Simon Willard tall case clock with lunar calendar dial made in Roxbury, Mass. William Prescott, dial painter. 219114.

This handsome, tall clock epitomizes the formal "Roxbury" form popular in Boston during the late 18th century. These clocks were produced in the Boston borough of Roxbury. This region became well known for providing clock cases with choice-figured mahogany woods, pleasing proportions, and high-quality construction. This representative example was produced by the premiere Boston clockmaker Simon Willard. He was a highly prolific and innovative clockmaker and worked for a period that extended over sixty-five years. He was also responsible for training many clockmakers that became famous in their own right. In addition, he built and sold clocks to some of our country's most prominent citizens of the day.

This inlaid mahogany case exhibits excellent proportions and is decorated with line inlays. The case stands on four applied ogee bracket feet. These are applied to the double-stepped base molding. The font base is decorated with inlays. A single line of light wood, most likely holey, follows the shape of the base. The corners of this inlay pattern have been fitted with quarter fans. The fans are composed of five individual petals of wood. These petals are colored in an alternating pattern of light and dark. The waist section is long and narrow. It is fitted with a large tombstone-shaped waist door. This door is trimmed with applied molding. It is also decorated with a line inlay pattern. Brass-stopped fluted quarter columns flank the sides of the case. These terminate in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet features an open fretwork design, three fully fluted and capped finial plinths, and three brass ball and spire finials. Fully turned and brass stop fluted bonnet columns or colonnettes visually support the upper bonnet molding. These are mounted in brass capitals and are free-standing. The sides of the hood are fitted with side lights or windows. These are equipped with glass. The arched bonnet door is also line-inlaid and fitted with glass. This door opens to access the dial.

The painted iron dial is a locally made product. The back of the dial is signed by the Artist. His signature reads, "Willm Prescott No 12." This signature suggests that this is the twelfth dial he painted. The highest number recorded, to my knowledge, is No. 30. William Prescott is an elusive fellow. He was in business with Daniel Munroe Junior in Concord, Mass, in 1798. The partnership of Munroe and Prescott was dissolved on February 16, 1798. (Independent Chronicle. Boston, MA February 19, 1798. Paul Foley Source.) It appears he died in Concord 5 years later. The front of the dial is signed "S. Willard" in script lettering. The location of the signature is positioned just below the month calendar aperture. One will find a moon phase mechanism or lunar calendar in the arch of this dial. The lunar calendar or moon phase mechanism is a mechanical almanac. This feature was most likely made on special order due to the extra work involved in producing it. This display would have been valuable to a number of occupations during the colonial era. Farmers were known to track the moon phase to anticipate the days that offered the most available moonlight. A bright night would be more beneficial to them in scheduling the tilling and harvesting of their fields. Sailors and merchants track the lunar phases to know when the high tide would allow their ships to sail easily from a port or when the fishing might be best. Numerous religious groups had an almost superstitious litany of rituals best performed by lunar events. The lunar month represents an inconvenient interval of 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 2.8 seconds. A tall clock's lunar calendar is set constant at 29.5 days, which represents a complete cycle. As a result, a 9-hour setback is required at the end of a single year to keep the lunar display current. The four spandrel areas are decorated with colorful floral patterns framed with gilt designs. This fine dial also displays the hours, minutes, seconds, and calendar dates in the traditional locations.

This fine movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. Four-turned pillars support the two brass plates. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions and brass gearing. The winding drums are grooved. The escapement is designed as a recoil format. The weight-driven movement is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It is a two-train or a time-and-strike design, having a rack and snail striking system. As a result, it will strike each hour on the hour. This is done on a cast iron bell mounted above the movement.

This clock was made circa 1790 and stands approximately 8 feet 1 inch or 97 inches tall to the top of the center finial. When measured at the upper bonnet molding, the case is approximately 20 inches wide and 10.5 inches deep.

Inventory number 219114.