Longcase clock with painted and gilded decoration. English, ca 1930. Designed and painted by MacDonald Gill.

V&A — Summary

MacDonald Gill, known as Max, designed and painted this clock for Edward W. Hunter, the founder of the Sun Engraving Co. Gill may have had some of his work printed by Hunter's firm, but little is known about the circumstances of the commission or making of the clock. It stood in the hallway of Hunter's country home in Frensham, Surrey. Gill incorporated the stylised initials of the Hunter family members into the decorative scheme to the left and right of the clock face, with the parents on one side and the children on the other. The floral motif on the case, the colours and the hexagonal shape of the clock face are all typical of arts-and-crafts design in the early twentieth century.

V&A — Physical description

Casework constructed from mahogony with applied mouldings and plywood backboard, clock shelf and chime board. Exterior painted in a scheme of greens and gold, and includes three panels of floral decoration. The central panel is a hinged door which opens by means of a small brass handle. Skirting at base is beige/brown (further examination of the stratigraphy of the paint is required to confirm whether applied at some later date). The brass clock dial incorporates sun, moon and star motifs and face of a woman wearing spectacles [an illusion to this as a grandmother clock]. Gilded mouldings form an hexagonal shape around the dial and painted numerals.

V&A — Object history

The clock was designed by MacDonald Gill for Edward W Hunter, Chairman and founder of the Sun Engraving Co. It seems that the men met professionally, perhaps Gill had some of his work engraved or printed by Hunter's company, but little is known about the circumstances of the commission for the clock. It is not known who made the clock or the horological parts [nb Francis Brody, external clock specialist to examine movement etc]. According to Mrs Janie Bright, Edward Hunter's second daughter, the clock stood in the hallway of the family's small country house, Easeway, in Frensham, Surrey. Mrs Bright recalls that there was also a framed map hanging over a cosy stove in the hallway, and this was also designed and painted by Gill - the frame was painted in greens and blues to match the clock. [see curator's comment] The initials of the Hunter family are incorporated into the decorative scheme on either side of the clock face. On the proper right side - 'MEHEW' - ME stands for Mabel Elisabeth, H for Hunter, and EW for Edward William ie husband and wife. On the proper left side - 'ECJHECE' - which are the initials of the four daughters: Elisabeth Curling (3rd child), Janie (2nd child), Hunter, Eileen (1st child), and Ellen Claire (4th child). The initials of Ellen Claire appear to have been reversed in the monogram. The clock was bequeathed to the V&A by Eileen Hunter, Edward Hunter's eldest daughter, who took over the Surrey house after her father died. Eileen Hunter launched her eponymous textile company in 1932 and enjoyed success until the outbreak of the Second World War. Her boldly patterned, luxurious textiles went against pure modernist ideals and increasingly unadorned décors, but worked well in a variety of settings. In 1979 she lent the clock to the Hayward Gallery for the exhibition 'Thirties: British art and design before the war' and subsequently offered it to the V&A as a bequest. Historical significance : Leslie MacDonald Gill, FRIBA is well-known for his work as a graphic designer and cartographer. There are no direct precedents for the design although Gill may have been familiar with a painted clock by Charles Voysey, dated 1895 and published in The Studio in 1896 (which is now in the V&A's collection, W.5-1998).

V&A — Production note

Previously attributed to Eric Gill Reason For Production: Commission

V&A gallery label

Twentieth Century Study Gallery Label [Rooms 103-6], October 2000: LONGCASE CLOCK Designed by Eric Gill (British, 1882-1940) Painted wooden case, brass dial About 1930 This clock was designed by Eric Gill for Edward W Hunter, Chairman of the Sun Engraving Company. Hunter's monogram forms part of the decorative scheme and is also visible on the clock hands. Eric Gill is widely known for his work as a typographer and this is an unusual application of his skills. Given by Eileen Hunter W.10-2000