Clock case, jasperware, Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Etruria, late 19th century — view 1 of 4
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Movements & Components · Clock case

Clock case, jasperware, Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Etruria, late 19th century

DocumentedDocumented from the holding institution's catalogue record.
Maker / attribution
Josiah Wedgwood and Sons (manufacturers)
Date
19th century
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Place
Etruria
Object type
Clock case
Materials / technique
Jasperware with applied relief
Dimensions
Width: 130 mm; Depth: 70 mm
Accession / object no.
WE.12093-2014
Credit line
V&A Wedgwood Collection. Presented by Art Fund with major support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, private donations and a public appeal.

View the source record ↗

Record summary

Held and catalogued by Victoria and Albert Museum, London (object number WE.12093-2014), this is a clock case by Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, made in Etruria, dated 19th century. The Atlas places it in the Precision & Scientific Horology period (1750 – 1850) of its Movements & Components collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: Jasperware with applied relief. Recorded dimensions: Width: 130 mm; Depth: 70 mm. The record is illustrated with 4 photographs.

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 — Physical description

Clock case, green jasper dip, exterior body with white applied reliefs depicting 'Father Time', 'Domestic Employment' and 'Zephyr', divided by floral and scrollwork reliefs, the fascia displays 'TEMPVS FVGIT' in relief, bordered each side by a rope design, two flowers reliefs ornamented either side of 'Father Time' scene.

Inscriptions & marks

WEDGWOOD' / 'L' (impressed on base)

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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