Type of clock: Shelf clock Clock maker: Aaron Willard Location: Gardner House 103 Catalogue number: Historic Property #1073 Height: 34 in. Width: 13 1/4 in. Depth: 6 in. Country: Boston, Massachusetts Date: 1815-1835 Marks: Aaron Willard, Boston
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Description: Standing on brass ball front feet to match brass-ball decoration on its sliding hood, this Federal mahogany and gilt shelf clock by Aaron Willard is supported by wooden claw-shaped hind feet and set in cream lacquer moldings. The square mirror sits on a dark convex molding with touches of stenciled butterflies. The white-painted Dish dial, engraved with Roman numerals and accompanied by simple hands and singular winding arbor, is surrounded with painted autumn leaves, and in each corner is an American shield. At the very top is an acorn finial. Provenance: Bought on June 29, 1927 of Alan O. Crane, New London, New Hempshire, by the Gardners, this clock was cleaned by Walter H. Durfee, Oct. 7 1927. Crane's great grandfather Buss assisted in the making of this clock for a wedding present. It belonged to Betsy Crane and then to her daughter, Augusta Crane Knight, wife of Professor Ephraim Knight, who taught in New London Academy in the late 1840s. The clock came to Alan O. Crane on the death of Augusta in 1909. Clockmaker biography: Aaron Willard, born Oct. 13, 1757, Grafton, Massachusetts, died May 20 1844, Boston, 843 Washington Street, was the son of Benjamin and Sarah Brooks Willard. The Willards were the most famous clockmakers in Massachusetts and Aaron was probably taught the skills by his brothers Benjamin and Simon. He operated in Grafton during the Revolutionary War but soon followed Simon to Roxbury in 1780, settling near him. Aaron moved to 843 Washington Street, Boston and established a factory ca. 1792-1798. Seven of his clocks have made their way into the Metropolitan Museum and others at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.