Antique American Clocks                      January 2021

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98.      $200

New England Mirror Clock, ca. 1830?  An incomplete restoration of this large (40 inches by 20.5 inches) mirror clock.  The door is original, early 1800’s, the box case is later, possibly early 1900’s.  I expect that the 8-day brass rack-and-snail strike movement, the dial, and the mirror-front all went together; nothing is signed.  I believe the mirror is a twentieth century replacement and the dial surround repainted, perhaps as late as the 1960’s given the rather psychedelic design.  The dial does not appear to be repainted and the hands are period with the movement.   There are no weights and it needs pulleys to hang weights properly; I hung two 4.5-lb weights from the cords to test the movement and it ran for a while and would set, but would not strike.  The gilded front of the case is quite impressive with gesso-formed eagles holding American shields on the columns and deeply carved wooden rosettes on the four corners, and is certainly worth saving.  If you are looking for a worthy project clock, I think this would be a good one.  $200-$400.

UPDATE:  Mark Beever tells me that he has worked on a Edmund Currier banjo movement that is very similar to the movement in this clock.  Currier was a clockmaker in Hopkinton NH 1815-1825, buying cases from local suppliers.  There is only one example in the Antique Clocks Price Guide, a banjo.

Thanks Mark!

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