Lot Essay
Nickel (also known as 'German silver') carriage clocks are rare. Other than the present example, there may be as few as eight such clocks. All others recorded are by Dent, who introduced the model, and have chronometer escapements. Of the nine clocks, six have the split handle seen on the present clock and three have a fixed polygonal handle (see full listing at end of note). In recent years just two have appeared at auction: a quarter-striking carriage clock with split handle (No. 14806) sold anonymously Christie's London, 15 September 2004, lot 26 (£48,000), previously, the Vitale Collection, Christie's London, 26 November 1996, lot 209 (£87,300); and a fixed handle carriage clock with prismatic balance (No. 1392) sold anonymously, Christie's London, 1 July 2008, lot 29 (£43,250).
Edward White's entry in the London International Exhibition (1862) catalogue describes item 7; 'An eight-day lever clock with compensation balance (striking the hours and half hours, and repeating the last hour on bell-spring, with very fine cathedral tone), in German silver'. This entry probably describes the present clock, which is certainly of exhibition quality (see J.B. Hawkins, Thomas Cole and Victorian Clockmaking, Sydney, 1975, appendix D.)
Nickel-cased carriage clocks were amongst the finest produced and an 1873 Dent price list gives a price of 40 to 55 guineas for a striking example with lever escapement (see Roberts, p. 308). To put this in perspective, a good quality French timepiece carriage clock would be offered by the firm at 6 guineas.
White, previously a foreman at Dent's, is recorded at 20 Cockspur Street 1861-1900. Dent had premises in the same street. The very close ties between the two companies may be seen in the present clock, which is almost identical Dent No. 25712 (see Roberts, p. 314) and indeed in other brass carriage clocks. The folding split handle is only seen elsewhere on Dent clocks (see also lot 134) and Roberts writes of Dent 17783: 'This style of case with its rounded top mould and split carrying handle...appears to have been unique to Dent' (p. 312).
White received a prize medal at The Great International London Exhibition in 1862, for a giant quarter-chiming carriage clock which was critically acclaimed by Charles Frodsham. He further exhibited at the Dublin and Paris Exhibitions, of 1865 and 1867 respectively, and won another medal at Dublin for 'great taste and excellence of workmanship'(see Richard Good, Victorian Clocks, London, 1996, p. 110).
The nickel carriage clocks currently recorded are:
No. 692 (the present clock). Signed E. White, 20 Cockspur Street, London.
Features: spade hands, engine-turned mask, split handle, striking and repeating, underslung lever balance
No. 1392. Signed Frederick Dent, 61 Strand & 54 Royal Exchange, London.
Features: spade hands, foliate mask, polygonal handle, timepiece, prismatic balance.
Christie's London, 1 July 2008, lot 29.
No. 1458. Signed: F. Dent, 61 Strand & 34 Royal Exchange, London. Features: spade hands, foliate mask, polygonal handle
John Carlton Smith advertisement, Antiquarian Horology, December 1982, p.519
No. 1567. Signed: Dent, 61 Strand & 34 Royal Exchange, London. Features: spade hands, foliate mask, polygonal handle, with presentation inscription, timepiece, Type B prismatic balance
Keith Banham advertisement, Antiquarian Horology, Autumn 1979, p.463; Phillips London, 16 October 1980, lot 61; Roberts, p.306
No. 14806. Signed: Dent, London.
Features: moon hands, foliate mask, split handle, quarter striking, Dent patent double staple balance
Christie's London, The Vitale Collection of Highly Important European Clocks, Part II, 26 November 1996, lot 209; Christie's London, Magnificent Clocks, 15 September 2004, lot 26
No. 14880. Signed: Dent, London.
Features: moon hands, foliate mask, split handle, quarter striking, Dent patent double staple balance
Allix & Bonnert, p.258
No. 15956. Signed: E.J. Dent, London.
Features: fleur-de-lys hands, engine-turned mask, split handle, striking and repeating, Dent patent double staple balance
Private Collection
No. 17783. Signed: Dent, London.
