Name/Title
ClockEntry/Object ID
1986.318Description
Chippendale-style, long case clock, c. 1810. Possibly made by Jacob Diehl of Pennsylvania. The hood features a swan neck pediment, is surmounted by three brass finials, and has a finely turned, freestanding column with double taper flanking each side of the break-arch door. The painted face features simple floral motifs in the spandrels, Arabic numerals, and a moon dial, all in original condition. The waist section has a simple, rectangular flush door. A cove molding achieves the transition between hood and waist section, and between the waist and the base. The entire case is original and finely figured mahogany. The movement is an eight day time and strike. Inside clock case is a letter, dated 1911, which details the history of the clock. Key to wind clock also inside, as well as instructions to set the moon dial.
In the late 17th century, the moon dial was added to most long case clocks so that people could plan ahead for when the moon was full and travel at night was less hazardous. Clockmasters endeavored to simulate appearance of the moon, in each of its phases, on the face of clocks. The arched dial was first used in clocks at the beginning of the 18th century and could include moving figures in this space.
