Pocket watch · Pair cased cylinder watch

Thomas Mudge pair-cased cylinder watch

Partially verified

This English pair-cased pocket watch by Thomas Mudge features an inner gold case hallmarked for London 1763/4 and bearing the maker's mark 'E.B'. It rests inside a shagreen-covered gilt-metal outer case measuring 48 mm in diameter. Christie's reports that the movement is configured with a chain fusee, cylinder escapement, diamond endstone, and Egyptian pillars, signed 'Tho. Mudge / London 491'. The white enamel dial features Roman numerals with an outer five-minute track in Arabic numbers, accompanied by blued steel hands and attached to a later 9-carat gold faceted link chain with a T-bar.

Front view of the pair-cased pocket watch in shagreen outer case with attached gold chain and T-bar — Christie's. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: www.christies.com
Category: Pocket watch · Pair cased cylinder watch
Maker / attribution: Thomas Mudge
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: 114
Source-reported date: 1763/4
Country: United Kingdom
Source-reported serial: 491

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case Construction and Dimensions

The lot is catalogued as a pair-cased watch comprising an inner gold case and a shagreen-covered gilt-metal outer case. Dimensions are recorded as 41 mm in diameter, with the outer case measuring 48 mm in diameter. Dial-side observation confirms the visible outer bezel is covered in green-toned textured shagreen.

Christie's catalogues the gold case as bearing an engraved 'E.B' and a London hallmark for 1763/4. The catalogue essay notes that an Isaac Rogers watch held in the British Museum bears the same casemaker mark of 'EB with a fleur-de-lis' (Museum number 1888,1201.250).

Evidence for this section

“gold case engraved 'E.B' and London hallmark for 1763⁄4, shagreen covered outer gilt-metal case”
“41 mm. diameter; outer case 48 mm. diameter”
“Visible outer case rim surfaced in green-toned textured shagreen.”
“A watch by Isaac Rogers in the British Museum has the same case-makers' mark of EB with a fleur-de-lis (Museum number 1888,1201.250).”

Dial and Visible Accessories

Observation of the face shows a white enamel dial marked with radial Roman numerals for the hours and an outer chapter of Arabic numerals for five-minute divisions. Time is displayed with blued steel hands in a beetle and poker configuration.

Attached to the watch is an accessory catalogued as a later 9-carat gold faceted link chain fitted with a T-bar, both clearly visible in the dial-side photograph. Internal hallmarks, dust cap, and movement features are not visible in this view.

Evidence for this section

“White enamel dial displaying Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic five-minute divisions.”
“Blued steel hands including a beetle and poker style hour and minute hand configuration.”
“later 9ct gold faceted link chain with T-bar”
“Faceted gold link watch chain ending in a solid T-bar terminal.”

Reported Movement and Dust Cap Configuration

The internal mechanism is not visible in the provided image. According to the auction description, it is a chain fusee movement with a cylinder escapement, diamond endstone, and Egyptian pillars, engraved 'Tho. Mudge / London 491'.

The movement is fitted with a dust cap engraved 'Tho / Mudge / London', which is catalogued as scratch-numbered '491' on its interior.

Evidence for this section

“Chain fusee movement with cylinder escapement, diamond endstone and Egyptian pillars, movement engraved 'Tho. Mudge / London 491'”
“the dust cap is engraved 'Tho / Mudge / London' the inside of dust cap is scratch numbered '491'”

Open research questions

What specific punch configuration and hallmark series are struck inside the gold case, and do they show the fleur-de-lis above 'EB' referenced in the British Museum comparison?
What is the mechanical condition, originality, and completeness of the chain fusee, cylinder escapement, and balance assembly concealed under the dust cap?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Thomas Mudge pair-cased cylinder watch
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker's signature on movement	Tho. Mudge / London 491	“movement engraved 'Tho. Mudge / London 491'”
Escapement	Cylinder escapement	“Chain fusee movement with cylinder escapement”
Inner case hallmark	London 1763/4	“London hallmark for 1763⁄4”
Outer case material	Shagreen covered gilt-metal	“shagreen covered outer gilt-metal case”
Outer case diameter	48 mm	“outer case 48 mm. diameter”
Inner dust cap markings	Engraved 'Tho / Mudge / London'; inside scratch-numbered '491'	“the dust cap is engraved 'Tho / Mudge / London' the inside of dust cap is scratch numbered '491'”
Inner case maker's mark	E.B	“gold case engraved 'E.B'”
Provenance	A gift from Dr. Gwendolyn Pratt, 1969; The Collection of Sir Nicholas Goodison	“A gift from Dr. Gwendolyn Pratt, 1969.”

Visible details

White enamel dial displaying Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic five-minute divisions.
Blued steel hands including a beetle and poker style hour and minute hand configuration.
Visible outer case rim surfaced in green-toned textured shagreen.
Faceted gold link watch chain ending in a solid T-bar terminal.

Research qualifications

Internal movement, dust cap, and hallmarks described in text are not visible in this dial-side view.
The chain with T-bar is catalogued as a later addition.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

THOMAS MUDGE, LONDON, 1763, A PAIR CASED CYLINDER WATCH, MOVEMENT NO. 491 | Christie's

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 0b6037e85b

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Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.