Combination Inkstand and Desk Clock

Combination Inkstand and Desk Clock

• Materials: Gilded brass
• Features:
  • Central wind-up clock with Roman numerals and a white enamel dial
  • Two hinged-lid inkwells, symmetrically flanking the clock
  • Elaborate scrollwork and leaf motifs, cast and hand-finished

Clock Maker & Date

• Manufacturer: Ansonia Clock Company, New York
• Patent Date: May 3, 1892, stamped on the movement
• Ansonia was renowned for its ornate and innovative clocks during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This patent likely relates to improvements in the clock’s escapement or winding mechanism.

Style & Aesthetic

• Stylistic Influences: A blend of late Victorian and Art Nouveau
  • The floral and scroll motifs suggest a transition from Victorian rigidity to the more organic, flowing lines of Art Nouveau
  • The gilded finish and symmetrical layout evoke Rococo revival tendencies, popular in decorative arts of the time

• Desk sets like this were fashionable between 1880–1910, when writing was both a ritual and a reflection of personal taste.