This fine Federal Vermont timepiece or banjo clock was made in Burlington, Vermont circa 1825 by Lemuel Curtis & Joseph N. Dunning. 217103.
This fine Federal Vermont timepiece or "Banjo clock" was made in Burlington, Vermont, circa 1825 by Lemuel Curtis & Joseph N. Dunning.
This is an excellent example that is constructed in mahogany. The acorn-shaped finial, frames, and presentation bracket are treated with a gilded finish. The detailing is quite nice. Please note the pineapple drop finial under the bracket, the nine-turned balls, and the rope moldings fitted into the frames. These details are time-consuming to make and are an indication of this being a special model. The frames are fitted with reverse-painted tablets. The tablets are very colorful and feature traditional themes. They are original to this clock and have undergone some minor restoration. The lower tablet depicts a nautical scene. As many as five sailing ships are depicted. One of which is flying an American flag from its stern. This is appropriate for this partnership since Burlington, Vermont is located on the eastern shore of Lake Chaplain. The center of the throat design features a decorative floral pattern. Both tablets exhibit a very high level of artistic skill and are framed in a similar border. The bezel and the pierced side arms are cast in brass. The bezel is fitted with a clear piece of glass and opens to a paper dial that is signed by the clockmakers.
This paper dial is applied to an iron backing. It is wonderfully signed by the clockmakers. The signature reads, "WARRANTED / By / Curtis & Dunning." This partnership used paper dials for a number of years, shortly after moving from Concord to Burlington. Because these dials are paper, they often have discolored slightly, showing evidence of being approximately 190 years old. A small number of these survive today. This dial is in outstanding condition. The time track is formatted with large Roman-style hour numerals. The minute ring is closed. The original "moon" form hands, a form typical of Curtis and Dunning clocks, are steel and lightly hand-filed. They mounted to the center arbor.
Behind the dial is a brass movement that is weight driven and is designed to run for approximately eight days on a full wind. The movement is secured to the back of the case with a single screw. The pendulum features a "Concord" style keystone and a brass-faced bob.
This clock was made circa 1825 and measured approximately 41 inches long overall. It remains in very good original condition.
Inventory number 217103.
The partnership of Curtis & Dunning was comprised of Lemuel Curtis and Joseph N. Dunning. It was formed in 1820 in Concord, Massachusetts, and moved to Burlington, Vermont, in 1821. Their shop in Burlington was located at the corner of Church and College Streets in the Thomas Hotel. They worked there in collaboration until 1832. While in Burlington, they worked as clockmakers, silversmiths, and jewelers. Over the last 50-plus years of business, we have bought and sold numerous examples of their work. They produced several timepiece forms, including banjo, tavern, girandole, lyre wall clocks, regulators, and even shelf models.
Lemuel Curtis was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, on July 3rd, 1790. He was the son of Samuel and Sarah Partridge Curtis, whose sister married Aaron Willard. He died in New York on June 17th, 1857. Lemuel had two brothers who were also involved with clockmaking. He was the nephew of Aaron Willard and probably trained with Simon Willard in Roxbury. In 1811, Lemuel advertised that he was working alone in Concord. Lemuel was a very skilled clockmaker and the inventor of the Girandole form.
Joseph Nye Dunning was born in Brunswick, Maine, on January 2nd, 1795, and died in Burlington, Vermont, on December 14th, 1841. He was first a journeyman working for Curtis in Concord before their partnership in 1820. After this arrangement dissolved in 1832, he continued to work independently and died bankrupt at age 46.
For an in-depth description of their clockmaking activity, please read Paul Foley's book, "Willard's Patent Time Pieces."
