This rare Chippendale tall clock has a highly attractive case with an impressive hood with a well-developed sarcophagus top. The clock survives in wonderful condition and retains a pleasing color and mellow surface. The movement was produced by Simeon Jocelyn (1746-1823) of New Haven, Connecticut. The spelling of his last name appears in a variety of forms, this clock is marked “Jocelin”. He most likely was apprenticed to Isaac Doolittle and first appeared in business in 1768 pursuing the trade for the duration of his life. Eighteenth century clocks of this type, seldom retain their original sarcophagus top, making this a rare survivor.

The molded hood has an original raised sarcophagus top, mounted with a central plinth and two side chimneys; each set with turned, ball and spire finials. This crest is mounted above a glazed tombstone-form dial door, which is flanked by bulbous turned colonnettes with blocked capitals and bases. The dial door opens to a composite brass dial with rococo spandrels. The lunette is set with a name boss framed with similar spandrels. The boss is engraved with his date, name and local “1771 Sim’n Jocelin New Haven” [sic]

The dial has a raised chapter ring with Roman numerals to demark the hour and an outer ring of Arabic numerals to demark the minutes. The dial is also fitted with a seconds circle above the center arbor and a calendar window below. The center arbor is mounted with original pierced and scrolled steel hands. The brass eight-day movement, which has recently been serviced and is in good running order, retains a pair of cast iron weights and a brass-capped pendulum. The hood transitions to the waist of the case with a flared throat molding above a tombstone-form pendulum door. This locking door has a brass keyhole escutcheon and a molded edge. The waist transitions to the base section with a similar flared molding. The rectangular base section rests on an applied base molding.

Overall height including center finial 97", Width 21”, Depth 11”

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