Tall Clock
1810–15
Medium
Mahogany, satinwood, tulip poplar, white pine
Dimensions
90 x 19 x 10 1/4 in. (228.6 x 48.3 x 26 cm)
Classification
Tall clock
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Sylmaris Collection, Gift of George Coe Graves, 1930
Accession Number
30.120.62
Art Historical Context
This elegant tall clock, crafted by American cabinetmaker Matthew Egerton Jr. between 1810 and 1815, exemplifies the refined furniture traditions of the early republic. Standing over seven and a half feet tall, the piece combines rich mahogany with contrasting satinwood accents, while tulip poplar and white pine form the secondary structure. These material choices reflect both the availability of native woods and the desire for visual warmth and sophistication in American homes of the period. As a functional timepiece and status symbol, such clocks played a central role in domestic life, mark...