Lot Essay
Thomas Mudge (1715-1794) was apprenticed in 1730 to the great clockmaker George Graham. He succeeded Graham in 1750, going into partnership with another of Graham's apprentices, William Dutton (born c.1720, apprenticed 1738) in 1750 or 1755. In 1771 Mudge moved to Plymouth to work on the development of the marine chronometer. Dutton succeeded to the business in 1794.
An ebonised table clock of related design by Mudge & Dutton is illustrated in R C R Barder, The Georgian Bracket Clock 1714-1830, Woodbridge, 1993, p. 131, pl. IV/68. A mahogany triple pad table clock by the partnership was sold, the property of the executors of Mrs Michael Behrens, Christie's London, 5 July 2002, lot 81 (£14,937).
An ebonised table clock of related design by Mudge & Dutton is illustrated in R C R Barder, The Georgian Bracket Clock 1714-1830, Woodbridge, 1993, p. 131, pl. IV/68. A mahogany triple pad table clock by the partnership was sold, the property of the executors of Mrs Michael Behrens, Christie's London, 5 July 2002, lot 81 (£14,937).