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Lot 135
A good and rare late 18th century mahogany drop dial timepiece Matthew and Thomas Dutton, London
Amended
13 July 2023, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £3,200 inc. premium
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A good and rare late 18th century mahogany drop dial timepiece
Matthew and Thomas Dutton, London
The 13.5 inch signed Roman and Arabic dial with minute track and original heart shaped hands framed by a cast concave brass bezel within a convex moulded surround over shaped side pieces to the drop trunk terminating in a moulded chisel foot with locking door (key present). The substantial single gut (now wire) fusee movement with large plates united by four tapering pillars, the anchor escapement with heavy steel-rod pendulum on a T-bar suspension 66.5cms (26ins) high.
The 13.5 inch signed Roman and Arabic dial with minute track and original heart shaped hands framed by a cast concave brass bezel within a convex moulded surround over shaped side pieces to the drop trunk terminating in a moulded chisel foot with locking door (key present). The substantial single gut (now wire) fusee movement with large plates united by four tapering pillars, the anchor escapement with heavy steel-rod pendulum on a T-bar suspension 66.5cms (26ins) high.
Footnotes
A similar wall clock by Thomas Mudge and William Dutton is illustrated in Birch Thomas Mudge and William Dutton, a perfect partnership 2019, page 44.
William Dutton was apprenticed to George Graham in 1738, suggesting 1724 as a likely birth year. His father is listed as Matthew Dutton, a gentleman from Marton, Buckinghamshire. William gained his freedom in 1746, possibly marrying Ann Millward a year later, though this is not confirmed. Around 1760, a William Dutton is recorded living in Bolt Court, which was quite near to Fleet Street. Another former Graham apprentice, Thomas Mudge, was living very close to William Dutton. The two eventually entered into partnership, though exactly when is unsure. It seems that for most of their partnership, Mudge was solely responsible for paying the Land Tax, meaning Dutton's name doesn't appear in the Tax books until the 1770's. The earliest proposed date for the start of the partnership is 1750/51, with most sources agreeing that the two were certainly in partnership by 1765, operating out of 151 Fleet Street.
Around the time that the partnership was forming, William and Ann had two children; Matthew, likely born around 1757, and Thomas, likely born around 1762, who would both become horologists. The couple would have at least four other children; Sarah, Hephzibah, Nancy, and Dorothea.
In April 1771, Matthew Dutton was apprenticed to Thomas Mudge. However, this same year Mudge departed London for Plymouth, to concentrate on his chronometer construction. It appears that Matthew's apprenticeship was turned over to his father at this point, and he gained his freedom in 1779. His younger sibling, Thomas, was apprenticed to their father in 1776, and gained his freedom in 1791.
William Dutton managed the business for Mudge and is recorded as being the rate holder for 151 Fleet Street, beginning in 1772. By 1774, Dutton had moved the premises to 148 Fleet Street, though the shop continued to be called Mudge & Dutton. Around this same time, Mudge began submitting chronometer's to the Board of Longitude, and Matthew Dutton appears to have acted as a go between. He would deliver the chronometer to be tested to the Observatory, taking it apart to demonstrate Mudge's modifications, monitor it when it was on test, and then communicate to Mudge any questions or rulings from the Board. Interestingly, Mudge Jr. noted that the 'Green' and 'Blue' chronometers were delivered to 'Mr. Dutton' in 1790 and had since remained with the Duttons. When, and under what circumstances, the chronometers left 148 Fleet Street, remains unknown.
William Dutton died in 1794, having left all the tools, engines, and utensils of his trade to Matthew and Thomas. He also left the shop and, presumably upstairs, apartment to Matthew, and the adjoining apartment to Thomas. Thomas Mudge also features heavily in William's will, being left one-third of all William's estate, land, and tenants in Bedford, the other two-thirds to be shared by Matthew and Thomas. The three horologists were also appointed his executors, as well as the appraisers of all the stock in his shop, with the option of appointing additional appraisers, should they see the need. Money was also left to the other four children, as well as a small annual pension to be paid to Elizabeth Dutton, and her daughter Caroline.
