Sunday, April 1, 2018

A to Z April Challenge: A is for Ansonia Clock


When my sister and I cleaned out our parents’ home, we had to make many decisions about what to do with all the stuff. Which things are truly “valuable” and which have only sentiment in their favor? Should we sell it, keep it, or throw it away? To help ensure a future for our family’s heirlooms, I plan to leave a booklet for my daughters telling the stories of what they will inherit one day. (Not TOO soon, I hope!) With this challenge I begin my book of Heirlooms.



is for Ansonia mantel clock. Mantel clocks were so named because they could fit on a mantel or shelf, which is exactly where it was displayed in the home of my grandaunt Violetta Davis Ryan.

Ansonia mantel clock  https://jollettetc.blogspot.com







The clock originally belonged to her sister Velma Davis Woodring. Maybe it was a wedding gift, I don’t know, but when she died, it went to Violetta and then to my mother.
 
Aunt Violetta and my daughter Jordan 1981
The Ansonia clock is on the mantel, right where it belongs.

When dividing our parents' things, my sister decided I should have this clock because the colors go with my decor. The clock came to me in pieces. Well, just 2 pieces. The face cover had come off but surely it can be repaired. I have never heard the clock chime or even tick for that matter. Was it always in need of repair? I really should do right by this lovely porcelain clock and get it restored. It might be worth something.

I do not have the knowledge to determine the value of my clock. Price is driven by rarity, markings, condition, emotion, and even ignorance. On eBay, there is a porcelain Ansonia for $61 and another for $695. Surprisingly, one with only the case, no clock, is offered at $150. One Ansonia quite similar to mine has 29 bids and is already at $175. On Etsy, most porcelain Ansonias are running around $235, but there is one for $1,285 and another recently reduced to $945.

Ansonia clock and Seth Thomas clock https://jollettetc.blogspot.com
Ansonia and Seth Thomas clocks


The curvy feminine lines of this Ansonia clock are in sharp contrast to the sleek and simple lines of my Seth Thomas mantel clock which came to me from my grandaunt Helen Killeen Parker. The style is referred to as a “camelback” or “tambour” clock. On eBay they are being sold between $30 and $450, most under $200. But who knows what they are really worth?

Now, like my Ansonia clock, the Seth Thomas just sits in a guest bedroom watching time pass by.

Shame on me.

Wendy
© 2018, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.

26 comments:

  1. Hi Wendy. Good to see you have the time for the Challenge again - I'm sure your Ansonia Clock will keep going to the end. It makes our mantle pieces look tame.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lovely clock and already a 'Family Heirloom' with it's history of family owners. I vote to restore it and return it to the mantel then take a picture with you and Jordan...no question of who's next!
    Sue at CollectInTexas Gal

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have no mantle clock. I don't even have a mantle at this point, although we have a shelf I refer to as "the mantle". The Ansonia Clock reminds me of a birthday card I received a thousand years ago with the picture of such a clock on it. I still have that card in a box. One day I will have to go look for it and see who it's from and what it says.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe that card will make it to the blog one day.

      Delete
  4. What a special heirloom! I'm glad you're writing the history of it down. Thanks for sharing with us. I look forward to the rest of the month and seeing your other heirlooms.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I'm doing these stories for my children's benefit. It's good for me too.

      Delete
  5. A very pretty clock. I think the stories of the provenance of heirloooms are very important. A great idea to write them down.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You have never heard the clock chime or even tick - makes me think it has another purpose than just to "run" and tell the time that is passing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My parents were antique dealers and we had many clocks around the house. Unfortunately they were all in fine fiddle and they drive me nuts... none were set to bong or chime at the same time, some were only every hour while others bonged on the half hour too. Dad’s favourite tho was his Seth Thomas grandfather clock. Dad had a friend who was a clock and watch fixer (is there a name for that? Not maker cuz he only fixed them) and that guy lived to be over 100!
    I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of your treasures!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I don't think I'd want more than one clock at a time.

      Delete
  8. I'm so excited that you're doing this challenge with heirlooms and I hope to one day copy you. As for the clock, my grandparents had a working cuckoo clock that drove us, well, cuckoo. I don't know what happened to the clock but I know it didn't end up with my parents.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I visited a clock shop in Germany and was captivated by the beautiful woodwork and variety of designs. However, I knew I would not be able to stand the "cuckoo."

      Delete
  9. A great theme to choose, Wendy, but I doubt if I have sufficient heirlooms to use it in an A-Z Challenge. I can see why you love the clock - it is beautiful and would fit so well with the colours of my living room decor!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah - we must have the same taste in decorating.

      Delete
  10. What a great idea! I hope to copy you one day also! I have an heirloom clock much like this one - unfortunately I don't know who it belonged to! I thought it came from my step-dad's family. He thinks it came from Mom's family. I like it anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have those heirlooms too that leave me scratching my head over whose they might have been.

      Delete
  11. A pretty clock. I bet it makes pretty sounds too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love thst your blogging on family heirlooms. I started mine a few years ago I called Friday Night Heirlooms... and many in my genealogy blogging group joined in. It’s alway such fun to read about the heirlooms of others. I love the clock and I’m sure you’ll love to once again hear it chime. I understand about cleaning out a parents house and what to do with it all. I’m looking forward to reading more!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have posted on Thursday Treasures at times, but I have not been consistent.

      Delete
  13. I think this is a great idea, to save descriptions of your family pieces in a booklet for your children.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If nothing else, it should help my girls decide what to do with everything.

      Delete