This is a finely inlaid cherry case tall clock made by Abel Hutchins of Concord, New Hampshire. This example is also dated on the back of the dial, "Nov 28 1809." This must have been the date of manufacture. 217071.
This is a finely inlaid cherry case tall clock made by Abel Hutchins of Concord, New Hampshire. This example is also dated on the back of the dial, "November 28, 1809." This is most likely the date of manufacture.
This very nicely and decoratively inlaid case exhibits typical New England proportions. It is primarily constructed in cherry and features several intricately formatted inlay patterns. This combination is unusual for this inland clockmaker, suggesting that this case was a special order for a savvy client. The case stands on four flared French feet. The feet transition upwards into a drop apron below the base section. Please note the inlay pattern that is featured in this design element. The apron is visually separated from the base panel by a decorative line inlaid banding of alternately light and darker woods. This banding is present on the front and along the side panels of the base. A diamond pattern is centered in the base panel. This is well executed and is complex in its' design. A thin string line inlay featuring cut-out corners frames the perimeter of this panel. The waist is long and features a rectangular-shaped waist door that is trimmed with applied molding. This door is inlaid along its outer edge with a mahogany cross-banded detail. The wood selected for the central panel of the door is nicely figured. This is noted because cherrywood seldom exhibits an exuberant grain pattern. The front corners of the waist section are fitted with reeded quarter columns that terminate in brass quarter capitals. Additional inlay patterns are displayed below each column. The bonnet is surmounted by a country New England-style fretwork design. The three chimney plinths are lined inlaid, and each supports a brass ball and spike finial. The two bonnet columns are also reeded and flank the bonnet door. This door is arched in form and is fitted with glass. It opens to access the painted dial.
This iron dial is of Boston origin and was most likely manufactured by the Nolen dial firm. Gilt-colored urns are depicted in each of the four spandrel areas. These are surrounded by raised gesso decorations that are also highlighted in gilt paint. In the arch of this dial is a lunar calendar or a moon-phase mechanism. This will track and display the phases of the moon. In between the moons are two painted scenes. One is a pastoral setting. The other scene features a nautical theme. The time ring is formatted with Roman-style hour numerals. Smaller Arabic numerals are used to indicate each of the five-minute markers. A subsidiary seconds dial is located in its traditional location. The Maker's name is signed in a script format above the hour numeral "VI." The city or working location of "CONCORD" is signed in a block format. The back of this dial bears the inscription, "November 28, 1809." It appears to be period and is the date of manufacture of this clock.
The movement is constructed in brass and is weight driven. It is designed to run eight days and strike each hour on a cast iron bell. The striking system features a rack and snail setup. The cast iron bell is mounted above the movement. The movement is of good quality.
This clock stands approximately 7 feet 7 inches tall to the top of the center brass finial and was made circa 1809.
Inventory number 217071.
Abel Hutchins worked with his older brother Levi in partnership from 1786 through 1803. Both boys were born in Harvard, Massachusetts, the sons of Colonel Gordon Hutchins & Dolly or Dorothy Stone. They had eleven children. Levi was born on August 17, 1761, and Abel was born two years later, on March 16, 1763. Both men lived into their nineties.
On December 6, 1777, the brothers entered into an apprenticeship with Simon Willard of Grafton, Massachusetts. At this time, Levi was sixteen, and Abel was fourteen years old. In 1780, Levi moved to Abington, CT, for approximately eight months to learn some watchmaking skills. He then moved to Concord, New Hampshire, and opened a shop on Main Street. Levi was the first clockmaker to manufacture brass clocks in New Hampshire. Abel worked for a short time in Roxbury after his commitment to Simon was over. Abel is listed in the Roxbury tax assessor's records in 1784. In Roxbury, he was also appointed a fireward along with Aaron Willard and Elijah Ward. It is in Roxbury that Abel married Elizabeth Partridge on January 22, 1786. Two of her sisters also married clockmakers Aaron Willard Jr. and Elnathan Taber. Shortly after their marriage, it appears that Abel moved to Concord, NH, and formed a partnership with his brother sometime in 1786.
Abel and his wife lived in Concord for 67 years, having five sons and eight daughters. Soon after their marriage, Abel partnered with his brother Levi in a three-story dwelling house in the central part of the main village. Here they began what must have been a very productive business of making clocks. In 1793, Levi & Abel purchased a farm approximately three miles from their original home on the western side of Rattlesnake Hill, also called Granite Hill. In the early part of 1807, Abel bought out his brother's interests in the partnership. He continued making clocks in the same location downtown. (Levi lived on the farm.) The shop was destroyed by fire on November 25, 1817. Abel built the Phoenix Hotel on the same site. It opened for business on January 1, 1819. He prospered as an innkeeper until he retired in 1832 when his son Ephraim took over the business.
