Striking Beauty: New Jersey Tall Case Clocks, 1730–1830
On view April 21, 2023–February 18, 2024
The first exhibition of its kind, Striking Beauty features over 50 tall case clocks, representing almost as many different clockmakers. Explore the five-gallery exhibition to see the most comprehensive look ever given to the ingenious work of New Jersey clockmakers.
Advertisement placed by William J. Leslie (1769–1831), The True American, August 7, 1804.
In an 1804 newspaper advertisement, Trenton clock and watchmaker William J. Leslie touted that he was “Not from Paris, London or Boston – But a Native of New-Jersey.” At the time, the state was home to dozens of craftsmen specializing in tall case clocks. Morven’s newest exhibition will examine the work of New Jersey clockmakers as they collaborated with cabinetmakers, ran shops, and formed professional partnerships to create beautiful timekeeping pieces.
Spanning the colonial and post-revolutionary period, clockmakers ran their shops with the assistance of apprentices and often enslaved labor. Some carried on the clockmaking tradition through several generations, often working multiple trades, including silversmithing.
Tall case clock, walnut with pine back board; pewter, gilded brass, and enameled metal, c. 1749–65. Joseph Hollinshead, Sr. (active 1740–65), Burlington, NJ. Inscribed on the clock face "Jos. Hollinshead / Burlington." Collection of Monmouth County Historical Assocation, Gift of Mrs. Charles W. Dawson, 1932.
This exhibition will feature over 50 tall case clocks, representing almost as many different clockmakers, from both private and public collections. These freestanding pendulum clocks are as functional as they are beautiful with faces made of intricate brass work or painted designs of objects like ships, suns and moons. Internally, their complicated workings are mechanical masterpieces. Some even chime with contemporaneous melodies.
Striking Beauty will be the first large-scale exhibition of its kind, exploring the experiences of the artisans and apprentices, free and enslaved, who contributed to this unique craft. Explore the five-gallery exhibition to see clocks from cities and towns such as Elizabeth, Newark, Burlington, Flemington, and Salem, and more.
Lenders to the exhibition will include: Boxwood Hall, Brown University, Buccleuch Mansion Museum, Burlington County Historical Society, Gloucester County Historical Society, Hunterdon County Historical Society, Monmouth County Historical Association, Trenton Museum Society, as well as loans from numerous private collections.
Funding for this exhibition has been provided, in part, by
The Hess Foundation, Liza and Schuyler Morehouse, The George H. & Estelle M. Sands Foundation, Lisa and Michael Ullmann, Robert N. Wilson and Michele Plante, Weber Display & Packaging, and anonymous support provided by way of the Princeton Area Community Foundation.
Morven Museum & Garden received a project grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.
