21.                   $7500

Curtis & Clark miniature “Eight day brass clock”, 1824.  One of 31 known examples of the first brass, spring-driven, mass-produced (~100 were made) shelf clocks made in the United States.  This clock is number 29, penciled in on the top of the case inside and on the seat board (visible in a photo below).  The 22.25-inch-tall case is veneered in mahogany with elaborately carved columns and a brass inlay in the cornice.  It stands on paw feet in front and turned feet in back.  Both glasses are original, with the original Masonic tablet, with noticeable but not distracting losses.  The iron dial is painted with detail in the spandrels and chapter rings; it has been professionally retouched by The Dial House II, and a picture of the dial before retouching is shown. It is signed “Curtis & Clark, Plymouth Conn”.  This is one of three known clocks that do not have a seconds hand, with the dial having been plugged and a vase of flowers painted into the seconds dial.  The movement does not have an extended seconds arbor, so the omission was intentional.  The hands are original and match those found on most other examples.  The brass movement holds steel springs made in Europe, as springs were not made in the US until the late 1830’s.  The hourly strike uses a rack and snail mechanism on the front plate.  There is an excellent label inside and an old pendulum and key.  The clock is running and striking as expected.  This clock is shown in Figure 1 (B) of Dr. Joseph Arvay’s article on these remarkable clocks, published in the July/August issue of The Bulletin, vol. 63 (2021).  AAC sold a similar example in 2022 for $26,500, although recent sales have been more approachable, such as the sale at Cottone’s last year for $8500.  $7500–$15,000.