Thomas Mudge (1715-1794) was born in Devon and at the age of fourteen was sent to London and apprenticed to George Graham, successor of Thomas Tompion. He was free of the Clockmakers' Company from 1738 following which he set up his own business close to Graham in Fleet Street. In 1755 Mudge was joined in business by William Dutton who had also been apprenticed to Graham and was Freed in 1746. Initially their clocks continued to be signed as Thomas Mudge but by the 1760's this was changed to Mudge & Dutton. Thomas Mudge is regarded as one of England's most important makers and is best known for his skills as a chronometer maker but is also renowned for his fine longcase clocks which were made in partnership with Dutton. In 1771 Mudge moved to Plymouth where he continued to work on perfecting his marine chronometers. William Dutton succeeded to the London business with his sons Matthew and Thomas but continued to sign their clocks using Mudge's name until 1794.

Mudge and Dutton are renowned for the high quality of their clock movements, which are undoubtedly influenced by their apprenticeships with George Graham, but also for the highly refined nature of their dials and cases. Always of the finest workmanship, a typical example of one of their longcase clocks was sold in these rooms on 28th September 2006 and is illustrated. It can be seen that the present clock case has it's origins in a standard case but that is where the comparisons cease. Far from being in the typically restrained manner of a mid-Georgian London made longcase clock, the present clock is undoubtedly a highly important commission to grace an equally important interior.

Sadly, the early provenance of the present clock is not known but it is tempting to conjecture that this outstanding case may have been commissioned by European nobility or even Royalty. Indeed, we know that Thomas Mudge was supplying watches to King Ferdinand VI of Spain from as early as 1750 until the King's death in 1759. He was watchmaker to King George III from 1775 until his death.

Identifying English clock cabinet makers is very difficult as the cases are invariably unsigned. We know from records that the Rich family, working in Fleet Street, London, supplied clock cases to Mudge & Dutton, Benjamin Vulliamy and John Holmes. Most of these cases have certain similarities such as very fine mouldings and canted hood corners. The basic carcass of the present case follows these rules. The Rich family would certainly have had access to the services of carvers and gilders but it is currently impossible to identify the individual craftsmen responsible for this extremely fine work. Executed in limewood, the carving is highly detailed and beautifully proportioned. The inclusion of miniature portrait medallions on the surmounting neoclassical urn and the vase within the door carving demonstrate remarkable attention to detail.

The use of enamel dials and subsidiaries in English clocks is rare. Due to the difficulties and expense of manufacture, they were used by the finest clockmakers for their very best clocks. John Ellicott, Benjamin Gray and Justin Vulliamy all used enamel dials in some of their most expensive table clocks. However, the use of enamel dials in longcase clocks is even more unusual. That the present clock dial has been fitted with enamels and very finely chased and gilded spandrels is evidence of the importance its makers attached to it. The finely detailed embellishment of the case perfectly frames the dial and creates an opulence rarely seen in later 18th century English clockmaking. Perhaps future research will solve the mystery of the original commissioner of this masterpiece.