$8,888
Mahogany Patent Timepiece or "Banjo Clock" by Simon Willard, Roxbury, Massachusetts, c. 1805-10, painted iron dial with Roman numerals, gilt banding, and leafage around center arbor, gilded rope molded frames and reverse painted glasses, both inscribed Patent and with gilt hatch work on a red ground, the throat flanked by brass side ornaments and at the base, a gilded pedestal, eight-day timepiece movement with "T-bridge" pendulum suspension, step train and through bolts for case attachment, regulated by a pendulum and powered by a lead weight faintly inscribed S Willard , ht. 40 in. A closely related example is shown in Paul J. Foley, Willard Patent Timepieces , p. 21. The present example was found in England and apparently has been there for much of the 20th century. A repair ticket and inscriptions on components trace the clock to a "Mr. Jones of 4065 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia", circa 1870. Overall, a very respectable clock. Both glasses are the originals, dial undisturbed, some slight cleaning to gilding, finial and acorn on pedestal are a replacements, minute hand mended, throat glass frame tongue restored to fit under dial and brass tabs added to the lower section to secure frame to case, replacement pendulum tie-down, center wheel is a replacement.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2010-11-20
