| Illus. 346.—Maple Clock, 1770. | Illus. 347.—Rittenhouse Clock, 1770. |
Illustration [348] shows a tall clock in a mahogany case made about 1770. The maker’s name is Richard Simestere, Birmingham, but I can find no record of him in Britten or elsewhere. The shape of the clock-case, particularly the top, is modelled after a Chippendale design.
Illus. 348.—Tall Clock,
about 1700.
The columns at the corners of the case, sometimes fluted and sometimes plain, are characteristic of Chippendale, and appear on the majority of tall clocks made after 1760. This clock is owned by Francis H. Bigelow, Esq., of Cambridge.
After the War of the Revolution enamelled or painted dials took the place of brass dials in this country, to a great extent, the chief reason being, of course, their smaller cost. The works were made by clock-makers who sold them to pedlers, and they took them, four or five at a time, into the country towns to sell; the local cabinet-maker made the case, while the local clock-maker put his own name upon the dial. During the latter years of the eighteenth century, there was a fashion for using moving figures above the dial, a ship heaving upon the waves being the favorite. Many clocks have a painted moon, which rises and sets each month. Miniature tall clocks were made at this time, corresponding in proportions to the tall clocks.
Illus. 349.—Miniature Clock
and Tall Clock, about 1800.