Kennedy Miller of Elizabeth Town, New Jersey. Tall case clock. 29117.

This cherry case tall clock was crafted by Kennedy Miller of Elizabeth Town, New Jersey, circa 1800. Miller advertised on April 25, 1803, as a “CLOCK-MAKER. AND GOLD & SILVER SMITH.”

The case is constructed from cherry and retains a mellow patina. The bonnet features a swan's-neck form with high, delicate arches that terminate in carved wooden pinwheel rosettes. Three turned wooden finials are mounted atop finial plinths, with the central finial larger than those at the corners. The arched bonnet door is flanked by free-standing, smoothly turned bonnet columns and is fitted with glass. The waist section is long and narrow, fitted with a shaped waist door. The front corners of the waist are canted and terminate in lamb’s tongue molding. The base panel centers an applied panel trimmed with a simple molded edge. The front corners of the base are also canted and share the same details as the waist. The case stands on an applied bracket base, and the feet are well-formed and retain their original height.

The painted iron dial displays colorful floral motifs in each of the four spandrel areas, with additional floral decoration in the lunette. A painted bird is featured in the center. The dial is signed by the maker and includes his working location. The time track combines Roman and Arabic numerals and features five-minute markers, subsidiary seconds, and a day-of-the-month calendar.

The brass movement is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It strikes the hour on a bell mounted on a stand above the movement. The strike is actuated by a count wheel striking system mounted on the strike side winding drum.

This clock was made circa 1800 and stands approximately 7 feet 10 inches tall.

Inventory number 29117.