Dent Mantel Clocks

A striking two train bracket clock of exceptional quality by one of the great nineteenth century makers. The eight day twin fusee movement strikes on a blued steel gong behind a silvered arabic dial, signed Dent and numbered 58242 on both th dial and the back plate. Housed in a solid mahogany case with brass mounts and a gadrooned pergoda top surmounted by an acorn finial, and supported by bun feet. The sides ar pierced with attractive fish scale sound vents lined with dark blue velvet. The movement and case are both of remarkable quality, as you would expect from a clock made by Dent. The history of Dent & Co. spans three centuries of precision watch and clock making in Great Britain. Established in 1814 by Edward J. Dent, the company embraced the Victorian fervour for technological innovation and created precision chronometers to navigate the Royal Navy and guide some of the most intrepid explorers on their voyages. The British Empire was in full expansion and its maritime tradition had produced some remarkable technological breakthroughs from the late 18th century. Propelling the impetus of Britain’s primacy, Dent proved a key player in Victorian horological history manufacturing the Standard Clock at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich which was to keep “Greenwich Mean Time” the time to which all others in the Empire were referred (better known today as G.M.T.) and continued to do so until replaced by an electronic clock in 1946. Dent also made probably the most famous clock in the world - the Great Clock for the Houses of Parliament, familiarly known as Big Ben. Dent’s reputation soared and their chronometers accompanied some of the century's most influential and colourful explorers. Dent chronometer...