Tall Case Clock Terminology

Pass your mouse ("mouse over") each number to view it's corresponding explanatory note.

 

1
Hood or Bonnet - houses the clock mechanism. In this example a brass 8-day movement.
2
Finial - a wood or brass decorative element. This example shows brass ball-and-spire finials.
3
Fretwork - a decorative cresting that varies by region. This is a pierced pattern of the early Boston style.
4
Plinth or Chimney - decorative elements, usually supports the finial.
5
Moon Phase – a revolving disk that displays the phases of the moon cycle.
6
Lunette - the arched upper portion of the dial.
7
Hemisphere - decorative terrestrial maps, part of the moon phase function.
8
Dial Door Lock - restricts access to dial and hands. The "dial" is the clock face
9
Spandrels - decorative painted or applied corner frame elements.
10
Hood Columns – standing decorative corner elements, usually with brass or wood turned capitals at the top and bases at the bottom. The columns are often embellished with fluted or reeded grooves.
11
Seconds Hand or Second Bit – displays the seconds.
12
Dial Door – glazed, hinged door protects the dial and movement.
13
Winding Hole and Arbor - a key is inserted here to raise the weights that drive the clock movement, one for each function or train, time and strike.
14
Column Capital - cast brass decorations.
15
Calendar Aperture – cutout in dial face to reveal a revolving calendar wheel that indicates the day of the month.
16
Line Inlay or String Inlay - lightwood decoration from the Chippendale and Federal periods.
17
Quarter Columns – quarter-round corner treatment often inlaid or carved with flutes or reeding.
18
Lock Escutcheon - frames the door locks.
19
Case Door or Pendulum Door - allows access to weights and pendulum.
20
Column Base - cast brass decorations. These are sometimes made of turned wood or pressed brass.
21
Waist Section or Trunk - the central portion of the case.
22
Waist Molding - a decorative and structural element that joins the base.
23
Brass Stop-Fluting - a decorative treatment with brass rods installed in the base of the fluting. Common on ”Roxbury case" clocks such as this example.
24
Base Section - the lower box portion of the case.
25
Base Panel – this example veneered with figured mahogany
26
Inlaid Oval or Paterae - one of the varied decorative elements inlaid into the surfaces of early clock cases.
27
Base Molding - a decorative and structural treatment that supports the feet.
28
Clock Foot - typically a bracket or French style foot. Later clocks have turned feet.

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