IMPORTANT CHIPPENDALE BLOCK-AND-SHELL CARVED FIGURED MAHOGANY TALL CASE CLOCK.

Newport, Rhode Island, circa 1760-1775. The dial signed Thomas Claggett; the case, Goddard-Townsend school. The case exhibiting the height of Chippendale development having a bonnet with moulded swan’s neck pediment terminating in carved rosettes; the broken arch centered by a fluted keystone and flanked by rare side plateaus for the plinths and flame carved finials; the arched, glazed door is flanked by freestanding fluted columns; the bonnet having oval inspection lights on the sides; the waisted case having engaged stop-fluted quarter columns centering a block-and-shell carved pendulum door; the stepped base having a canted corner pedestal with raised center tablet of highly figured mahogany and a moulded base on ogee bracket feet. This case constitutes the highest level of sophistication from the Goddard-Townsend cabinet shops in its design and construction. The composite cast brass dial has an arched top with silvered strike/silent selector wheel containing the arch, flanked by fire gilded bronze Rococo spandrels;l the silvered chapter ring is engraved and wax inlaid with roman numeral hours and Arabic minutes; the center hammered brass; having an ancillary silvered seconds dial above the central arbor, and a curved silvered name plate engraved ‘Thomas Claggett, Newport’ below; the dial cornered by fire gilded spandrels. The movement being a two-train brass plate mechanism of eight day duration, having time-and-strike, rack-and-snell strike mechanism, anchor recoil escapement, and grooved winding barrels from which suspend two double hung weights; having four pillars between the plates; engraved on the back plate ‘Marmaduke Storr, London’; retaining what appears to be the original wooden pendulum rod with lead-weighted brass bob. The clock works bears the dual signatures of Thomas Claggett, Newport, on the composite dial, and Marmaduke Storr, London, on the back plate of the movement. The dial components and strike/silent features are common to Thomas Claggett movements. The dual signatures are somewhat unusual, but show the reality of the fact of the use of largely imported components in complex composite dial movements of the time, and both of these clockmakers had a history of incorporated works with top quality Goddard-Townsend clock cases. The commercial implications of the Marmaduke Storr signature on the movement indicate that in addition to largely imported elements of English manufacture, alliances on both sides of the Atlantic were commercially useful. Thomas Claggett active 1750-1790; born 1730 Newport; died 1790; son of master clockmaker William Claggett 1696-1749. Marmaduke Storr London and York, active 1760-1774; very limited production. Materials: Santo Domingo mahogany primary; pine, poplar and chestnut secondaries. Reference/Related examples: Sotheby’s: Important American Furniture from the Collection of the Late Thomas Mellon and Betty Evans; Sale 7164; Lot 2022; New York; Friday, June 19, 1998. The John Brown House; Loan exhibition of Rhode Island Furniture; Joseph K Ott; Rhode Island Historical Society; 1965; pg. 124; pl. 79; Mahogany Tall Clock. Northeast Auctions; New Hampshire Weekend Edition; Sale 202; Lot 1561; Portsmouth, NH; October31-November 2, 2003; Chippendale Mahogany Domed-Top Tall Case Clock; Rhode Island, Marmaduke Storr. The New Fine Points of Furniture; Early American; Good Better Best Superior Masterpiece; Albert Sack; Crown Publishers, Inc; New York; 1993; pg, 135; Masterpiece; John Townsend Tall Clock; a similar but less developed example. SIZE: 98″ h x 20″ w x 10″ d. CONDITION: In remarkable original condition; composed of highly figured great wood and having patina to the old maintained surface; retaining the original finials; minor repairs to lower 3/4″ side feet; center portion of bottom board missing due to weights becoming loose and dropping; weights, pendulum rod and bob, and clock components excepting suspension cables appear to be original. Original door key present. 49274-12 (70,000-150,000) – Lot 2156

