A Delaware Queen Anne Cherry Tall Case Clock, William Furniss, Newport, 1739-1749

The 12 1/4-inch arched brass dial with silvered chapter ring having Roman hours and Arabic minutes, with two winding arbors, a subsidiary seconds dial and date aperture to the matte center, having a convex silvered medallion name boss to the lunette, engraved, 'William Furniss / Newport'.

The eight-day twin train brass movement, having an anchor recoil escapement with count wheel, striking on a bell, having four knopped and finned pillars between plates.

The broken arch hood with swans neck, centered by a plinth with urn and flame finial, over a blind fret carved frieze and arched dial door, flanked by turned colonettes, arched sidelights and engaged quarter columns. The rectangular waist with hinged ogee arch top door and bullseye glass, all above a molded box base, raised on applied straight bracket feet.

Accompanied by the original bill of sale to William E. Garrett Jr. (3x great grand son of Thomas Garrett, reputedly the original owner) February 27, 1882, along with several original receipts from shipping, clock / furniture repair shops in Philadelphia, and hand-written records / correspondence pertaining to the clock from 1882.

Dimensions: Height 97 1/4in; width 22 1/2in; depth 11in.

Provenance: Descended through the Garrett Family of New Castle County, Delaware.

From a Local Collection.

Footnote: For two similar examples, see: Sotheby's, New York, The William K. du Pont Collection: Important American from Rocky Hill, January 23, 2022, Lot 160; and Sotheby's, New York, Important Americana, January 22, 2010, Lot 473.

Literature: A closely related Furniss clock is illustrated in Phillip D. Zimmerman, Delaware Clocks, Dover, DE: The Biggs Museum of American Art, 2006, pp. 8, 9, no. 1.

The case has undergone significant embellishment, rebuilding and restorations to the hood, dial door and base during the late 19th century. (accompanied by original receipts from rebuilding and repairs) The dial door is likely reshaped. Retaining an old muddy refinish to the surface. 

The movement's seat board appears to be original. Heavy wear to silvered chapter ring, toning and darkening to the metalwork overall. Minor old reinforced repair to reverse of brass dial. With pendulum, two weights and winding crank. The clock was last serviced August 23, 2003. We cannot guarantee the completeness or functionality of the clock's movement.