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Tall clock
William Claggett (American (born in Wales), 1694–1749)
1720–30
Object Place: Newport, Rhode Island, United States
Medium/Technique
Pine case with later painting and brass clockworks, glass
Dimensions
Overall: 234.3 x 44.5 x 26.7 cm (92 1/4 x 17 1/2 x 10 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Margaret Buffinton Brown in memory of G. Winthrop Brown
Accession Number39.546
CollectionsAmericas
Claggett arrived in Boston in 1714 and moved to Newport two years later. During the next three decades, he developed a reputation as a skillful clockmaker and a multi-talented craftsman who (among other things) made musical instruments, engraved paper money, and conducted electrical experiments. This early example of his work has a pine case, later painted to resemble mahogany.
Catalogue Raisonné
Randall 200
InscriptionsInside the door:
"Cleaned / A Bulhey (?) / 1824; W. Adams Sept. 21 1871; (?) 1813; Allan Peckham / January 12, 1861"
Inside the hood:
"March 1833; E. Daggott / 1850 17; March 2/ 1827 oil; November / 9 - 81 / oil clock"
On the upright supporting the hood: "Nov. 20 1904 / Hunt"
Business card: "Official Keeper of the City's Time / BRADFORD W. CHENEY / CLOCKMAKER / Worcester, MA" inscribed on card: "Cleaned, Restored dial 2/82 / Robert Cheney."
"Cleaned / A Bulhey (?) / 1824; W. Adams Sept. 21 1871; (?) 1813; Allan Peckham / January 12, 1861"
Inside the hood:
"March 1833; E. Daggott / 1850 17; March 2/ 1827 oil; November / 9 - 81 / oil clock"
On the upright supporting the hood: "Nov. 20 1904 / Hunt"
Business card: "Official Keeper of the City's Time / BRADFORD W. CHENEY / CLOCKMAKER / Worcester, MA" inscribed on card: "Cleaned, Restored dial 2/82 / Robert Cheney."
ProvenanceLent by George W. Brown, Sept. 4, 1917.