Messages

1

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Garniture statues - soldiers

« on: June 07, 2009, 02:10:49 pm »

I've attached a photo of an Ansonia Rosalind clock. It's a black iron mantle clock. The main difference is that my clock has a bright gold face, with numbers instead of Roman numerals.

The "K" could also be the artist's initial, but I haven't seen other Ansonia statues with an intial marking, which is just one more "odd" thing about this pair. I've seen photos of dozens of pairs of Ansonia garniture statues; the bases and general style are usually similar to these. But I haven't been able to find anything on this particular pair of statutes. Even checked Tran du Ly's book, the "ultimate" source on Ansonia, and didn't find them.

Dan

2

Antique Questions Forum / Re: Garniture statues - soldiers

« on: June 07, 2009, 07:55:44 am »

I tried railman44's test -- the statutes are spelter. Anyone know who made them? Maybe the "K" in the banners is a clue?

Dan

3

Antique Questions Forum / Garniture statues - soldiers - Can you ID the maker?

« on: June 06, 2009, 05:20:55 pm »

I'd like to learn more about these garniture statues. They were given to me along with an Ansonia Rosalind clock from the late 1800s. The person who gave them to me said they had always stood alongside the clock and had been in his family for three generations. The clock also came with a "clock topper" statue--a Barbarian-type warrior riding a horse and holding an axe. According to the information I have, all three statues were purchased at the same time as the clock.

I've found lots of information about the Ansonia clock. I've found a picture of the Barbarian warrior clock topper statue in an Ansonia book, and I've also seen the "Rosalind" topper that was apparently designed to go with the clock. But I've found nothing about these two statues. I've researched them online, and in several books about antique clocks (because they may be garniture statues) and about Ansonia clocks in particular. I'm not sure the statues are Ansonia, I just started researching along those lines because the clock they came with was made by Ansonia.

The banners held by each soldier have a "K" on them (which doesn't fit with Ansonia). The statues are quite heavy; they're 19 inches tall from the bottom of the base to the top of the banner. They're similar in style, but the two soldiers have different armor and different faces. Their armor is very detailed--there are several fleur-de-lis in the design--maybe they're French? The banner poles can be removed -- they run through holes in the soldiers' hands. They have a great aged bronze-ish patina, with a bit of a copper color showing through, where they've been touched through the years. I don't know if they're bronze or spelter.

Any information you have about the age, maker or value of these statues would be appreciated; or if you can point me to a different place to research these statues, that would be helpful. Thanks!

Dan
Springfield, MO