Lot Essay
This clock incorporates an eight-day gilt-brass chain fusée movement with platform lever escapement. The unusual extending mechanism of the hands within the oval face, which adjust automatically to the changing radius of the dial, recalls the work of William Anthony, who created comparable articulated hands for watches, circa 1795.
Only four clocks to the present design are believed to have been produced. The present clock, which was a wedding gift to Sir Hubert and Lady Worthington in 1928, would appear to be the first to have been made. The second clock was one which Lutyens had made for himself for use in his office, and which remains in the Lutyens family. A third clock was made for Lady Willingdon, circa 1934, when she was Vicereine of India, and the fourth clock was given by Lutyens to his daughter Barbara Wallace, (neé Lutyens), circa 1939. This too has passed by descent through the family.
Sir Hubert Worthington worked briefly in Lutyens' office in 1912/13 as an architectural assistant, before joining the family's architectural practice, Thomas Worthington and Sons, in Manchester. The short period of time spent with Lutyens resulted in a close and enduring friendship, and the gift of the present clock on the occasion of his wedding confirms Lutyens' esteem and affection for Sir Hubert.
From 1923 - 1928, Sir Hubert was Professor of Architecture at the Royal College of Art (where he met his future wife, then one of his students.) His numerous commissions included extensive work at Oxford - the Radcliffe Science Library, New College Library, remodelling of the Radliffe Camera and the Old Bodleian Library among others - and the restoration of Manchester Cathedral after the Blitz.
Cf: Lutyens, Hayward Gallery, London, Nov. 1981 - January 1982, Cat.No.420, (ill. p.171), Lady Willingdon's clock illustrated. This catalogue entry, for Lady Willingdon's clock, states that the design was created for her at the Viceroy's residence at New Delhi, c.1931. The Worthington clock, gifted in 1928 together with Lutyens' original sketch would seem to refute this claim.
We are grateful to Mary Lutyens for her assistance in preparing this and the following two catalogue entries.
Only four clocks to the present design are believed to have been produced. The present clock, which was a wedding gift to Sir Hubert and Lady Worthington in 1928, would appear to be the first to have been made. The second clock was one which Lutyens had made for himself for use in his office, and which remains in the Lutyens family. A third clock was made for Lady Willingdon, circa 1934, when she was Vicereine of India, and the fourth clock was given by Lutyens to his daughter Barbara Wallace, (neé Lutyens), circa 1939. This too has passed by descent through the family.
Sir Hubert Worthington worked briefly in Lutyens' office in 1912/13 as an architectural assistant, before joining the family's architectural practice, Thomas Worthington and Sons, in Manchester. The short period of time spent with Lutyens resulted in a close and enduring friendship, and the gift of the present clock on the occasion of his wedding confirms Lutyens' esteem and affection for Sir Hubert.
From 1923 - 1928, Sir Hubert was Professor of Architecture at the Royal College of Art (where he met his future wife, then one of his students.) His numerous commissions included extensive work at Oxford - the Radcliffe Science Library, New College Library, remodelling of the Radliffe Camera and the Old Bodleian Library among others - and the restoration of Manchester Cathedral after the Blitz.
Cf: Lutyens, Hayward Gallery, London, Nov. 1981 - January 1982, Cat.No.420, (ill. p.171), Lady Willingdon's clock illustrated. This catalogue entry, for Lady Willingdon's clock, states that the design was created for her at the Viceroy's residence at New Delhi, c.1931. The Worthington clock, gifted in 1928 together with Lutyens' original sketch would seem to refute this claim.
We are grateful to Mary Lutyens for her assistance in preparing this and the following two catalogue entries.