Thomas Mudge & William Dutton, London

Clockmaker: Thomas Mudge, London

SOLD

Fine and original George III mahogany table clock. The elegant break arch brass dial with subsidiary regulation dial calibrated 0-60 to the arch with blued steel hand. Strike/silent selector above XII, mock pendulum and calender aperture above VI. Signed to the oval cartouche on the matted centre Thos. Mudge & Wm. Dutton, London. Roman and Arabic numerals. Original blued steel hands.

The exceptional double fusee movement has thick plates, five large knopped pillars and the original verge escapement. Folding pendulum holdfast, the pendulum having a heavy brass faced bob is suspended from the pivoted regulation platform mounted on top of the plates. The striking train has finely made motionwork and strikes the hours on a bell. The plain backplate is signed Thos. Mudge Willm. Dutton London.

Three raised pads with concave mouldings to the break arch case with brass carrying handle, arched glazed side panels within moulded frames. The breakarch door with moulded frame dial aperture, the base on mahogany moulded block feet. Original winding key.

Date circa 1770

Thomas Mudge and William Dutton both served their apprenticeships under the famous George Graham, partner to Thomas Tompion. In circa 1765 Mudge and Dutton became partners at 148 Fleet Street, London. Thomas Mudge developed the Lever Escapement for use in watches and is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential watch and clock makers of the period. In 1770, William Dutton carried on the business in London when Thomas Mudge moved to Plymouth for health reasons and to concentrate on his chronometer project. William Dutton and Thomas Mudge both died in 1794.

Literature. Tobias Birch. Thomas Mudge & William Dutton A Perfect partnership, 2019.