A fine inlaid cherry case tall clock made in Central Massachusetts. The dial is not signed. 216105.

This fine example exhibits wonderful narrow proportions and features a number of decorative construction details. The case is constructed in cherry and retains an older mellow finish. The coloring is warm and inviting. The case stands on applied bracket feet. The feet are wonderfully formed and are well shaped. The waist section is long and is fitted with tombstone shaped waist door. This door is trimmed around its' perimeter with a simple molded edge. Centered is an inlaid oval or patera. This design of alternating light and dark wood is comprised of sixteen separate pieces of wood in the form of petals. This is a very nice detail. The waist door opens to allow one access to the weights and pendulum. The sides of the waist feature long fluted quarter columns. Both of these terminate in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet is fitted with a distinctive pierced and open fret work pattern. The design features a cutout row below the stylized whale's tails pattern above it. Three fluted finial plinths help hold this fancy fret in place. The plinths are capped at the top and each supports a brass ball and spike finial. The hood columns are fully turned and fluted. They are free standing and mounted in brass capitals. The side of the hood feature oval shape side lights or windows. These are fitted with glass. The arched door is also fitted with glass and opens to access the painted dial.

This painted iron dial is very distinctive in the manner in which it is decorated. Note the colorful spandrel floral designs and their lack of a border or framing. The artwork is quite light and has a country or rural non-production feel. It was most likely painted by a yet unidentified itinerate artist that worked in the Worcester area. We have owned a number of other clocks with dials painted by the same hand. Two clocks come to mind. One was signed by Abel Stowell of Worcester and the other was signed by Luther Goddard of Shrewsbury. The flowers exhibited in the spandrel areas are very well done. A large rose is painted in the lunette. Roman style numerals are used to mark each hour. Arabic numerals are used for the five minute markers on the time ring. They are also used in the formatting of the subsidiary seconds dial and the calendar display.

The movement is brass and of good quality. It is designed to run eight days on a full wind. It is constructed in the traditional format in that it will strike each hour on a cast iron bell. The plates have a distinctively shape cut-out. This was most likely and attempt to conserve the amount of brass used in the construction of this movement.

This clock was made circa 1795 and stands approximately 7 feet 9.5 (92.5) inches tall. It is approximately 21 inches wide and 10.5 inches deep. It is inventory number 216105.

This clock did spend some time in its' past in central Massachusetts. Geo B. Jackson's pair label is pasted inside the case. He had a repair shop on Myrtle Ave. in Fitchburg, MA in the early 1900's.