Rare Labeled Richmond, Virginia Retailed Aaron Willard Federal Tall Case Clock

Massachusetts, 1800-1810, movement with second and day of the month features, moonphase painted with pastoral and nautical scenes, paint decorated dial inscribed with "Aaron Willard Jun'r / Boston", bonnet with fretwork and brass finials, highly figured case with reeded and brass mounted quarter columns, French feet, old label for "William Cowan" to case door interior partially obscuring Paul Revere engraved Aaron Willard label, white pine secondary, two weights and pendulum included, the weights with traces of probably original red paint,101-3/4 x 22-3/4 x 9-1/2 in.

Provenance: Private Virginia Collection

Note: William Cowan trained under clockmaker John Scott in Chambersburg, PA, then settled in Richmond in 1801, working chiefly as a silversmith and jeweler, with watch and clock repair as a secondary trade by 1808. Clock or case manufacturing was not a documented part of his trade. This labeled clock matches a known pattern among Richmond retailers, who commonly put their own names on clocks imported from the Willard shops of Boston/Roxbury.