David Wood of Newburyport, Massachusetts. A weight driven shelf clock. TT-75.
Newburyport, Massachusetts, certainly has its share of accomplished clockmakers. Names that quickly come to mind are Mulliken, Balch, and David Wood. This historic city is located on the South side of the mighty Merrimack River. The center of town is approximately three miles from the mouth of the river.
This is a very desirable Massachusetts shelf clock. The mahogany case features a lovely painted dial signed by the Clockmaker David Wood of Newburyport, Massachusetts. This example was made circa 1810.
The case is constructed in mahogany and retains an older finish and a wonderful mellow patina. It is supported by four flared French feet. They are delicately formed and raise the case off the shelf. The shaping transitions into a lovely apron hanging from below the base panel. The lower section is fitted with a door. Through this, one can access the time weight and the pendulum. This door is trimmed with a delicate molding. The wood selected for this panel features a grain pattern that makes a large quarter turn. This lowercase section's side or front corners are fitted with inset quarter columns. These are turned smooth and terminate in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet features a solid New England-style fretwork pattern mounted to the bold cornice molding. Three brass finials adorn the case. The center is mounted on a plinth. The arched bonnet door is lined inlaid and follows the form of the shape of the dial.
The iron dial is colorfully painted and of Boston origin. It was painted by the Nolen & Curtis partnership, formed in 1806. This partnership included Spencer Nolen and Samuel Curtis, who produced American-made iron clock dials that they paint decorated. Both were skilled ornamental artists and worked in the Boston area. This partnership was announced in November of 1806, and they would continue at the same location as the late Willard (Aaron) and Nolen firm. In September of 1807, Samuel Curtis and Spencer Nolen purchased a parcel of land in the northwest corner of Washington and Concord streets on Boston's Boston Neck. Here, they continued to manufacture and paint dials for numerous clockmakers. In 1817, Spencer Nolen moved south to Philadelphia and maintained their partnership until 1822. They are listed in the Philadelphia Directories during this time period.
In the arch of this dial is a gilded urn decorated with bright red swags, green leaves, and gilt forms, some of which are raised on applied gesso. The four spandrel areas each feature apples, framed by raised gesso designs highlighted with gilt designs. This dial is signed "D. WOOD." This is executed in a block format. The time track is framed in gilt bands and features Roman-style hour numerals. The iron hands are hand-filed and wonderfully formed.
The brass movement is of good quality. It is weight-driven and designed to run for approximately two and one-half days on a full wind. The gearing is brass. The shafts and pinions are steel. The pendulum swings from the back.
This clock stands approximately 37 inches tall. It is approximately 12.25 inches wide and 6 inches deep. It was made circa 1810.
Inventory number TT-75.
David Wood was born the son of John Wood (1727-1805) and Eunice (Fellows) Wood (1737-1801) in Newburyport, Massachusetts, on July 5, 1766. It is thought that he may have been apprenticed to either Daniel Balch Senior or to one of the members Mulliken family. All of whom were prominent Clockmakers in this region. David advertised in the Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet on June 13, 1792, that he had set up a shop in Market Square, near Reverend Andrews Meeting House. Three short years later, he married Elizabeth Bird (1769-1846) of Newbury in 1795. It has become evident that David Wood was also a Retailer. In 1806 he advertised that he had for sale "Willard's best Patent Timepieces, for as low as can be purchased in Roxbury." In 1818, he and Abel Moulton, a local silversmith, moved into the shop formerly occupied by Thomas H. Balch. In 1824 he advertised that he had moved on the westerly side of Market Square opposite the Market House. After his wife's death in 1846, he moved to Lexington to live near his son David, who was a merchant in that town.
It has become quite obvious to us that David Wood was a very successful Clockmaker and Retailer of Clocks. Over the last 35 years of being in the business of selling clocks, we have sold many examples of wall, shelf, and tall case clocks bearing this Maker's signature on the dial.
