E. Howard regulator clocks: dependable timekeepers

NEW YORK – Regulator clocks, also known as pendulum clocks, make a striking addition to any traditional decor. Housed in handsomely carved wooden cases, usually as floor standing models with some topping 100 inches in height, regulators made by the E. Howard & Co., were among the finest of all regulator clocks. E. Howard was a leading company among American clockmakers, creating their elegant timekeepers since the 19th century. Collectors today seek out choice examples, but E. Howard’s early 19th-century regulators are especially collectible.

A Howard & Davis astronomical floor clock reached $161,000 at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in November 2009. Photo courtesy of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery and LiveAuctioneers.

E. Howard & Co., began when David P. Davis left the firm of Howard & Davis, which had been established in 1842, according to John Fontaine, owner of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Fontaine’s specializes in regulator clocks.

Both Edward Howard and David P. Davis served their apprenticeships under the famous clockmaker Aaron Willard Jr. of Boston. Their company reorganized and changed hands over the decades, and in the 2010s, shifted gears to focus on making wristwatches instead of clocks.

This E. Howard & Co. No. 68 astronomical regulator clock earned $277,300 in November 2013, a record for the model at auction. Photo courtesy of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery and LiveAuctioneers

“E. Howard & Co. produced some of the finest American handmade timepieces out of Boston and was a leading manufacturer of weight-driven regulator clocks,” Fontaine said. “The pendulum clock, invented in the mid-17th century and also known generically as a regulator clock, is a precise timekeeper. It uses a swinging pendulum to regulate the speed of the clock depending on the length of its pendulum. E. Howard was one of the best, not only in producing these mechanisms, but also pairing them with the finest floor standing and wall hanging cases.”

This E. Howard No. 60 clock sold in November 2009 for $109,250 at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. Photo courtesy of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery and LiveAuctioneers

Fontaine’s Auction Gallery holds most of the world auction records for the rarest E. Howard regulators sold, including a No. 47 astronomical hanging regulator that achieved $356,950 in November 2014. The 8-foot, 3-inch-high clock case embodies the best of the American Renaissance Revival movement and is made from hand-carved American walnut with carved finials and incised burled trim. Its monumental crest bears a carved bust of Christopher Columbus.

An E. Howard No. 47 astronomical wall hanging regulator achieved $356,950 in November 2014 at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery, a record price. Photo courtesy of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery and LiveAuctioneers

Other record-setting E. Howard regulators that have performed well for Fontaine’s include a No. 68 astronomical regulator clock with a 14-inch bronze astronomical dial in a large carved walnut case having an arched crest with scrolled seashell over a carved maiden’s head. The 105-inch-tall clock earned $277,300 in November 2013. A No. 43 floor standing astronomical regulator clock with a reverse-painted glass astronomical dial, mounted in an elegant and carved walnut floor case with a shell carved crest over a figural maiden’s head made $254,100 two years later.

This E. Howard No. 43 floor standing astronomical regulator clock set a world auction record price for the model – $254,100 – at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in November 2015. Photo courtesy of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery and LiveAuctioneers


“The E. Howard catalog displays line-drawn images of various case models with reference numbers for each clock as well as the many variations in movements, dials, pendulums, etc., which could often be custom-ordered,” Fontaine said. “It is very well proven, in reference to modern sales results, that some of the finest models focused not only on the quality and rarity of the case, but also the inclusion of astronomical dials and the highest quality precision compensating pendulums.” The astronomical dial, he explained, is a dial that includes complications other than the common center minute and hour hand. E. Howard’s astronomical dials, often made from iron, silvered bronze, zinc and reverse-painted glass, generally display a center sweep minute hand with a sub-hour dial above the center and a sub-seconds dial below the center.

Rare examples, particularly those in original condition, tend to bring the highest prices. Collectors are drawn to original glass tablets and clean original dials, and seek out examples retaining their original finish and wood case.

