Here we have a beautiful all original example of a 1820s Sedan clock by Hugh McLachlan of Lower East Smithfield, London. Hugh McLachlan was a little known but high-end English watch and chronometer maker who was active in London from 1810-1850, who has an example in the Greenwich Museum. 
This is a classic and quality late Georgian sedan clock with the ebonised Mahogany casing, with brass surround to the edge and the hinged brass dial surround. Set within the brass dial surround is the convex glass which is in very good condition. The enamel dial is also excellent, with the bright white tone and clear signing. It has the Arabic signing to the quarters for the minutes, with the dot minute markers. The radial Arabic numerals have an appealing font and are clear. The hands are thermally blued and are of the classic spade & whip style. To the rear is the hanging loop with the hinged cover to the rear. It is held in place with the rotating catch. Inside sits the pocket watch movement with the original cover in place. Once removed you see the beauty of the gilt finish Fusee movement with English lever escapement. It is engraved H.McLachlan, Lower East Smithfield, London, No. 631. It has the diamond endstone which is secured in place with the blued chaton with three screws. 
 
The maker:
 
Hugh McLachlan was a little known but high-end English watch and chronometer maker who was active in London from 1810-1850. He was the son and successor of John McLachlan who was documented as working in London in 1791. 
In the 1842 London street directory he is listed as a watch & clock maker at 17 Upper East Smithfield. This was in the eastern part of the City of London, near the Smithfield area. It was a busy part of the city which contained many artisans and tradespeople. 
 
Hugh McLachlan is known to have produced multiple marine chronometers with one example within Royal Museum Greenwich’ collection, which is a mid-19th century eight-day marine chronometer, marked with the number 462. 
 
In terms of pocket watches, few examples by McLachlan have been made publicly available for sale. One sold in 2020 in Germany, which was a very fine deck chronometer with duplex escapement, No.835.
 
The history:
 
The Sedan clock or Sedan Chair Clock was a distinctive form of portable timekeeper which emerged in the late 18thcentury and were more commonplace in the early 19th century. They were a crossover between a clock and a watch, with many having watch movements, such as this. They reflected the changes in mobility, social life and horological technology in the period. 
 
Sedan chairs were used as means of urban transport from the late 1600s to the 1700s and were particularly popular in France and England. The Elite of society were above getting their boots of clothing dirty in stinking, unsanitary streets. The Sedan chair protected them by means of an enclosed cabin, with poles for carrying off the ground, with ‘chairmen’ doing the leg work. This created the demand for portable comforts – including timekeeping.
 
Sedan clocks appeared in the latter half of the 1700s. By 1760 Sedan chairs were well established in London, Bath, Bristol and other major towns. English Sedan chairs were hired, rather than being privately owned, like in France. The clock would be carried inside the chair by the passenger. They played a vital role in timekeeping during travel, enabling punctuality in court appearances, formal visits or social calls.
 
By the late 18th century, sedan clocks were associated less with aristocratic leisure and more with professional punctuality. They were used to barristers, physicians, government officials and wealthy women attending social engagements.
 
In the early 19th century, carriages were more widely used. This meant that the Sedan clock was now commonplace in such modes of transport. These could then be used on the journeys and placed in temporary residences or lodgings. 
 
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below. A further condition report is below.
 
Wooden case:
The wooden case is in good antique condition. It has light age-related marks with the light rubbing of the ebonised finish to prominent edges. There is a split to the wood at the top where the hanging loop has been moved. It is more visible from the rear. The wood has been waxed. 
 
Dial:
The dial is formed of enamel and is original. It is in very good condition antique condition with no cracks, chips or hairline fractures. The signing is good and clear. 
 
Hands:
The hands are original and are thermally blued. They are in very good condition for the age with only light corrosion to the surface. 
 
Movement:
Inside is the pocket watch movement which is Fusee powered with the English lever escapement. It has been recently serviced and has a daily variation of under 1 minute a day. 
 
Case dimensions
Case width: 16.5cm
Case length: 16.5cm
Case length with hanger: 20cm
Depth: 3.8cm