A mixed woods country case tall clock of New Hampshire origin. Rochester, New Hampshire region. 2508.

This is a fine mixed woods case comprising of maple, birch, mahogany, and pine. This clock stands on a simple cutout bracket base. The waist is fitted with a rectangular-shaped door. This door is trimmed with a delicate applied molding. The door is formatted with a cross-banded mahogany framing and features a veneered center panel of bird's eye maple. The bird's maple is naturally a lighter colored wood than the other case woods used. In addition, it features a very interesting grain pattern. Smoothly turned quarter columns are fitted into the front corners of the waist and terminate in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet is a fretwork form that is traditionally found in the New England states. This pattern was popular in New Hampshire. The three brass finials are period and are an interesting form. 

The painted iron dial is of Boston origin. These American manufactured dials became very popular in the early 1800s with American clockmakers. Prior to their introduction, the English painted dial was the standard. Spencer Nolen, a Boston ornamental artist, related to the Willards by marriage, developed a business to fill this need. This fine example features fruit in the arch and also in the four spandrel areas. The gilt work that surrounds the primary decoration is often raised up on applied gesso. This dial also displays the hours, minutes, seconds, and calendar date in the traditional format. The Hours are displayed with Roman-style hour numerals. The quarter hours are indicated with Arabic-style numbers at the outer edge of the time ring. This dial is not signed.

The clockworks are constructed in brass and is of good quality. It is weight driven and designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It is 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 clock stands 7 feet 2 inches tall and was made circa 1810. 

This is a very popular case form, and versions of it are often seen in the marketplace. We have owned and sold a fair number of clock cases that share a very similar design characteristic. Some of these have been signed examples. The names that we see in frequency are James Cole and John Cross of Rochester, New Hampshire. We have also seen similar examples by Jacob Jones of Pittsfield and Elisha Smith Jr. of Sanbornton, New Hampshire. 

This clock is inventory number 2508.