Hello Jennifer,
Thank you for sending your tallcase clock to mearto for appraisal. I will try to assist you today.
TITLE:
Stained cherrywood, two weight, eight day time and strike, tallcase clock, unsigned, maker unknown, attributed to New England, circa 1808-1812.
DESCRIPTION:
Case - 82" high, diminutive tallcase clock, stained cherrywood, with a concave molded, broken arch pediment with lateral fluted plinths for finials. The arched glazed dial door, not hinged but pinned at the right side, top and bottom, has a brass pull and is flanked by two fluted colonnettes with brass capitals and bases. A concave molding transitions down to the trunk with its rectilinear, full length door with tombstone shaped top, beveled corners, brass Federal hinges, brass key escutcheon and pull as well, all flanked by fluted case corner columns with brass top and bottom. A second concave molding leads down to the foreshortened base with sharp case corners resting on a broad base molding and sitting flat to the floor without feet. . .
Dial: Unsigned, English white painted iron dial with Roman hours, dotted minute ring with Arabic markers placed every five minutes. Continuous second’s subsidiary dial under twelve, arched calendar aperture under dial center, gilt brass Chippendale style hands, four matching painted rose spandrels outlined in a gilt gesso Morse code pattern. The lunette has a 'rooster, hen and chicks' theme. This is an English dial likely painted in Birmingham circa 1810 +/- . .
Movement: Not shown but most likely a solid brass plate with anchor escapement, steel cut pinions, grooved or smooth brass winding drums, powered by two weights, of eight day duration and striking an overhead bell on the hour. It is quite possible (50%) that the dial AND the movement were manufactured in England, that being quite common before the war of 1812. . .
Condition:
The major issues here are (1) the dial does not properly fit the dial mat nor the door opening. It sits too low and too far to the left. Perhaps it can be adjusted to fit properly. (2) The dial has had some work, i.e. there is wear to the paint and some of the numerals have been poorly relined and the calendar aperture has been repainted. (3) In addition, there has been some overpainting with white paint, noted mostly over the flaking of the dial feet (@22 and 38 minute markers and again near the eleventh hour. (4) The hands are replacements. Rarely if ever do we see gilded Chippendale type hands on tallcase clocks. (5) The base has lost its feet and I believe the proportions of the base indicate there has been further shortening at the bottom of the case. (6) A brass finial is missing on the right side of the pediment.
I have compared this clock with others that have sold recently in similar style and condition and have provided a fair market range for such an item. With the several conditiion issues the fMV would be $800-$1500. Retail prices vary but generally are higher than these values.
It has been my pleasure to help you today.
My best,
David