Clock Fretwork ?

Tim

New member
I'm in the process of building a clock by Luther Medcalf, Medway, Mass.,1796, page 139 in '' Fine points of Furniture, A.Sack. There is  a pierced fretwok frieze in the hood that has what appears to be a brass background. If that is what it is, does anyone have a notion as to how this is done ? Is it a solid brass background, or is it done by gilding ala gold ? If solid, how did they glue them with the glues available at the time ?
 
It is myunderstanding that the material behind the fretwork is paper. - at least on earlier (Queen Anne) clocks.

Tom
 
Col. Williamsburg has a Newport clock that is done that way.  It appears to be cloth behind the fretwork.  You could check with them and find out.

Kirk
 
Tim- It's pretty unlikely that your 1796 Mass. clock has a brass frieze. As other contributors said, fabric was used behind the fretwork, and this was to let the sound of the bell out of the hood. See some great examples at the Met in NY-Al
 
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