This is a late example of the Philadelphia Queen Anne style case. The clock dial is signed by John Wood and indicates that it was made toward the end of John Wood, Sr.’s career or by his son of the same name. John Wood, Sr. was an eminent clockmaker in Philadelphia working from the 1720’ s until his death in 1761. The clockmakers John Wood Sr., Peter Stretch and Joseph Wills are considered the three most significant Pennsylvania clocks makers of the first half of the eighteenth century. John Wood’s son, of the same name, was born in 1732 and was probably trained by and worked with his father in their workshop at Front and Chestnut Street and after his father’s death until his own death in the 1793 yellow fever epidemic.
The case features the Wood’s traditional use of high quality, figured walnut in the door and base front. The columns flanking the hood are free standing, rather than applied to the door as seen in earlier cases. The molding at the base of the trunk is of ogee form rather than the earlier cove form. The trunk door has concave cutouts at the top corners, also typical of the midcentury design. The case never had a sarcophagus above the top molding and is very original except for the feet. The movement began life in the case and is all original. As with many clocks residing in the Philadelphia area during the early nineteenth century, this clock was cleaned several times by the well-known John Pittman between 1814 to 1818. He was an itinerant clock cleaner who documented his jobs with chalk on the inside of the backboard of many clocks.
Item Date: Circa 1750-1760
Measurement: Height: 89"
Material: Case of walnut primary wood, Movement and dial of brass and iron.
Item Condition: Very good condition, the feet and the demilune molding above dial door were restored by the highly respected Alan Andersen. The front panel of the base displays a shrinkage crack. The clock is complete and runs well.
Provenance: There is a paper inside the case that states "This clock is the property/ of Rebecca Morgan Glover/ given to her by her aunt/ Agnes R. Banister in the year 1909. /Signed Agnes R. Banister” Agnes R. Banister received her diploma from Friends Central School in Philadelphia in 1879 which is in the Historical Society of Haddonfield, New Jersey archives.
Price: $12,000
SKU 843-542
For More Information, Please Contact David Hillier at 978-597-8084 or email drh@aaawt.com.
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