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31407C.C
DENT, 82 STRAND, LONDON. NO 482. A FULLY ENGRAVED ENGLISH STRIKING AND REPEATING CARRIAGE CLOCK BY THESE EMINENT MAKERS. CIRCA 1842.

A most unusual and attractively cased English striking carriage clock. The case profusely cast and engraved has foliat entwined pillars to the four corners with flat bun feet at the base and surmounted by cast and engraved flower buds. The sides and top of the case have glass panels and the clock has a solid rear door.

The silvered brass dial has a nicely engraved centre and is signed on the tiny cartouche for the maker Dent, Strand, 82 London., with Breguet style hands and Roman numerals. The dial is contained within an engraved mask.

The eight day chain fusee movement strikes the hours and half hours on a steel gong mounted on the backplate and repeats via a repeat button, unusually set in the side of the clock rather than the top. The backplate has a silent /strike lever to enable the strike to be turned off. It is signed and numbered for the maker Dent, 82 Strand, London No. 482". The well executed underslung lever escapement is mounted on an unusually shaped platform and has a split bi-metallic balance with compensation weights.

Height to base of handle: 6" (15 cms.)

Price band: D

Edward John Dent was born in 1790 and was apprenticed to his grandfather.  By 1814 he was becoming well known and was employed between 1815 - 1829 by a number of well known firms including Vulliamy, Barraud and McCabe.  He went into partnership with John Roger Arnold in 1830 and was admitted to the Clockmakers’ Company and given the Freedom of the City of London in 1831.  By 1840 he was in business by himself.  Dent gained the contract in 1844 to supply the great clock at Westminster, which finally put the seal of Dent’s fame and fortune.  The Westminster Clock became popularly known as Big Ben, although strictly this name only applies to the large hour bell.  He continued in business until his death in 1853 at which stage the business continued to prosper well into the twentieth century.   The quality of his carriage clocks is always exceptional.

Further details can be found in “Edward John Dent & His Successors”  by Vaudrey Mercer.

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