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Detail: Painting
Wall clock
William Cummens (1768–1834)
about 1810–25
Object Place: Roxbury or Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Medium/Technique
Mahogany, gilt wood, brass, reverse painted glass
Dimensions
Overall: 105.4 x 25.4 x 9.5 cm (41 1/2 x 10 x 3 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Charles Hitchcock Tyler
Accession Number32.297
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAmericas
Catalogue Raisonné
Randall 209
DescriptionThe face of this wall or banjo clock is enameled white and painted in Roman numerals, and is inscribed across the lower half "Warranted for Dr. Bugbee / by / William Cummens." There is a brass bezel and the hands are filed as arrows. The sides of the case are mahogany and there are brass side arms and a gilt bracket with applied pendent balls and an acorn finial at the bottom. The two glasses are framed with gilt roped moldings with blank squares at the corners of the frames. The upper glass is painted against a gray off-white ground with a gilt eagle and vase on green grounds and in a central oval red panel with silver and gilt flowers. Below the panel is the word "Patent." The lower glass is painted with an oval view of Boston Common looking toward the State House in tones of gray and green, with a gilt striped shield surmounted by an eagle above. There is a brass eagle finial (a replacement) at the top.
InscriptionsFace is inscribed across the lower half: "Warranted for Dr. Bugbee / by / William Cummens."
Upper glass is painted: "Patent"
Lower glass is painted: "VIEW OF BOSTON COMMON"
In pencil on top rail of door, "July 23-2 18 [??}"
On back: "207"
Upper glass is painted: "Patent"
Lower glass is painted: "VIEW OF BOSTON COMMON"
In pencil on top rail of door, "July 23-2 18 [??}"
On back: "207"
ProvenanceThe dial is inscribed "Warranted for Dr. Bugbee." The maker's mother was Sarah Bugbee, so Dr. Bugbee may have been a relation. Later history unknown. Part of the large collection bequeathed to the museum by the noted Boston collector Charles Hitchcock Tyler (Accession Date September 1, 1932)