help me identify my clock

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:14 am     Post subject: help me identify my clock

I found this beauty at a little shop. It was way in the back and it just caught my eye. I see no siginatures or markings on it to tell me anything.

The few people I have talked to say they have never seen anything like it.

The only thing I know is that the swing arm is not the original. I would just like to know the when and where.
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 4:03 pm     Post subject:

This type of clock is referred to as a "Swinging Arm Clock". They were typically produced between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of these types of clocks were French made, however Ansonia clock company (Connecticut, USA) had also made a number of these as well. Warman's American Clocks Field Guide states that these clocks were typically produced to be displayed in jewelry store windows to attract potential customers. As a side note, there were also some Japanese "copies" produced around the mid twentieth century. These Japanese versions will usually have the figure secured to a black, plastic formed base.