29.                   $200

Ephraim Downs long-drop shelf clock, ca. 1830. Downs was an itinerant clock peddler who spent time in Ohio before moving to Bristol in 1825, where he made clocks for large retailers like George Mitchell.  He marketed this clock under his own name, and it is only the second clock I have had to offer under his name, the other also being a long-drop shelf clock.  The case is 36 inches tall with several unusual elements:  The veneer is curly or birdseye maple with carved mahogany half-columns and splat. Most noticeably, the center and lower panels are wood, perhaps plain maple, with drawn and/or applied images.  The center image of a woman is most obvious, but on the lower panel there is a centered image of two men conversing in a parlor, with a dog on the lower right, and in each lower corner of this panel are images of two men working outside (lower left) and two girls playing (lower right).  I have not seen anything like this before.  It is not clear to me why the image of the woman has a dark surround; it may have always had a darker background, but it looks as though someone stripped a darkened varnish from the panel but stopped when they reached the image.  The full-length door hinges on the right.  The dial glass appears to be original, with several cracks on the right side; the panels also appear to be original.  The wooden dial has suffered paint losses (stretch marks) and has been touched up, but the infilling is discolored, and there are new losses.  Overall the dial is soiled, worn, and faded. This clock deserves a better dial.  The hands are proper and period.  The 30-hour wooden movement is running like a champ, striking the hours on the iron bell.  There are two period weights, an embossed period pendulum bob, and a dark label on the backwall.  A most interesting and unusual example.  $200–$500.