This is a fine mahogany tall case clock with a lovely painted dial signed by David Wood of Newburyport, Massachusetts. This clock was made circa 1805.

This fine country form features a mahogany case that retains an older finish. The case is supported on four simple pad feet. These raise the applied double step base molding up off the floor. The base panel features a boldly grained selection of crotch mahogany veneer. The waist of this clock is long and narrow. It features a tombstone shaped waist door. This door is also veneered in figured crotch mahogany. This is framed with an applied molding. The front corners of the waist section are fitted with fluted quarter columns that terminate in brass quarter capitals. These quarter columns run the entire length of the waist section. The bonnet features a swan’s neck pediment. The moldings are gracefully formed and terminate in carved wooden rosettes. These rosettes share the form of daisies. They help center a single brass ball and spiked finial. The bonnet columns are also fluted. They flank the arched bonnet door.

The iron dial is nicely painted. The four spandrel areas are colorfully decorated with floral designs. In the arch is a red breasted bird. It is surrounded with additional floral patterns. This dial is signed by the clockmaker. It reads, "David Wood Newburyport" below the calendar aperture. This is executed in a flowing script format.

The time and strike movement is of good quality. It is constructed in brass and features steel pinions. It is weight driven and designed to run for eight-days on a full wind and to strike each hour on a cast iron bell.

This clock stands approximately 7 feet 8.5 inches tall.

David Wood was born the son of John and Eunice Wood in Newburyport, Massachusetts on July 5, 1756. It is thought that he may have been apprenticed to either Daniel Balch Senior or one of the members Mullikan family. All of whom where prominent Clockmakers in this region. On June 13, 1792, David advertised that he had set up a shop in Market Square, near Reverend Andrews Meeting House, where he made and sold clocks. Three short years latter, he married Elizabeth Bird in 1795. It is becomes evident, that David Wood was also a Retailer. In 1806 he advertised that he had for sale “Willard's best Patent Timepieces, for as low as can be purchased in Roxbury.” In the year 1818 he and Abel Moulton, a local silversmith, moved into the shop formerly occupied by Thomas H. Balch. In 1824 he advertised that he had moved on the westerly side of Market Square opposite the Market House. After his wife's death in 1846, he moved to Lexington to live near is son David, who was a merchant in that town. It has become quite obvious to us that David Wood was a very successful Clockmaker and Retailer of Clocks. Over the last 40 plus years of being in the business of selling clocks, we have sold many examples of wall, shelf, and tall case clocks bearing this Maker’s signature on the dial.