Auction: Fine Art, Asian & Antiques - August 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2156	$47,400.00	IMPORTANT CHIPPENDALE BLOCK-AND-SHELL CARVED FIGURED MAHOGANY TALL CASE CLOCK. Newport, Rhode Island, circa 1760-1775. The dial signed Thomas Claggett; the case, Goddard-Townsend school. The case exhibiting the height of Chippendale development having a bonnet with moulded swan’s neck pediment terminating in carved rosettes; the broken arch centered by a fluted keystone and flanked by rare side plateaus for the plinths and flame carved finials; the arched, glazed door is flanked by freestanding fluted columns; the bonnet having oval inspection lights on the sides; the waisted case having engaged stop-fluted quarter columns centering a block-and-shell carved pendulum door; the stepped base having a canted corner pedestal with raised center tablet of highly figured mahogany and a moulded base on ogee bracket feet. This case constitutes the highest level of sophistication from the Goddard-Townsend cabinet shops in its design and construction. The composite cast brass dial has an arched top with silvered strike/silent selector wheel containing the arch, flanked by fire gilded bronze Rococo spandrels;l the silvered chapter ring is engraved and wax inlaid with roman numeral hours and Arabic minutes; the center hammered brass; having an ancillary silvered seconds dial above the central arbor, and a curved silvered name plate engraved ‘Thomas Claggett, Newport’ below; the dial cornered by fire gilded spandrels. The movement being a two-train brass plate mechanism of eight day duration, having time-and-strike, rack-and-snell strike mechanism, anchor recoil escapement, and grooved winding barrels from which suspend two double hung weights; having four pillars between the plates; engraved on the back plate ‘Marmaduke Storr, London’; retaining what appears to be the original wooden pendulum rod with lead-weighted brass bob. The clock works bears the dual signatures of Thomas Claggett, Newport, on the composite dial, and Marmaduke Storr, London, on the back plate of the movement. The dial components and strike/silent features are common to Thomas Claggett movements. The dual signatures are somewhat unusual, but show the reality of the fact of the use of largely imported components in complex composite dial movements of the time, and both of these clockmakers had a history of incorporated works with top quality Goddard-Townsend clock cases. The commercial implications of the Marmaduke Storr signature on the movement indicate that in addition to largely imported elements of English manufacture, alliances on both sides of the Atlantic were commercially useful. Thomas Claggett active 1750-1790; born 1730 Newport; died 1790; son of master clockmaker William Claggett 1696-1749. Marmaduke Storr London and York, active 1760-1774; very limited production. Materials: Santo Domingo mahogany primary; pine, poplar and chestnut secondaries. Reference/Related examples: Sotheby’s: Important American Furniture from the Collection of the Late Thomas Mellon and Betty Evans; Sale 7164; Lot 2022; New York; Friday, June 19, 1998. The John Brown House; Loan exhibition of Rhode Island Furniture; Joseph K Ott; Rhode Island Historical Society; 1965; pg. 124; pl. 79; Mahogany Tall Clock. Northeast Auctions; New Hampshire Weekend Edition; Sale 202; Lot 1561; Portsmouth, NH; October31-November 2, 2003; Chippendale Mahogany Domed-Top Tall Case Clock; Rhode Island, Marmaduke Storr. The New Fine Points of Furniture; Early American; Good Better Best Superior Masterpiece; Albert Sack; Crown Publishers, Inc; New York; 1993; pg, 135; Masterpiece; John Townsend Tall Clock; a similar but less developed example. SIZE: 98″ h x 20″ w x 10″ d. CONDITION: In remarkable original condition; composed of highly figured great wood and having patina to the old maintained surface; retaining the original finials; minor repairs to lower 3/4″ side feet; center portion of bottom board missing due to weights becoming loose and dropping; weights, pendulum rod and bob, and clock components excepting suspension cables appear to be original. Original door key present. 49274-12 (70,000-150,000) – Lot 2156 Auction: Fine Art, Asian & Antiques - August 2015 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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IMPORTANT CHIPPENDALE BLOCK-AND-SHELL CARVED FIGURED MAHOGANY TALL CASE CLOCK.