John Foss of Somersworth, New Hampshire. A mahogany case tall clock. UU-48.
This fine example features a very interesting case. If you look closely at the shaping of the moldings and the forms used in various elements of the case, it becomes evident that the case maker was unfamiliar with the standard case forms. The molding profiles are non-traditional. This case is constructed in mahogany and retains an older finish. The rich brown color is excellent. An applied bracket molding supports the case. This is secured to the bottom of the base. This molding forms the feet as it is cut open in the center. This base is compressed in relation to the long waist section and the boldly formatted hood, as was the tradition of this early form. A scalloped molding is just below the lower waist molding, attached to the base. This is an attractive detail. The waist section is long and narrow, not having quarter columns, which become more commonly found in later case designs. The waist door is tombstone-shaped and fitted with applied molding. Access to the interior of the case is granted through this door. The molded arched bonnet or hood features an unusual crest. It is double-stepped and is finished in an interesting interpretation or variation of a swan's neck form. The arches terminate in carved pinwheels. Three turned wooden finials decorate the top. The arch molding is hand-carved, and the joiner's tooling marks are evident. Four fully turned bonnet columns visually support this form. All four are smoothly turned, tapered, and carved. Wide tombstone-shaped side lights are cut into the side of the hood. These openings are fitted with glass and provide visual access to the movement. The bonnet door is arched in form and also fitted with glass. It opens to access the composite brass dial.
This style of dial predates the painted dial form. It is composed of a brass sheet and is decorated with six applied matching cast brass Rococo style spandrels, a centrally fitted name boss in the arch, an engraved time or chapter ring, an engraved seconds register that is sunk into the dial, and is trimmed with a scalloped border, an aperture for the calendar day and a matted center. The maker signs this dial in the name boss. The engraved decorations that frame this boss are incredibly executed and worth pointing out. The engraved time ring retains a subtle silver cast. Please note the superb shaping of the hands.
The movement is weight-driven and constructed in brass. It is designed to run for eight days on a full wind 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 rare clock was made circa 1770. The case stands approximately 91 inches tall (7 feet 7 inches) to the top of the central wooden finial. The bonnet is 19 inches wide and 9.5 inches deep.
Inventory number UU-48.
John Foss, the maker of this clock, was born in 1732 and died in 1819. He was the son of Joshua and Lydia (Rand) Foss and was baptized in Rochester, NH, on September 18, 1732. According to William D. Knapp and his book Somersworth: An Historical Sketch and Joseph Tate's Journal 1769-1778 (now located in the New Hampshire Historical Society), John moved to Somersworth, which was part of Dover until it became a separate town in 1754. John Foss is recorded as a pew holder when building a new meeting house in 1772. He also purchased part of the estate of one Ebenezer Wentworth at a venue in 1773. John is noted to have moved from Somersworth to Barrington, New Hampshire, on February 14, 1777, and lived there until he died in 1819. He is buried in a family plot located in Locke's Mills. This clock, a rural mahogany case tall clock, is a testament to his craftsmanship and is a valuable piece of American horological history.
John Foss is known to have made both 8-day and 30-hour clocks. All of the current examples known to us are fitted with brass dials. Another example of his work is pictured in Distin & Bishops, The American Clock, on page 33.
