Shelf Clock
ca. 1820
Medium
Mahogany, maple, white pine
Dimensions
27 7/8 x 15 3/4 x 3 3/4 in. (70.8 x 40 x 9.5 cm)
Classification
Shelf clock
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1962
Accession Number
62.195
Tags
About this artwork
This mahogany, maple, white pine work by Seth Thomas, titled 'Shelf Clock' and created ca. 1820, represents an important example of artistic production from this period. Seth Thomas's practice contributed to the broader artistic traditions of the time, demonstrating the technical skills and aesthetic sensibilities characteristic of The American Wing artworks in museum collections. The piece reflects the cultural and artistic values of its era, serving as a document of historical visual culture. ...
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this Shelf Clock Seth Thomas, crafted around 1820, exemplifies early19th-century American ingenuity in decorative arts. Made from rich mahogany, maple, and pine, the clock measures a compact 27⅞ x 15¾ x 3¾ inches, designed for mantel or shelf display in genteel homes. Seth Thomas, a pioneering Connecticut clockmaker who established his factory in the early 1800s, produced thousands of these timepieces, blending European influences with burgeoning American manufacturing prowess. This clock reflects the Federal period's aesthetic sensib...