It seems quite likely that Elizabeth and Caroline Dutton where the wife and daughter, respectively, of Benjamin Dutton, William's nephew and a horologist. He was apprenticed to John Holmes in 1755, though it is unclear when he gained his freedom. Interestingly, it has been suggested that John Holmes was one of the first manufacturers to supply 'Mudge & Dutton' with movements, before Holmes moved out of the area around 1760. Benjamin died in 1786, leaving everything to his wife Elizabeth.
William Dutton also left some money to Thomas Mudge and John Priest, another of Graham's former apprentices, to thank them both for their firm friendship throughout the years. It appears that William's wife, Ann, died in 1787, the same year that the majority of William's will was written. It was updated in 1792, to include leaving some money to his daughter in law Katherine, who appears to have been Matthew's partner (possibly Catharine Dunant), and his future grandchildren. As there was some confusion regarding the validity of this amendment, Thomas Mudge and James Bullock, a Holborn clockmaker and long-time friend, both appeared in person to swear to the amendment's validity.
Matthew and Thomas entered into partnership together, operating out of the 148 Fleet Street premises. Oddly, the 1794 entry lists 'M. & J. Dutton, watchmakers' working out of this address. It is possible this was a misprint for 'T'. Matthew and Katherine would have at least four children; Louisa, Catherine, Matthew, and Jane. Of these, only one would go on to be a horologist; Matthew, who was apprenticed to his father in 1799.
In 1802, two years after Matthew (Sr.) had been made Master of the Clockmaker's Company, the partnership between Matthew and Thomas was mutually dissolved, with notice given that Matthew Dutton would be continuing the 148 Fleet Street business alone. It is not known what happened to Thomas; he isn't listed as a horologist in any trade directory for London, Plymouth, or Buckinghamshire after the dissolution. It has been suggested that he married Sarah Kingdom in 1794, and that one of their children, Thomas (Jr.), became a Captain with the Royal Navy and eventually emigrated to Tasmania. However, this has not been independently confirmed, and still doesn't clarify what Thomas (Sr.) was doing after 1802.
In 1808, the 148 Fleet Street address is listed as being occupied by 'M. Dutton, Clock and Watch maker.' Ten years later, it appears that Matthew (Jr.), having gained his freedom in 1815, had joined his father, as the business was now listed as 'M. Dutton & Son, Clock and Watch Makers.' This name persisted no later then 1843; Matthew (Sr.) wrote his will in 1838, and mentioned living in Stoke Newington at that time, making this a possible date for him passing on the shop to his son. His will also mentions that Matthew is to inherit all the tools, stock and shop on Fleet Street, where he was described as already working. Catherine and Jane were mentioned as living in Stoke Newington as well, and both were appointed executors of the will. It is not clarified if Louisa, who is mentioned as having married Thomas Mathew (?), was living in London or Stoke Newington. The will makes no mention to Katherine, who may have died as early as 1814, or any other partner. Matthew Dutton's will was proved in 1850.
Matthew (Jr.) was certainly managing the shop by 1843, when the shop's description was changed to 'Matthew Dutton, Watch & Clock Maker. Around 1811, it appears that Matthew (Jr.) had a child, Robert Williams, possibly after marriage to Martha Dench in 1806, though this has not been confirmed. It is also possible that Robert Williams was one of twelve children, though Robert appears to have been the only horologist. He was apprenticed to his father in 1825, and gained his freedom in 1833. By 1852, he seems to have taken over the operation of the shop, as a watch and clock maker, the shop itself having moved to 146 Fleet Street. It is possible that Robert William was of chronic ill health, as he made up his will in 1837, likely around the age of 28. In his will, he leaves almost everything to his wife, Charlotte Dutton, indicating that they had married before this date. The only item not left to Charlotte was his watch, which he left to his father, Matthew (Jr.). Robert William's will was proved in February of 1856. It remains unknown if Robert William and Charlotte had any children; by 1864, the only entries for 'Dutton' in the London trade directories are for 'Dutton & Egerton, 1 Temple Street, Whitefriars', though what relation (if any) this Dutton had to Robert William and Matthew, or indeed to Thomas, is not known.
