Grandfather Clock

Designer Tiffany & Company (American, founded 1837)

Manufacturer J.J. Elliott Ltd (English, 1900 - 1909)

Date1905

MediumWood and metal

DimensionsOverall: 108 × 32 × 19 inches (274.32 × 81.28 × 48.26 cm)

Credit LineGift of the family of Ernest A. and Frances R. Thompson Sr.: E. Arthur Thompson Jr., Dr. Rodney Thompson, Dee Anna, and Walter Thompson

Object number2018.75.1-16

SignedQuality brass 8-day weight driven movement is signed "J.J.E. ENGLAND”

MarkingsWooden seat board is numbered: "11205"; the bottom, inner portion of the dial has a brass plaque stamped: “Tiffany & Co.”

On View

Not on view

Collections

Architecture, Design and Decorative Arts

Terms

DescriptionA 9-tube, 9-foot tall Gothic Revival grandfather hall clock standing. The case is extensively carved of quarter sawn oak. The bonnet is the most heavily carved section of the case. An arched pediment is fitted with a carved gothic style facade with finial crosses pointing thinly upward, adorned with acanthus leaves and a hooded monk grasping the edge of the roof-like (hood) overhang. Beneath the overhang, is a deeply carved rope with reticulated acanthus leaves evenly enveloping the concave section. Flanking the bonnet, a window protected by balcony style turrets (mimicking a pulpit or confessional) extends outward with a reticulated gothic design each supported beneath by a griffin.

Independently carved and attached staff-like columns with dramatic lamb’s tongue design flank the sides of the door to the movement on each side. The hood door is arched and fitted with glass; to the side of the door within the spandrels are yin yang’s symbols in the upper left and right. The large stamped dial has applied gilt brass Arabic hour numbers, a silvered chapter ring, pierced gilt brass filigree corner spandrels and center, a moon phase dial in the arch, and fancy pierced blued steel hands which appear black.

The glass pendulum door has heavy carvings with open gothic scrolls, clustered acanthus leaves, a shield in the upper center with ribbons on the top and bottom, and opens to a long steel brass covered pendulum rod, solid brass pulleys with three brass covered weights, and nine brass nickel plated chime tubes.

The clock base features a carved panel that is inset and trimmed with a large molding. This panel features a hooded boy looking proper left in the top center, surrounded by gothic gates with a small-stylized muted acorn and fleur-de-lis design. The left and right side have candle-lit styled cutouts with thorny vines appearing to twist on the flat planar surface. At the top, is a deeply carved rope with reticulated acanthus leaves evenly enveloping the concave section. Two full-length columns flank the door, while carved overlapping and layered drapery swags end with a classical column base. The side panels echo a fabric design with carved drapery folds on the inset panels that run the length of the waist section. This case rests on a traditional, flat foot base with quatrefoil cutouts on each lower corner.

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