Price Guide to Antiques & Collectables
This item has been sold, and the description, image and price ($US) are for reference purposes only.

Gold Cylinder Escapement Pocket Watch by Mudge and Dutton

A Thomas Mudge and William Dutton gold pair case cylinder escapement watch, gilt fullplate movement with fusee, engraved and pierced balance cock with diamond endstone. Cylinder escapement. Square baluster columns. The fullplate signed Thos. Mudge W Dutton London, with serial number 1400. Gilt cap dust cover also signed within a cartouche and lightly marked with serial number 1400 verso. The inner case marked 'Jc', with later keyhole hole. Bearing the hallmarks for London, 1789. The face with white enamel dial, Roman numerals and gold beetle and poker hands. The later outer case bearing hallmarks for London, 1847, with casemaker initials cm, stamped 18k. London, circa 1789. Diameter: 1.97 in. Provenance: Christie's, 10th December 1980, lot 255, the collection of Dr Trevor Hyde, Sydney, acquired from the above. Other Notes: Thomas Mudge (1715-1794) was bound as apprentice to George Graham in 1730. Graham, a pioneering clockmaker advanced and perfected the cylinder escapement from his own master, Thomas Tompion, the influence of Graham is undoubted through Mudge's choice here to use that form of escapement in this example of his work. Mudge quickly advanced to the freedom of the Clockmakers' Company in 1738 and was chosen by Graham to continue his business at the dial and one Crown 'Opposite the bolt and Tun' in Fleet Street, London 1751. Another of Graham's apprentices, William Dutton, joined Mudge in partnership in 1755. Mudge is credited as having created the lever escapement around 1765, which in its inline Swiss form is used in the vast majority of mechanical watches today. Though Mudge did not favour the escapement, using it in only two of his watches. In 1776 Mudge's work in producing fine examples for George III was recognised with him being made watchmaker to the King.

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Register Now to view actual auction price for this item.

  • Movement - The technical name for the workings of a clock or watch, and does not include the dial or case.
  • Lever Escapement - A lever escapement is a type of escapement mechanism used in mechanical clocks and watches to regulate the timekeeping of the movement. It was invented by British clockmaker Thomas Mudge in the 18th century and is now widely used in modern mechanical timepieces.

    The lever escapement consists of three main parts: the escape wheel, the pallet fork, and the lever. The escape wheel is a wheel with teeth that is driven by the clock or watch's main spring or weight. The pallet fork is a two-pronged component that is positioned so that it can engage with the teeth of the escape wheel, and the lever is a small, L-shaped component that is attached to the pallet fork.

    When the escape wheel turns, one of its teeth pushes against one of the pallet fork's prongs, causing the fork to pivot. As the pallet fork pivots, it releases the tooth and engages with the next tooth on the opposite side of the escape wheel. At the same time, the lever, which is connected to the pallet fork, rocks back and forth, allowing the escape wheel to turn at a regulated rate.

    The lever escapement is prized for its accuracy and reliability and is commonly used in high-end mechanical watches. It allows for precise timekeeping by ensuring that the movement of the watch or clock is regulated and consistent, and its compact size makes it an ideal choice for use in small, portable timepieces.
  • Cartouche - An ornamental panel in the form of of a shield, oval or rectangular scroll with curling edges. It may be carved into the back of a chair or the top of a sideboard, or present on a piece of silver or jewellery, and contain the initials of the original owner, heraldic symbols, or some other inscription, such as the details of a presentation.

    In ceramics the term defines the central area of a vase or similar with a decorative border in one of the shapes above, into which a decorative scene or figures have been painted.
  • George Iii - George III (1738 - 1820) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820.
  • Fusee - The fusee movement was used in clocks and pocket watches from the mid 17th century. The fusee is a cone shaped drum within the works that is linked to the barrel of the spring, usually by a length of chain.

    As the mainspring loses its tension over time, the cone shaped barrel compensates for this by increasing the tension, by pulling the mainspring tighter, thus ensuring the time remains constant.

    Use of the fusee in clocks was superseded by the "going barrel" in the mid 19th century and for pocket watches at the beginning of the 19th century.

    The fusee continued to be used in marine chronometers until the 1970s.
  • Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
  • Verso - Verso is the "back" side of a sheet of paper, art work, coin or medal. The front side is "recto".

This item has been included into following indexes:

A Thomas Mudge and William Dutton gold pair case cylinder…