The Dutton family were well-known and highly regarded horologists, known for making a wide variety of clocks and watches. An astronomical regulator, formally of Armagh Observatory, and signed 'Archibald Buchanan' on the dial, has been attributed to Matthew and Thomas Dutton's workshop. Additionally, a calendar pocket watch with moon phase is known, engraved on the backplate for Thomas Mudge. The watch paper for this watch is printed with Rob Dutton, late Mudge & Dutton, Clock and Watch Maker 148 Fleet Street, London. An article in 1880 reminisced about the 148 Fleet Street premises, the author writing 'Doubtless, many of our older readers will remember the quaint-looking shop in Fleet Street, with plain bowed windows, and door in the centre, painted white, and a curious old frame in the window, " Mudge and Dutton, Watchmakers."'
London Gazette (1802) The London Gazette for the Year 1802. London: Andrew Strahan.
Mollan, C. (1995) Irish National Inventory of Historic Scientific Instruments. Dublin: Samton Limited.
Will of William Dutton (1794). The National Archives: Public Record Office. Catalogue reference: PROB 11/1241/113
Critchett & Wood (1820) Post Office London Directory For 1820. London: T. Maiden.
Williams, J. (1864) Williams's Manufacturers Directory for London and the Principal Towns in England. London: J. Williams.
Old Bailey Proceedings Online (1794) trial of Frederic Fehrenkemp. Available at: https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t17940219-1-person72&div=t17940219-1#highlight
Will of Robert William Dutton (1856). The National Archives: Public Record Office. Catalogue reference: PROB 11/2227/332
Will of Benjamin Dutton (1786). The National Archives: Public Record Office. Catalogue reference: PROB 11/1141/218
University of Leicester (2022) Historical Directories of England & Wales: London 1808-1915. Available at: https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/search/searchterm/London/field/place/mode/exact/conn/and/order/nosort
Will of Matthew Dutton (1850). The National Archives: Public Record Office. Catalogue reference: PROB 11/2122/45
Atkins, C. (1931) The Company of Clockmakers: Register of Apprentices. London: Butler & Tanner Ltd.
Crisp, W. B. (1880) 'Our Old Watchmakers', The Horological Journal, Vol. 23 (4), p. 48.
Millburn, J. R. (1973) 'The Fleet Street Address of Graham and His Successors', Antiquarian Horology, Vol. 8 (3), pp. 299-301.
Hutchinson, B. (1978) 'Some Observations on the Timekeepers of Thomas Mudge', Antiquarian Horology, Vol. 10 (6), pp. 715-719.
Watson, C. (2003) 'John Holmes (1727-97): Time for a Further Look', Antiquarian Horology, Vol. 27 (6), pp. 643-646.
The Board of Longitude (1774). 'pg. 261'. Minutes of a meeting held on Saturday 25th June 1774, Royal Greenwich Observatory, London.
Papers of John Pond (1825). 'pg. 27r'. Letter Concerning the Whereabouts of Two Chronometers, Royal Greenwich Observatory, London.
The Board of Longitude (1774). 'pg. 309'. Minutes of a meeting held on Saturday 25th June 1774, Royal Greenwich Observatory, London.
The Board of Longitude (1783). 'pg. 197'. Minutes of a meeting held on 19th July 1783, Royal Greenwich Observatory, London.
British Museum (2023) calendar watch; lunar watch; watch-case; watch-paper. Available at: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1977-0702-1
Family Search (2023) Thomas, William, Matthew (Sr.), and Matthew (Jr.) Dutton.
Saleroom notices
Please note that the current fusee movement is not original to the clock – it looks to be a high quality late 19th/early 20th century replacement. The revised estimate is £1,000-2,000