Walnut flat-top tall case clock made by John George Hoff, Sr. Arched iron dial (circa 1770), has pewter attachments, a chapter ring, spandrels and lunette. Attachments probably made by Hoff himself. Roman numerals used with stylized fleur-de-lis half-hour markers.The two hands are wide and stubby, cut from iron sheeting. Asymmetrical winding arbor holes.
Bonnet has tall arched side windows. Plain columns on hood; plain quarter columns on waist and base. Thin molding at bottom of base.
Note: John J. Snyder, Jr. states "This is one of the finest flat-top clock cases from Lancaster County; it is distinguished by its molded platform on the hood, crisp cove molding of the cornice, and narrow waist section." (Clockmakers of Lancaster County, p. 36 and p.113).
Tall case clock with Rococo case of curly maple (no other curly maple Chippendale clocks known). Brass eight-day movement uses snail striking with English locking and anchor recoil escapement. White dial has a moon wheel; brass calendar wheel visible through the square aperture above the six, seconds dial below the twelve. Arabic hour numerals. Original steel hands.
The hood bears foliate and vine carving at both front and sides with central heart motif on the tympanum. Graceful scroll pediment with typical Lancaster carved rosettes. Three flame finials appear to be original. Tall, narrow arched side lights. Fluted columns on bonnet, fluted quarter columns on slender waist section, and elaborately scalloped raised panel on base. Arched pendulum door. Ogee bracket feet. Sides of the trunk interior have been heavily gouged out to accommodate the swing of the pendulum. This is unusual, but can also be seen in the corner cupboard with John Hoff clock G.94.10.1.
Attributed to Gottlieb Eberman (1759-1801).
Provenance
John Snyder states clock descended through many generations of the Habecker family of Manor Twp.
Multiple losses to applied vine carvings on hood. Painted dial repainted. Case was poorly refinished. Wear at feet. Replaced moon wheel drive; replaced seatboard for clockworks. Gouged out interior sides for pendulum. Single rosehead nail on left side of interior trunk.
Object ID
1991.999
Notes
See articles by J.J. Snyder, Jr. in the Magazine Antiques for May 1974; May 1975 and May 1984.
Walnut tall case 8-day clock has molded bonnet w/ arched top & a step-down molded frieze. All four corners have turned sausage & ring columns w/ fluted & tapered terminals (tapered only at clock sides). Tombstone door and side windows. White iron dial has Roman numeral chapter ring; other numerals Arabic. Three iron hands. Small seconds wheel below XII and working moon phase wheel at top. Raised gilt floral & foliate spandrels. Signed in cursive at dial bottom: "Frederick Maus". Below is "PHILADELPHIA" over "No. 1".
Philadelphia (clockworks) and likely Lancaster Co. (case)
Waist has fluted quarter columns and tombstone arched door of figured wood w/ conforming opening, a top rail also of figured wood, and mitered joints at top. Door hinges replaced; lock repositioned upward. Base has fluted quarter columns; front has an applied turtle-form panel of unusually elongated "legs". Ogee bracket feet replaced. Case is not Phila.; most likely Lancaster Co.
Frederick Maus made clocks in Philadelphia circa 1780s. Son of Jacob Maus (?-1785), also a clockmaker. He is known to have traveled to Lancaster at least once, Aug or Sept 1861. One of his clocks is owned by Independence Hall.
Provenance
Owned and passed down through the Bausman family
First owner was reportedly Andreas Bausman (1734-1814) who settled near Lancaster c. 1755 and bought 317 acres along what is now Millersville Pike, Bausman, PA. When he died in 1814 he was one of the wealthiest farmers in the county. (See "clock and case" on his 1814 inventory). Having no heirs, his nephew, John Bausman (1780-1861), immigrated to Lancaster from Germany in 1802 to take over Andreas' estate. He lived there and was a successful farmer until his death in 1861.
Descent in Bausman family, finally to donor's gr. grandfather Bausman, to his daughter (donor's grandmother) Lula Bausman (married Walt Dunlap)who willed clock to donor.
Hanging balance scales with two brass dishes. Attached tag: "Miss Emma H. Ranck". Listed in original accession notes as "Assayers Scales" used specifically for weighing metals.
