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Antique American Clocks                     JANUARY 2025

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136.              $500

Ansonia Clock Co. “Reflector”, ca. 1886. Ansonia made small changes in the style of this clock over the years – these changes are shown in the catalog illustrations for the 1883 and 1886 models in Ly, Ansonia Clocks & Watches, page 177.  I believe this example is the later model, with brass plates around the base, midsection, and crest.  Unfortunately, those decorative plates have been lost here, and the remaining piece, across the key drawer at the bottom, has been painted, rather poorly.  The upper centerpiece has been replaced with a metal figurehead – nice, but not original.  This model came in ebony or ash with a rosewood finish; the earlier model came in ebony or mahogany. Ebony is most often seen, but it isn’t actually ebony wood, which is difficult to come by and is expensive.  Another wood, such as ash or maple, is chemically treated to yield a black color, with the grain still evident, and can then be varnished.  I mention this because this clock has been painted with flat black paint.  It probably started out ebonized but has lost the luster that these clocks originally had (in addition to the decorative brass plates); it's not uncommon to find these clocks repainted. The small gold finials at the top are replacements, and the incising in the door has been poorly relined.  The four beveled side mirrors are original and give rise to the name for this model; note that the door holds the original silver stencil of a girl reaching for an apple and is in good condition.  The dial is new paper with the Ansonia name and logo and the hands are correct. The 8-day, time-and-strike movement is signed and running, with an unusual pendulum that I have not seen before.  There is a proper signed beat scale at the bottom, but no label.  The most recent sale of a Reflector was at Schmidt’s Antiques last year for $650.  $500–$650.

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