An impressive burl walnut long case clock with automated brass dial signed “Johs UsWald, Amsterdam.”

Johs UsWald is listed in Brian Loomes Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World, as working in Amsterdam in the mid to late 1700’s. He is also listed in J. Zeeman’s book De Nederlandse Staande Klok.

The dial is brass and features a skillfully engraved silvered chapter ring. The hours are done in Roman numerals and the minutes are executed in an Arabic form. The Maker’s name and working location is engraved in the lower section of this chapter ring. This clock does not show subsidiary seconds. In it’s place is the lunar calendar and a phases of the moon display. This is colorfully painted. The day of the month is also located here. Below the center arbor one will find the day of the week displayed. Each day is paint decorated with a classical theme character. The interior mat is skillfully engraved and the winding arbors are ring turned. The arch section of this dial is wonderfully painted. It features a Dutch harbor scene that incorporates automation. With the motion of the pendulum the following occurs: 1) The five painted ships, all of which are flying Dutch flags, move side to side. 2) In the foreground of the ships are two mermaids. These are on opposite sides of the harbor. They appear in an alternating fashion as the surface above the waves. 3) One set of waves, the middle set, also moves side to side. All of this is done in front of a painted harbor scene. The metropolitan skyline reaches up to a beautifully painted sky. The time and strike movement is brass, eight-day duration and of good quality. It is a Dutch design and features a Dutch striking format. This movement has two separate bells. The hour is struck on the large bell at the hour. At the half hour, the coming hour is struck on the smaller one.

The case features outstanding woods. The burl walnut veneer exhibits excellent figure and has been thoughtfully laid out. Currently, it is in an older finish that is quite nice. The case proportions are excellent. This case stands on, or is raised on two large turned feet. They are applied to a boldly formed base molding. The base section features a full bombe' design on the front panel The side panels are straight. The entire base is highlighted with a delicate satinwood inlay designs. Some of which include baskets, florals birds, etc. The section is long and narrow having canted corners that accentuate the narrow proportions of the case. The nicely shaped waist door is bordered by an applied molding. This door centers an opening that is framed with a fancy gilt metal frame. A boy sitting a top of a bull is depicted in this location. The entire waist section is also finely inlaid. The bonnet is an arch molded stepped pediment that features a detail carving. The blind frets are backed in a darkly colored silk cloth. The bonnet door is arched at the top and is fitted with glass. Large bonnet columns that are decorated with brass capitals that are applied to the frame. Originally, the bonnet would have been surmounting by three figural finials. These are currently missing.

This clock was made circa 1770. In its’ present form, this clock measures approximately 95 inches tall to the top.