A Queen Anne Walnut Tall Case Clock, Thomas Stretch (1697-1765), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Circa 1740-1760.

The 11 7/8-inch square brass dial with silvered chapter ring having Roman hours and Arabic minutes, with two winding holes, subsidiary seconds dial and date aperture to the matte center, within cast spandrels. The inset silvered seconds dial engraved 'Tho. Stretch / PHILADELPHIA'.

The eight-day twin train movement, with anchor escapement, striking on a bell, having five knopped pillars between plates.

The sarcophagus top, supporting two capped plinths with ball-and-spire finials, above a heavily molded cornice and frieze over a square glazed dial door, flanked by turned colonettes and tombstone sidelights. The rectangular waist with conforming door, above a molded box base, raised on bracket feet.

With chalk inscriptions to interior of case, "Febry 25 1918 / 1774 / 4 May Snow / 28 Feb Pech / Blossoms 1779 / 1808 / 8 May snow."

Dimensions: Height 89in; width 19in; depth 10 1/2in.

Provenance: Property from the Collection of C. Thomas Attix Jr., East Windsor, New Jersey.

Literature: Illustrated in Donald L. Fennimore and Frank L. Hohmann III, Stretch: America's First Family of Clockmakers, The Henry Francis  du Pont Winterthur Museum, Inc / Hohmann Holdings LLC, 2013, cat. no. 68, pp. 258-259.

Published in Carolyn Wood Stretch, "Peter Stretch: Clockmaker, 1760-1746," International Studio 97 (October 1930): 48, at which time the clock was owned by Miss Clementine Irick.

The case with typical marks, wear, nick, and surface scratches commensurate with age and use. Dust accumulation. Shrinkage and age cracks. The finials are possibly later replacements. The dial with typical wear and toning to metalwork. At the time the condition report was conducted, the clock was maintaining power and striking correctly. We cannot guarantee the completeness or functionality of the clock's movement.