Tall Case Clock

Artist/Maker
Lowry, William
Place Made
Frankfort Franklin County Kentucky
Date Made
1804-1809
Medium
cherry –poplar
Accession Number
5845.8
Description
MAKER: William Lowry (active 1804-1810) was a Frankfort, Kentucky, cabinetmaker who was responsible for some of the most remarkable surviving inlaid furniture from the capital of the Commonwealth. This tall case clock is attributed to Lowry based on its similarity to a marked example in the collection of the Speed Museum (Speed acc. 2004.1). Lowry advertised his cabinetmaking business in Frankfort newspapers between 1804 and 1810. Lowry sold his property in Frankfort in 1809 and by 1811 had relocated to Natchez, Mississippi.

DESCRIPTION: Tall case clock with molded base; fluted quarter columns, base front has stringing creating a square with quarter fans, molded top; waist has fluted quarter columns; raised door has an astragal top with stringing following the line of the arch and creating lunette corners at the bottom, lightwood diamond at the keyhole; hood has four swelled, fluted, detached columns, broken arch pediment, molded, with light and dark wood inlaid pinwheels, a single fluted ball finial over inlaid floral patera; clock face has Roman and Arabic numerals, two winding holes, moon phases in the arch and flowers in the spandrels. Bracket feet, finials, and outer finial plinths are replacements.

History
Probably made for George Carlyle (1756-1827) and Margaret Crockett Carlyle (1770-1836) of Woodford County, Kentucky. Among the earliest settlers of Woodford County, both were born in Augusta County, Virginia.

The clock descended from George and Margaret to their daughter Margaret C. Carlyle Carter (1810-1895) and her husband Dr. Joseph Coleman Carter I (1808-1876); to their son Dr. Daniel Drake Carter (1837-1886); to his son Joseph Coleman Carter II (1884- 1932); to his daughter Sarah Fullerton Carter Stanfill (1912-1996).

Artist Working Dates
1802-1810
Credit Line
Loan courtesy of Mack and Sharon Cox