Ansonia Clock Co. Crystal Place mantel clock. 223263.

Henry J. Davies operated a clock-related business at No. 5 Courtland Street in New York, New York, from 1858 through 1886. Today, Davies is probably best known for his design of the “Crystal Place” mantel clock. Three versions of this shelf clock model were patented in 1875. This, the largest version, was introduced in 1874 while the patent was being applied for. The clock and its decorations are displayed under a glass dome. Oftentimes, figures were mounted aside from the mounted movement and usually incorporated a mirror behind the pendulum. The vast majority of these clocks were powered by Ansonia manufactured movements and were later cataloged as Ansonia clocks when Davies became the General Manager of the Brooklyn, New York plant. Before Davies took the job at Ansonia, he also used movements from the Welch and Waterbury Clock Companies.

The Ansonia Clock Company of Brooklyn, New York, crafted this Crystal Palace No. 1 model. The glass dome provides the admirer with a fascinating view of the mechanism and is supported on a walnut base. The two figures are nautically themed. The gentleman on the left is holding an oar. The woman on the right is holding a setting or a push pole with a hook. This tool is used to move boats and their ropes around. These cast figures are finished in gold paint. The clock movement is mounted behind the dial and is elevated on a walnut stand with a mirror. The spring-driven movement is brass. It is an eight-day time and strike design, striking the hour and the half-hour on a bell. Its pendulum, a Davies Patented design, is made of a combination of metals. Two large cylinders are positioned in a gridiron frame below lyre form decorations. It swings below the dial and in front of the mirror framed in the stand. The 6-inch dial is paper and applied to a tin pan. It is original to this clock and is framed by a decorative “French Sash” or bezel highlighted with green painted details. The Ansonia trademark is featured in the center field. Spade-shaped hands depict the time.

This fine example was made circa 1875.

This mantel clock is approximately 18 inches tall, 14 inches wide, and 7 inches deep.  

Inventory number 223263.