Jasperware clock case
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1997
This horological component is a clock case manufactured in 1997 by Josiah Wedgwood and Sons in Barlaston, England. The object is constructed from blue jasperware and features white applied relief decorations.
Measuring 120 mm in height and 105 mm in length, the case is designed with a domed profile and includes circular apertures at the front and back intended for a clock insert. The exterior is decorated with classical-themed white reliefs, including putti dancing to violin music on the front and female figures on the sides, with floral detailing at the top. The case retains factory-applied quality control markings in pencil, including the word 'PASS' and the number '54', alongside the standard impressed manufacturer's mark.
It was acquired as part of the V&A Wedgwood Collection, maintaining its original production-era documentation in the form of a plastic-tagged label.
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
- Clock case
- Maker
- Josiah Wedgwood and Sons
- Materials
- Jasperware with applied reliefs
- Dimensions
- 120 mm x 105 mm
- Inscriptions
- WEDGWOOD, PASS, 54
- Place recorded
- England
- Place of origin
- Barlaston
- Maker / attribution
- Josiah Wedgwood and Sons
Design
- Visible features
- • Domed blue jasperware form • White applied relief of putti playing violin • Central circular aperture for movement • Impressed 'WEDGWOOD' mark on base
- Construction and Materials
- The clock case is executed in blue jasperware, a fine-grained, unglazed stoneware. It features a domed arch silhouette specifically engineered with a central circular aperture to house a timepiece mechanism. The front and back of the case are pierced to accommodate this insert. The exterior surface provides a matte base for the application of white, relief-molded decorative elements that adhere to classical motifs associated with the maker's output. The decorative scheme incorporates putti figures engaged in musical activity on the front panel, while the lateral sides are adorned with vertical figures in flowing drapery. A floral motif is positioned at the apex of the dome. The base is molded to provide stability for the vertical housing.
- Markings and Quality Control
- The object bears a clear impressed mark reading 'WEDGWOOD / MADE IN / ENGLAND', indicating its factory origin in Barlaston. Beyond the standard branding, the case displays secondary markings that suggest its status during the manufacturing process. The presence of 'PASS' and '54' written in graphite directly onto the jasperware surface indicates internal quality control vetting performed at the workshop. The inclusion of a laminated quality control label, still attached to the object via a plastic tag, reinforces its provenance as a factory-associated piece. The label explicitly references a 'Quality Control Standard' and contains handwritten annotations, confirming its role as an inspected component within the production environment rather than a piece prepared for standard commercial display.
- Provenance and Documentation
- This clock case was acquired as part of the V&A Wedgwood Collection. The object retains specific physical evidence of its production-era handling, including the original quality control tags. The documentation provided by the V&A confirms the manufacturing date of 1997. The accession number WE.18552-2014 categorizes the item as a production component.
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: Absence of internal clock movement
- Research required: Pencil markings '54' and 'PASS' suggest factory-stage quality control status rather than finished retail condition