Images(5)

Tall case clock

Date1810

Artist/Maker William Dawes

OriginAmerica, New Jersey, Elizabethtown or Hackensack

MediumMahogany, tulip poplar, white pine, oak dark and light wood inlays; glass, brass, steel, lead and iron

DimensionsOH: 92"; OW: 19 1/2"; OD: 10 3/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1993-441,A&B

DescriptionAppearance:
Case: Tall case clock. The bonnet with a molded swan's neck pediment ending in pressed brass disks centering a ball-and-spire brass finial above an S-shaped plinth with alternating dark wood and light wood vertical inlay above a two-part inverted triangle of light and dark inlay placed in the center of the arched molding above the clockface door, all flanked by brass ball-and-spire finials with alternating dark and light wood vertical inlay below; the arched, hinged and glazed veneered door with molding above flanked by fluted columns with upper and lower brass capitals, arched windows are centered in the sides of the bonnet, the case below with alternating light and dark wood vertical inlay above a shaped door with a central inlaid urn and floral oval surrounded by light and dark wood oval stringing, all flanked by fluted quarter columns, above an inlaid oval with central light and dark wood flower motif surrounded by light and dark wood boxed checking and stringing creating a horizontal rectangular panel, the box base below with central light and dark wood inlaid conch shell surrounded by a circle of light and dark wood stringing and a square of light wood stringing with inset corners surrounds the circle, the molded plinth on straight bracket feet.

Dial:
White-painted arched metal dial measuring 12” W x 16 ½” H with a pair of blue birds and foliage painted in the arch, the geometric spandrels painted in red, yellow and gold enclosing a chapter ring painted with Roman hour numerals and Arabic minutes. Arabic seconds dial above and arched aperture with Arabic date below hour and minute hands. "William Dawes / Hackensack” signed in script below calendar aperture.

Movement description:
Eight-day brass time, strike, and calendar weight-driven movement measuring 6 9/16” H x 4 3/4” W. Plate thickness is 0.060 - .097” and clearance between front and back plates is 2.47”. The bottom of both plates have arched cutouts. Clock has an anchor-recoil escapement regulated by a seconds beat pendulum. A count wheel mounted to the strike main wheel sounds the hours on a 4.9” diameter cast bell.

Four brass pillars are riveted into the back plate and pinned at the front plate. The movement is fastened to the seat board by steel hooks that hook over the bottom movement pillars toward the front plate and are fastened under the seat board by nuts. The brass time and strike barrels are not grooved for weight cord management. All time and strike train wheels have four-arm crossings. The conventional motion work is uncrossed. The round steel crutch-rod has an opened end fork. The pendulum bridge base is an inverted isosceles trapezoid with a bowed bottom edge. It is fastened to the back plate with two square head screws and two locator pins. The bell stand is screwed to the outside of the back plate beneath the pendulum bridge toward the time side.

There are standard cast brass pulleys with riveted stirrups. The pendulum measures 43.5” end to end. The pendulum rod is round steel. The bob measures 3.6” in diameter and 0.9” thick at its center. It is cast lead with an applied polished brass face. The weights are cylindrical cast iron with cast in metal hooks and hemispherical bases. They are both 2 3/4” diameter and 9 ¼” long. They weigh 14 pounds each.
Label TextAccording to the handwritten label inside the case, this clock was purchased by Albert Zabriskie for $65 in 1810. Albert C. Zabriskie appears to have been the most likely owner, as he lived Hackensack, New Jersey, the same town named on the dial of the clock. When he died in 1841 he left his "Eight-day Clock," valued at $20, to his son Christian.

The clockmaker William Dawes was a silversmith and clockmaker who lived in Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), New Jersey. His wife, Sarah Miller, was the granddaughter of the Elizabethtown clockmaker Aaron Miller. In 1804 Dawes advertised in the JERSEY JOURNAL, "GOLD AND SILVERSMITHS. The subscribers take this method of informing the Public that they have entered into a line of their profession under the firm of Dawes and Woodruff in Elizabeth Town...where they carry on the different branches of CLOCK AND WATCH-MAKING and SILVER PLATING on the most accomodating terms..." The inclusion of "Hackensack" on Dawes' dial may be indicative of a retail trade rather than a shop location.
InscribedEarly 19th century paper inside inscribed in ink: "Albert Zabriskie Bought this Clock the 27th Day of September 1810. Price $65" with an illegible signature beneath.
In pencil on the inside of the backboard (near paper label) "Rep by/ W. T...p..ins [sp?]/ June 21 '06." This probably refers to 1906.
Pencil inscription on inside of trunk door "Rep".
MarkingsDial inscription: "William Dawes/Hackensack".
Printed paper label on inside of trunk door "OLD TIMERS/ CLOCK REPAIRS/GRANDFATHER SPECIALISTS/ (201) 262-2788/ ORDELL, N.J."
Printed paper label for Keno Antiques on inside of proper left side of trunk.

Exhibition(s)