Russell Cheney of Woodstock, Vermont. This inlaid and cross-banded mahogany-cased Shelf Clock with a kidney-shaped dial is numbered 53. 224111.
At present, only two signed Russell Cheney clocks are known to exist, both in the Shelf clock form. This clock, numbered 53, is one of these rare and exclusive examples, with The second residing in the esteemed New York Historical Society collection.
This attractive case is constructed in mahogany and is decorated with mahogany cross-banding and complex line inlay patterns. Flared French-style feet elevate the cabinet and form a nicely shaped drop apron across the bottom of the case. A line inlay, composed of a consecutive triangle pattern, separates the feet from the base. The base section is rectangular-shaped and trimmed with a subtle line of chevron inlay pattern. Centered in the base is an access door. This door is framed with a cock-beaded molding around its perimeter. The design of the panel is complex. It includes a cross-banded border. A line inlay pattern featuring ovolo corners frames the figured panel. A broad molding transitions the lower section of the case up to the hood. The top of the hood is fitted with a capped plinth and an urn-shaped brass finial. An unusual fretwork pattern supports the plinth. The hood frames are fronted with an inlay pattern alternating light and dark squares. The bonnet or hood door aperture is fitted with glass, and the door opens to access the dial.
This engraved brass dial, considered a 'Kidney' form due to its unique shape, is a significant feature of this clock. Creating this dial requires hammering the brass by hand into a thin, flat sheet and cutting out the general shape. The dial-maker would then lay out and drill the positions of the necessary holes for the three-movement posts, the location of the winding square, and the center arbor. Next, the engraver can lay out the time ring and add additional decorative work. These designs are then filled with shellac or wax, and the front surface is finished with a silver wash. The silver compound adheres to the exposed brass surfaces, thus creating a stark contrast between the applied silver and the dark black filler that remains inside the engraved decorations. This time ring is traditionally formatted. Arabic-style five-minute markers are separated from the Roman-style hour numerals by a dotted minute ring. Below the time display, within the wheat-ear oval, 'R Cheney / Woodstock 53' is engraved. The steel hour and minute hands' extend from the center arbor and will display the time.
The time-only movement is brass, eight-day duration, and is of good quality. Two brass plates are supported by four brass posts. The brass gearing is suspended on steel arbors fitted into the plates. The escapement is a recoil. A weight powers the works. This is a timepiece, yet it incorporates a passing strike. In other words, it will strike once each hour on the hour on a bell mounted above the works on a stand.
This clock was made circa 1810 and stands approximately 40 inches tall.
Inventory number 224111.
Russell Cheney was born on January 12, 1772, into a well-known and established clockmaking family. He was one of four clockmakers born to Benjamin Cheney 1725-1815 and Elizabeth Long Cheney in East Hartford, Connecticut. Benjamin most likely trained all four of his boys in the art of clockmaking. They all worked in locations on or near the Connecticut River. Asahel, the oldest son, was born in 1759 and worked in Northfield, MA, and the Vermont towns of Putney, Royalton, and Rochester. Elisha was born in 1770 and worked in Berlin and Middletown, Connecticut. He died in Roscoe, IL, in 1847. Martin Cheney was born in 1778. He worked in East Hartford, CT, Windsor, VT, and Montreal, Canada. Russell also moved north along the river. His First stop was in Springfield, MA, around 1800, and then he moved upriver into Vermont, where he worked in Putney, Thetford, and Woodstock. We currently speculate that he may have employed a journeyman clockmaker named P. Boynton while working in Vermont. In 1811, it was recorded that he moved back to Connecticut after abandoning his wife and children.
To date, we have recorded two clocks signed by Russell. Both examples are the Massachusetts shelf clock form and feature kidney-shaped dials. The other clock known is in the New York Historical Society collection. That mahogany case example features a painted dial and is also signed by Woodstock. The clock we owned is a higher-style design and features an engraved brass dial.
