Jacob Sargeant of Hartford, Connecticut. An Inlaid case tall clock. 28121.
This inlaid cherry-cased example has excellent proportions. The case features a modern finish and a very good color. This case stands on wonderfully formed ogee bracket feet. The base panel is highlighted with a satinwood string inlaid border, and quarter fans are positioned in each of the four corners. The center of this panel features an inlaid oval or patera in the center. The use of shaded woods adds definition and depth to this design. An interesting inlay feature of a bird is placed in this location. This is repeated in the long and narrow waist door. We have seen only one American clock with a similar inlaid bird design. That clock was advertised for sale in Antiques and Arts Weekly in 1980 -81. It was also a painted dial clock, although it was signed by Erastus Tracy of Norwich (1768-1796 ). The following winding drums were inscribed No. 53 and dated 1795. The waist of this case features fluted quarter columns that are stop-fluted with brass in the Roxbury manner and terminate in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet columns are also fluted and terminate in brass capitals. An interesting fretwork pattern, three fluted finial plinths, and three brass ball-and-spiked finials surmount the top of the bonnet. The bonnet door is arched in form and fitted with glass. It opens to access the painted dial.
This colorfully decorated dial is signed by the Maker. The arch of the dial is fitted with a moon phase mechanism or a lunar calendar.
The weight-driven movement is brass, has an eight-day duration, and is good quality.
This clock was made circa 1805.
The height of this example to the top of the center finial is 8 feet 2 inches tall.
Inventory number 28121.
Jacob Sargeant was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, on February 28, 1761. He was the son of Samuel and Hannah (Baldwin) Sargeant. It is recorded that he trained Nathan Storrs in 1781. We now speculate that he may have been trained as a clockmaker by Peregrine White of Woodstock, Connecticut, due to the similarities of movement construction found in examples by both clockmakers. Jacob also worked as a gold and silversmith. Jacob worked in Mansfield from 1784 through 1789 as a goldsmith and silversmith. He advertised in The Connecticut Gazette and the Universal Intelligencer (Mansfield Center CT) on January 11, 1784, ". . . shop in Mansfield makes clocks and watches, gold and silversmith work." On January 30, 1785, Jacob married Olive Paine of Canterbury, Connecticut, in Mansfield Center, CT. In 1790, he trained his brother Thomas Sargeant (1773-1834). In 1790, Jacob moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, and advertised in the Hampshire Chronicle (Springfield, MA) 1790 as a gold- and silversmith. Here, he continued to make clocks and sell jewelry and employed his younger brother Thomas as an apprentice. He also trained Shubael Storrs in 1790 and Charles Brewer in 1791. In October 1795, he advertised in the "Courant," a Hartford newspaper, that he had moved or "Established his business at the sign of the Golden Watch a few rods South of the State House in Hartford. "By 1800, Sargeant had a retail business which was one of the largest in Hartford; he sold his own silver, the silver of other makers, guns, and clocks. While in Hartford, he trained Joseph Church in 1816 and Walter Ward Hart in 1820. He remained in Hartford until he died in 1843. Jacob Sargeant's shop sign is now in the Connecticut Historical Society collection.
We have seen and owned a fair number of tall clocks made by Jacob Sargeant. The earliest examples feature engraved brass dials finished with a silver wash. One such example, which is signed Hartford, features a musical movement. It is a three-train clock and plays one of six tunes on the hour. The four spandrel areas are decorated with depictions of the four seasons. This dial is thought to have been engraved by Richard Brunton, a well-known maker of dials and bookplates and, among other talents, a counterfeiter of currency. The case is cherry and is attributed to Aaron Chapin of East Windsor. This case exhibits the Hartford / Norwich form. A second example also features an engraved dial. That dial is silver and features a rocking ship in the arch. The four spandrel areas are skillfully engraved depictions of the four seasons. This case is also cherry. It features an applied swan's neck pediment, which is pierced. (Chapin Case?) The majority of the other examples found have been painted dial clocks.
