Simon Willard. A labeled (Joseph Russell label) tall case clock was made in Roxbury, Massachusetts. DDD-47.
The tall-case clock, which has a mahogany case inlaid with decoration, was made by Simon Willard in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and still has the original setup label printed by Joseph Russell.
This attractive and tall clock is a typical example of the formal "Roxbury" style of clock cases, which were very popular in Boston in the late 18th century. The clocks in question were made in the Boston area known as Roxbury, and the area gained a reputation for producing clock cases with good-quality construction, attractive proportions, brass stop fluting, and mahogany with pleasing figures. The present example was made by Simon Willard, who was the leading clockmaker in Boston (he was born in Grafton, Massachusetts, on April 3, 1753, and died in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 30, 1848). He supported the revolutionary cause. Simon was a very productive and innovative clockmaker and carried on his work for more than sixty-five years. He trained a number of clockmakers who later became well known themselves. He built and sold clocks to some of the most famous people in the country.
The excellent example is in very good condition and shows an outstanding surface which brings out the rich grain of the mahogany wood as well as the details of the light-colored inlays. The case also has a highly desirable Joseph Russell setup label, which was printed in Boston, Massachusetts, about 1795. Labels like this one increase both the value and the attractiveness of Simon Willard's clocks. In the opinion of experienced collectors, a Roxbury case clock fitted with a Simon Willard setup label is one of the most prized types of furniture.
The mahogany case has good proportions and is decorated with line inlays. It rests on four ogee bracket feet attached to the base beneath the double-stepped base molding. The base is inlaid all around its edge with a delicate, thin-line pattern. The panel is made of first-rate crotch mahogany. The waist section is long and narrow, fitted with a large tombstone-shaped waist door. This door can be locked by inserting a key into the center of the ornate brass escutcheon. The door is bordered by applied molding and decorated with the same inlay pattern as the base section. In the center of this crotch mahogany door, there is an inlaid floral urn. Brass quarter columns with stops are placed on either side of the case; these end in brass quarter capitals. The bonnet has an open fretwork design and is topped by line-inlaid finial plinths as well as three brass ball and spire finials. Fully turned and brass-stop fluted bonnet columns, or colonnettes, provide visual support for the upper bonnet molding; they are set in brass capitals and stand free. On the sides of the hood are side lights or windows, fitted with glass. The arched bonnet door is also line-inlaid and fitted with glass; it opens to access the dial.
The maker's name, "Simon Willard", is given in capital letters on the painted iron dial. This signature is located just below the opening for the month calendar. In the arch of the dial,, a colored bird is placed within a simple floral design. The four spandrel areas are entirely decorated with designs thematically related to strawberries and flowers, the paintings being set against a green background. The hours are shown by large Roman numerals. The five-minute marks are indicated in Arabic figures. A subsidiary seconds dial and a calendar dial are both placed in their traditional positions.
The movement is made of brass and is of good quality; it has four turned pillars supporting the two brass plates. Hardened steel shafts hold the polished steel pinions and the brass gearing. The winding drums have grooves. The escapement is in the form of a recoil type. The movement is weight-powered and designed to run for 8 days when fully wound. It is a two-train or time-and-strike type with a rack-and-snail striking mechanism, and therefore it will strike the hour. For this purpose, it has a cast-iron bell mounted above the movement.
The clock was made about 1795 and is roughly 8 feet 1 inch (97 inches) high to the top of the central finial; at the upper bonnet molding, the case is about 21.5 inches wide and 10 inches deep.
Inventory number DDD-47
Simon Willard was born in Grafton, Massachusetts, on April 3, 1753. He was the seventh of twelve children born to Benjamin Willard (1716-1775) and Sarah (Brooks) Willard (1717-1775) of Grafton. While living in Grafton, Simon answered the Lexington alarm on April 19, 1775, along with his brothers. It is thought that by 1782 he moved from Grafton and took up residence in Roxbury as a Clockmaker. Simon became a Master Clockmaker as well as an inventor. He is well known for receiving patents for his roasting jack in 1782, his "Improved Timepiece" or Banjo clock in 1802, and an alarm clock patent. In addition, he trained many men to make clocks who became well-known Clockmakers once their apprenticeships were served. Some of them include the brothers Levi and Able Hutchins, Elnathan Taber, William Cummens, Ezekiel Jones and Daniel Munroe. Some of the more notable public clocks Simon built include the clock in the United States Capitol building's Statuary Hall. He also built a clock for the House of Representatives and the U. S. Senate. Simon died on August 30, 1848, at the age of 95.