An E. Howard & Co. No. 46 astronomical regulator clock sold for $130,000 in October 2013 at Keno Auctions. Photo courtesy of Keno Auctions and LiveAuctioneers

“Particularly relating to E. Howard’s larger floor and wall model clocks, there were very few produced, therefore the rarity of such a fine-quality timekeeper has enticed our auction market to stay strong through the years,” Fontaine said. “Collectors tend to want the rarest, the best quality and the finest condition when it comes to these clocks, and this ensures a strong market. When we see a certain rare model or specific example, we will often see some of the same collectors who want to trade up or expand their collection.”

This E. Howard & Co. No. 57 wall regulator realized $145,200 at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in May 2018. Photo courtesy of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery and LiveAuctioneers

A far cry from many of today’s digital timekeepers that lack the artistic charm of clocks crafted a century earlier, E. Howard regulators make a bold statement in the home and are eagerly pursued by collectors for their scientific accuracy and elegant aesthetic.

Lustrous sterling silver in the spotlight at online auction Oct. 10

Time-honored silver items are the focus of a Jasper52 online auction Oct. 10. Lots range from 18th-century trays and teapots to 20th-century Georg Jensen and Tiffany flatware.

Gorham sterling silver soup tureen, Providence, R.I., 1892, Neoclassical style, 15in across the handles, 63.2 troy ounces. Estimate: $2,000-$2,500. Jasper52 image

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Art Nouveau, Deco jewelry sparkles in Jasper52 auction Oct. 10

Bold and beautiful jewelry designs of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco eras are featured in a Jasper52 online auction that will be conducted Wednesday, Oct. 10. Antique gold and platinum rings, brooches, pendants and necklaces, many of them adorned with gemstones, comprise this glittering 87-lot auction.

Antique 18K gold and platinum brooch set with a gem cat’s-eye, diamonds and rubies, circa 1890s. Estimate: $8,000-$10,000. Jasper52 image

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Learn more about the auction on Auction Central News.

Anatomy of an Oriental Rug

Originally intended as utilitarian objects that provided warmth and comfort, Oriental rugs evolved to become elaborate art forms for kings and commoners alike. Pleasing in symmetry, color and design, the Oriental rug is as ancient in purpose as it is modern in comfort. Yet, little is known about its origins.

We do know that the oldest surviving rug with the handwoven symmetry that has become the trademark of Oriental rug design was uncovered at a burial mound near Pazyryk in Siberia, and that it dated to the 5th century B.C. Handcrafted with natural dyes and painstakingly crafted with heavy wool thread to create a story of color and culture, an early Oriental rug is an art form worth collecting, but if it has been properly cared for during its life, it can continue to serve the original purpose for which it was intended while enhancing a living space.

An example of a Persian Karadja rug, circa 1900, sold for $2,700 plus buyer’s premium. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers Archives and Copake Auctions

Here are some frequently asked questions about Oriental rugs to help you make an informed buying decision:

Where is an authentic Oriental rug produced?

Oriental rugs have been made in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, encompassing Morocco, China, Tibet, Turkey, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, India and Pakistan. Early fragments of Oriental rugs have also been found in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, dating to the first century A.D.

What sorts of materials are usually used to produce an Oriental carpet?

All Oriental carpets are made from natural fibers, such as the wool from sheep and goats’ cotton and silk. Some locally produced carpets in the Far East, e.g., China and Russia have even produced carpets using yak and horsehair. Camel wool can also be found in some local Middle Eastern rugs. Cotton is stronger than wool and is used as the foundation of the warp and weft threads since wool tends to shrink over time. Silk is usually reserved for more decorative wall hangings and tapestries.

Strands of fibers are stretched and spun into single strands or multiple strands known as “ply.” One strand is one ply, two strands are two ply, etc. The more ply, the stronger and more durable the carpet.

Are some rugs actually hand-woven?

Yes. It could take up to a year to produce a completely hand-woven Oriental rug of a particularly elaborate design on a loom.

What are some terms to know?

Horizontal yarn is called the warp; vertical strands are called the weft.

Pile is made by threading individual yarn around two or more warp strings and tamped down to form a row. Upon completion, the threads are cut to create a raised surface. The pile is made using either a Turkish (Ghiordes) knot, which is more symmetrical and the more common knot; or the Persian (Senneh) knot, which is more asymmetrical and used to form more elaborate designs.

