Matthew & Thomas Dutton, London No. 285

Circa 1800

£26,000

A very fine mahoganny and silver-mounted 8-day longcase clock. CASE The well-balanced ‘Fleet Street'''' case is constructed of solid mahogany with a double skirt around the plinth which is fronted by a raised panel, the break arch trunk door is beautifully figured, and it retains the original lock and hinges. The conforming break arch hood has stop-fluted angles flanking the door which has the special ‘Fleet Street'''' ogee moulding. The top is surmounted by a concave moulded plinth supporting the original brass ball finial. DIAL The 12-inch brass dial is signed Mattw. & Thos. Dutton London on an enamel calendar dial in the arch flanked by gilt-brass foliate spandrels; the large white enamel main dial has Roman and Arabic chapters and the original fine quality blued steel hands. MOVEMENT The movement has thick brass plates with five baluster pillars, the strike train with hour strike on a bell above the plates, the going train with anchor escapement with a typically high-quality iron-rod pendulum with very large brass-faced bob with a calibrated silvered rating nut, the backplate is engraved Mattw. & Thos. Dutton London No. 2852 matching period brass-cased weights Provenance: Purchased from John Carlton-Smith Antique Clocks and Barometers, 1992. MATTHEW AND THOMAS DUTTON Matthew and Thomas were the sons of the eminent clockmaker William Dutton who apprenticed to George Graham and was in partnership with Thomas Mudge until 1770. Matthew was apprenticed to his father in 1771 and Thomas apprenticed also to his father in 1777. The two brothers worked with their father until forming their own partnership from 1799 until1804. They worked from their premises in 148 Fleet Street, London.