Ship From So. CA

Here is an extraordinarily difficult-to-find clock that is a copy of an original Lemuel Curtis Girandole banjo clock, c.1803, made by a high-end, well-known craftsman and his wife of the 1970s era. Ted and Fran Burleigh founded the Gilders Workshop of Winchester, MA. Burleigh was the only one to copy the full-size Curtis clocks. His reproductions are highly sought after because of both their quality and close attention to the originals.

This example, serial No. 2, shows a scene looking down State Street with it's rows of buildings, toward the ships docked at Rowe's Wharf.  It was made in 1975 and is so stamped on the back of the case. There is additional information on Burleigh following the museum photos/descriptions below.

Here are two Lemuel Curtis originals from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (www.mfa.org) followed by a brief Lemuel Curtis biography. Please click the thumbnail photos to enlarge.

From the museum website: In 1802, Simon Willard of Roxbury, Massachusetts, was granted a patent for the production of "Willard's Patent Time Pieces," an immensely popular wall clock. Lemuel Curtis, like many clockmakers in New England, had links, both familial and professional, with the seminal Willard shop. After completing his apprenticeship, probably with Simon Willard, Curtis opened his own shop in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1811, where he produced timepieces until he departed for Vermont in 1821. Memoirist Edward Jarvis, in his early reminiscences of Concord, recalled that Curtis's shop was "thirty feet long and ten or twelve feet wide. In a room on the left side he repaired and had a small jewelry store. The rest he used by himself, his men and apprentices as a manufactory of his timepieces."

The Museum's girandole wall clock (named for its use of convex glass in the base section) is a type patented by Curtis in 1816 in his attempt to make a more technologically advanced and aesthetically pleasing model that would surpass the influential Willard version. This example is exceptional for its beautifully rendered image of Marriage depicted in reverse painting on glass (eglomisé), an extraordinarily difficult technique. Curtis asserted in a Boston Intelligencer advertisement from April 12, 1817, "Upon the exteriour [of his clocks] the exertions of genius and taste have not been spared, or any expence," adding that they received "the approbation of the first artists in the United States" and that they were "the best moddeled, and proportioned, and surpassing, in elegance of appearance, any timepiece ever invented."

Other subjects depicted on his clocks include Commerce and victorious naval engagements from the War of 1812, fitting themes for "Meeting Houses, Banks, Parlours and other rooms."

More About Burleigh: In 1970, after years of gold leaf restoration and reverse glass painting as a hobby, Ted and Fran Burleigh formed the Gilders Workshop in Winchester, MA and began producing fine quality reproductions of banjo clocks based on the design of Lemuel Curtis.

According to a 1981 Burleigh sales brochure, "In 1973 the Burleighs had the opportunity to copy, line-for-line, the Curtis girandole clock known as the "bride's clock", now on loan at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

The girandole, known as the most elegant American clock design, is a challenge to the craftsman with its hand carved eagle finial and acanthus leaf bracket and the use of fifty burnished gold balls as trim. Again, the Burleighs are totally involved in the crafting of the case - Ted doing all of the carving, finishing and gold leaf preparation and Fran the gilding and painting of the glass tablets. The reverse paintings for girandoles are unusual and intricate. In addition to the 'Marriage' scene of the bride's clock there are choices of five paintings, all copied directly from originals."

Another Burleigh brochure states, “The design of the Burleigh Presentation Banjo Clock is adapted from that of the Lemuel Curtis banjo made in the early 1800’s. Like the original, it’s distinguishing features are a somewhat narrower throat than usual, and the concave molding used on the door and throat which is finished in burnished gold and therefore reflects the rope trim which is laid in it. Also as in the original Curtis clock, all cases are made of hand rubbed Honduras mahogany, with five piece back boards of pine. The door, throat frame and bracket are also of pine, the wood customarily used in pieces to be gilded.

The gilding is executed in the traditional manner. Six hand applied coats of gesso (a mixture of whiting and animal hide glue) are sanded to a porcelain-like finish, and three or more coats of bole (a red clay and glue mixture) are applied to the parts before they are gilded. Twenty-three karat golf leaf is applied over an oil size in the area to have a matte finish, and over a water size in the areas to be burnished.

The dial, with Roman numerals is hand painted and the hands are hand filed to a delicate slimness. The movement, which is patterned after the early weight-driven types is made by Kilbourne & Proctor.”

Physical: The elegant case measures 46”h X 12”w  X 4.5”d and is in excellent physical condition as you can see in the photos. It is stamped in numerous places, "TEB 2" The 7" diameter dials were painted by the famous dial-painter, Martha Smallwood, in Dallas, GA. There is a Smallwood label on the back of the dial. The front says, "LB Curtis' Patent" signature and is also signed, "Reproduction by T.E. Burleigh, Jr".

Everything on this clock is original.

Mechanical: The eight-day weight-driven movement is signed by its well-known and highly regarded maker, "Kilbourne & Proctor". It is all original and is in excellent running order, having been professionally serviced in 2010.

Comments: Well, we've given you a ton of stuff to read and a lot of great photos. The next logical step is for you to pick up the phone and call us to start the purchase process. This is one magnificent clock that you are not going to see again any time soon.

Questions? Contact us by phone at 760-604-0262, or e-mail.

