A Pillar & Scroll shelf clock made by Seth Thomas in Plymouth, Connecticut. LL-119.
This classic American shelf clock carries the rich history of the Pillar & Scroll clock, introduced into the marketplace in the first quarter of the 1800s. It was designed for the fireplace mantels of America's colonial homes, a testament to our shared past. This wooden geared example features a pasted label that reads, "PATENT CLOCKS, / MADE AND SOLD / BY SETH THOMAS, / PLYMOUTH, CONN. / WARRANTED, IF WELL USED. The public may be assured that Clocks made at the above Factory, are equal, if not superior, to any made in the Country."
This fine mahogany case example is in good original condition. The wood has an unusual light tone enhanced by a shellac finish. The feet retain their original height. The design includes a spur return and a double-drop apron. On top of the case is the original scrollwork. The left horn is missing a small piece of veneer, which we will restore. The left horn has a crack. Three brass urn-shaped finials are mounted on tiger-maple veneered plinths. The front of the case is fitted with its original reverse-painted tablet. This colorful glass is in excellent original condition. A floral border frames the traditionally formatted pastoral scene. When the clock is running, the brass-faced pendulum bob flashes in the oval-shaped opening. The brass will flash at you when it passes from side to side. The upper section of the door is fitted with clear glass. One can view the wooden dial decorated with painted details and gilt work through this. The spandrel areas are decorated with floral themes bordered by applied gesso designs. A large urn is located in the center section of the dial. The urn is filled with flowers. This is an added bonus to the design. This clock is fitted with a wooden, weight-driven movement designed to run for thirty hours on a full wind. It also features a strike train to strike the appropriate hour on a bell mounted inside the case. The Clockmaker's label is pasted inside the case on the backboard.
This clock was made circa 1825 and stands approximately 30.5 inches tall. This is a very attractive example.
Inventory number LL-119.
Seth Thomas was born in Wolcott, Connecticut, in 1785. He was apprenticed as a carpenter and joiner and worked building houses and barns. He started in the clock business in 1807, working for clockmaker Eli Terry. Thomas formed a clock-making partnership in Plymouth, Connecticut, with Eli Terry and Silas Hoadley as Terry, Thomas & Hoadley. In 1810, he bought Terry's clock business, making tall clocks with wooden movements. Seth chose to sell his shares in the partnership in 1812, moving in 1813 to Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut, where he set up a factory to make metal-movement clocks. In 1817, he added shelf and mantel clocks. By the mid-1840s, He successfully transitioned to brass movements and expanded his operations by building a brass rolling mill and a cotton factory. In 1853, He incorporated the business but continued to be the majority shareholder. This clock business expanded until it became one of the "BIG Seven" in Connecticut. Their product line had offerings that competed at every price point, from kitchen clocks to precision regulators. Seth Thomas died in 1859. The community of Plymouth Hollow so revered him that they changed the name on July 6, 1875, to Thomaston in his honor. After his death, his son, Aaron, took over the company's leadership. Aaron is credited with increasing the business by adding a number of new case styles and improving production methods. The company went out of business in the 1980s.
