Luther Goddard of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. An inlaid mahogany cased tall case clock of an unusual design. 220005.
This well-proportioned tall clock case is constructed in mahogany, and New England white pine is used as a secondary wood. The case design features a full complement of inlays. These are comprised of mahogany veneers and lightwood selections that exhibit a strong contrast in color. The case retains an excellent older finish mellowed into a rich patina.
This case stands on a cutout bracket base. Four feet raise the case off the floor. These are applied to a double-stepped molding secured to the base on three sides. The base panel is trimmed with a broad cross-banded mahogany border. The wood selected for this location was chosen for the variation in its color. Each of the four interior corners of this cross-banded frame is fitted with large quarter fan inlays. Each fan is constructed with four individual petals. They are sand shaded on one edge to provide visual depth. A mahogany banding conforms to the shape inside the fans and the outer frame. This banding is also used to form a diamond-shaped interior design which centers a full patera in the center of the panel. This patera is constructed with 16 individual fan-shaped blades. One edge on each blade is shaded. Below the lower waist molding is an inlaid dropped apron resembling a scalloped pattern. This detail is traditionally constructed in clock case construction by applying the scalloping on top of the panel. It is unusual to see it inlaid. The waist molding is complex and transitions the base section up into the waist. The waist section is fitted with a large tombstone-shaped waist door. This door is formatted with a molded edge, a cross-banded framing, a thin light line inlay, and a section of mahogany that is nicely striped. In the arch of this door is an additional inlaid fan. The center of the door features a patera. This patera has blades that feature straight sides. In the lower section of the door is a pattern of inlay that is best described as stylized arrows or darts. This is a pattern or decorative detail I have not seen before in furniture design. One can access the two drive weights and brass-faced pendulum bob through the waist door. The corners of the waist are fitted with very unusually formed columns. These three are dimensionally shaped and are lined inlaid along their full length. They terminate in shaped wooden capitals. Above the columns, the case is inlaid with a bookend pattern. The bonnet or hood features a non-traditional form. Shaped moldings are formatted to form twin peaks in the place of fret-work. The visual effect is striking. The area created below this is decorated with inlays that include cross-banding, light line framing, two-bladed quarter fans, and two stars. A central inlaid final plinth supports a brass finial in the center of the case. Two additional finials are positioned on the outer corners of the hood. Fully turned and lined inlaid bonnet columns visually support the upper bonnet moldings. These are mounted in brass capitals and are free-standing. The sides of the hood are fitted with diamond-shaped side lights. These are trimmed with applied moldings, and opens are fitted with glass. The arched bonnet door is veneered. It is fitted with glass and opens to access the painted iron dial.
This imported English dial, having a Wilson false plate, features a moon phase or lunar calendar mechanism in the arch. The time track is done in two separate formats. The hours are indicated in Roman numerals. The five-minute markers are painted in an Arabic form. A subsidiary seconds dial and month calendar are inside the time ring. The four spandrel areas are colorfully decorated with colorful florals.
This fine movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. Four-turned pillars support the two brass plates. These pillars are unusual in that they incorporate a cone design in their structure. Other Goddard movements are known for the same post-shaping. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions and brass gearing. The winding drums are grooved. The escapement is designed in 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. The snail is unusual in that it is constructed with a series of pins mounted in the hour gear. This clock will strike each hour on the hour. This is done on a cast iron bell mounted above the movement.
It stands approximately 92.5 inches or 7 feet 8.5 inches tall to the top of the center finial. At the upper bonnet molding, this case is 21 inches wide and 11.25 inches deep.
Inventory number 220005.
Luther Goddard was a Clockmaker, Watchmaker, Silversmith, Jeweler, and Baptist Minister. He worked in Grafton, Shrewsbury, and Worcester, Massachusetts.
Luther Goddard was born February 28, 1762, the fourth child of Daniel and Mary Willard Goddard in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Mary Willard was the sister of Benjamin Willard, father of the clockmaking brothers Benjamin, Simon, Ephraim, and Aaron. That made him the cousin of Simon Willard, the clockmaker, and he is thought to have trained or, more appropriately, apprenticed under him as early as 1778 at the age of 16. This indenture is believed to have lasted five years through 1783. He is then recorded as working in Shrewsbury from 1784 through 1817 as a clockmaker, watchmaker, and as a silversmith. In 1784, Luther married Elizabeth Dakin on June 19. They had at least two children that worked in the clock, watch, and silver trades. Parley Goddard, born in 1787, began training under his father in 1800. His brother Daniel, born in 1796, started training when he was 13. It is thought that Luther also trained his second cousin Nichols Goddard, born in 1773 and died in 1823. Nicholas becomes one of Vermont's most prolific clockmakers working most of his life in the town of Rutland. In 1803, Luther formed what must have been a brief partnership with James Hamilton as Goddard & Hamilton. It is recorded that in 1807, Luther attended the estate sale of the Norwich, Connecticut, clockmaker Thomas Harland. Here, he is said to have purchased a set of clockmakers tools. In 1809, he relocated his shop to Shrewsbury Hill. His shop is said to have been about 18 feet square. It was one story and had a hip roof. It also had a lean-to attached to the back for the casting process. It is in this location that he began to manufacture pocket watches and is credited with making the first American watch and also as being the first American to make a significant attempt to make watches in quantity. His lifetime output of watches is estimated to be approximately 600. His silvered-cased examples are thought to have originally sold for approximately $60. This would have been about the same cost as a tall case clock. Today, his watches are prized by collectors. This first watch venture included his son Parley under the firm name of Luther Goddard & Son. Their timing was pretty good as imports were blocked by Jefferson and the "Jefferson Embargo" during the War of 1812. By 1815 the market was again flooded with imports, and the watch business slowed. It is thought they produced approximately 600 or so watches by 1817. Some of the other firm names that were related to this venture are "Luther Goddard," "L. Goddard & Son," "L&P Goddard," "L. Goddard & Co.," "D&P Goddard & Co.," etc... It is reported that Luther recruited several associates to help him build watches. Some of these were said to have been former British soldiers that trained in Europe before the War and remained here because of the new country's opportunities. Luther trained a number of apprentices too. One was William Keith, who later became an executive at the Waltham Watch Co. A second was Jubal Howe, who later moved to Boston to ply his trade. Luther trained Aaron Dennison, who would later worked with Edward Howard. Dennison and Howard produced the first factory-made watch in this country. In 1817, Luther moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, with his son Daniel and continued to repair watches and clocks, silversmithing, and preached as a Baptist minister. This shop was located on Main Street across from Daniel Waldo's store. Luther died in Worcester on May 24, 1842, at 81.
