Important Brokaw New Jersey Tall Clock To Lead Bodnars Auction
Online-Only Sale Slated For Aug. 5
July 31, 2020
The Barnes family clock needs to find a new home, read an email sent to Joe Bodnar about a month ago. This led to the pickup of an important New Jersey clock that will be sold Wednesday, Aug. 5, at an online-only auction Bodnars has put together. Live in-person auctions in New Jersey are not allowed. Since 1825, the clock has been a hand-me-down to the eldest son for five generations. With the new eldest son moving out of state and none of his family interested in the clock or continuing the tradition, the consignor felt it was important to sell it in New Jersey, where it was made, and reached out to Bodnar. When we came to pick it up, it was running in the foyer of their North Jersey house, said Bodnar. Among the things making this clock special is the family of its maker. Aaron Brokaw was from an illustrious line of Colonial clockmakers. His grandfather, Aaron Miller (d. 1777), after whom he was named, was a clockmaker of some note in Elizabethtown, N.J. Miller had lived in New York before setting up his business in Elizabethtown. The New York Gazetteer (Nov. 23, 1747) described Miller as a clockmaker in Elizabethtown whomakes and sells all sorts of clocks after the Dutch mannerhe likewise makes compasses and chains for surveyors. Miller produced a clock to hang in the First Presbyterian Church in Elizabethtown in 1759, which cost 10 5s 9p. Isaac Brokaw, Aaron Brokaws father, had been apprenticed to Miller in about 1759. Isaac married Millers daughter Elizabeth in 1764. On Aaron Millers death in 1777, Isaac Brokaw inherited Aaron Millers clockmaking tools. Aaron Brokaw would appear to have taken up an apprenticeship under his father from the 1780s. Isaac and Elizabeth moved their family to Bridge Town, N.J., around 1790, and Aaron continued to work alongside his father, with his first clocks being signed Aaron Brokaw, Bridge Town. He took over his fathers business upon his death in 1826. Aaron Brokaw was certainly not the last of this respected family of clockmakers; his uncle, Cornelius Miller, and cousin, Kennedy Miller, were also clockmakers of note. Kennedy Miller also worked in Elizabethtown, so it may have been too many clockmakers in one place that prompted Isaac Brokaw to move to Bridge Town. Clocks made by these three generations of clockmakers are elegant, stylish and of the finest quality. Aaron Brokaw fought with the Middlesex Militia (Middlsesex County, N.J.) in the War of 1812 and was married to Elizabeth Tucker (1774-1854). He may have worked with his younger brother, John Brokaw, who is known to have trained under their father as well. Aaron Brokaw died on Dec. 18, 1853, and is buried in Rahway Cemetery. The tall case clock will be estimated at $2,000-$4,000. The sale will be conducted online through liveauctioneers. Previews are by appointment in South Brunswick, N.J., and absentee bids are also accepted. This sale also features over 250 lots including over 30 other clocks and the contents of a local watchmaker estate packed with watchmaker and clock parts and assorted tools. Jade and a variety of quality jewelry also highlight the auction. This is a part of a two-day event, with the second day featuring over 300-plus lots of estate jewelry of 14-carat, 18-carat, sterling silver and designer jewelry. The jewelry sale consists of three local estates and will also be offered with no reserves. All bids start at $10. Bodnars offers in-house shipping for the day two session. Joe Bodnar has moved all sales to an online-only format until further notice. He is holding two-day auctions every other week. We still do not have guidance from the Edison Board of Health on how we can re-open with in-person sales, said Bodner. He does plan to go back to the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison, N.J. We want to keep our customers and employees safe, and online is working. I miss my full staff and customer base, but until we see guidelines or a vaccine, I dont see us going back to the way we were with a stand around un-social-distanced format, said Bodnar. The online sale also features a live broadcast where items are shown in the box lots as they sell them and have live auctioneers calling during the sale. This keeps the feeling of being at a live event. It is the best scenario for what we can do in these circumstances. The only problem we are having at this time is getting the same amount of lots sold that we have handled in the past. We used to handle selling 3,000 lots in a day. We are adapting to this new normal. We converted our warehouse on our property to a showroom and now are conducting by appointment only previews the two days prior to the auction. One person at a time previews to keep everyone safe. You can leave absentee bids or from home bid on Liveauctioneers and then either have the lot shipped or pick up by appointment, followed up Bodnar. For further information, call 866-349-7378 or visit www.bodnarsauction.com.
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