Brunk Auctions
Live Auction

Day 2: Fine Art & Decorative Works

Sat, May 16, 2015 09:00AM EDT - Mon, May 18, 2015 09:00AM EDT
Lot 503

A Rare Small Scale Massachusetts

Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $25
$100 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $200
$3,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000

Federal Inlaid Mahogany Tall Case Clock by Simon Willard circa 1803, works by “Simon Willard” (Roxbury, 1753-1848), inside case door retaining original Isaiah Thomas, Jr. paper label for Simon Willard Clock Manufactory, arched and painted dial with seconds hand and date aperture, gilt decorations on dial, painted brass moon phase disc with naval scene and landscape, marks for reverse of dial with painted “G”, brass movement, gilt spandrels, hood with original open fretwork and original brass Federal eagle figural finials, Wilson false plate, lunar dial stamped "WILSON BIRMM", 12 in. standard size dial, line-inlaid hood door flanked by columnettes, tombstone shaped window at each side of hood, waisted case with brass inlaid quarter columns, highly figured banded mahogany door and box face, original ogee bracket feet, period pendulum and two weights, two case keys, clock crank, 86 x 20 x 10-1/2 in., excellent original condition throughout, original feet and blocking with breaks at one front foot and the other front foot ended out approximately 1 in. (original blocking present on both), dial with even crackle, two minor spots of retouch, some slight flaking at moon phase, original saddle board a good match to case, undisturbed backboard, minor veneer checking at base panel, minor chip at one corner of box base, very minor molding chip at corner of door, other scattered minor surface flaws consistent with age and use. Notes: Renowned clockmaker, Simon Willard, was a direct descendent of Major Simon Willard, the founder of Concord, Massachusetts.  Willard served as Keeper of the Clocks at Harvard College for more than 50 years.  A clockmaker and inventor, his works can be found in several important collections, including the U.S. Senate, Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Museum of Fine Art Boston, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Historic Deerfield, Old Sturbridge Village, and the Willard House and Clock Museum.  Provenance: Typed note inside door reads “The last previous owner of this clock was Miss Ella M. Drury, born August 16, 1856, a member of the first class that graduated at Wellesley College, and at present (1933) an inmate of the old folks home in Natick, Mass. She was the only child of Willard Drury by his second wife, Roxa Broad, born February 13,1823 and died October 5, 1875. "The original owner of the clock was Abel Drury, who married December 1, 1803, Nabby Broad of Natick by whom he had Otis Drury, born November 16, 1804, and died October 2, 1883, and Willard Drury (above mentioned), born April 18, 1806”; Property of a Pennsylvania Family

Condition

excellent original condition throughout, original feet and blocking with breaks at one front foot and the other front foot ended out approximately 1 in. (original blocking present on both), dial with even crackle, two minor spots of retouch, some slight flaking at moon phase, original saddle board a good match to case, undisturbed backboard, minor veneer checking at base panel, minor chip at one corner of box base, very minor molding chip at corner of door, other scattered minor surface flaws consistent with age and use