Aaron Willard, Boston, Mass. Shelf Clock, ca 1815.
The case is die stamped "357" in four places. The majority of the 35 inches case is made of Tiger Maple; doors, top board, and bottom board are veneered mahogany over white pine secondary wood. The broken arch top, and fluted plinth, is made of solid mahogany and has a tiny chip on the cap, visible from the front but not conspicuous. The entire case has been refinished and is in excellent condition. The period brass finial may not be original to the clock, although we see similar finials on examples in Palmer's and Diston and Bishop's books. Original painted concave dish dial; minute hand replaced, both hands are cut steel. The brass movement is 8 day, time only, weight driven, completely overhauled and in good running order. Original weight, bob and rod. Has two superb eglomise panels, the upper with an original inscription, "Aaron Willard, Boston". The lower is a country scene painted by Lee Davis, on old glass, copied from an old Willard panel, and matches the top panel perfectly. The feet were professionally made and are exact copies of many originals shelf clocks. If this clock were all original we would expect it to bring near $30,000.
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