Clock

DateCirca 1930

Mediumwood, whale ivory, brass, steel, glass

Dimensions9 1/2 × 7 3/8 × 4 1/8 in. (24.1 × 18.7 × 10.5 cm)

Object number00.195.74

Institutional Credit LineCourtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum

DescriptionShelf-clock case attributed to Captain Ray Green Sanford, circa 1830s, with a later mechanism of circa 1910. The ornate scrimshaw case is wood, trimmed with polychrome engraved whale ivory architectural components on the pediment, cartouche, skirt, edges, and sides, with a leafy vine motif, surmounted by a full-round carved and engraved spread-eagle and American shield; with side columns and claw feet derived from late neoclassical furniture styles. The tops of the whale ivory pediments on both sides are threaded to accommodate four finials (missing), with cutout "footprints" approximately 1 ¼-inch in diameter. The mechanism has a gothic face with chamfered glass; the works are an internal key-wound 8-day spring movement, manufactured by the Sessions Clock Co., Forestville, Connecticut.

An early typescript on verso, much faded and barely legible, reads, "This Watch Stand was present / by [sic] Capt. Ray Green Sanford / about the year 1840. / He commanded these whaling vessels / on voyages from New Bedford, Mass. / Brig DELIGHT owned by Jona. Mosher / sailed Nov. 1 1835 / Returned Aug. 30, 1836 … etc.," the remainder largely illegible and over-written in ink holograph (but recoverable from Lund and Starbuck). A further ink holograph notation in a nineteenth-Century style cursive hand adds, "Capt. Sanford died in 1841 during this voyage." This is corroborated by Starbuck, who states "Captain Sanford died November 1841," but the logbook (Kendall #323) is authoritative in noting that the captain suddenly contracted lockjaw from a hurt finger on Oct. 29, 1841, died the following day "without a struggle," and was buried at sea on Oct. 31st.

The mechanism is intact but was overwound and is not in running condition; close examination (02/01/2006) indicates that it could easily be restored.

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