RARE 1898 Kroeber VENTURA Figural Bronze Enameled Mantel Clock Pandora WORKS!
RARE 1898 Kroeber VENTURA Figural Bronze Enameled Mantel Clock Pandora WORKS!
SOLD $439.72 Sold: Dec 12, 2023 on eBayOriginal Listing Description
eBay 19th Century Florenz Friederick Kroeber Figural Mantel ClockThe antique spelter with bronze finish statue of Pandora and her box is in wonderful shape with a lovely patina. She stands (sits) at 9” high and 7” wide. She still retains the majority of her original finish. Pandora sits on an enameled iron base with glossy finish with mercury winged feet. This clock is stunning, special and scarce. Last one like this to sell on ebay was in 2016! It is listed in the Tran Duy Ly Kroeber book.This clock would not be out of place on the cover of a collector book. This would be an amazing conversation piece to any home, and a remarkable find for any clock collector.When properly leveled and tested this clock operates well. It has been going strong for 24 hours now. It is running a tad fast, and will need adjustment to get it to keep perfect time. The deeply resonant (and somewhat foreboding) coiled gong sounds on the half hour and hour. (SEE VIDEO FOR EXAMPLE).The cast bronze front door opens and shuts securely. Original beveled glass is in excellent shape.It has a nice brass / copper colored rococo style sash. Sunk double porcelain dial is painted with black Arabic numberals. It is complete with original fancy hands and signed with the F. Kroeber Trademark Because we don’t know the service history of this clock, we highly recommend a good cleaning service oiling to ensure this extraordinary clock continues to work for many years to come.Pendulum and replacement key are included with this auction.The clock measures aprox 16” W x 14” H x 6” D. It is very heavy, weighing 18lb prior to any shipping materials, box, etc. Shipping price will reflect this. I do not profit at all from shipping - the price is calculated based on box dimensions and weight of item plus styrofoam, bubble wrap and any other packing material needed to deliver this antique clock safely to your home. Please view pics closely as they are part of my description and feel free to reach out to me with any questions prior to bidding. Thanks for looking!More Info About F. Kroeber CompanyFlorenz Friederick Martin Kroeber was born in1840 in the city of Paderborn, Westphalia, Germany. His early years were spentin the city of Cologne, but his parents brought their family to America aboutthe spring of 1850, settling in New York City. By the age of 19,"Florence" Kroeber began to work in the clock store of Owen &Clark at John Street as a bookkeeper.In 1861, Owen & Clark was dissolved butone of the partners, George B. Owen, continued the operation under his ownname. When Owen went to Winsted, Conn. to become general manager of W. L.Gilbert & Company in 1864, Florence Kroeber took over the Owen business.This was strictly a marketing operation, both of domestic and imported clocks,though labels with F. Kroeber were often applied.In 1868, Kroeber went into partnership withNicholas Mueller, a German immigrant who ran a business of producing bronzedcast metal figurines and figured metal clock case fronts. Two years laterKroeber married Mueller's daughter. Though the partnership lasted only about ayear, the two families had close business ties and even rented adjoining NewYork stores for many years.About 1870 Kroeber began to manufacture somecases of his own design and contracted with Connecticut manufacturers formovements, some to his own specifications. For over 25 years the operation wassuccessful. It was incorporated as the F. Kroeber Clock Company in 1887 andthat year a second New York store was opened in midtown Manhattan. Their 1888catalog of 208 pages illustrated 286 clocks and 43 figurines, over 90% ofAmerican manufacture Business began to decline with the depressionof 1893 and in 1895 the midtown store was closed. By 1898, their catalog of 115pages offered only 182 clocks and 31 figurines, with only about 80% beingAmerican made. In 1899 the corporation went into receivership. Kroeber movedinto a smaller store on Maiden Lane and spent about a year settling theaccounts of the company.Kroeber continued marketing clocks as aprivate venture under his own name, most being purchased from Connecticut Except for cuckoo clocks, foreign made clocks were no longer offered. Thisbusiness ended in bankruptcy in January, 1904 and because it was not acorporation, Kroeber was personally ruined. For the next seven years he workedas an employee in clock and watch departments of various New York firms. Hedied May 16, 1911 of tuberculosis. (Condition: Pre-Owned)
Note: This item has been sold and is no longer available. This page serves as a historical price reference for clocks collectors and appraisers.
