Eight-day tall case clock w/ cherry case & walnut inlay. White-painted arched dial has Arabic numerals, sweep seconds and calendar hands, exceptionally well painted dial w/ fan-decorated spandrels & rare rope-like border on chapter ring. Signed "Martin Shreiner" over "No. 182". Clock expert Gary Sullivan says dial was made by Samuel Curtis & Knowles of Boston who later operated out of Philadelphia (see Notes).
Bonnet has four free-standing corner columns, broken arch pediment with inlaid fylfot rosettes at terminals and three urn finials (likely replacements) on tall plinths and a central keystone medallion at the tympanum.
Above rectangular thumbnail molded waist door with hollow top corners is an inlaid eagle within an inlaid walnut oval within multi-line inlay. Eagle has wax-infilled shield and banner in his beak that reads, "Bluribus Unum," (without the initial "E" and Pluribus misspelled). Large inlaid oval on door and brass steeple butt hinges on door. Quarter columns have reeded chamfers which extend only 3/4 of the way up, terminating in lambs tongues.
Facade of base is veneered with mitered corners surrounding a large inlaid square with fan corners. At bottom is horizontal double line of string inlay. There is a drop apron and four French feet. The weights, winding key and door lock & key are not original.
Notes: J.J. Snyder has studied eagle inlaid clock cases and notes in 12/5/96 letter to HC Director, "It is virtually certain that the workshop of Emanuel Deyer of Manheim was the source of many of these..." In 12/15/96 letter he notes that two eagle types were used - symmetrical & asymmetrical, as on this clock.
Stacy Wood's 1995 article on Martin Shreiner notes on p. 580 that a Shreiner clockworks numbered #180 is dated 1815. Thus, we can safely say that this clock - #182 - would be dated about the same year.
Lancaster Borough (clockworks) and probably Manheim (case)
Provenance
Donor is great, great, great-grandson of Shreiner. Clock descended through the Cochran family to him.
Case cracked in many places, e.g.across eagle & cove molding above base. Heavily refinished. Urn finials likely replaced. Infill at cracks and separated joints. Strip added to left side of door opening where door locks, and repair at upper left corner. Wood loss at left hollow corner of door; door lock replaced; one-inch-long gouge in veneer of base at left side of front. Chipped at corners and feet; dents on base front. Dial overpainted at many places.
Object ID
G.96.31.1
Notes
See commentary on clock by John J. Snyder, Jr. in his letter of 5 Dec 1996. He notes the clock has "mediocre surface and finish, many repairs and patches, and questionable urn finials."
In 2015, clock expert Gary Sullivan stated that Shreiner used dials made by Samuel Curtis of Boston (commonly have a paper label on reverse, reading "Curtis Manufactory for Patton & Jones, Phila.) Popularity of tall case clocks lasted longer in PA, so Curtis moved to Phila. Abraham Patton & Samuel C. Jones formed a partnership in 1797 called "Patton, Jones & Co." Changed to "Patton & Jones" in 1798. Parnership failed in 1814 when they could no longer get materials from England due to the War of 1812. Tell tale sign is the banner sign spanning the globes under the moon wheel.
Works made by Martin Shreiner, Sr. (1769-1829). Case attributed to Emanuel Deyer.
Credit
Gift of Paul A. Mueller, Jr., Heritage Center Collection
