A FEDERAL MAHOGANY VENEERED AND BRASS-MOUNTED TALL-CASE CLOCK

As noted by the author of a note on the inside of the case door, the dial on the clock offered here may have been painted by Spencer Nolen (1784-1849), brother-in-law of the clockmaker, Aaron Willard, Jr. Nolen was previously in partnership with Aaron's father, Aaron Willard, Sr., and lived in the elder clockmaker's compound on Washington Street in Boston. Nolen moved to Philadelphia in 1817 but as noted by Paul J. Foley, he may have continued to supply dials to Aaron Willard, Jr. after this time (Paul J. Foley, Willard's Patent Timepieces (Norwell, Massachusetts, 2002), p. 292). For a clock dial with related country scene painted in the arch attributed to Nolen, see Christie's New York, 25 September 2013, lot 26.