Eight-day, tall case clock by John George Hoff, Sr., in a flat-top Chippendale walnut case.
Brass dial has pewter chapter ring with Roman numerals for the hour and Arabic numerals for the seconds. Separate seconds dial below XII. Pewter spandrels. "George Hoff" engraved at bottom of dial, above a calendar window. Painted moon wheel at top has moon on a field of stars.
Bonnet has molded cornice, arched door and arched side windows. Engaged columns at all four corners. Waist has wide chambered corners with lambequins at top and bottom. Door has arched top and molded edges; brass escutcheon (replaced?); door is hung by two brass steeple butt hinges. Base has plain sides and chamfered corners that match those at waist. Molding above four ogee bracket feet.
J.J. Snyder notes that this clock case with wide chamfers relates to other pieces with the same feature, e.g. G.03.1.1 (Jenkins family bookcase on desk) and P.78.76 (Old family bonnet top high chest). The Hoff clock chamfers, however, are not fluted like the large case pieces.
See photo of clock in Wood and Kramer's clock book, p. 37.
Provenance
Professor Kauffman said on 4-23-99 that he purchased this clock from a dealer after Joe Kindig refused it because it was a flat top. A receipt (now in file) was tacked to inside of clock case documenting the purchase from collector/dealer Melvin Hubley of Lancaster City in 1955 (cost $545).
Modest wear, right side light is cracked, molding missing at right side of waist at bottom. Base is scarred, some cracks, especially aroung feet and moldiing. Unfilled nail repair holes at base.
Finish has orange peel surface.
Object ID
G.96.37.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Gift of Henry J. Kauffman, Heritage Center Collection
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).
Large scale pedimented door surround of painted softwood and replaced slate, from the George Ross mansion built on the NW corner of Duke & E. King Sts., Lancaster. Doric Order doorway with full treatment of the entablature. A projecting pediment rests on two fluted, engaged columns flanking a recessed, arched doorway with raised panels at sides and top. A keystone is centered at top of door casing. Fanlight with tracery above doorway. Bold moldings at cornice of pediment decorated with mutules. Triglyphs below.
"This painted doorway is the most elaborate now known to survive from pre-Revolutionary Lancaster County", states John J. Snyder.
Provenance
Removed by Ross' gr. granddaughter Ann Coleman Hopkins Lightner when house was razed in 1851 or 52 to make room for the oldest section of the present Lanc. Co. courthouse. Reinstalled at Lightner mansion at corner of N. Duke & Lemon Sts. Removed when house was razed in 1963 and given to LCHS.. Then placed on permanent loan with the Heritage Center where it was installed in the Masonic Lodge in 1977. Transferred Dec. 1997 to Heritage Center. Removed in 2000 and reinstalled at 7 W. King St. in museum lobby in 2002 where it is now on loan to Lancaster City.
Generally intact with presumed replacement parts due to multiple usage. Any replacement parts not visible under multiple coats of paint. Some missing elements such as circular pieces of "leggo block" moldings under cornice and part of projecting portion of the right capital. There is no door and slate is not original.
Object ID
G.97.45.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Heritage Center Collection, gift of Lancaster County His
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