Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz at home in their Chatsworth ranch home c. 1940sKPM Germany Fruit Plates – Click picture to view on eBay
In the 1940’s publicity photo of Lucy and Desi at home we have another look at the Ansonia Royal Bonn porcelain clock we identified in a previous post. Here we get a better view of the porcelain china plates on the wall of the chimney breast. On either side over the mantel are vertical rows of three plates with a fruit design and fluted border. They appear to be a good match for KPM Porcelain Germany fruit plates. I see a similar set of six 8 1/4 inch plates currently for sale on eBay. To hang them on the wall you would need the appropriate sized plate hangers such as this set on Amazon. Click HERE to find more KPM fruit plates on eBay.
This publicity shot from a 1940’s magazine article shows Lucy receiving her Ansonia Royal Bonn clock.Antique Original Ansonia Royal Bonn “Rainbow” ModelLucy’s Ansonia Royal Bonn clock on the mantelpiece at her home.
In the previous post we looked at the Bohemian Glass pieces at each end of Lucille Ball’s Mantel. Pride of place in the center went to her antique Ansonia Royal Bonn porcelain clock. I found a picture of the similar clock on google image search and the color is green with floral motif which would co-ordinate with green and white bohemian pieces on the mantel.
An auction house (details and pictures here) gives this description for the Ansonia Rainbow model: Lot 54: Ansonia Clock Co., C.1905, standard line “RAINBOW”Session 1: Saturday Evening, May 15th 2010 at 5pm by R.O. Schmitt Fine Arts, LLC
“Description: Ansonia Clock Co., C.1905, standard line “RAINBOW” porcelain china cased clock, with 8-day, gong strike movement with open escapement on porcelain dial, in a medium green case, with multi color floral transfers to the front and sides.” Reference: Ly’s Ansonia book, page 602, fig 2564; price guide = $850 for year 2004. Height 11.25″
The “Rainbow” was produced from 1901 – 1915 in different colors such as green, violet, pink and blue. A similar clock in blue tones was sold on eBay recently- see details here.
