This attractive clock was produced by the famous clockmaker Joshua Wilder (1786-1860). Wilder was a primary member of an influential group of Quaker clockmakers from Hingham. This well known clock type was patented by Simon Willard in 1802 as the “Improved Timepiece” but is more commonly referred to as a “banjo” clock. Examples of banjo clocks from this area are very scarce and signed examples are even more rare. This clock is in superb original condition with a pleasing old surface with mellow color. The drum-form head is fitted with a gilt brass urn form finial on a mahogany plinth. This finial rests above a glazed and molded brass bezel. The bezel opens to a painted iron dial with Roman numerals to demark the hours. The dial, which is in original condition, is signed with the makers name and locale, “J. Wilder, Hingham”. The center arbor is mounted with the original steel arrow-form hands. A single winding hole is above and to the right of the center arbor. Pierced brass sidearms, with diamond-form spacers, flank a tapered trapezoidal throat frame with half-round moldings. The frame has a reverse painted panel decorated with gilt scrolls and green and red flourishes all on a white ground. The hinged lower box door also has half-round moldings and an eglomisé panel. This lower panel is painted with a detailed duck hunting image depicting three men and a hound in a small boat set in a marshland scene. The hinged door opens to reveal the brass capped pendulum bob with brass tie down and a black painted tin weight pan. The mahogany case sides are joined to the a mahogany backboard. The brass eight-day movement has a recently been serviced and is in excellent running order. The tapered lead weight with “duck bill” hook and steel pendulum rod with brass-capped bob are original to the clock.
Dimensions Height with finial: 32 ½”