intricate inlay pattern used in this frame.
This iron dial is colorfully painted. The four spandrel areas are paint-decorated with colorful floral patterns. A bird is depicted in the lunette. The time track is formatted with a combination of Roman and Arabic numerals. This dial also features five-minute markers, a subsidiary seconds dial, and a day-of-the-month calendar. The painted dial is signed "David Wood / Newbury Port."
The time and strike movement is of good quality. It is constructed in brass and features steel pinions. It is weight driven and designed to run for eight days on a full wind and to strike each hour on a cast iron bell.
This clock stands approximately 89.5 inches tall. The upper bonnet molding measures 20.5 inches across and runs 10.25 deep.
This fine example was made circa 1810.
Inventory number ZZ-54.
David Wood was born the son of John Wood (1727-1805) and Eunice (Fellows) Wood (1737-1801) in Newburyport, Massachusetts, on July 5, 1766. It is thought that he may have been apprenticed to either Daniel Balch Senior or to one of the members Mulliken family. All of whom were prominent Clockmakers in this region. David advertised in the Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet on June 13, 1792, that he had set up a shop in Market Square, near Reverend Andrews Meeting House. Three short years later, he married Elizabeth Bird (1769-1846) of Newbury in 1795. It has become evident that David Wood was also a Retailer. In 1806 he advertised that he had for sale "Willard's best Patent Timepieces, for as low as can be purchased in Roxbury." In 1818, he and Abel Moulton, a local silversmith, moved into the shop formerly occupied by Thomas H. Balch. In 1824 he advertised that he had moved on the westerly side of Market Square opposite the Market House. After his wife's death in 1846, he moved to Lexington to live near his son David, who was a merchant in that town.
It has become quite obvious to us that David Wood was a very successful Clockmaker and Retailer of Clocks. Over the last 35 years of being in the business of selling clocks, we have sold many examples of wall, shelf, and tall case clocks bearing this Maker's signature on the dial.
