Banjo clock

Banjo clock

The banjo clock, or more properly the banjo timepiece, is an American wall clock with a banjo-shaped case. It was invented by Simon Willard, originally of Grafton, Massachusetts, later of Roxbury, Massachusetts, and patented in 1802. The banjo timepiece is so named because it normally lacks a striking mechanism, an essential feature of a true clock, and indicates time only by its hands and dial.

The banjo style of wooden case usually features a round opening for a painted dial, a long-waisted throat, and a rectangular pendulum box with hinged door. Both the throat and door are ornamented with reverse-painted ("verre églomisé") glass panels, and the case is usually flanked by curved and pierced brass frets. A finial mounted atop the case usually takes the form of a cast-brass eagle or a turned, giltwood acorn.

Only 4,000 authentic Simond Willard banjo clocks were made. The style was widely copied by other members of the Willard family of clockmakers and many others clockmakers, both craftsmen and industrial manufacturers. Variants of the banjo-style clock made by others include examples with square or diamond-shaped dials, and the extremely opulent, heavily gilt "girandole" style.

External links

* [http://www.willardhouse.org/ Willard house Museum,] located in Grafton, Mass., the original homestead of Simon Willard, home to the largest collection of Simon Willard clocks and his patented timepieces.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • banjo clock — a clock of the early 19th century in the U.S., having a drumlike case for the dial mounted on a narrow, tapering body, with a boxlike bottom containing the pendulum and its weight. [1795 1805, Amer.] * * *       type of clock, so named because… …   Universalium

  • banjo clock — noun : a shelf or wall pendulum clock whose shape suggests a banjo; especially : such a clock designed by Simon Willard of Roxbury, Mass. and patented by him in 1802 * * * a clock of the early 19th century in the U.S., having a drumlike case for… …   Useful english dictionary

  • banjo clock — noun Date: 1903 a pendulum clock whose shape suggests a banjo …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Banjo (disambiguation) — A Banjo is a stringed instrument common in folk and popular music. It may also refer to:Literature* Banjo is the title of a novel by Harlem Renaissance novelist, essayist and poet Claude McKay. * Banjo was the nickname of Australian poet A.B.… …   Wikipedia

  • Clock — For other uses, see Clock (disambiguation). Timepiece redirects here. For the Kenny Rogers album, see Timepiece (album). Platform clock at King s Cross railway station, London …   Wikipedia

  • Banjo Kazooie — Éditeur Nintendo Développeur Rare Ltd. Concepteur Greggory Mayles Date de sortie 31 juillet 1998 (Europe) Genre Plate forme …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Banjo to Kazooie no Daibouken — Banjo Kazooie Banjo Kazooie Éditeur Nintendo Développeur Rare Ltd. Concepteur Greggory Mayles Date de sortie 31 juillet 1998 (Europe) Genre Plate forme …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Banjo-Kazooie — Desarrolladora(s) Rareware Distribuidora(s) Nintendo Plataforma(s) Nintendo 64 Fecha(s) de lanzamiento …   Wikipedia Español

  • Banjo-Kazooie — This article is about the Nintendo 64 game. For the series, see Banjo Kazooie (series). Banjo Kazooie North American box art Developer(s) …   Wikipedia

  • Banjo-Kazooie — Cet article concerne le jeu vidéo. Pour la série de jeux vidéo, voir Banjo Kazooie (série). Banjo Kazooie …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”