Joshua Wilder. A Hingham, Massachusetts clockmaker. A fine cross-banded mahogany cased tall clock, steeped in the rich history of American clockmaking. DDD-16.
This lovely tall case clock employs the highest quality mahogany selections. These are enhanced with a shellac finish. The surfaces are clean. The colors are warm. This case is fitted with a delicately formed scrolling open fretwork. The fret is supported between three rectangular and reeded chimneys, and each is mounted with brass suppressed ball and spire finials. This fretwork rests on an arched molding above a glazed tombstone-shaped line inlaid dial door. Flanking the door are two tapered colonnettes mounted in brass capitals and bases. The locking dial door opens to a wonderfully painted dial of Boston manufacture. Boston dials are known for their high quality and regional style and were employed by clockmakers throughout the United States.
This dial features a richly painted selection of fruit in the arch. Brightly painted urn-shaped themes are featured in the four spandrels regions. The time ring is formatted with boldly painted Roman numerals that demark each hour. An outer ring of Arabic numerals demarks the five-minute markers—an inner and outer band of gilt piping frames this ring of numerals. The dial is fitted with a subsidiary seconds bit with a steel pointer. The original and wonderfully scrolled tear-drop pattern steel hands are mounted to the center arbor. This dial is boldly signed in flowing calligraphy below the center arbor with the maker’s name and locale, “J. Wilder / Hingham.”
This brass eight-day weight-driven movement has been recently serviced and is in excellent running order. It strikes each hour on a cast iron bell mounted above the works. The movement is fitted with an original steel shaft pendulum, a brass-capped lead bob, and a pair of drive weights. The movement rests on a wooden “saddle board” and is original to the case.
The hood transitions into the waist section with a flared throat molding. The case has reeded quarter columns that terminate in brass quarter capitals and bases. These are positioned on either side of the rectangular-shaped pendulum door. The locking door has a molded edge around a vigorously grained mahogany panel that is interrupted with a cross-banded border. The understated quarter columns are set in contrast to the dynamically figured mahogany selections in the pendulum door and corresponding plinths beneath each column. The waist section transitions to the base with flared molding. The rectangular base panel has a similar cross-banded border around a panel of vibrantly figured mahogany. The bottom of the panel has simple molding above a beautifully shaped skirt and dramatically flared French feet.
Dimensions: Height including center finial: 96 ½ inches tall, Width 19 ½ inches at the upper hood molding, and 10 inches deep.
Inventory number DDD-16.
Joshua Wilder was born in Hingham, Massachusetts, on December 2, 1786. He was trained in the art of clockmaking by John Bailey Jr. of Hanover, MA. Wilder completed this apprenticeship sometime around 1807. It appears he stayed in Hanover briefly before moving back to Hingham to establish his home and business on Main Street in the South Parish. Wilder was the first clockmaker to settle in this prosperous town. He found a ready market for tall case clocks, dwarf clocks, wall timepieces, the Massachusetts shelf form, and mirror clocks. Wilder becomes one of America’s most prolific Makers of the dwarf clock form.
Joshua Wilder was active in the local religious Society of Friends. He became known locally as the “Old Quaker Joshua Wilder.” He was also involved with the Temperance Society and Peace Society of Hingham. Wilder’s business eventually evolves into a retailer of common goods. Wilder is said to have trained several Clockmakers, including his son Ezra Wilder, Reuben Tower, Allen Kelley, and Phillip Bennet. About 1840, it is said that his son Ezra joined him in business. Joshua died on October 4, 1860, in the town of Scituate.
A fair number of clocks made by this maker have been found. Many of these are the dwarf form but also include tall case clocks, timepieces, shelf clocks, and mirror clocks in much smaller numbers. Currently, the Hingham Library is displaying a tall case clock he made.
