53.              $700

John Polsey & Co. “Banjo No. 4”, 1859-1864. Polsey was a contemporary of E Howard and D Davis and was in a partnership with Davis prior to going out on his own.  The 32-inch case is probably cherry, grain-painted to look like rosewood, and the grain painting is still strong.  The case, lower door, and throat piece are stamped ‘65’.  All three glasses are old, likely repainted, the dial glass putty is newer.  The metal dial has been overcoated and is crackled.  It bears Polsey’s signature, the hands are correct/period.  The 8-day, time-only movement is signed and running with gusto, driven by a cast iron weight marked ‘4’.  The pendulum bob is damascened, there is a tie-down.  The bottom was broken out, of course, and restored.  Polsey banjos are not common, the most recent sale of a No. 4 that I can find was in 2014 at RO Schmitt for $850.  AAC sold a No. 5 last summer for $667.  $700-$1000.

Antique American Clocks                     January 2023

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