$38,513
Simon Willard Mahogany Tall Clock, Roxbury, Massachusetts, c. 1795, with pierced fret top, arched and glazed hood door flanked by brass stop fluted free-standing columns with Corinthian capitals, 16-in. painted iron "Osborne" dial signed Simon Willard, Roxbury , Roman numerals and painted spandrels depicting the four seasons, inlaid rectangular waist door flanked by brass stop fluted quarter columns, remains of Simon Willard label printed by Joseph Russell pasted on backboard, inlaid base with ogee feet, eight-day brass time and strike movement with recoil escapement and second's beating pendulum all powered by two tin-cased weights, ht. 97 in. (without a central finial). Note: Large dial Simon Willard tall clocks are exceedingly rare and possibly intended for use in public assembly rooms. A related example now at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is illustrated in Husher and Welch, A Study of Simon Willard Clocks , p. 228. For the other known example see Christie's Fine American Furniture, October 21, 1989, lot 394. See photo of this dial with lot 453. No significant repairs, replacements or restoration. Lacking a matching central brass finial, other finials appear to be period, imperfections on case, particularly in the base section needing re-gluing, 2-in. wide batton on backboard in the hood section is a replacement, one rear triangular glue block is a replacement, label possibly once on waist door, now partial and pasted on backboard, fret plinths and feet are th Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2011-07-16
