A country case tall clock attributed to Jacob Willard of Ashburnham, MA. This example features a very unusual dial. VV-18.

The attribution of this clock being made by Jacob Willard is based on a signed clock recently found with a similar dial display that includes a very similar calendar arrangement and has the addition of tidal complications displayed. This newly discovered clock is signed on the dial, “Jacob Willard.”

It is interesting to note that such an unusual dial, a complicated dial from a wooden geared point of view, is housed in a case that is constructed simply. One would think that this insert would command a more sophisticated case design. This might suggest that this case was made locally to where the original purchaser of the movement lived. This clock was found within 30 miles of Ashby. A common practice in wooden geared tall clock sales was to sell the movement, dial, weights, and pendulum as a unit. The purchaser would then find a local joiner and have a case made locally. This is a good candidate for that practice. 

This case is constructed in pine and is presently in a dry natural finish. The color is now a pleasing light brown, which suggests age. It stands on an applied molding that wraps around the base. This molding rests flat on the floor. The waist section is long and simple, lacking corner decorations like quarter columns. It is fitted with a long rectangular waist door. Through this door, one can access the interior of the case. This includes the pendulum and the two original tin can weights. It is from this central location that this clock is wound. The bonnet features a swan neck pediment. This is unusual for an Ashby-made clock. The vast majority of clock cases that were made in the Ashby school of clockmaking tend to have fret-work decoration. This case exhibits several primitive construction details. The hood moldings are formed, and the hood door is simply constructed. Three turned wooden finials are positioned at the top of the hood. The center finial is in the form of an oversized acorn. Fully turned bonnet columns support the arch. They are free-standing. The hood door is fitted with glass.

This clock features a wooden dial. The back is treated with a red wash. The front is very nicely decorated. In the arch, one will find a basket of fruit displayed as the central theme. This is displayed within the brown painted oval. The four spandrels or corners are also decorated in brown. This unusual field of color provides a good background for the featured grape decoration, executed in gilt paint. These four spandrel areas of brown also frame the information part of the dial. The hours and minutes are displayed in a traditional format. The hours are indicated in Roman-style numerals. Within the time ring are three subsidiary dials. Here, the seconds, day of the week, and calendar day are displayed on separate dials. This is a very unusual combination. I can not remember the last time I have seen this calendar arrangement on a wooden geared clock.

The wooden geared movement is the construction one expects from the Ashby / Ashburnham clockmaking school. These wooden geared movements are designed to run for 30 hours on a full wind and strike the hour on a cast bell. They are weight-driven and must be wound daily by pulling on cords inside the waist of the case. The mechanism’s quality is excellent compared to other wooden geared examples of Connecticut origin. This is a latter example. The winding drums are divided so that the counterweight and drive weight cords stay separated. The wooden plates are supported by four posts. These posts are nicely shaped and extend beyond the plates on both sides. The extensions on the front of the movement double as dial posts. On the back side, they protect the count wheel striking system. 

This case stands 7 feet 2 inches tall and was made circa 1820. 

This example would be a wonderful addition to a house decorated with country tastes. 

Inventory number VV-18.