Not currently on display at the V&A

Clock

1850-1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This clock was purchased for use in the offices of the Victoria and Albert Museum, known in the 19th century as the South Kensington Museum. The clock is marked with the maker's name, 'Dutton & Co'. It was retailed by C. Sansom; inside the clock is a paper label: 'C. Sansom, Watch and Clock Makers, 2 Montpelier Street Brompton Road, Clock Makers to the Department of Science and the South Kensington Museum'.

On the clock face are a crown and the initials VR (Victoria Regina), indicating that it was made for official use during the reign of Queen Victoria. Sansom's shop was near to the Museum and supplied several clocks for staff use. This and other selected items of museum furniture have been taken into the permanent collections as illustrations of the kind of plain, good quality furnishings supplied for public offices during the reign of Victoria.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 5 parts.

  • Clock
  • Cover (Closure)
  • Pendulum
  • Winding Key
  • Key
Materials and techniques
Burr walnut veneer with silvered face
Brief description
Case veneered in burr walnut, with arched top; from the early furnishings of the V&A
Physical description
Table clock with silvered face in arn arched case veneered in burr walnut, on a rectangular plinth. At the sides, two scrolling brackets carved in solid walnut with scrolling acanthus leaves and a deaisy. Two handles. Roman numerals. At the back is an arched door with a key-hole. With mahogany veneered framework filled with a metal grill of tarnished brass, back with red baize. Some cracks in the veneer of the arched top and an old filled crack above the clock face.
Dimensions
  • Height: 38cm
  • Width: 38cm
  • Depth: 17.5cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • VR (on clock face, intials separated by a crown)
    Translation
    Victoria Regina
  • Dutton & Co (makers name, on clock face)
  • C. SANSOM Watch and Clock Makers 2 MONTPELIER STREET BROMPTON ROAD Clock Makers to the Department of Science and the South Kensington Museum (Paper label stuck inside clock)
Object history
Historical significance: An example of early V&A furnishing, with makers' labels.
Association
Summary
This clock was purchased for use in the offices of the Victoria and Albert Museum, known in the 19th century as the South Kensington Museum. The clock is marked with the maker's name, 'Dutton & Co'. It was retailed by C. Sansom; inside the clock is a paper label: 'C. Sansom, Watch and Clock Makers, 2 Montpelier Street Brompton Road, Clock Makers to the Department of Science and the South Kensington Museum'.

On the clock face are a crown and the initials VR (Victoria Regina), indicating that it was made for official use during the reign of Queen Victoria. Sansom's shop was near to the Museum and supplied several clocks for staff use. This and other selected items of museum furniture have been taken into the permanent collections as illustrations of the kind of plain, good quality furnishings supplied for public offices during the reign of Victoria.
Collection
Accession number
W.3-2004

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Record createdMay 18, 2005
Record URL
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