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211.             $250

R. & J.B. Terry Eight Day Brass Clock, 1835-1837. Ralph and John Burnham were Samuel Terry’s sons, Ralph two years the elder.  Eli Terry was their uncle.  Both worked in their father’s shop until 1835, when he retired; they continued for two years as R & JB Terry, making 8-day brass clocks as found here.  Ralph continued in the clock business, while John studied medicine and became a doctor and dentist in Hartford. This 36.5-inch case is typical of their most common work, although they made a higher-end model in an empire-style case, of which there are a few examples.  The mahogany veneer is clean and in good condition; it stands on gilded ball feet that look original. The gilded gesso eagle splat is likely original and in good condition; the dial glass is likely original although some of the putty appears to have been replaced, the middle tablet is a replacement on new glass, and the bottom tablet is original and well-preserved. They liked dials with gilt chapter rings and spandrels, and often used a pull-up mirror behind the dial with a wire that extended above the top of the case so that you could pull up the mirror and see the brass movement.  The hands are proper and likely original. The 8-day, time-and-strike, strap-brass movement is unsigned; I could not test it because the time-side weight cable is broken. There are two 9 lb weights, a period pendulum bob with an embossed brass cover, and a good label inside with some losses.  A dozen sales on LiveAuctioneers, with better examples selling for $400 and up.  $250–$400.

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Antique American Clocks                     JANUARY 2025

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