Tall Case Clock

Known today as “grandfather clocks” or “grandfather’s clocks,” tall case clocks in the 18th century were prominently displayed in the best parlor or entry hall of the home, where they could be admired by visitors, a symbol of a family’s wealth and standing within the community. The brass components for most American-made clocks were imported from England or northern Europe and assembled in America by skilled artisans. Cases for these clocks were usually made by craftsmen with different sets of tools and skills. This elegant example was made by the Newburyport, Massachusetts–based clockmaker Jonathan Mulliken II. Born in Bradford, Massachusetts, into a family of clockmakers, he most likely apprenticed with his uncle Nathaniel Mulliken, a prominent engraver and clockmaker. Jonathan Mulliken’s name and “Newbury Port,” the town where his shop was located between 1772 and 1782, are engraved in a brass signature plate above the dial. However, it is not known who made the clock’s handsome mahogany case.