
Movements & Components · Clock case
Bracket clock case, English, 1800-1830, mahogany and satinwood
- Maker / attribution
- Unrecorded in source
- Date
- 1800-1830
- Historical period
- Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)
- Country of origin
- England
- Place
- England
- Object type
- Clock case
- Materials / technique
- mahogany, satinwood, brass (alloy)
- Dimensions
- Height: 30.5 cm; Width: 22.9 cm; Depth: 10.2 cm
- Holding institution
- Victoria and Albert Museum, London
- Accession / object no.
- W.130:1-1919
- Credit line
- Bernard H. Webb Bequest
Record summary
Held and catalogued by Victoria and Albert Museum, London (object number W.130:1-1919), this is a clock case, made in England, dated 1800-1830. The Atlas places it in the Precision & Scientific Horology period (1750 – 1850) of its Movements & Components collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: mahogany, satinwood, brass (alloy). Recorded dimensions: Height: 30.5 cm; Width: 22.9 cm; Depth: 10.2 cm. The record is illustrated with 1 photograph.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
V&A — Summary
The mahogany case is banded with satinwood. Arched top and shaped base, fluted columns at the angles. The brass mounts include a handle, four knob finials and four curved feet. The face is of white enamel.
V&A — Physical description
Mahogany bracket clock case banded with satinwood. The case has an arched top and shaped base with fluted columns at the angles. The brass mounts include a handle, four knob finials and four curved feet.
V&A — Object history
Bequeathed by Bernard H. Webb of Gosmore near Hitchin RF19/2893. Mr Gosmore was an architect, who made a large bequest of different items to the Museum. Some of the furniture was also give to the Circulation Department, which lent pieces to museums and other sites around Britain.
Historical context
Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)
Harrison solves longitude; Mudge invents the lever; Breguet's Paris workshop defines the modern watch.
The age of escapement invention: cylinder, duplex, lever, detent and many experimental escapements; compensation balances and fine finishing.
Read the period in the timelineMore movements & components from this periodEarlier: Early Modern Horology
Atlas type guide
Cases, keys and accessories
Clock and watch cases protect the movement and express taste and status. Watch cases were made by separate specialist case-makers whose marks, along with assay hallmarks, help to date and place them. Clock cases were the work of cabinet-makers, bronze founders, ceramic factories and silversmiths, so they belong as much to the history of decorative arts as to horology.
Keys, chatelaines, watch stands, watch papers and winding tools are part of the material culture of timekeeping: they show how timepieces were worn, displayed, wound and maintained.
What to look for
- Case maker's sponsor's marks and assay hallmarks in gold and silver cases.
- Materials: shagreen, tortoiseshell, enamel, porcelain, jasperware, gilt bronze.
- Breguet-style ratchet keys, crank keys and watch-key fobs.
- Engraved names, presentations and dates.
Dating clues
- English hallmark date letters allow exact dating of the case assay.
- Porcelain cases from Meissen and Sèvres: mostly eighteenth century.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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