Joakim Hill of Flemington, New Jersey. Signed, dated, and numbered "No. 77." This is a beautifully inlaid case tall clock. 217023.
This is a fine inlaid mahogany case tall clock made by Joakim Hill of Flemington, New Jersey, circa 1810.
The bonnet is a swan's neck pediment form that exhibits high delicate arches that terminate in inlaid pinwheels. The pinwheels are composed of five petals of alternating light and dark wood. The three brass ball and spiked finials are original to this example. The balls are ringed with an applied band with a Greek key design. These are mounted on wooden plinths. The center finial sits above a line inlaid applied molding, which terminates in a key in the center of the hood. This also divides the tympanum into two halves. An inlaid oval is the central decoration of each side. The outside edge is decorated with a bookend inlay. The molded arch is thin and visually supported by fluted colonettes mounted in brass capitals. The arched bonnet door is fitted with glass. The waist section is very narrow. It is fitted with fluted quarter columns that terminate in quarter capitals in the front corners. The shaped waist door and the "Irish" panel are decoratively inlaid with a combination of string, ovals, and quarter fans. The use of bookend inlays is also used in the collar of the waist. The base panel centers an inlaid circle. This centers an inlaid star. Each of the four corners are inlaid with quarter fans. The case stands on four French feet. A drop apron hangs below the base.
This painted iron dial features a lunar calendar or moon phase mechanism in the arch. The moon has a pleasant smile on its face. The spandrel areas are colorfully decorated with geometric fans that help frame the time ring. The numbering for the hours and the five minutes markers is lettered in an Arabic hand.
This movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. Four-turned pillars support the two brass plates. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions and brass gearing. The winding drums are smooth. The escapement is designed as a recoil format. The movement is weight driven and designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It is a two-train or a time-and-strike design having a rack and snail striking system. As a result, it will strike each hour on the hour. This is done on a cast iron bell which is mounted above the movement. This movement is mounted onto a saddle board. It is here that this clock is signed in script by the Maker. The inscription reads, "Joakim Hill / No 77 / January 14th - 1811."
This clock was made in January of 1811. It is approximately 97 or 8 feet 1 inch tall. The upper bonnet molding it measures 17.5 inches wide and 9 inches deep.
Inventory number 217023.
The New Jersey Historical Society owns another similar example.
Joakim (Joachim) Hill was born on November 25, 1783, in Amwell Township the son of Issac and Mary Hill. He is listed as working in Flemington from 1804 through 1820. It is thought that he served his apprenticeship to Thomas Williams sometime after 1800 and that he most likely took over his Master’s business. It is known that his clock cases were made by one of the following cabinetmakers. They include; Matthew Egerton, John Scudder, John Tapper, and Oliver Parsell. In 1813 he married Martha Baracroft of Kingwood township on September 4, 1813. Together they had seven children. About 1814, they bought a house near Copper Hills, a short distance south of town on the road to Lambertville and New Hope. A small casting shop was located across the street. He did the finish work on his clocks in the dining room of his home. Joakim died in Newark on April 2, 1869, and is buried in the Flemington Presbyterian Church cemetery.
