Jacob Sargeant, Hartford, Connecticut, Cherry Case Tall Clock With Lunar Dial Made 1795

This tall, elegant clock, made by Jacob Sargeant in Hartford, Connecticut, circa 1795, exemplifies the refined Hartford–Windsor case tradition. This clockmaking style developed along the Connecticut River valley in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, uniting useful form with elaborate decoration. The case, crafted in richly colored cherry wood with a deep chocolate-brown finish, is taller and more slender than most similar clocks, lending a quiet elegance. The base features ogee-bracket feet, curved brackets, and double-stepped moldings beneath. The shaped waist door is framed by fluted quarter columns, capped in brass. These details closely match casework from Hartford and Windsor shops of that period.

Above, the open fretwork bonnet is carved in a regional multi–C-scroll pattern. It is crowned with three brass ball-and-spike finials, signaling both local taste and skilled craftsmanship. The 12-inch iron dial features a lunette depicting pastoral landscapes and terrestrial hemispheres, along with a moon-phase dial. These features were reserved for higher-quality clocks. Floral spandrels with unusual soft green backgrounds catch the eye. The dial is signed JAC’b SARGEANT / HARTFORD, anchoring the clock firmly to one of Connecticut’s most accomplished early craftsmen.

Jacob Sargeant (1761–1843) was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, to Samuel and Hannah (Baldwin) Sargeant. Although his apprenticeship is undocumented, his clock movements suggest influence from Peregrine White of Woodstock and Nathan Storrs of Mansfield. Active in Mansfield from 1784 to 1789, Sargeant advertised as a clock and watch maker and gold- and silversmith. Moving to Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1790, he continued clockmaking, jewelry work, and training apprentices, including his brother Thomas. By 1795, Sargeant ran a leading Hartford business at the sign of the Golden Watch, producing and selling silver, clocks, watches, and related goods while training artisans. Respected for his skill, he remained in Hartford until his 1843 death. His shop sign survives in the Connecticut Historical Society.

Dimensions: Height 95.5 inches, Width 21 inches, Depth 9.25 inches