Tall Case Clock1812–183487 × 21 1/2 × 12 3/4"Paint on pine case with watercolor on paper clockface and wooden clockworksEva and Morris Feld Folk Art Acquisition Fund1981.12.2201532141575Artist unidentifiedLambert W. LewisFurniture/FurnishingsThe American Folk Art Museum believes this work to be in the public domain.on dial: 'L.W. Lewis'; verso of clock face: 'H. Sutphen Great Neck, NY'http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster24258United StatesUnited StatesOhioNew JerseyThree Dimensional WorksfurnitureClock cases received the same imitative and imaginative grain painting that was applied to chests of drawers and other furniture. Usually these cases were made by a cabinetmaker and not the maker of the clockworks. This tall case clock is housed in a wooden case that is painted yellow, with overall decoration in a pattern that has been called "paw print." This was probably dabbed with a crumpled material or dry-painted with the blunt end of a brush. The clock face is painted with a scenic landscape of tall trees.
The clock was found in New Jersey, but the movement is a Connecticut type, with pull-up weights that run the clock for thirty hours, and stylistically it relates most strongly to Connecticut clock- and cabinet-making traditions. This may be explained by the name "L.W. Lewis" that appears on the dial–probably Lambert W. Lewis, who was originally from Southbury, Connecticut, but was purchasing property in Ohio by 1806. With several of his brothers, he became the earliest and largest manufacturer of clocks in Trumbull County, an area on the Western Reserve that was developed primarily by Connecticut Yankees. In 1818 Lewis expanded his business, obtaining a mortgage with another Connecticut clockmaker, Riley Whiting. In 1820 he employed four men and one young girl, who may have ornamented the faces. His business declined, and Lewis's business with it. "H. Sutphen, Great Neck" appears inside the case and is probably the name of someone who serviced the clock at a later date.
Stacy C. Hollander, "Tall Case Clock," in American Anthem: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum (New York: Harry N. Abrams in association with American Folk Art Museum, 2001), 314–315.Although this clock may have been found in NJ, it is most closley related to clocks of the Bristol, CT area. Tall-case clocks were most popoular before the turn of the 19th c throught the 1830's. Local painters and cabinetmakers advertised their services in the paintings of the dials and the manufacture of the cases. The name painted on the face of this clock might refer to Levi Llewis of Bristol, CT who was in partnership with Joseph Ives from 1809-1823. Ives was not the inventor of the mainspring but his movement included some important variations. The name found on the back of the clockface is probably a repairer's mark from Nov. 1924. According to N.F. Little CT tall case clocks from 1/4 19th c. are appealing because of their painted and sponged decoration.http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster24258http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster24258http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster2425818121834 1981 12 22 furnitureClock cases received the same imitative and imaginative grain painting that was applied to chests of drawers and other furniture. Usually these cases were made by a cabinetmaker and not the maker of the clockworks. This tall case clock is housed in a wooden case that is painted yellow, with overall decoration in a pattern that has been called "paw print." This was probably dabbed with a crumpled material or dry-painted with the blunt end of a brush. The clock face is painted with a scenic landscape of tall trees.
The clock was found in New Jersey, but the movement is a Connecticut type, with pull-up weights that run the clock for thirty hours, and stylistically it relates most strongly to Connecticut clock- and cabinet-making traditions. This may be explained by the name "L.W. Lewis" that appears on the dial–probably Lambert W. Lewis, who was originally from Southbury, Connecticut, but was purchasing property in Ohio by 1806. With several of his brothers, he became the earliest and largest manufacturer of clocks in Trumbull County, an area on the Western Reserve that was developed primarily by Connecticut Yankees. In 1818 Lewis expanded his business, obtaining a mortgage with another Connecticut clockmaker, Riley Whiting. In 1820 he employed four men and one young girl, who may have ornamented the faces. His business declined, and Lewis's business with it. "H. Sutphen, Great Neck" appears inside the case and is probably the name of someone who serviced the clock at a later date.
Stacy C. Hollander, "Tall Case Clock," in American Anthem: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum (New York: Harry N. Abrams in association with American Folk Art Museum, 2001), 314–315.Although this clock may have been found in NJ, it is most closley related to clocks of the Bristol, CT area. Tall-case clocks were most popoular before the turn of the 19th c throught the 1830's. Local painters and cabinetmakers advertised their services in the paintings of the dials and the manufacture of the cases. The name painted on the face of this clock might refer to Levi Llewis of Bristol, CT who was in partnership with Joseph Ives from 1809-1823. Ives was not the inventor of the mainspring but his movement included some important variations. The name found on the back of the clockface is probably a repairer's mark from Nov. 1924. According to N.F. Little CT tall case clocks from 1/4 19th c. are appealing because of their painted and sponged decoration.