Thomas Mudge & William Dutton, London SOLD

SOLD

Fine George III mahogany table clock. Circa 1770

Case

Elegant proportioned mahogany break arch case having 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.

Dial

6 1/2 inch break arch brass dial with rococo spandrels, subsidiary regulation dial calibrated 0-60 to the arch and blued steel hand. Strike/silent selector above XII. Finely matted centre with calendar aperture, false pendulum aperture and oval cartouche signed Thos. Mudge & Wm. Dutton, London. Silvered chapter ring with Roman and Arabic numerals. Original blued steel hands.

Movement

The exceptional movement with thick plates and five large baluster pillars. Half dead beat escapement with original pendulum having a heavy brass faced bob is suspended from the pivoted regulation platform mounted on top of the plates. The plain backplate is signed Thos. Mudge Willm. Dutton London with a hinged pendulum holdfast below. Striking the hours on a bell. Original winding key.

Height. 15 inches (38 cm)

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.

Email this clock to a friend