A unique burr walnut, brass, porcelain and glass electric Solar Timepiece
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1976
Source reports this unique electric solar timepiece was designed and made in 1976 by Royal College of Art students Sandra Campbell, Oliver Hood, and Karen Wagstaff on commission for Raymond M.
Burton. The internal movement features a Horstmann Y-MK2 calendar time-switch, electric motors, and revolving cylinders of coloured glass housing light sources to simulate day and night. Time is indicated across concentric revolving domes: an inner porcelain dome rotating hourly and an outer marbled polychrome dome rotating every twelve hours against bronze fan clasp inserts.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Electric clock
- Height
- 28 cm (11 inches)
- Makers
- Sandra Campbell, Oliver Hood and Karen Wagstaff
- Time switch
- Horstmann Y-MK2 calendar time-switch
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Case Construction
- Stained burr walnut four-sided brass-framed sleeve cover with cast bronze fan clasps
- Maker / attribution
- Sandra Campbell, Oliver Hood and Karen Wagstaff
Design
- Visible features
- • Arched dark burr walnut sleeve case panels with rounded brass framing • Patinated green fan-shaped clasp inserts positioned at the corner angles • Luminous polychrome dome emerging from the top aperture with pink, orange, and blue marbling
- Case Construction
- The timepiece is housed in a caddy-moulded, four-sided, stained burr walnut sleeve cover with brass framing. Each side panel is arched and features patinated bronze fan-shaped clasp inserts at the angles, which are applied with gold stars. A brass plate on the control box is inscribed with the makers' names and the commission year. The time is read against gold star markers applied to the bronze clasps. The twelve o'clock position is denoted by two gold stars, while the other three angles each feature one star.
- Mechanism and Dial
- The internal mechanism features a posted brass chassis containing a Horstmann Y-MK2 calendar time-switch and a control box with six toggle switches. The movement includes an electric motor that drives motionwork for the hours and minutes, flanked by two horizontal revolving glass cylinders containing light sources. The dial consists of two concentric revolving domes. The inner dome is made of translucent textured porcelain and revolves hourly, featuring a deep purple line as a minute hand. The outer dome rotates every twelve hours and features marbled polychrome decoration with a gilt fissure design as the hour hand.
- Commission and Identity
- This electric solar timepiece was designed and made in 1976 by Sandra Campbell, Oliver Hood, and Karen Wagstaff, who were students at the Royal College of Art at the time of the commission. The clock was commissioned by Raymond M. Burton. Documentation including a file of the clock's construction and instructions for use, as well as a file of correspondence regarding the project's development and funding, are recorded as part of the lot.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Internal Horstmann time-switch, chassis, motors, and revolving cylinders are completely enclosed within the case and not visible in this view
- Research required: Accompanying project documentation files noted by the source are not depicted in this image