A New England tall case clock in blue paint. A country clock. 213076.

This very colorful example is formatted in the traditional proportions that one would expect in a case made in the North Shore region of Massachusetts. This case is constructed in pine and features a very thin painted blue surface. This recreated surface is milk paint. This treatment has been recently applied to this case. Wear areas have been manufactured to simulate the feeling of an 18th-century painted case. This process has been very well done, and the color can be best described as “Robin’s Egg Blue.” 

The case stands up off the floor on applied bracket feet that retain their original height. The waist section is long and is fitted with a rectangular-shaped waist door. This door is trimmed with applied molding. Through this door, one can access the original tin can weights, brass rod, and brass-covered pendulum bob. The sides of the waist are fitted with smoothly turned quarter columns. These both terminate in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet features a traditional New England style pierced and open fretwork pattern. It incorporates three finial plinths and three brass ball and spike finials. The free-standing bonnet columns are turned smooth and mounted in brass capitals. The bonnet door is an arched form and is fitted with glass. This protects the painted iron dial.

This dial is colorfully paint-decorated. Interestingly, this dial lacks the raised gesso work traditionally found on imported dials from this period. This gesso work is often located on the borders of the spandrel areas and in the decoration found in the arch. As a result, the florals are presented in a slightly more free-flowing approach. The time ring features Roman hour numerals. Arabic five-minute markers are positioned above each hour. The nicely designed steel hands indicate the time. These hands are hand filed into a lovely pattern. This dial displays the seconds and calendar day in the traditional locations. 

The movement is constructed in brass. It is designed to run eight days on a full wind and is weight driven. This clock strikes the hours on a cast iron bell. It is good quality. 

This clock stands approximately 7 feet 6 inches tall and was made circa 1800.

It is inventory number 213076.