Dutton & Co. Table Clock

Technical characteristics

Type

Table clock

Maker

Dutton & Co

Material

Burr walnut veneer

Retailer

C. Sansom

Dimensions

38 cm x 38 cm x 17.5 cm

Provenance

Purchased for South Kensington Museum offices

Inscription

VR cipher

Place recorded

London

Maker / attribution

Dutton & Co

Design

Visible features

• Arched case with burr walnut veneer • Silvered dial with Roman numerals • Carved walnut side brackets with acanthus leaves • Crown and VR cipher on dial

Case Construction and Design

The table clock is constructed with an arched case veneered in burr walnut. This housing sits atop a stable rectangular plinth. The aesthetic design is characterized by solid walnut brackets on either side, which are carved with scrolling acanthus leaves and a daisy motif. The framework is composed of mahogany veneer and is designed with an arched door at the rear providing access to the internal mechanism. The back of the case is fitted with a metal grill, described as tarnished brass, which is backed with red baize. Physical inspection of the exterior indicates the presence of minor structural age, specifically noted as cracks within the veneer on the arched top and an older filled crack positioned directly above the clock face, which is attributed to natural material fatigue or historical repair.

Dial and Institutional Markings

The clock face is constructed of silvered metal and features Roman numerals for timekeeping. Centrally positioned above the hands is a crown emblem and the initials 'VR', standing for Victoria Regina. This signifies that the piece was produced for official government or institutional use during Queen Victoria’s reign. The signature 'Dutton & Co, London' is engraved directly onto the lower portion of the silvered dial. A paper label found inside the clock provides information on the supply chain. It identifies C. Sansom, a watch and clock maker located at 2 Montpelier Street, Brompton Road, as the retailer. The label also confirms Sansom’s professional role as 'Clock Makers to the Department of Science and the South Kensington Museum', highlighting the shop's proximity and direct supply relationship with the institution that eventually accessioned the clock into its permanent collection.

Historical Context and Acquisition

The clock serves as an illustrative example of the standardized, durable furnishings procured for the staff offices of the South Kensington Museum during the 19th century. Its inclusion in the museum's permanent collection is intended to preserve a record of the functional equipment used by the institution's personnel during the Victorian era. Because the museum was known as the South Kensington Museum in the 19th century, the clock represents part of the earliest administrative furnishings of the site. It was selected for retention by the museum as a representative item of public office supply, documenting the professional relationship between the museum and the local firm of C. Sansom, which provided several such timepieces for daily staff operations.

Identification

Accession number

W.3-2004

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.