Daniel Munroe Jr. Boston, Massachusetts. A wall timepiece featuring gilt frames. Banjo clock. 219038.
This very interesting timepiece was made by Daniel Munroe Jr. of Boston, Massachusetts. The clock case is constructed in mahogany and features gilded frames. These frames are unusual in that they were never fitted with rope moldings. All of the gilding is original to this example and is in an excellent state of preservation. The decorative finial is brass and mounted on the shaped mahogany plinth at the top of the case. The dial bezel is cast in brass and decorated with 15 brass balls. This design element is more commonly found in the Girandole form made famous by Lemuel Curtis of Concord. The bezel is also fitted with a convex clear glass covering the dial. The head of the clock case is constructed with the "Concord cut-out." This design cuts enough wood from the head of the case in order to mount the movement. This suggests that the case was purchased from Daniel's brother, William Munroe, who was still living and working in Concord. The glue-blocking placement in the interior of the lower box is consistent with other examples signed by this Maker. The throat frame is mounted to the case. Two screws are used at the bottom of the throat and go through the front of the frame. A tab slides under the dial to keep the top section secure. Brass side arms flank the throat section of the case. These are hand filed, lightly formed, and pinned to the case in three locations.
The enameled iron dial is a slightly convex shape. It is hand-painted and features a minute track. Roman-style numerals mark each hour. The hour and minute hands are made of steel. They feature an interesting shape.
Both of the frames are fitted with paint-decorated glass tablets. These egloimise tablets are hand-painted with a very high level of skill and are quite colorful. They are in excellent condition having only very minor areas of restoration. The most significant of which is the green border on the lower tablet. This border has been restored. The lower tablet depicts an allegorical scene. It is Aurora in her chariot and is so titled. Aurora is the goddess of the dawn. In mythology, she renews herself daily as she flies across the sky, announcing the sun's arrival. Her chariot, fancifully formed, is being pulled by two white-winged horses. This scene is framed with a border. The center of the tablet is left undecorated so one can view the pendulum's motion. The brass-faced bob will cross behind this opening when it is swinging. Painted radiants originate from this location. The throat decoration is also framed in this same border. The center of the design features a number of colorful floral patterns. The Clockmaker signs the throat tablet in the banner located at the bottom. The signature reads, "D. MUNROE."
The time-only weight-driven movement is an eight-day brass construction design. It is weight driven and designed to run eight days on a full wind. The movement construction features large rectangular-shaped brass plates. The teeth in the gear train are deeply cut. The pendulum is supported by a T-bridge suspension. The movement is mounted to the back of the case with a single screw that is fastened from the back of the case.
This very attractive Federal Massachusetts Timepiece or 'Banjo clock' was made circa 1815. This clock measures approximately 34 inches long.
Inventory number 219038.
Daniel Munroe Jr., Clockmaker and silversmith, was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, on July 13, 1775. Daniel Munroe senior and his wife Abigail Parker had five sons that they raised in Roxbury. The Munroe family is well connected to American History and the clock trade. Daniel senior's father, Jedediah Munroe, died in the Battle of Lexington. Daniel's mother, Abigail Parker of Roxbury, was the eldest daughter of Jonathan Parker. Jonathan, a farmer living in Roxbury, was one of the 13 Patriots who participated in the Boston Tea Party. This act of defiance against British rule and their taxation policies took place on Griffin's Wharf on December 16, 1773.
Daniel Jr. was trained in the art of clockmaking by America's most famous Clockmaker, Simon Willard, in Roxbury. Daniel served the traditional seven-year apprenticeship. Simon wrote in a letter dated July 13, 1796, that described Daniel as "... one of the best workman in America." After serving his apprenticeship, Daniel worked for a short time as a journeyman clockmaker in Willards Roxbury clock shop before moving to Concord, Massachusetts, sometime before 1798. Here he kept a shop opposite the Clothing Mill and worked as a clockmaker and silversmith. There are a small number of clocks known that are signed by Daniel that are thought to have been made during this brief period of working alone in Concord. From 1798 through 1804, the three Munroe brothers formed a partnership. Nathaniel was also a clockmaker. William was a skilled cabinetmaker. The business was called Daniel Munroe & Co. and operated as such until William left the partnership in 1804.
A fair number of clocks exist today that bear this partnership's label. This label is located inside the case. It is pasted to the inside of the waist door of their tall case clocks. William was a cabinetmaker and left the partnership in 1804. On November 29, 1804, William married Sarah Dakin (1781-1856) in Concord. The clockmaker partnership between Daniel and Nathaniel lasts another three years. In 1805, Nathaniel went to Norfolk, VA, to promote their business. The labels on their tall clocks often reflect this. They mention that their clocks could be shipped. In 1807, Daniel moved back to Boston and opened a shop located at 51 Newbury Street. While in Boston, he advertises at several different Boston addresses, including No. 51 Ann Street, in 1809. In 1811 he was located at No. 35 1/2 Cornhill Street, and from 1813 through 1814, Daniel formed a partnership with Ezekiel Jones as Munroe & Jones. By 1816, Daniel was working at No. 47 Cornhill Street, then in 1823, he moved to No. 38 Congress Street. Interestingly, very few tall clocks are known that are thought to have been made during his return to Boston. In 1839, he moved to New York City. He then moved back to Boston from 1841 through 1856. Daniel died in Boston on October 21, 1859.
