Ephraim Willard of Boston, Massachusetts. A fine example of modest height, measuring 7 feet 4.5 inches tall to the top of the center finial. 222146.
Ephraim Willard of Boston, Massachusetts, made this inlaid mahogany case tall clock. It is an unusual example measuring under 7 feet 5 inches tall. Very few Boston / Roxbury clocks are constructed to this diminutive scale.
This fine inlaid mahogany case features an excellent selection of mahogany wood and veneers. The case design features line inlays forming box-shaped frames and inlaid quarter fans in each interior corner. The case is elevated on four ogee bracket feet that are applied to the bottom of the double-stepped molding. The base panel features a fine selection of mahogany that exhibits a long sweeping pattern in the grain. This panel is oriented horizontally and decorated with inlay. A thin line of light wood forms a frame. The quarter fans in each of the four corners of the line framing are comprised of six pedals. This decorative inlay pattern is repeated in the construction of the rectangular-shaped waist door. The perimeter of this door is trimmed with an applied molding. The sides of this case are fitted with inset fluted quarter columns that terminate in brass quarter capitals. The hood columns are stop-fluted with brass rods. A traditional pierced and open fretwork design and three brass finials are mounted on top of the molded arch. Each brass eagle finial is mounted on a fluted plinth. The plinths also help support the fretwork design. The bonnet door is in an arched form and is glazed. The door frame is decorated with a light line inlay. The two smoothly turned, and brass stop-fluted bonnet columns are positioned on either side of the bonnet door. They are free-standing and mounted into brass capitals. They provide the illusion of supporting the upper bonnet molding.
The iron dial is colorfully painted. Floral patterns decorate each of the four spandrel areas and this dial's lunette. The maker signs this dial just below the calendar aperture. The signature reads "E. Willard." This dial displays the time in a traditional format with large Roman-style numerals that mark the hours. Arabic numerals are positioned at the five-minute marker locations. A subsidiary seconds dial is below the Roman hour numeral XII, and the calendar date is indicated on a separate dial below the center arbor.
The eight-day time and strike movement is brass and of fine quality. It is designed to strike each hour on the hour. It strikes each hour a cast iron bell that is mounted above the movement.
This clock was made circa 1795. It is manageable, standing approximately 88.5 or 7 feet 4.5 inches tall to the top of the center finial.
Inventory number 222146.
Ephraim Willard was born in Grafton, Massachusetts, on March 18, 1755. His parents, Benjamin Willard and Sarah (Brooks) Willard, had twelve children. Four of the boys became clockmakers. Little is known of Ephraim's early life in Grafton, where he probably learned clock-making from his older brothers Benjamin and Simon. Simon Willard (1753-1848) was to become America's most famous clockmaker. Ephriam was also a clockmaker and most likely worked closely with Simon and Aaron. There is a notation in the History of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1704 to 1876, including Grafton until 1735; Millbury until 1813; and parts of Northbridge, Upton, and Auburn. This notation claims Ephriam's brother Simon was hired by Joseph Rockwell to construct a machine for cutting and crooking the teeth of a carding machine at the same time. It is recorded that Ephraim did march with his brothers in response to the Lexington Alarm on April 19, 1775. His service lasted all of one week and five days. In 1777, he took up residence in Medford, Massachusetts, and was listed as a clock and watchmaker. In 1784, a lawsuit identified him as a trader living in Boston. From 1795 through 1801, he is listed as a Roxbury resident in the Roxbury Tax Records. In 1801, he purchased land and a house on Sheaf's Lane in Boston. The deed for this transaction describes Ephraim as a "Merchant." Financial difficulties followed over the next two years, and Ephraim was described as a Clockmaker. In 1804, he is listed in the Boston Tax Records as a clockmaker on Elliot Street. In 1805 Ephraim moved to New York City and is listed occasionally as a watchmaker until 1832. Like his older brother Benjamin, Ephraim was a bit of a wanderer. His production as a Clockmaker was a fraction of what his three other brothers produced. A small number of tall clocks are known. The cases he selected to house his clocks range from simple and reserved to what is considered the best the Boston area cabinetmaker had to offer.
