Tall Clock 1805 - 1815

This tall clock, made of mahogany with light wood inlays, was crafted by Joakim Hill, a clockmaker active in New York City. Clocks like this one were not just functional objects; they were status symbols. Owning such a piece signaled wealth, refinement, and a commitment to the structured rhythms of urban life. In early America, the emerging middle class sought ways to emulate the customs of the European elite. Furnishings like this clock helped them do that. New York was becoming a major trading hub, with merchants eager to display their success. The clock's formal design and precise mechanics speak to the values of this rising class. Historians examine trade records, probate inventories, and newspaper advertisements to understand the market for luxury goods like this. By studying these sources, we get a clearer picture of the social and economic forces that shaped artistic production in early America and we can consider the role of objects like this in shaping the experience of time and class.