Name/Title
clock, tall caseEntry/Object ID
1997.083.001Description
Clock, tall case. 103"h x 26.25"w x 13"d. Made by Eli Bentley, Taneytown, c. 1810. Case maker unknown. Primary wood is mahogany; cherry and tulip poplar secondary woods. Case has rectangular inset door with cockbeading of cherry with mahogany veneer; chamfered corners with fluted stiles, ebony stringing above and below door. Base has cockbeading around top edge, mahogany veneered front face, chamfered corners with fluted stiles, satinwood stringing around center panel, French feet and shallow apron at front and sides. Inscribed on reverse of case door in black ink: "I was made by Eli Bentley in/ 1812 at Taneytown, Maryland, the/ home of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney/ who administered the oath of office to/ President Abraham Lincoln, on March 4th, 1861;/ and if it had not been for Commodore/ Barney and his marines aided by/ the rag tag militia the town would/ have been burned by the British/ pirate Sir Peter Parker, who/ burned and sacked the city of Washington/ in 1814./ M.C. Rockhill Hart/ Sept 3 1932." 8-day clock movement, painted iron face in Arabic numerals for hour, date and second, date and sweep second hands. Face of clock is painted with red medallions in the corner of the face with gilded gesso bead and scroll ornamentation; moon phase dial painting depicts a cottage scene and ship with American flag; transfer-printed globes below the moon dial. Signed above the hand "Eli Bentley Taney Town". Inscribed on reverse of the moon dial is "Nettoye a Lommes 1887" (cleaned by Lommes). Paper repair label affixed to the top side of wooden base of works from "WILLIAM GIBBONS/ Clock Maker/5 SOUTH 40th STREET/PHILADELPHIA"; repair date inscribed on label "3/14/25", no owner listed. Backboard made of a solid piece, possibly tulip poplar, with holes drilled in back for securing to wall and baseboard. B: hood has mahogany corner capitals and bases, swan's neck pediment with plinth center block, detachable turned spade-shape center finial on fluted cubes, no side finials; molding at cornice around sides and front with another molding above this on the sides, ending on the front face 2.5" from the corner. Ebony stringing below the cornice. C: poured lead pendulum. D,E: lead weights, one with addition to bottom. F: hood door. G: finial.Acquisition
Accession
1997.083Source or Donor
Bellow, R. C.Acquisition Method
donative sale