Lot 81
81
A George III mahogany striking bracket clock
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more THE PROPERTY OF THE EXECUTORS OF MRS MICHAEL BEHRENS
A George III mahogany striking bracket clock

THOMAS MUDGE & WILLIAM DUTTON, LONDON. CIRCA 1780

Details
A George III mahogany striking bracket clock
Thomas Mudge & William Dutton, London. Circa 1780
The case with brass handle to the break arch triple pad top, glazed side panels, the moulded base raised on mahogany squab feet, the 6¾in. wide brass dial with floral spandrels to a silvered Roman and Arabic chapter disc, the centre with mock pendulum and date apertures, signed Thos. Mudge Will.m Dutton London, with strike/not strike lever above 60, the arch with silvered regulation disc, the twin fusee (wire lines) five pillar movement with anchor escapement and cam regulated arm above the plates, strike on bell, with repeat signature and folding pendulum holdfast to the plain back plate; with paper exhibition label to rear door
15 1/3in. (39cm.) high to hilt of handle
Exhibited
British Clockmaker's Heritage Exhibition Cat No: 162. Science Museum London, 1952.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Born in Exeter in 1715, Thomas Mudge ranks as one of the greatest clockmakers of the 18th century. He was made a Free of the Clockmakers' Company in 1738, having been apprenticed to the illustrious George Graham. Subsequently he worked for Graham and upon the latter's death in 1751 set up business in Fleet Street. Mudge was appointed a Liveryman in the Clockmakers' Company in 1766 and Clockmaker to George III in 1776. Among the highlights of a brilliant career are Mudge's invention of the lever escapement in 1759 and his work on the marine chronometer (in 1765 he published Thoughts on the Means of Improving Watches, particularly those for Use at Sea).
In 1755 Mudge entered into partnership with William Dutton, another of Graham's apprentices. In 1771 he left the business in Dutton's charge and moved to Plymouth, where he dedicated himself to marine chronometers, the first of which was sent to Greenwich Observatory in 1774. The partnership continued until Mudge's death in 1794. See also lot 82.

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