95.      $250

Silas B. Terry Empire shelf clock, 1854-1859.  If you’re like me you’re thinking, “that’s not a SB Terry clock”, but the old-timers are saying “look at that, he’s got a very late SB Terry clock”.  After Terry’s last business (Terryville Manufacturing Co.) failed in 1853 he worked on his own until 1859, when his assets were sold in the settlement. I think the cornice top and the dial have been replaced on this clock.  There are other examples of Empire clocks from Terry, but none with a small cornice like this.  And almost all his clocks had dials with large center openings so that you could see the movement.  The three glasses are old, possibly original, and the period paintings are in excellent shape, with possible rebacking to the center tablet.  Note the losses to the buildings.  The hands are also likely original, as they are thick cuts and relatively simple.  The brass, 8-day time-and-strike movement is unsigned but bears several unusual characteristics, as is common for SB Terry clocks:  The winding drums are wooden, the escape wheel is large and the anchor unusual, and the count wheel is unusual.  The clock will run for a minute or so and will strike; it needs oil and cleaning.  There are two 8-day iron weights. The label is in mostly there, with lots of flakes on the bottom of the case.  A similar example sold at Tim’s Auctions in 2018 for $349.  $250-$400.