Hello Jonathan,
Thank you for sending in this gingerbread mantel clock to mearto.com for an appraisal.
TITLE:
Walnut, dual steel spring, eight-day time and hourly striking, mantel clock (gingerbread style), Phenix model, made by The E. Ingraham & Company, Bristol, Connecticut, circa 1881 (first year in the Ingraham catalog).
PROVENANCE: “Inherited”
DESCRIPTION:
Case: 19.5 x 11” x4” solid walnut gingerbread mantel clock topped a faceted five-star form connecting together at a volute below, solid arches spread out to either side, all resting on a multi-stepped horizontally fluted cornice. That structure forms the pediment of this model, the Phenix, first seen in the Ingraham catalog in 1881. Just below the horizontal cornice and surrounding the top of the hexagonal glazed dial door is the tympanum which is shaped with concave over ogival edges on both side of the top part of the door and contains incised carvings in geometric box patterns over a pinwheel carving above floral forms. The fluted half round door frames hold a glass that overlies the dial above and has a reverse decal consisting of swirls, scrollwork and pinwheels above some foliate designs at the base of the glass. The door has two knuckle hinges exposed on the right side and snap open clasp on the left side. At the base of the door there are two similar side-arms with an ogival shaped edge and incised foliate shapes. Below is the incised base of this case with straight bracket feet and a decorative apron with a stylized fleur-de-Lys in the middle of the apron. Above each foot is an incised carved geometric boxy form. The back of the case is a pine backboard with a very dark patina from oxidation. The interior of the case has an imprint on the bottom of the inside of the case reading, “Manufactured by the E. Ingraham & Co, Bristol, Conn.” On the base there are two of the three original glue blocks, one is missing.
Dial: 6 inch diameter, Zinc dial pan with brass colored edge, is a two-part paper dial with bold Roman hour chapter ring, closed bar minute track to the outside, a brass ring separated the hour chapter from the dial center which held two fenestrated Victorian machine stamped hands, now missing most of its minute hand. The dial is unsigned, with the winding arbors placed at the 21- and 39-minute markers.
Movement: Not shown but would be a rectilinear fenestrated brass movement with the front and rear plates connected by tubular pillars and pinned at the front plate. The escapement is likely on the outside of the plates with an anchor recoil escapement, flywheel and countwheel striking with repeat on demand pull wire, all powered by two steel springs of eight-day duration and striking on a coiled wire cathedral gong on the hour and half hour. The pendulum bob is missing
Condition: Missing Pendulum and Key, Broken minute hand, otherwise in original condition and in good condition overall. The movement, not shown, is assumed original to this case, genuine and likely functional with a proper cleaning.
HISTORY:
INGRAHAM CLOCK COMPANY
Elias Ingraham (1805-1885) made his name in Bristol Connecticut during the years 1828-1830+ as a case maker. He designed the carved case American wooden works shelf clock. He aided in the design of the steeple and beehive clocks of the 1840's. In the age of factory manufacturing starting about 1850 he built his company into one of the great Connecticut Clock factories, comparable to Seth Thomas and the New Haven Company. It survived until 1967.
Elias Ingraham and his brother Andrew founded this business. From 1852-1855 it was called E & A Ingraham. From 1857-60 it was Elias Ingraham & Company. 1861-1880 the name was E. Ingraham & Company. 1880-1884=The E. Ingraham & Company(**N.B.). It became the E. Ingraham Company from 1884-1958.
COMPARABLES:
~https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/68923923_antique-walnut-ingraham-phoenix-kitchen-clock (sold for $50 in 2019)
~https://pics.clockprices.com/124/H1107-L103761913.jpg (sold for $70 in 2017)
PRICING:
Two decades ago, the Phenix model in excellent original condition and no missing parts had a fair market value of $300. Today the same complete clock would sell for about $100-$125. With the missing pendulum, a classic Ingraham type pendulum, a broken hand and no key the value would fall in to the range of $70-$80.
Thank you for choosing mearto.com for your appraisal.
My best,
David