PHOTO LINKS:
Description		View
Front View Front Left Front Right Upper Right Lower Right Throat Left Tablet Tablet Back Base Dial Back of Dial Label Pendulum Movement Maker Mark - Back		click click click click click click click click click click click click click click

Ship From So. CA

Here is one of the largest regulators Waterbury made. We don't have access to these big guys often, and they usually disappear rapidly when we are fortunate enough to present them for your consideration. The original catalogue price for this clock (see drawing to the left) was $150; it's a little more expensive today!

Here is an interesting history of clockmaker Daniel Pratt that mentions "Daniel Pratt's Son" as the successor firm.

Physical: The oak case with glass sides is in excellent physical condition and measures 24"w x 108"h x 12" d. it was professionally refinished in 2010 to faithfully restore it to its original condition.

The 12" diameter porcelain dial features a sweep seconds bit. It is The adjustabel compensating "lyre" pendulum is in execellent original condition.

Mechanical: The iron-encased, dead-beat, pinwheel escapement, retaining power movement was professionally overhauled in 2010 and is in excellent running order, ready for years of great service. Man, that's a mouthful...

Shipping: For shipping, the case comes apart into an 11"h crown, a trunk of 65"h, and a base of 32"h.

We will help you arrange with one of our blanket-wrap movers to pick up the clock here and deliver it to your door.

Comments: This clock is in a very difficult-to-photograph location against oak paneling that nearly matches the clock. We trust that you will be able to visually sort out the background to see the spectacular clock standing there.

It will look grand in the entry of your home... or perhaps in the corner of your den or office. Give us a call to start the process!


Questions? Contact us by phone at 760-604-0262, or e-mail.

PHOTO LINKS:
Description		View
Front View Crown Upper Section Upper - Right Midsection Base Base - Right Dial Dial/Pendulum Rods		click click click click click click click click click

Ship From So. CA

Original Catalogue Drawing

Perhaps the most sought after of the big Seth Thomas wall regulators is Regulator No. 19 and its immediate predecessor, Regulator 16. This is the earlier of the two models. They had essentially the same case, except Reg 16 at 9" in depth is not quite as deep of a case as Reg. 19. Both clocks were used in major railroad stations as well as by jewelers across the country because of their precise timekeeping. Physical: The stunning walnut case measures 13"w x 75"h x 9"d and is in excellent physical condition as you can see in the detailed photos below. The finish was professionally restored in 2010.The bottom center finial was replaced (very typical on both the 16 and 19 models), as were the top two finials, which are exact hand-turned and fluted copies of the original. Again, it is very common on these two models to be missing some of the original finials. We have a museum-quality restorer/wood-carver who has made many of this same finial over the years that are faithful copies of the originals. The 12" dial, hands, nickel bezel, weight, pulley and beat scale are all original. In addition, there is a good condition label in the bottom inside and it has a wonderful damascened pendulum. Mechanical: The eight-day, retaining-power, graham pallets movement beats seconds with a large sweep seconds hand. It was professionally overhauled in 2010 and is in excellent running order and ready for years of precise timekeeping for you.

Comments: Ten-twelve years ago these clocks sold in the $18-20k range and one of this exact model sold for a little under $40k at auction a couple of years ago. They are going nowhere but up in value... a much safer (and more enjoyable) investment than having to check your pulse every day watching the ridiculous stock market continue to plunge. And, in this case, you can always reach your broker with a single call. To paraphrase the guy in the helicopter, "Why do you think so many people are switching to The Clock Guy Antique Brokerage?" Great service, valuable information, fair prices, and always a listening ear!

Questions? Contact us by phone at 760-604-0262, or e-mail.

Ship From So. CA

We're fortunate to presently have a whole collection of Ansonia porcelain "La Normandie" models to offer you, including this multi-color Royal Bonn and the other labeled Delft. Here is the Royal Bonn done in what the factory called "New Art Tints" that originally sold for $15.75 in 1904:

Physical: The porcelain case is in excellent original condition and measures 13"w x 13.5"h x 5"d. It has a 5" diameter dial with exposed jeweled escapement and a "rococo-style" sash with original beveled glass.

Mechanical: The eight-day time-and-strike movement strikes a mellow gong on the half hour and the hour. The movement was professionally overhauled in 2010 and is in excellent running order.

Comments: Give us a call to start the process for this one... or perhaps the entire collection!

Questions? Contact us by phone at 760-604-0262, or e-mail.

PHOTO LINKS:
Description		View
Front View Right Side Left Side Back RB Signature		click click click click click

Ship From So. CA

This is one of the fanciest Royal Bonn porcelain cases made in Germany for the Ansonia Clock Co. We're fortunate to also have one in green with an elaborate dial. This one in the highly desirable and much sought-after cobalt blue color. Both are knockout clocks and the photos don't do them justice by any means.

Physical: The porcelain case is all original and in excellent physical condition as you can see in the photos below. It measures 14"w x 15"h x 5d.

Mechanical: The eight-day, spring-driven, gong-strike movement was professionally overhauled in 2010. It strikes on the half hour and the hour with a deep, mellow tone.

Comments: An absolutely stunning piece of art that also happens to be a clock. We know of a LaCerda in Cobalt Blue that sold on eBay for $3,500 ~ ours is a much better buy. We're sure you're already thinking about (conniving?) where you might put it in your home...

Questions? Contact us by phone at 760-604-0262, or e-mail.

PHOTO LINKS:
Description		View
Front View-1 Front View-2 Front Right Right Side Closeup Front Left Dial Back		click click click click click click click