Tall case clock

Date1780-1790

Maker David Evans

MediumMahogany, yellow pine, tulip poplar, glass, iron, and brass

DimensionsOH: 97 1/2"; OW: 20"; OD: 10 3/4"

Credit LineGift of Mr. & Mrs. William H. Murdoch, Jr.

Object number1969-224,A

DescriptionTall case clock with high broken arched and scrolled hood, the scrolls molded and terminating in carved rosettes; three turned flame finials, plain at rear, the side finials mounted on short, square columns with reeded front face, the center finial mounted on semi-cylindrical, tapering, reeded pilaster; area between scrolls partially filled with plain boards; broad cove molding beneath pediment on front and sides; arched door at front below arched molding with central, square keystone; door glazed and opened at right with small brass pull at left; straight rectangular sides with central rectangular glazed panel with pointed arched top; sided flanked by pair of free-standing, cylindrical plain columns; removable hood terminates in plain molded base; top of trunk surrounded by broad cove molding; straight sides with fluted quarter columns at front corners; plain, rectangular door at front with molded edge; cove molding above 'square' base with plain sides; the front of base with applied molding at center with inverted corners; applied base molding; clock supported on four ogee bracket feet.

Dial:
One piece, white, painted arched metal dial measuring 12” W x 16 ¼” H. Dial is 0.045” thick. Gilt spandrels at dial corners. Painted flowers in pink, blue and green in arch. Roman numeral chapter ring with Arabic minutes at 5 minute increments. Arabic seconds dial with 10 second increments centered below XII. Calendar in arched aperture with gilded border between gilded winding holes. “David Evans/ Baltimore” in cursive below calendar aperture. Hands are cast. Second hand has split tail.

Movement description:
Eight-day brass time, strike, and calendar weight-driven arched movement measuring 6 5/8” H x 4 3/4” W. The arch is 1.4” H x 3.7” W. Plate thickness is 0.111” and clearance between front and back plates is 2.3”. Clock has an anchor-recoil escapement regulated by a seconds beat pendulum. A rack-and-snail strike sounds the hours on a 4.1” 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 seat board screws threaded into the bottom pillars. The brass time and strike barrels are not grooved for the weight cords. All time and strike train wheels have four-arm crossings. (Conventional motion work has three-arm crossings.) The round steel crutch-rod has a closed-end fork. The pendulum bridge base is a butterfly shape. It is fastened to the back plate with two screws. The bell stand is screwed to the outside of the back plate under the left side of the pendulum bridge. The strike hammer head is pyramidal in shape.

There are standard cast-brass pulleys with riveted stirrups. The overall length of the pendulum is 44 1/8”. The pendulum rod is steel. A square nut adjusts pendulum length. The bob is cast lead with a polished brass face. It is 4.7” diameter and 1” thick at its center.
MarkingsSigned in black paint on dial: David Evans/ Baltimore"
ProvenanceBy tradition, this clock and table 1968-734 descended from the Custis family to "Light Horse" Harry Lee of Westmoreland Co., Virginia, then to the Stubbs family of Williamsburg and later Gloucester Co. It passed through several hands to dealer J. M. Rich of Norfolk, from whom the table was acquired by CWF in 1968. Mr. Rich indicated that he acquired the dressing table 1968-734 from the Mitchell family, but the clock from Mr. Jones who apparently was the brother of Mrs. Mitchell.