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.
Place of Origin
England, Great Britain (made)
Great Britain, UK (made)
Date
1930 (designed and made)
Artist/maker
Gill, (Leslie) Macdonald, born 1884 - died 1947 (designer)
Friend, George T. (OBE), born 1881 - died 1969 (engraver)
Materials and Techniques
Mahogany clockcase with painted and gilded decoration
Marks and inscriptions
'E'
'H'
'MEHEW'
'ECJHECE'
Dimensions
Height: 168.4 cm, Width: 48 cm maximum at base, Depth: 25 cm
[Pendulum] Length: 67 cm, Width: 4.5 cm maximum [brass cylinder], Width: 1.2 cm wooden rod
Object history note
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.
Eileen Hunter, Edward Hunter's eldest daughter, took over the Surrey house when her father died. In 1979 she lent the clock to the Thirties Exhibition at the Hayward and offered it to the V&A as a bequest.
Historical significance: Eric Gill is well-known for his work as a typographer, wood engraver and sculptor. The delicate lettering on either side of the upper part of the clock is an unusual application of Gill's typographical skills. Gill designed very few applied works and little is known about why he came to design this clock for Edward Hunter. 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).
[Longcase clock movement] The clock mechanism is spring driven and appears to be contemporary with the casework.
Descriptive line
Longcase clock with painted and gilded decoration. English, ca 1930. Designed and painted by Eric Gill.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Yorke, Malcolm. Eric Gill: Man of Flesh and Spirit. London: Constable, 1981. 304p., ill ISBN 0094648506
The clock is illustrated on p 219 and briefly referred to in a chapter on Sculpture and Architecture:
'Other more 'applied' works inlcude a painted grandfather clock last exhibited at the Hayward Gallery in 1979 ...'
Peace, David. Eric Gill: The Inscriptions. London: The Herbert Press Ltd, 1994. 208p, ill ISBN 1871569664
Catalogue of 900 inscriptions. The clock is illustrated and described on p 130:
'Numerals for a clock commissioned by Mr E W Hunter, Chairman and founder of the Sun Engraving Co., with monogram of E.W.H.
The case designed by E.G. is painted in a soft green; the bronze clock dial has a genial face in spectacles with sun and moon in lighter coloured metal. Shown in the Arts Council's Thirties' exhibition, 1985. c.1930.' [nb Thirties exhibition was held in 1979/80]
Opie, Jennifer Hawkins and Marianne Hollis, eds. Thirties: British Art and Design before the War: Hayward Gallery, 25 October 1979 - 13 January 1980 / an exhibition organised by the Arts Council in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Arts Council, 1979. 320p, ill. ISBN 0728702169
The clock is illustrated on p 129.
Exhibition History
20th Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society Exhibition (Royal Academy of Arts 17/03/1946-31/12/2002)
Thirties: British art and design before the war (Hayward Gallery 25/10/1979-13/01/1980)
Labels and date
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 [2000]
Production Note
Previously attributed to Eric Gill
Reason For Production: Commission
Materials
Paint; Wood; Brass; Mahogany; Plywood
Techniques
Painted; Clock making; Oil gilding
Subjects depicted
Stars; Sun; Moon
Categories
Furniture
Production Type
Unique
Collection code
FWK
