Berwick, Maine Maple Case Tall Clock Made Circa1795 скачать в хорошем качестве

Berwick, Maine Maple Case Tall Clock Made Circa1795

A Tall Clock from Berwick, Maine, Wears Its Quaker Roots Proudly. Made around 1795, this tall case clock, housed in a well-proportioned, light maple case, likely originated from the work—or at least the influence—of Paul Rogers, a Quaker clockmaker active in Berwick, Maine. Its clean proportions and clever engineering highlight a regional tradition shaped as much by faith and frugality as by craftsmanship. New England clockmakers often worked within informal "schools," centered in specific towns and led by a master. In Berwick, that figure was Paul Rogers. A prolific maker and devout Quaker, Rogers trained several apprentices, including his son Abner, Reuben Brackett, and John Taber. Paul Rogers, his most successful student, helped shape the local style. He—and his apprentices—favored movements built from cast iron plates, sometimes with brass bushings, partly to avoid the high cost of brass. This clock bears that signature. It's an eight-day weight-driven movement that uses iron plates and rectangular framing. A cast iron bell strikes the hours. The movement features brass gears, steel pinions, and a recoil escapement—all crafted with quiet efficiency and purpose. The dial stands out for its craftsmanship. Painted floral designs bloom across the spandrels and lunette in a loose, almost freeform style. Gone are the traditional gilt borders. Instead, the artist—still unknown—allowed color and composition to lead the design. Roman numerals mark the hours; a seconds dial is positioned just below XII. Finely wrought steel hands complete the face. On the back, a mysterious red "No. 34" adds an element of intrigue. The case reflects rural New England's blend of form and function. A shadowed bracket base supports the clock. A tombstone-shaped waist door and pegged joints evoke a country construction style. The bonnet's open fretwork, ball-and-spike finials, and turned columns with brass capitals lend the piece a restrained elegance. Paul Rogers, born in 1752, worked until he died in 1818. A member of the Society of Friends, he spent nearly four decades building clocks in a tradition that prized both accuracy and simplicity. This example, with its honest materials and refined proportions, embodies that legacy—plainspoken, enduring, and distinctly Maine. Inventory number 221186. Dimensions: Height 90.5", Width 19.25", Depth 8.75".