The iconic Willard Patent Timepiece, better known as the “banjo clock,” has been admired for more than two centuries. First patented in 1802 by Simon Willard, the distinctive wall clock remains one of the most recognizable achievements in American horology.

Its popularity, however, has also made it one of the most frequently reproduced  — and faked — American clocks on today’s market.

Clockmaker and antiques expert Robert C. Cheney will explore the history of the banjo clock and the challenges of identifying authentic examples during an upcoming lecture hosted by the Willard House & Clock Museum in collaboration with the Grafton Public Library.

Titled “Fakes, Forgeries and Marriages: The Pitfalls of Collecting Willard’s Patent Timepiece,” the illustrated lecture will be held Thursday, Feb. 26, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. at the Grafton Public Library, 35 Grafton Common.

Modern forgeries can be difficult to detect, Cheney notes, with convincing period-style signatures, artificially aged glass and newly finished mahogany cases crafted to appear antique. Even experienced collectors can be misled.

Cheney is a third-generation clockmaker, dealer and consultant who has worked with more than 35 museums nationwide. After three decades in private practice, he served for 10 years as director of the Clocks, Watches and Scientific Instruments Department at Skinner Inc. in Boston, conducting international specialty auctions and appearing regularly on the PBS program Antiques Roadshow.

He currently serves as executive director and curator of the Willard House & Clock Museum, continuing the legacy of one of America’s most significant clockmaking families.

The program is geared toward collectors, museum professionals, decorative arts enthusiasts and anyone interested in the craftsmanship and history of early American timepieces.

For more information, contact the Grafton Public Library at 508-839-4649 or [email protected].