Antique Simon Geist Baroque Bracket Clock

No doubt Simon Willard (1753-1848)is regarded by many as America’s leading clock maker and also the most innovative. He and his three clockmaker brothers are the foremost family members of an ascendancy that went on for over fifty years. The name “Willard” is well-famed enough so that there are almost 30 “Willard” makers listed in most reference books, and most are associated with the original Willard line. Simon was perhaps best known for his Patents on his banjo “timepiece” of 1802, but while busy making custom clocks like his banjos, he also did a trade in tower clocks, gallery clocks, and other highly customized horological items. Along the way he was honored by presenting Harvard with its major timepiece as well as a gallery clock for Supreme Court chambers in Washington and numerous letters from President Jefferson urging him to finish making send on one of his “Improved Timepieces”. Yet most of Simon’s time was spent with a very successful (and seemingly ordinary) trade with making, servicing and selling his own clocks to New England citizens of our new country. This solid mahogany tall clock, features a plain painted dial, could have been made as early as the late 18th century because of the dial style and the employment of bracket feet, a style suitable to his earlier work. The gold leaf finials are turned wood, and though they have age may not be the originals.