The dial signed by Joshua Wilder (1786-1860), Hingham, Massachusetts, the case attributed to Abiel White (1766-1844), Weymouth, Massachusetts, dated 1821; the white painted dial signed "Warranted by/ Joshua Wilder/ Hingham", loose paper label with "Joshua Wilder./ WATCH AND CLOCK/ MAKER./ South Parish/ HINGHAM", the reverse of paper with handwritten inscription in ink, "Mr. James Stephenson/ Hingham/ Cleaned-- 7.5/ 6 mo 30th 1855", interior of backboard with period paper label handwritten in ink, "Manufactured for/ Martin Fearing/ by Joshua Wilder/ 1821", underside of baseboard with handwritten inscription in ink, appearing to read "George Lew/ Feb [?]/ 1888", two weights and pendulum included, 50-3/4 x 11-3/4 x 5-5/8 in.

Provenance: Martin Fearing (1785-1868), Hingham, Massachusetts, 1821; Israel Sack, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts or New York, NY, prior to 1935; Mitchell M. Taradash (1889-1973), Ardsley-on-Hudson, New York; Israel Sack, Inc., New York, NY, 1975; The Wunsch Collection, New York, NY; Christie's, New York, NY, "American Furniture, Outsider and Folk Art", September 22, 2014, lot 66, sold for $197,000; Levison & Cullen Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia, September 2014 (accompanied by copy of invoice for $197,000); Estate of Richard and Shirley Roberts, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Literature: Albert Sack, The New Fine Points of Furniture, (1993), p. 145 as a 'Masterpiece' example; and William H. Distin and Robert Bishop, The American Clock, (1976), pp. 76-77, figs. 144, 144a and 144b.

Note: Albert Sack categorized this clock as a Masterpiece, and is quoted as saying "This (clock) will always be recognized as one of the supreme clocks of this rare and desirable group".

Being one of only 20 known examples of this form by Wilder, with its pierced fretwork hood and splayed French feet, it is of the most sophisticated caseworks to house his clock mechanisms. Additionally, a paper label denotes the person for whom it was made "Made for Martin Fearing by Joshua Wilder, 1821". Also attached to the inner backboard is an inscription stating that a Mr. James Stephenson of Hingham cleaned this clock in 1855 and another reference area on the underside of the baseboard reads "George Lew/Feb. 1888" probably indicating another time in which the clock was serviced. Both these, as well as probably other times of cleaning and adjusting the clock works resulted in the top edges of the saddle-board being nailed and trimmed. All the painted designs of the dial, as well as the signature remain in undisturbed condition.

Clocks, both dwarf and tall clocks, with works by Joshua Wilder and cases attributed to Abiel White are discussed at length in Brock Jobe, Gary R. Sullivan and Jack O'Brien, Harbor & Home, Furniture of Southeastern Massachusetts, 1710-1850 (2009), pp. 260-273, cat. no. 91, pp. 297-298, cat. no. 99, pp. 321-324, cat. no. 104; and pp. 325-327, cat. no. 105.

Major Martin Fearing (1785–1868) was a prominent Hingham, Massachusetts merchant descended from the town's earliest settlers. Son of Thomas Fearing (1749-1820) and Lydia Ripley (1753-1815), he married his second cousin Aurelia Fearing in 1812 and lived on Main Street in Hingham Center. He served as a Representative to the Massachusetts General Court (1833-1837, 1852), as Hingham Town Treasurer, and held the rank of Major in the Second Regiment of Infantry.

For more information on Wilder, see https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5821722?ldp_breadcrumb=back