William Lowry (American, Frankfort,
Tall Clock, 1805-1810, cherry, walnut, poplar
and other woods.
Bequest of Alice Speed Stoll, by exchange 2004.3
This tall clock is beautifully executed and its solid
documentation makes it one of the most important surviving
pieces of early Kentucky furniture. Historically, the
clock’s importance lies in two signatures found
amidst its works. The back of its English-made dial
bears the signature of Lexington silversmith Asa Blanchard.
Blanchard operated one of the state’s most successful
silversmithing shops and is a seminal figure in the
state’s artistic history. The second inscription,
located on the seat board that Supports the works, reads,
“Thomas McMurray, Lexington, KY November 9th 1808,
made for TB Blanchard.” McMurray, a clock and
watchmaker probably assembled the clock’s works.
Together, the two signatures record the clock’s
place and date of manufacture, associate it with an
important early silversmith, and help document trade
practices in early Kentucky. The clock’s significance
as an historical document is matched by its superb aesthetic
quality, most notably, the quality of the clock case.
While the cabinetmaker remains anonymous, the skill
involved is apparent. The sizable case features elegant
crotch cherry veneer. Inlays visually define its various
elements and emphasize its strong rectilinear character.