Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Tall Case Clock
1801-1900
Johannes Elias (active 1750s)
The Netherlands: Amsterdam
Wood, paint, glass, metal
clock: 100"h x 22"w x 12"d; finials: 13:h x 7:w x 4"d
Gift of Mrs. Willis R. Michael
77.80.4a-j

Tall Case Clock; a: hood: four smooth columns with gold metal at top and base of each column; on either side of hood is red fabric with gold metal openwork design; matching design along top of hood; shell design in center; b: movement: silver, gold, and blue colored dial; dial reads "Johannis Elias/ Amsterdam"; scene of city in background with ships and women dancing on waves in foreground; c: trunk: applied gold designs of busts and flowers; oval glass door with openwork metal design of Father Time with hourglass and owl; d: pendulum; e-f: weights; g-h: two gold colored Goddesses finials; i: gold colored Atlas with world on his shoulders finial; j: door key.

From the sophistication of its works to the luxurious gold-colored ornaments on its case, this clock captures viewers’ attention. In addition to telling the time, this clock featured a calendar of months of the year and a scene of animated ships flying Dutch colors. Like many clocks in Willis Michael’s collection, this one has been restored and repaired in the twentieth century, perhaps by Michael himself.