Original Listing Description
eBay 19th Century Florenz Friederick Kroeber Figural Mantel ClockThe antique spelter with bronze finish statue of Pandora and her box is in wonderful shape with a lovely patina. She stands (sits) at 9” high and 7” wide. She still retains the majority of her original finish. Pandora sits on an enameled iron base with glossy finish with mercury winged feet. This clock is stunning, special and scarce. Last one like this to sell on ebay was in 2016! It is listed in the Tran Duy Ly Kroeber book.This clock would not be out of place on the cover of a collector book. This would be an amazing conversation piece to any home, and a remarkable find for any clock collector.When properly leveled and tested this clock operates well. It has been going strong for 24 hours now. It is running a tad fast, and will need adjustment to get it to keep perfect time. The deeply resonant (and somewhat foreboding) coiled gong sounds on the half hour and hour. (SEE VIDEO FOR EXAMPLE).The cast bronze front door opens and shuts securely. Original beveled glass is in excellent shape.It has a nice brass / copper colored rococo style sash. Sunk double porcelain dial is painted with black Arabic numberals. It is complete with original fancy hands and signed with the F. Kroeber Trademark Because we don’t know the service history of this clock, we highly recommend a good cleaning service oiling to ensure this extraordinary clock continues to work for many years to come.Pendulum and replacement key are included with this auction.The clock measures aprox 16” W x 14” H x 6” D. It is very heavy, weighing 18lb prior to any shipping materials, box, etc. Shipping price will reflect this. I do not profit at all from shipping - the price is calculated based on box dimensions and weight of item plus styrofoam, bubble wrap and any other packing material needed to deliver this antique clock safely to your home. Please view pics closely as they are part of my description and feel free to reach out to me with any questions prior to bidding. Thanks for looking!More Info About F. Kroeber CompanyFlorenz Friederick Martin Kroeber was born in1840 in the city of Paderborn, Westphalia, Germany. His early years were spentin the city of Cologne, but his parents brought their family to America aboutthe spring of 1850, settling in New York City. By the age of 19,"Florence" Kroeber began to work in the clock store of Owen &Clark at John Street as a bookkeeper.In 1861, Owen & Clark was dissolved butone of the partners, George B. Owen, continued the operation under his ownname. When Owen went to Winsted, Conn. to become general manager of W. L.Gilbert & Company in 1864, Florence Kroeber took over the Owen business.This was strictly a marketing operation, both of domestic and imported clocks,though labels with F. Kroeber were often applied.In 1868, Kroeber went into partnership withNicholas Mueller, a German immigrant who ran a business of producing bronzedcast metal figurines and figured metal clock case fronts. Two years laterKroeber married Mueller's daughter. Though the partnership lasted only about ayear, the two families had close business ties and even rented adjoining NewYork stores for many years.About 1870 Kroeber began to manufacture somecases of his own design and contracted with Connecticut manufacturers formovements, some to his own specifications. For over 25 years the operation wassuccessful. It was incorporated as the F. Kroeber Clock Company in 1887 andthat year a second New York store was opened in midtown Manhattan. Their 1888catalog of 208 pages illustrated 286 clocks and 43 figurines, over 90% ofAmerican manufacture Business began to decline with the depressionof 1893 and in 1895 the midtown store was closed. By 1898, their catalog of 115pages offered only 182 clocks and 31 figurines, with only about 80% beingAmerican made. In 1899 the corporation went into receivership. Kroeber movedinto a smaller store on Maiden Lane and spent about a year settling theaccounts of the company.Kroeber continued marketing clocks as aprivate venture under his own name, most being purchased from Connecticut Except for cuckoo clocks, foreign made clocks were no longer offered. Thisbusiness ended in bankruptcy in January, 1904 and because it was not acorporation, Kroeber was personally ruined. For the next seven years he workedas an employee in clock and watch departments of various New York firms. Hedied May 16, 1911 of tuberculosis. (Condition: Pre-Owned)
Note: This item has been sold and is no longer available. This page serves as a historical price reference for clocks collectors and appraisers.