David Williams. A mahogany cased tall clock made in Newport, Rhode Island. II-72.
This case is primarily constructed of mahogany, with New England white pine used as a secondary wood. The case stands on four nicely shaped or flared French feet. A well-formed apron extends from the center of the base panel. This panel is cross-banded with mahogany veneer. The waist section is long and narrow, accentuating the fine proportions of this example. The sides of the waist are fitted with reeded quarter columns that terminate in turned wooden quarter capitals. The rectangular-shaped waist door is framed by a cock-beaded molding around the outer edge. The panel is framed with a cross-banded border. The featured selection of veneer exhibits a grain pattern with long sweeping lines. The bonnet features a traditional New England-style fretwork pattern. This lacy pattern is nicely pierced and supported by three finial plinths. Each of these is capped at the top and supports a single brass ball and spike finial. Large rectangular-shaped glazed windows are positioned on the sides of the hood. Through these, one can inspect the clockworks. Fully turned bonnet columns ending in turned wooden capitals flank the bonnet door. The bonnet door is arched and glazed. It opens to a very colorfully paint-decorated dial.
This iron dial is skillfully paint-decorated and features traditional themes for the period. It is a Boston-made product from the dial house of Spencer Nolen. The four spandrel areas are decorated with cross-hatched patterns, a beaded, curved line that is gilded, and three gilded leaves set over a green background. This is a complex design. In the arch is a red ornament. Colorful branches and swags frame the central decoration. This dial is signed below the calendar aperture by the Maker. The signature is now somewhat faded. It was originally signed boisterously. The signature is quite large in scale. It reads “David Williams / Newport.” The time track is traditionally formatted. The hours are displayed in large Roman-style numerals. The five-minute markers are indicated in an Arabic format. This dial also displays the seconds and the date of the month. The dial is attached to the movement via a false-plate mounting system. The false plate is made from thin cast iron.
This fine movement is constructed in brass and is of good quality. Four-turned pillars support the two brass plates. Hardened steel shafts support the polished steel pinions and brass gearing. The winding drums are grooved. The escapement is designed as a recoil format. The movement is weight-driven and designed to run eight days on a full wind. It is a two-train or time-and-strike design with a rack-and-snail striking system. As a result, it will strike the hour. This is done on a cast iron bell mounted above the movement. This clock is fitted with cast iron drive weights and its original wooden rod and brass-faced pendulum bob.
This fine clock was made circa 1805 and stands approximately 8 feet tall to the top of the center finial.
Inventory number II-72.
David Williams was born in Rochester, Massachusetts, on March 29, 1769, to John Williams (b. 1731) and Mary (Peckham) Williams of Middletown, Rhode Island (b. 1733). Williams was a Quaker. The identity of his clockmaking mentor remains unknown. By 1800, he was likely working in Newport, where his shop was located at the corner of Duke and Queen Streets. In 1811, he relocated his business to the north side of Parade, ten doors above his previous location, in a shop most recently occupied by Zenas Fearing. In 1818, Williams moved again to 56 Broad Street. Throughout this period, he appears to have maintained a retail outlet in Providence. Williams was among the most prolific clockmakers in Rhode Island. Numerous tall clocks, Massachusetts shelf clocks, and banjo clocks produced by him have been documented. Notably, probate court records indicate that John Young crafted the banjo clock cases for Williams. David Williams died in Newport on June 29, 1823, at the age of 54.
