James Snelling of Providence, Rhode Island.

James Snelling, Providence, Rhode Island. Currently, very little is known of James Snelling. There is a vague reference that he was born in 1782 and died in 1828. It also suggests that he was at work in Providence from 1810 through 1828. I have had a difficult time confirming this. We do know that he signed the dial of a Massachusetts shelf clock. Based on the style of the case and dial, that clock was made circa 1815. It is most certainly a Boston example. The clock mentioned was a traditional Boston form and had a painted kidney-shaped dial painted by the Boston ornamental artist Spencer Nolen. As a result, we speculate that Snelling had connections to the Boston Makers on some level and most likely retailed that clock. Snelling may have owned a small shop or store in Providence.