Tall Case Clock

Tall case clocks were popular in America throughout the 18th century until about 1850. This clock was made by Samuel Hill who learned his trade in London, emigrated from England, and set up shop in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, by 1785.
An unusual feature of this clock is its nine-foot height. The hand painted face has brass works with a seconds dial above and a crescent-shaped calendar aperture below. As is typical of these clocks, the hours are given in roman numerals, with the number four displayed with four single strokes, and the minutes appear in Arabic figures. The clock is fitted with a moon wheel, which displays the phases of the moon via a metal disk upon which are painted the various stages in duplicate, so that it took two months for a complete revolution. Painted floral motifs on the spandrels, two globes above the face, and delicate borders of inlay in several places on the case complete the decoration.