Simon Willard's Tall Clocks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simon Willard's Tall Clocks (Grandfather clocks) were built by the celebrated clockmaker Simon Willard at his Boston's Roxbury street workshop around the first decades of the 19th century. Until 1802, Simon Willard's main economical support stemmed from these models. Since that year, this place was taken by his celebrated invention, the Banjo clock.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Simon Willard had constructed his first Tall clock when he was 13 years old.
Years later, his Bostonian workshop began manufacturing tall clocks increasingly from the 1780s' last years. By 1801 these models were appealingly priced approximately at 60 dollars.
Initially, Simon Willard's main economical support stemmed from the Tall Clock production but he didn't produce these models longer after 1802 when he patented his Banjo clock and this model became Simon's main sustenance. Only, he keep manufacturing Tall Clocks under special request. Nonetheless, along his whole career he built 1200 Tall Clock units.
Indeed, simultaneously Simon Willard's business began leaning towards clocks which were basically sumptuous. They included the turret, gallery, church, or hall clocks and timepieces. From then on, these great clock models demanded most of his life.
[edit] Case
The human-proportioned cases were based on English mid 1700s styles. These cases were constituted by large Mahogany pieces whose surfaces were finely coated.
While few cases were sober, instead most cases featured much adorning things. They had inlays, fretworks --particularly on the top-- and stringing --around both the head and the base--.
Throughout, the ornaments were of brass, such as fluted columns, finials, and the like. However these fine details were serially produced, stemming whether from Simon Willard's workshop, from his many nearby suppliers, or from United Kingdom.
Particularly over the clock's top fretwork three pedestals were. Onto these, most usually spherical finials were mounted. However, frequently Simon Willard placed a bird figure instead onto the middle podium. This was a distinguishing touch for his workshop.
[edit] Dial
The hour-graduated face was either of wood or of iron. It was painted with several coats. Later this painting was abraded until it was as enameled.
The clock had hands for hour, minute, and second while more sophisticated options included a calendar wheel too.
Typically the uppermost part ended in half arch and also the accessing glass door was so outlined. The wooden door had thick decorative borders. The door lock was of iron.
Additionally, many renowned regional artists painted the dials with motifs which were either classical designs or graphic scenes. Of the latter a popular example was The Four Seasons theme.
Other traditional dial features were some circling figures. These amusing graphics moved synchronously with clock's mechanism. Indeed, technically their mounting was easy, requiring just one extra gear usually. However this asset increased the clocks beckoning largely. The most popular motifs have been both a very large moon's age representation --which was always overhead-- and a vessel which crashes against rocks.
[edit] Recession
About 1912, the Napoleonic Wars had caused a severe recession so all manufacturers were forced to reduce costs. Consequently, the most expensive Simon Willard's models skimped many features which had been standard until then. For instance, over the clock's face the case lost its arched termination and, simply, it was directly squared.
[edit] Trivia
- Nowadays Simon Willard's clocks are recognized as American masterpieces. As such, they are avidly sought by both antiquarians and museums. In perfect conditions a Simon Willard's clock is usually sold from $50,000 up to $250,000.
- Indeed, nowadays from all Willard brothers' clocks Simon Willard's much finer clocks reap the largest bids in auctions.
- Sometimes Simon Willard obviated spelling his name out, over either dials or glass panels.
