Joseph Mulliken (1787-1802) Concord, Massachusetts. An inlaid cherry case tall clock. 214126.
This is an important inlaid cherry case tall clock made by Joseph Mulliken of Concord, Massachusetts. The case exhibits a full complement of inlays. It is unusual for the base, waist, bonnet door, and finial plinths to be decorated with inlay.
This fine cherry case stands on four boldly formed, applied ogee-bracket feet, attached to a double-stepped molding at the base. The base panel is decoratively formatted with a cross-banded mahogany border along the perimeter. A delicate line inlaid box follows the mahogany framing. The four interior corners of the line-inlaid box have shaded quarter fans fully framed in an additional light inlay line pattern. This design element is repeated in the waist door. In the center of the base panel is an inlaid oval of wonderfully figured wood. The waist section is long, accentuating the case's fine proportions. The sides or front corners of the waist have fluted quarter-columns terminating in brass quarter-capitals. The open fretwork style bonnet is topped with three brass ball-and-spiked finials positioned on inlaid plinths. The bonnet features an arched, inlaid line door fitted with glass. Note the repetition of this design element here. The lower corners of the door also feature quarter fans. The free-standing bonnet columns are fluted and end in brass capitals. They visually support the hand-molded arch.
The dial is colorfully painted and signed by the maker, “Joseph Mulliken / Concord,” below the calendar aperture. This signature is in excellent original condition. The floral decorations are colorful and lack the traditional gilt borders found on many other painted dials. The time track is formatted with Roman numerals for hours. Each of the five-minute markers is indicated in an Arabic form. The subsidiary seconds dial and month calendar are located in their traditional locations.
The works or 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, time-and-strike design with a rack-and-snail striking system. As a result, it will strike at the hour. This is done on a cast-iron bell mounted above the movement.
This wonderful example was made circa 1790.
The case measures approximately 92 (7 feet 8 inches) inches tall, 20 inches wide, and 9.5 inches deep.
Joseph Mulliken was born in Lexington, Massachusetts, on April 9th, 1765. He is the son of Nathaniel Mulliken and Lydia Stone. As a result, he is a third-generation clockmaker. The Mulliken family has a long history of making clocks in America, stretching back to his great uncle Jonathan Mulliken, born about 1701 in Newburyport. Joseph is the first recorded clockmaker to live and work in Concord. He moved to Concord in 1787 and worked there until 1802. He lived in the center of town and became involved in local affairs.
David Wood of the Concord Museum reports that approximately 20 tall case clocks are known. The fancier cased examples, those with quarter fan inlays, are thought to have been made by Ammi White, who was born in Concord in 1754 and was at work there from 1790 through 1802.
