Arthur and William Johnston, Hagerstown, Maryland, circa 1805, brass movement signed on the back “Jacob Craft”, shell painted dial with moon phase with naval and cottage scene, month and second features, inscribed with “A&W Johnston Hagerstown”, scrolled broken pediment bonnet with rosettes, case with reeded frieze and quarter columns, 99 x 20-1/2 x 11-1/4 in.

Provenance: Collection of Dr. George and Connie Manger

Literature: This clock is illustrated in Carl W. Drepperd, American Clocks and Clockmakers (1957), p. 164; “Living with Antiques: A Middle-Atlantic Collection of Collections” by John C. Newcomer, Antiques Magazine, May 1999, p. 734 (detail of face) and p. 737, pl. VII.

Note: Arthur Johnston. For more information, see our website.

According to the “1948, Census of Old Clocks of Washington County,” “The clock stood in the old Sherrick house a short distance from Burnside Bridge, where the battle of Antietam was fought. The clock was later owned by John Nicodemus, the founder of the Nicodemus Bank in Hagerstown.” The house is still standing today.

For information about Arthur Johnston, see Mary Vernon Mish, “A. Johnston, The Man and His Clocks” (unknown publication) pp. 154-161 (a copy of this accompanies the lot).