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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock · Table clock

The Greenwich Clock

Partially verified

The Greenwich Clock is a small circular, hinged clock produced circa 1999 by Josiah Wedgwood and Sons in Barlaston. The object features a construction of bone china and silver gilt, with transfer-printed decoration. The case design incorporates a blue ground exterior adorned with gold and green printed swags, while the top surface displays a printed clock face with Roman numerals and floral filigree motifs. The interior includes a white finish with a central floral design on the underside of the lid. The clock mechanism itself is mounted within the base, encircled by silver and silver gilt mounts, and features black dials against a light face. The clock is marked with impressed hallmarks and specific inscriptions, including a reference to its Japanese movement, indicating a collaborative construction between the ceramic casing and internal timekeeping components.

The Greenwich Clock showing the interior dial and the floral decoration on the inner lid.
The Greenwich Clock showing the interior dial and the floral decoration on the inner lid. — V&A Wedgwood Collection. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
collections.vam.ac.uk
Category
Clock · Table clock
Maker / attribution
Josiah Wedgwood and Sons
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
WE.18098-2014
Source-reported date
ca. 1999
Source-reported place
United Kingdom

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Construction and Decoration

The Greenwich Clock is a circular, hinged object comprised of bone china and silver gilt. The exterior features a blue ground, with the top surface decorated with a printed clock face featuring Roman numerals, gold and green filigree motifs, and a central floral design. The underside of the case is embellished with repeating blue, green, and gold swags, extending around the circumference of the base.

The interior is finished in white, with a central floral motif positioned on the inner lid. The lower section of the interior houses the clock face, which is set within silver and silver gilt mounts, providing a metallic frame for the timekeeping display. The rims of both the top and bottom sections are finished with silver gilt mounts, which serve as the point of closure for the hinged assembly.

Evidence for this section
  • “Clock, bone china and silver gilt with transfer printed decoration; circular and hinged”
  • “top side flat, opposite side semi spherical, exterior with blue ground”
  • “interior top side in white with central gold, silver and blue floral motif”

Signatures and Marks

The object contains several impressed marks. The silver gilt mounts are stamped with the maker's mark 'WEDGWOOD' and include an impressed hallmark of 'JW 925' accompanied by an anchor symbol. These identify the materials and the manufacturer associated with the ceramic case production at Barlaston.

On the reverse of the clock mechanism, several impressed inscriptions are visible. These include 'JAPAN MOVEMENT', 'silcon', 'ELECTRONICS', 'Whitby', and 'CHINA CASE'. These marks indicate the source of the timekeeping movement and specify the housing material used for the electronic clock assembly.

Evidence for this section
  • “WEDGWOOD(R)' (impressed into metal surround)”
  • “'JW 925 anchor symbol' (impressed hallmarks)”
  • “'JAPAN MOVEMENT' / 'silcon' / 'ELECTRONICS' / 'Whitby' / 'CHINA CASE' (impressed on clock reverse)”

Provenance and Classification

The object is held in the V&A Wedgwood Collection and assigned the accession number WE.18098-2014.

As a horological object, it is categorized as a clock of the table variety, combining mass-manufactured Japanese electronic movement components with custom-designed, hand-finished ceramic and silver-gilt housing produced by the Josiah Wedgwood factory in the late twentieth century.

Evidence for this section
  • “Accession number: WE.18098-2014”
  • “V&A Wedgwood Collection. Presented by Art Fund with major support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, private donations and a public appeal.”

Open research questions

  • What is the relationship between the 'Whitby' mark and the specific electronic movement manufacturer?
  • Was this object part of a limited commercial series or a promotional item for the Greenwich millennium celebrations?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for The Greenwich Clock
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerJosiah Wedgwood and Sons“Josiah Wedgwood and Sons (manufacturers)”
Place of originBarlaston“Barlaston”
MaterialBone china, silver gilt“Bone china, silver gilt, transfer printing”
Dimensions43 mm x 74 mm“Height: 43 mm; Diameter: 74 mm”
InscriptionsJAPAN MOVEMENT, Whitby“'JAPAN MOVEMENT' / 'silcon' / 'ELECTRONICS' / 'Whitby' / 'CHINA CASE'”
HallmarksJW 925 anchor symbol“'JW 925 anchor symbol' (impressed hallmarks)”

Visible details

  • Hinged circular case with a flat top and semi-spherical base
  • Transfer-printed clock face on the exterior top surface
  • Silver gilt bands securing the rims of the ceramic sections
  • Impressed hallmarks including an anchor symbol on the metal mount

Research qualifications

  • Movement longevity not documented
  • Unclear if the clock is intended to be displayed primarily closed or open

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

The Greenwich Clock

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 10e1ce9ea0

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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