Lemuel Curtis Girandole wall timepiece. 224116.
In 1802, Lemuel Curtis was an apprentice of the Willards and worked in Boston. In 1811, he moved to Concord and set up his shop as a Clockmaker. Curtis specialized in timepieces. Over the years, he made several improvements to Simon Willard's original patent design. One example is the single screw movement mounting system of mounting the movement to the case. His ultimate achievement would have been the design of this girandole form. However, this was not a financial success. As a result, a small number were originally produced. A small number of these are now in the collections of our Country's best Museums. Over the last century, reproductions of this beautiful form have been built by The Waltham Clock Company, Elmer Stennes, Ted Burleigh, and Foster Campos.
This first-period example's case, a testament to Lemuel Curtis's craftsmanship, measures forty-five inches long. It is constructed in mahogany and retains its original shellac finish on the sides. The frames, bezel, carved eagle finial, and bracket are wonderfully gilded in gold leaf. This work is expertly done and of the finest quality. The gilding is in excellent overall condition.
The reverse-painted convex or bowed glass tablets are outstanding. The throat is an original tablet. It is painted and decorated with an intricate traditional theme that includes acorns, the symbol of prosperity. A thermometer is fitted in the center of this glass. The face plate is painted with numerical graduations and markers, including "Blood/ Heat / Sumr / Heat / Temprate / and Freezing." These are important temperature markers on the thermometer scale.
The bottom circular tablet, a high-quality reproduction, was painted to match the throat glass. It depicts the Battle of Lake Erie, a significant event in American history. This naval engagement, better known as Perry's Victory, is part of our nation's past and is titled on the tablet, connecting the viewer to a moment of pivotal history.
The Battle of Lake Erie, also known as the Battle of Put-in-Bay, was a pivotal naval engagement between British and American forces off the shores of Ohio during the War of 1812.
When the war broke out, the British immediately seized control of Lake Erie.
On the morning of September 10, 1813, Oliver Hazard Perry set sail with nine vessels for Put-in-Bay. That morning, US Navy lookouts spotted six British warships sailing northwest of Rattlesnake Island. Perry's orders were to engage the six ships under the command of Robert Heriot Barclay. Perry had nine vessels under his command and yet was still outgunned. By nightfall that day, the British lowered their flag and surrendered to Perry. Perry sent a dispatch to General William Henry Harrison, recounting the details of the battle. In the dispatch, he wrote, "We have met the enemy, and they are ours. Two ships, two brigs,one schooner, and one sloop. Yours with great respect and esteem, O. H. Perry." The American victory at the Battle of Lake Erie, depicted on the clock, symbolizes our nation's resilience and determination. This victory, which cut off the British supply lines and forced them to abandon the city of Detroit, was one of America's most resounding triumphs of the war, a moment of national pride.
This glass exhibits first-rate coloring and detailing. The scene is framed with the same themed border used in the throat section.
The dial is painted on metal and features the "L. Curtis / Patent" signature. A raised gilt-beaded gold ring frames the time ring, formatted with a slashed minute ring and Arabic hour numerals. The clock's hands are a traditional Curtis form with concentric circles and barbed pointers.
The sidearms on the case are brass and nicely formed. The lower returns are capped with brass decorations.
The movement is brass and die-stamped by the Clockmaker "L. CURTIS" on the front plate below the butterfly bridge. It is weight-powered and is designed to run for eight days on a full wind. The weight of this clock is lead. This movement is mounted to the back of the case with two screws. It is also supported on a metal seat-board. The steel pendulum rod with a T-bridge suspension and a Concord-style brass keystone supports a brass-faced bob. The pendulum tie-down is in place.
This clock is approximately 45 inches long, 13 inches wide, and 6 inches deep.
Inventory number 224116.
Lemuel Curtis was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, on July 3, 1790, to Samuel and Sarah (Partridge) Curtis. Sarah had five sisters, and four of them married clockmakers: Abel Hutchins, Elnathan Taber, Aaron Willard, and Samuel Curtis. Lemuel likely learned his craft from Simon Willard, a well-known clockmaker in Roxbury. In December 1811, Lemuel moved to Concord, Massachusetts, and opened his own shop near the courthouse. He advertised that he was working independently at that time. On December 1, 1814, he married Sarah Abbott of Concord. Two years later, on July 12, 1816, he received a patent for the Girandole wall clock. Many consider this decorative clock to be one of America's most beautiful contributions to clockmaking. Its gilded pendulum box was inspired by the round girandole mirrors popular between 1810 and 1830. In 1820, Lemuel partnered with Joseph N. Dunning, and they moved their business to Burlington, Vermont, in 1821. Their shop was at the corner of Church and College Streets in the Thomas Hotel, near the courthouse. They worked together until 1832, making clocks and silver items, and also selling watches, jewelry, and other goods. On May 4, 1832, they announced the end of their partnership. Afterward, Curtis continued in retail, selling items like bonnets, parasols, raisins, molasses, codfish, and mackerel. During the depression of 1837, he mortgaged his property and his pew in the White Meeting House. In 1839, he became an agent for looking glasses and later worked as a jeweler. Lemuel died in New York on June 17, 1857. He is remembered for making girandoles, timepieces, lyre clocks, and shelf clocks.