Left: diagram rug knotting shows Persian (asymmetric) knot, which is open to the right. At right: symmetrical, or ‘Turkish’ carpet knots in a double-wefted foundation (wefts shown in red). Arie M. den Toom images, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license

A Jufti knot is wrapped around four warp strings, which saves on material but doesn’t last as long as the other knots.

Variants of the Jufti knot woven around four warps instead of two. Arie M. den Toom image, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license

The more knots per square inch (kpsi) in a woven rug, the more durable and long lasting it will be. It is easier to count the number of knots per square inch by counting them on the reverse. Rugs with knots per square inch lower than 80 won’t last nearly as long as one that has at least 330 kpsi. However, kpsi is only one measure of quality; the intricacy of design and where it was made also affect a rug’s value.

The reverse of this Qom rug shows a high knot density. Image courtesy of Arie M. den Toom, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

What are the elements of an Oriental rug?

From the outside in, an Oriental rug’s design basically consists of an outer secondary border (sometimes called selvedge, where the warp is tied off to prevent raveling), the larger main border, and the inner secondary border that frames the central design element.

The central medallion draws one’s eye initially for its distinctive design, usually with a pendant design above and below the central medallion. These are placed on the field with additional elaborate designs on each of the four corners.

Image courtesy of HajjiBaba, own work, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

How can I know which type of Oriental rug would work best in a particular space?

There are two basic types of Oriental rugs: kilim and pile woven rugs. Kilim is a flat rug that doesn’t show any knots but does show a space in between the warp threads. A kilim can be used as either a floor covering or tapestry.

Diagram of the Kilim slit-weave technique. Image by Chiswick Chap, own work, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

Kilims aren’t as durable as pile rugs and traditionally served as prayer rugs and horse blankets.

A Senneh kilim rug from Persia, late 19th century, 6ft 3in x 4ft 3in. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers Archive and Austria Auction Co.

Rugs with more pile last longer especially if they are to be placed in a high-traffic area. Remember: the higher the kpsi, the more durable the rug.

What are the dyes used in an Oriental rug?

Aniline dyes, or chemical dyes, came into use in the 1860s. If the dyes in a rug are natural, it may have been made anytime in the past 3,000 to 5,000 years. Natural dyes might have been made from plant roots — onion for yellow, oak for black, and other colors from the madder plant or cochineal insects like the ladybug. Sometimes byproducts from different sources were combined to create a particular hue. Most rugs are made from synthetic dye, but modern-day Turkish rug makers are reviving the natural-dye process, so it may be difficult to know the difference between natural or synthetic dye without a chemical analysis.

Abrash is a term that means the fading of one color within a given rug. This occurs when there is a shortage of a type of yarn during a rug’s production and another, newly dyed yarn is used as a substitute. It isn’t possible for yarn to be dyed exactly the same color each time, so in such cases where a different yarn lot is used as a substitute, discoloration can occur naturally.

What must I do before choosing an Oriental rug?

Measure the area where the rug will be used. Oriental rugs are not usually wall to wall. Allow at least a foot of space from the wall itself. Rugs range in size from 2 by 3 feet to more than 10 by 14 feet. Runners measure 30 inches wide. It’s best to take a photo of the area where the rug will be placed to compare and contrast with the rugs you are considering.

As a rule, an 8-by-10-foot Oriental rug will cost between $1,000 and $5,000. A pattern that is clear and distinctive is, at times, more important than the kpsi. Geometric designs need fewer knots to create fine detail than a more elaborate floral pattern does, for example, and therefore might be more useful if placed under a large dining room table. Also, the rug’s age, quality of the wool and type of dyes used are all important factors.

Finally…

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about where a rug was manufactured, whether it was hand-woven or commercially produced, and whether synthetic or natural dyes were used. Ask about the seller’s guarantee and if a certificate of origin will be provided.

Finding a vintage Oriental rug requires more in-depth knowledge than buying a more contemporary one for home use. For example, rugs from Turkey differ in quality and design from those produced in tribal Iran or China. There is really just one simple rule to follow: Go for the best quality you can afford and buy what you like.