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King's Clock-case

Maker

Matthew Boulton (case maker)
1728-1809

Norton, Eadley (clockmaker)

(designer)
1723-1796

Title

King's Clock-case

Date of Production

1772

Medium

Clock with case of ormolu, glass, enamel and Derbyshire spar

Dimensions

Height: 47 cm
Width: 21 cm

Accession Number

O.1991.XX.1

Mode of Acquisition

purchase & grant aid, 1991

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust). Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund, V& A Purchase Grant Fund; with further grants from the Wolfson Foundation (via the Art Fund), the Pilgrim Trust, the Monument Trust and the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths 1991.

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

On display

Keywords

Label Text

This clock-case is a version of the clock Boulton originally made for King George III to a design by William Chambers, now at Windsor Castle. A savvy businessman, Boulton was keen to profit from a good design. Without seeking the King’s (or Chambers’s) approval, he re-used the moulds and planned to sell this new clock at auction. Identical in most aspects, the precious Derbyshire Blue John stone on the original King’s Clock, has been replaced here by panels of blue and gold glass.

Bought in 1991 by the Samuel Courtauld Trust with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, National Art Collections Fund, Wolfson Foundation, Pilgrim Trust, Monument Trust, Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund.

Provenance

Mr Amyand of Moccas Court, Herefordshire, 1772 (the clock's first owner); sold 1947 (from whom?); Mr Roy Fisher until 1972; Hotspur, 1972; Malletts 1972-1973; an American collector, 1973 -1989; Hotspur Ltd 1989-1991; purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund, V& A Purchase Grant Fund; with further grants from the Wolfson Foundation (via the Art Fund), the Pilgrim Trust, the Monument Trust and the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths 1991.

Exhibition History

The Courtauld Collects - 20 Years of Acquisitions, Somerset House & London & England, 17/06/2010-19/09/2010

Saved! 100 years of the National Art Collections Fund, Hayward Gallery & London & England, 23/10/2003-18/01/2004

William Chambers - Architect to George III, National Museum & Stockholm & Sweden, 20/02/1997-20/04/1997 ...More

Something for Everyone - Work assisted by the National Art
Collections Fund, Christie's, London, 06/01/1997-26/01/1997

Sir William Chambers - Architect to George III, Somerset House & London & England, 10/10/1996-05/01/1997 ...Less

Inscriptions

Inscription: movement signed (erroneously - presumably for "John Whitehurst, Derby") : John Whitehouse, Derby //

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