Nehemiah Dodge of Providence, Rhode Island. A wood-paneled wall timepiece or banjo clock. 222065.
This fine Federal mahogany case improved timepiece or "Banjo clock" was made by Nehemiah Dodge of Providence, Rhode Island, circa 1830.
The case is constructed in mahogany and features an older finish. The dark mahogany wood will contrast nicely against your lightly colored walls. The predominant design features of this clock are half-round mahogany frames fitted with mahogany veneered wooden panels and carved wooden sidearms. The dial bezel is also turned out of mahogany. This is fitted with glass. A shaped wooden plinth is fitted to the top of the case. This supports a brass finial.
The painted iron dial is signed "Nehemiah Dodge / Providence." This signature has been overpainted. The time ring is formatted with Roman-style hour numerals and a closed minute ring. The hands are nicely formed.
The time-only weight-driven movement is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It is brass construction and of excellent quality. The rectangular-shaped plates are secured by four turned brass pillars. The movement is mounted to the backboard with screws. The backplate is engraved with the Maker's initials, "ND," and also the number "6." This engraving is skillfully executed. Nehemiah Dodge is known to have signed other clocks in this manner.
This clock case is approximately 36 inches long to the top of the finial. It was made circa 1830.
Inventory number 222065.
Nehemiah Dodge was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, on December 16, 1774. His parents were Ezrah Dodge Sr (born abt. 1730-1786) and Susannah (Hotchkiss) Dodge (1733-died abt. 1820). Nehemiah was the half-nephew of the clockmaker Seril Dodge. Nehemiah is best known as a silversmith and worked in Providence from 1794 to 1824. When he moved to Providence in 1794, he worked with his Uncle Seril, who is credited with being the city's first jeweler. Seril retired two years later in 1796 and returned to his home state of Connecticut. Nehemiah continued the business and trained for a number of years as a silversmith under his master John Snow. Nehemiah's businesses underwent many changes, having as many as five partners. The most famous of which would have been Jabez Gorham of the Gorham silver family. Nehemiah is best remembered for developing a process for rolling gold. He is credited as being the first manufacturing jeweler in America, and it is largely because of his success that Providence developed into the center of jewelry manufacturing in the United States. He is generally regarded as the principal founder of Rhode Island's costume jewelry industry. He died in 1843. Nehemiah was inducted into Rhode Island's Heritage Hall of Fame in 1965.
Very few clocks are known to be signed by Nehemiah.
