This maple case tall clock was made in Berwick, Maine, by Paul Rogers or perhaps one of his apprentices. 221186.
This is a fine maple-cased tall clock attributed to the Paul Rogers School of Quaker clockmakers in Berwick, Maine.
It is not unusual for New England clockmakers to be associated with a school of clockmaking routed in a centralized geographical area. During the Colonial era, the Roxbury school, for instance, was the most prolific and influential. Led by Simon Willard and joined by his family members Aaron, Aaron Jr, Ephraim, and Simon Jr, this school not only produced some of the most renowned clockmakers of the time but also set the standard for clockmaking in New England. The school's influence extended beyond its members, as it attracted numerous apprentices and journeymen, such as Elnathan Taber, William Cummens, Stephen Taber, Nathaniel Munroe, and James Doull. Other regions strongly influencing clockmaking are Southeastern, Massachusetts, Concord, New Hampshire, Norwich, Vermont, Newport and Providence, Rhode Island, Augusta, and Berwick, Maine.
In these centralized areas, a dominant figure often served as a Master to multiple apprentices. The Master trained his apprentices to build a clock in a specific manner or style, usually unique to the region. It was this influence that made the clock identifiable to the area. In Berwick, the Master was John Rogers. John was a prolific clockmaker who taught his son Abner Rogers (1777-1809), Reuben Brackett (1761-1867), and John Taber (1796-1859). Many of the clocks created in the Rogers school of clockmaking are identified by their movement design. These Berwick-made mechanisms were often constructed with iron frames, a distinct regional style. Rogers was a Quaker. This design change may have come from his inability to obtain brass or an attempt to use a less expensive material. It could be a combination of the two.
This attractive tall clock is identified by its iron-plated movement. The weight-driven movement is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It will also strike each hour on a cast iron bell mounted above the works on a stand. This movement differs in the design of the rectangular-shaped plates that frame the steel shafts, brass gearing, and recoil escapement. This movement features cast iron plates fitted with brass bushings holding the steel pinions. The plates are not solid brass. This is a construction characteristic of the Rogers School of Clockmaking. John Rodgers of Berwick, Maine, often used cast iron plates to construct many of his movements. He trained his apprentices to do the same. It is thought that this was done to conserve the use of brass, which was an expensive material to work with.
This iron dial is paint-decorated. The four spandrel locations and the lunette are decorated with colorful floral patterns. The design formatting lacks the traditional gilt borders. This provides more of a free-flowing artistic style. Dials like this one were popular in the Berwick area. Unfortunately, the artist has not yet been identified. It is interesting to note that it is numbered on the back in red, “No. 34.” The significance of this number is not yet known. The time is displayed in a traditional format, with large Roman numerals marking each twelve-hour. A dotted minute ring separates them from the Arabic five-minute markers. A subsidiary seconds dial is located below the Roman hour numeral XII. The steel hands are finely made and are an unusual design. This suggests that they were made locally. Note the crispness of the design.
This is a nicely proportioned country case tall clock. This case stands approximately 90.5 inches tall to the top of the brass center finial. It is 19.25 inches wide and 8.75 inches deep. This case is constructed of maple, and the secondary wood is white pine. The modern finish is clean and highlights the natural shading of the grain patterns.
The case stands on an applied bracket base. The molding and feet are applied to the base panel that extends to the floor. This area is shaded, which has the effect of a shadow. The waist section centers a tombstone-shaped waist door. This door features a molded edge and a door lock. The door provides access to the two drive weights and the brass-faced pendulum bob. A country construction detail worth noting is the multiple pegs used in constructing the waist framing and hood door. This bonnet features a pierced open fret-work pediment supported by three finial plinths. A ball-and-spiked finial is mounted on each. Fully turned bonnet columns terminating in brass capitals flank the bonnet door. This door is an arched form and is fitted with glass. It opens to access a locally painted arched dial.
Overall dimensions: 90.5 inches tall to the top of the brass center finial. The hood is 19.25 inches wide and 8.75 inches deep. The dial is 12 inches across.
This clock was made circa 1795.
Inventory number 221186.
Paul Rogers was born the son of Isaac and Lydia (Varney) Rogers on June 26, 1752, in Berwick, Maine. He was the youngest of eight children. He was a Quaker, more appropriately called a member of the Society of Friends. The Quakers were a sect known for their independence and devotion to hard work and had established small colonies throughout the more rural parts of New England. Paul is often recorded as a “Clerk” in their meeting minutes. Paul was a very productive clockmaker who worked at his trade for nearly forty years. Many of his movements are constructed with cast iron plates and brass wheels. A few notable apprentices that Paul trained include his son Abner Rogers (1777-1809), Reuben Brackett (1761-1867), and John Taber (1796-1859). Paul Married Deborah Hussey of Kittery, Maine, on August 30, 1774. They had nine children. After clockmaking, Paul became a hatter and made and sold many hats throughout the nearby Maine Villages. Paul Rogers died in 1818.
