Ephraim Willard's tribute to George Washington. This Boston, Massachusetts, inlaid mahogany case tall clock, a significant piece of history, features George Washington's portrait in the lunette of the dial. DDD-42.
10/2024-98
DDD-42 Ephraim Willard's tribute to George Washington. This Boston, Massachusetts, inlaid mahogany case tall clock, a significant piece of history, features George Washington's portrait in the lunette of the dial. DDD-42.
This fantastic tall clock features a portrait of General George Washington in the lunette of the painted iron dial. An eagle, the symbol of inspiration, power, and longevity, is depicted carrying General Washington's portrait out of the storm and into sunnier skies. Washington is wearing his military Uniform, and a laurel wreath holds his hair back. The wreath is a symbol of triumph and achievement. General Washington was the leader of the Continental Army, an advisor to the creation of the U.S. Constitution, and served as our Nation's first president. Lacy gilt patterns raised on applied gesso decorate each of the four spandrel areas of this dial. Arabic numerals are positioned at the five-minute marker locations and are separated from the Roman-style numerals by a dotted minute ring. A subsidiary seconds dial is below the Roman hour numeral XII, and the calendar date display is below the center arbor. This dial is signed by the maker just below the calendar aperture. It reads "E. WILLARD." Nicely shaped steel hands display the time.
Behind the dial is the brass constructed eight-day time and strike movement, a testament to fine craftsmanship. It is designed to strike each hour on the hour on a cast iron bell that is mounted above the movement. This clock is weight-powered and wound with a key.
Boston tall clocks made in the Colonial period are as pretty as they get. Their form becomes the standard by which all New England clocks are judged. This is a fine example that exhibits excellent narrow proportions. The mahogany wood selected for the construction of this case is nicely figured and varies in coloration. The shellac finish presents the wood in a medium brown coloring. The cabinet is alive.
This early example is elevated on four applied ogee bracket feet. These are mounted below a double-stepped molding attached to the bottom of the base. The base is decorated with a line inlay that forms a box around the panel's perimeter. The corners of the inlaid box are fitted with a quarter fans comprising five individual petals. Each petal is sand-shaded on one side, providing visual depth to the inlay design. The base panel is nicely grained and positioned in a horizontal orientation.
The base's transition into the waist section is done with flared molding. This middle section is long and relatively narrow and accentuates the pleasing proportions of the case. The tombstone-shaped waist door exhibits an outstanding cascading grain pattern. The door is fitted with applied molding along its perimeter and is also lined inlaid in a design that conforms to the door shape. The waist door provides access to the interior of the case. The interior space provides a protected area for the two drive weights and the pendulum swing. The front corners of this case are fitted with fluted quarter columns that are stopped with brass and terminating in brass quarter capitals.
The waist section supports the hood section with a traditionally formed flared throat molding. This bonnet features a traditional pierced and open lacy fretwork design and is surmounted with three brass finials. Each of the finials is mounted on a capped plinth. The line inlaid bonnet door is arched and fitted with glass. The two smoothly turned, and brass stop-fluted bonnet columns are positioned on either side of this door. These are free-standing and mounted into brass capitals. They provide the illusion of supporting the upper bonnet molding. Tombstone-shaped sidelights are fitted into the sides of the bonnet. Each is equipped with glass and provides a view of the mechanism.
This clock was made while Ephraim lived in Boston before moving to New York. Based on the styling of this case, it would date to about 1804 and may have been one of the last clocks he made. It stands approximately 7 feet 11.5 inches tall to the top of the finial. It is approximately 19.5 inches wide and 9 inches deep.
Inventory number DDD-42.
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.