Features: moon hands, foliate mask, split handle, striking and repeating, alarm, Dent patent double staple balance
Roberts, pp.312-313
No. 25712. Signed: Dent, 33 Cockspur Street, London.
Features: moon hands, engine-turned mask, split handle, striking
Roberts, pp.314-315
Edward White's entry in the London International Exhibition (1862) catalogue describes item 7; 'An eight-day lever clock with compensation balance (striking the hours and half hours, and repeating the last hour on bell-spring, with very fine cathedral tone), in German silver'. This entry probably describes the present clock, which is certainly of exhibition quality (see J.B. Hawkins, Thomas Cole and Victorian Clockmaking, Sydney, 1975, appendix D.)
Nickel-cased carriage clocks were amongst the finest produced and an 1873 Dent price list gives a price of 40 to 55 guineas for a striking example with lever escapement (see Roberts, p. 308). To put this in perspective, a good quality French timepiece carriage clock would be offered by the firm at 6 guineas.
White, previously a foreman at Dent's, is recorded at 20 Cockspur Street 1861-1900. Dent had premises in the same street. The very close ties between the two companies may be seen in the present clock, which is almost identical Dent No. 25712 (see Roberts, p. 314) and indeed in other brass carriage clocks. The folding split handle is only seen elsewhere on Dent clocks (see also lot 134) and Roberts writes of Dent 17783: 'This style of case with its rounded top mould and split carrying handle...appears to have been unique to Dent' (p. 312).
White received a prize medal at The Great International London Exhibition in 1862, for a giant quarter-chiming carriage clock which was critically acclaimed by Charles Frodsham. He further exhibited at the Dublin and Paris Exhibitions, of 1865 and 1867 respectively, and won another medal at Dublin for 'great taste and excellence of workmanship'(see Richard Good, Victorian Clocks, London, 1996, p. 110).
The nickel carriage clocks currently recorded are:
No. 692 (the present clock). Signed E. White, 20 Cockspur Street, London.
Features: spade hands, engine-turned mask, split handle, striking and repeating, underslung lever balance
No. 1392. Signed Frederick Dent, 61 Strand & 54 Royal Exchange, London.
Features: spade hands, foliate mask, polygonal handle, timepiece, prismatic balance.
Christie's London, 1 July 2008, lot 29.
No. 1458. Signed: F. Dent, 61 Strand & 34 Royal Exchange, London. Features: spade hands, foliate mask, polygonal handle
John Carlton Smith advertisement, Antiquarian Horology, December 1982, p.519
No. 1567. Signed: Dent, 61 Strand & 34 Royal Exchange, London. Features: spade hands, foliate mask, polygonal handle, with presentation inscription, timepiece, Type B prismatic balance
Keith Banham advertisement, Antiquarian Horology, Autumn 1979, p.463; Phillips London, 16 October 1980, lot 61; Roberts, p.306
No. 14806. Signed: Dent, London.
Features: moon hands, foliate mask, split handle, quarter striking, Dent patent double staple balance
Christie's London, The Vitale Collection of Highly Important European Clocks, Part II, 26 November 1996, lot 209; Christie's London, Magnificent Clocks, 15 September 2004, lot 26
No. 14880. Signed: Dent, London.
Features: moon hands, foliate mask, split handle, quarter striking, Dent patent double staple balance
Allix & Bonnert, p.258
No. 15956. Signed: E.J. Dent, London.
Features: fleur-de-lys hands, engine-turned mask, split handle, striking and repeating, Dent patent double staple balance
Private Collection
No. 17783. Signed: Dent, London.
Features: moon hands, foliate mask, split handle, striking and repeating, alarm, Dent patent double staple balance
Roberts, pp.312-313
No. 25712. Signed: Dent, 33 Cockspur Street, London.
Features: moon hands, engine-turned mask, split handle, striking
Roberts, pp.314-315