The Cole-Jones Family Queen Anne Figured Walnut Tall Case Clock, works by John Wood Sr., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania circa 1750

Appears to retain its original finials and crest; dial inscribed John Wood Philad^a; retains a lable on the inside of case that states "This clock was presented to Solomon Jones by his maternal Uncle Solomon cole. After the death of Solomon Jones, Josiah Jones, son of the above, purchased the clock of his brother Solomon, for the sum of $20.00. 6 mo. 1885."

Solomon Cole;
Solomon Jones;
Josiah Jones

Appears to retain its original finials, saddleboard is cracked and reglued and is possibly an early replacement, a bottom board was once nailed to the base of the clock, foot facings trimmed at base because of the lack of the bottom board.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This clock displays a signature plate inscribed by John Wood, Sr. (d. 1761), one of the most prominent clockmakers working in Philadelphia during the first half of the eighteenth century. This clock exhibits a brass dial with a silvered chapter ring, cast-brass ornaments with masks and arabesques in the spandrels, cast dolphin ornaments flanking the signature plate, a seconds dial, a calendar aperture, and an eight-day movement. The exceptional and rare Late Baroque case --with its domed top, arched door, and straight bracket feet -- conforms to a popular local pattern. Similar cases house movements by the Philadelphia clockmakers, Peter Stretch (1670-1746) and Joseph Wills (ca. 1700-1759).¹

John Wood Sr. advertised his business in the Pennsylvania Gazette as early as 1734 and continued to operate his establishment at the corner of Front and Chestnut streets, in a shop that had originally belonged to Peter Stretch, until his death in 1761. In July 1734, the silversmith Joseph Richardson Sr. (1711-1784) billed him £6-0-0 for "To Ingraving 6 name pieces @sundry times" and £8-14-0 "To 5 Clock Faces".² Wood is recorded as purchasing several of his cases from two local cabinetmakers, John Head (d. 1754) and Henry Clifton. John Head's account book debits 2 clock cases to Joseph Olman, at £4-0-0 each, on April 18, 1729 and June 10, 1730, both for delivery to John Wood.³ Henry Clifton supplied a case to Wood, at the price of £4-0-0, in August 1750.⁴ 

Identified as a watchmaker in his will, John Wood Sr. left his son John Wood, Jr. (1736-93) "All the Tools belonging to my Trade" as well as his dwelling house at the southeast corner of Front and Chestnut at his death in 1761. An inventory of his business listed the stock of "1 Prospect Time Piece – £4-0-0; 14 Eight Day Clocks – £140-0-0; 1 thirty hour D[itt]o unfinished – £5-0-0; 1 allarm unfinished – £2-0-0; 1 Clock Case – £2-10-0."⁵ John Wood, Jr. carried on his father's thriving business at that location until 1777 and died of yellow fever in 1793 after accumulating a substantial fortune.

A nearly identical arched dial by John Wood Sr. is featured on a tall case clock in the Mones collection housed in a curly walnut case with a pediment top.⁶ A similar dial inscribed by John Wood is found on a tall-case clock at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a history of descent in the family of Joseph Barber (about 1763-1830) of Princeton, New Jersey.⁷ The latter displays an arched moon phase and a case with a broken-arch pediment with leaf carving, a central carved shell and flame finials. Another related tall-case clock with a dial engraved by John Wood and an early case with a flat top survives in a private collection.⁸

¹ See William M. Hornor, Blue Book Philadelphia Furniture, 1935, Reprint, Washington, D.C., 1977, pl. 34 and Brock Jobe, et al, American Furniture with Related Decorative Arts, 1660-1830, New York, 1991, no. 49, pp. 134-5.
² Hornor, p. 55

³ Jay Robert Stiefel, "Philadelphia Cabinetmaking and Commerce, 1718-1753: The Account Book of John Head, Joiner," American Philosophical Society Bulletin, Winter 2001, Vol. 1, no. 1.

⁴ Hornor, p. 127.

⁵ Ibid, p. 129.

⁶ See Stiefel, figs. 31 and 31a.

⁷ See Morrison Heckscher, American Furniture in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1985, no. 198, pp. 306-7.

⁸ See Stiefel, fig. 32.