The King’s Clock Case

This clock case is strikingly similar to one designed by William Chambers, the architect of Somerset House, for King George III (now at Windsor Castle). That clock was made by the leading manufacturer Matthew Boulton, who re-used its original moulds to make this clock’s sculptural ornaments, without seeking permission from either Chambers or George III.

Courtauld Insight

‘Fireplaces were very important parts of English houses, and William Chambers wrote about them in a book he published in 1759. The clock, made to sit on a mantelpiece, is a kind of model fireplace with its own mantel ornaments, the mini- urn and vases. The clock’s face sits on a wreath that might be flames; only the delicate legs spoil my illusion.’

Christine Stevenson, Professor of Early Modern Art and Architecture, The Courtauld