William Cummens of Roxbury, Massachusetts. A mahogany case timepiece having gilded frames. LL-5.
This is a fine mahogany case timepiece having gilded frames was made by William Cummens of Roxbury, Massachusetts.
The top of the clock is surmounted with a large finial. This finial is in the form of an eagle. It is a popular theme for this form. This finial is often found on a number of Boston origin timepieces. It is mounted on a nicely formed mahogany plinth. The bezel that surrounds the dial and the two side arms that flank the sides of the case are brass. The frames, lower box and throat, retain the original gilding and rope turned moldings. The frames are fitted with decorative reverse painted tablets that are original to this clock. They are colorful and match perfectly. The lower tablet features an Allegorical scene. This scene depicts a woman driving a chariot. This is being pulled across the sky by two exuberant horses. The sun is in the background and a opening is left open in the center. When the pendulum is in motion, one will be able to see this through this location. The flash of the brass bob attracts ones attention to the scene. The throat tablet features a traditional design. The painted iron dial features a Roman numeral time ring and a gilt inner ring. This dial is signed “Warranted by Wm. Cummens.” The time only movement is brass and designed to run eight days on a full wind. It is good quality and features a T-Bridge suspension and retains it’s original thru-bolt mounting. It is powered by it’s original lead weight that features a “Duckbill” hook.
This clock was made circa 1815 and is 33.5 inches long.
Over the years, we have owned a number of clocks signed by this Maker. Examples include similar timepieces, tall clocks and the Massachusetts shelf clock form. For collectors today, it has become increasingly difficult to find period banjo clocks with their original tablets. This is very good opportunity to own such prized possession.
Inventory number LL-5.
William Cummens was born in 1768 and died on April 20, 1834, at the age of 66. He worked in Roxbury as a clockmaker as early as 1789. He was trained by Simon Willard, along with Elnathan Taber, Cummens stayed in Roxbury and worked alongside the Willard clockmaking family for many years. Based on the large number of clocks that have survived, they must have had an excellent relationship with one another. In this Roxbury location, Cummens had direct access to the same suppliers, such as case makers and dial painters, that the Willard family used. As a result, his clocks are nearly identical in form. Cummens was one of the first persons authorized by Simon Willard to manufacture the new Willard Patent Timepiece. Over the past 55-plus years of being in the business of buying and selling clocks, we have owned and sold a substantial number of tall case clocks, Massachusetts shelf clocks, and wall timepieces signed by this important clockmaker.
