Eleazer Baker of Ashford, Connecticut. A unique tall clock with an inlaid cherry case, dated '1790' and numbered '12.' UU-107.
This significant clock, signed by Ashford, Connecticut clockmaker Eleazer Baker, is a window into the past. Dated '1790' and numbered '12,' this information was found during cleaning of the dial, engraved on the outer edges of the seconds dial. It testifies to the rich history of clockmaking in the Connecticut Valley region of New England, shaped by the skills and teachings of Thomas Harland and his apprentices.
The cherry case, adorned with intricate light wood inlays of maple and mahogany, stands on four shapely ogee bracket feet. The craftsmanship is evident in the eight-pointed inlaid star, which features alternating light and darker wood tones. The waist door is trimmed with a molded and banded mahogany edge.
The figure in the wood selected for this door is outstanding. Centered here is an inlaid patera. Fluted quarter columns are inset in the corners of the waist and terminate in turned wooden quarter capitals. Inlaid above the quarter columns are additional decorative inlays. The inlay selected for this feature is sand-shaded or slightly burnt on an edge. As a result, the panels appear three-dimensional. A nicely shaped molding follows the contour of the swan's neck pediment. These terminate in applied brass rosettes. The brass finials are mounted on fluted wooden plinths at the top of the hood. The center finial features a phoenix. Two fully turned and fluted bonnet columns flank the arched glazed door, which opens to allow one access to the dial.
This sheet brass dial is skillfully engraved. The decoration is elaborate. Engraved dials were popular in the Connecticut Valley region of New England, likely due to the clockmaking and engraving skills Thomas Harland taught his apprentices. Most notable is Daniel Burnap of East Windsor, Connecticut, who is thought to have engraved dials for other clockmakers. The Baker dial is made from a thin sheet of brass hammered flat by hand. The front surface is engraved with decorations filled with black wax or paraffin, and a silver wash is applied over the brass for contrast. This dial features a traditional time ring. Arabic numerals mark each five-minute interval up to sixty. These are separated from the Roman-style hour numerals by a segmented time ring. Nicely formatted steel hands indicate the time. The calendar display is below the center arbor. The subsidiary seconds dial is above it. The clockmaker's name is boldly engraved in the center. The "ASHFORD" working location is marked below the calendar dial. The following motto is engraved in the arch: "Time raped flyes inbrace it man / Alas thy life is but a span." Additional engraved decorations include long leafy vines, florals, swags, and trees. The artistry is first-rate. The dial is mounted to the movement using four posts secured to the dial's front by screws.
The movement is made of brass. The cast brass plates are nicely finished and supported by four traditionally shaped pillars or posts linked to the Harland/Burnap clockmaking school. The gearing is brass, the pinions are steel, and the winding barrels are grooved. The weight-driven movement is designed to run eight days on a full wind. This clock features a rack-and-striking snail system. It strikes the hours on a cast-iron bell mounted above the movement. Overall, it is of good quality. A wooden seatboard supports the movement in the case.
This clock was made circa 1790 and stands approximately 89.5 inches (7 feet 5.5 inches) tall to the top of the center finial.
Inventory number UU-107.
Eleazer Baker was born on December 17, 1764, in Tolland, Connecticut, and died on December 3, 1848, in Mansfield Center, Connecticut. His parents were Joseph Baker (1738-1804) and Lois Carpenter (1740–1808). He married Hannah Trowbridge in Pomfret, Connecticut, on April 12, 1787. Baker’s life and career coincided with a transformative period in American history, spanning the aftermath of the Revolutionary War and the early years of the new republic. The rapid economic expansion and increased demand for fine goods in post-colonial New England shaped opportunities for skilled tradesmen like Baker.
By 1791, Baker had begun taking on apprentices, such as Edmund Hughes, reflecting the traditional system of passing on specialized skills. His advertisement in the Windham Herald in 1793 as a clockmaker, watchmaker, and goldsmith underscores the importance of local artisans in meeting the needs of a growing population. Baker’s property acquisitions in 1794 and 1795 at the junction of the Boston and Hartford Turnpike placed him at an important crossroads of regional commerce, likely bringing him a diverse clientele. The house he built, which still stands today, serves as a tangible link to the era’s architectural and economic history.
Despite his prominence, relatively few of Baker’s clocks have survived, perhaps due to the limited production typical of rural craftsmen. However, several silver pieces—tankards, teapots, and porringers—have been found, attesting to the breadth and quality of his work. Baker’s career illustrates the adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit of early American artisans, contributing to the region’s material culture during a period of significant change.
