"Petite" Travel Clock, Ansonia Clock Company, ca. 1904

ANSONIA CLOCK COMPANY, New York.
Petite model travel clock, ca. 1904.
Gilded bronze with an enameled dial.
Mechanical movement.
Signed on the dial.
It retains its original case, with some scuffs and wear consistent with its age.
It works.
Measurements: 10 × 6 × 4 cm; 10 × 7.5 × 5 cm (case).

Its compact size and rich ornamentation make the Petite model one of the most unique travel clocks produced by the Ansonia Clock Company in the early 20th century. The gilt-bronze case features a miniature architectural structure, lavishly decorated with plant motifs in relief and figures at the corners, while the enameled dial incorporates floral motifs that reinforce the piece’s delicate, ornate character. The original travel case completes the piece and preserves its portability.

The Petite model is documented in examples dated around 1904, described as travel clocks or “miniature carriage clocks” approximately four inches tall—dimensions that match those of this example. This type of clock adapts the tradition of the carriage clock to a smaller scale, combining a compact movement with a case designed as a true decorative object.

The Ansonia Clock Company was one of the major American clock manufacturers of the late 19th century. Founded in Connecticut in the mid-19th century, it gradually moved its production to Brooklyn, New York, where, beginning in the 1880s, it developed an extensive catalog of domestic, figurative, and fantasy clocks. By 1886, it was manufacturing more than two hundred different models and gained particular recognition for the variety and originality of its cases.