If you’ve ever had occasion to visit our collections storage area, you might have noticed these two gentlemen near the bottom of the stairs:
They are Don Caesar (left) and Don Juan (right), donated in the 1980s by Mary Hardin Bernard. The two Dons were manufactured by the Ansonia Clock Company in the 1880s or ‘90s. These 22″ tall spelter (bronze-like alloy) figures were made to stand on clocks – singly, or on either side – but were also sold as free-standing garniture, or side-pieces, like our pair here.
These boys are in pretty good shape, although DC is missing the blade of his sword, and DJ’s is a little bent. Their dark patina appears to be original, though in worn and rubbed condition, and showing some mild abuse (DJ, especially, suffers from build-up of polish in some crevices, see below).
For about twenty years, we knew the pair only as “metal statues, 19th century” or, as we described them in our newsletter at the time of donation, “two striking bronze figurines.” There is no maker’s mark anywhere on the statues or their bases, and unlike some examples, there are no nameplates proclaiming their identity. Anonymity seemed to be their fate.
It is a useful thing, in my profession, to have a visual memory. Since these gentlemen are in ‘open’ storage, not in a box, I would glance at them whenever I went into the collections area. A few years ago, while visiting the Laramie Plains Museum (Wyoming), I spotted a large shelf clock adorned with two familiar figures. (I believe I exclaimed, as I usually do, “Hey, I have those guys!”) The LPM curator very kindly supplied information on the clock’s maker, and the identities of its flanking guards. Their Ansonia clock is dated 1881, and features “Don Juan, the dapper gentleman, and Don Caesar, the rough and ready soldier.” Researching “metal statue 19th century” takes up a lot of time; the process is much more straightforward with the addition of a few keywords. Our gentlemen were anonymous no more.
Why are the two Dons on today’s post? I ran across one of their brethren again recently, this time at an antique store in St. Louis. This one was a shiny brass color and was missing his buddy, but that jaunty pose and feathered hat were unmistakable. I greeted him as an old friend (my actual, human friends know to ignore me when I talk to artifacts) but left him there in the shop as he was, like so much of the stuff I get to play with at work, out of my personal price range.
April 7, 2011 at 10:33 am
Delightful post! I love the face on Don Caesar.. But, more than that, I love the fact that you have stumbled across these items unexpectedly so far afield!
April 7, 2011 at 8:21 pm
I loved this post also. It just shows that this job is your life, not just a career!
June 29, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Hi,
I know its a long shot but my parents have two figurines similar to Yours they are named Don Juan & Don Cesar & they are 28 inches tall & named on the front of the base, Our family purchased these figurines in the early 1920s and have been passed on through the family,
July 5, 2011 at 7:52 pm
I have these… wonder what the value is for insurance.
July 6, 2011 at 7:36 am
We don’t give value estimates, so I can’t help you there. I recommend looking at auctions for similar pieces to get a sense of their current worth.
May 11, 2013 at 9:47 am
i i too have a set of these gentleman, and have over the years tried to research them They were given to me by my Grandmother from her home built in the 1880’s in Bham al thanks for your info on them.
September 15, 2013 at 10:20 am
I just picked these two gentlemen, by the side of the road, ready for the next garbage pickup date! They were turned into lamps, I just took off the hardware and now they stand very ceremoniously outside my front door greeting my guest! Thrilled to know they have so many “cousins” out there!
May 23, 2015 at 6:27 pm
The Ansonia Don Juan and Don Caesar clock has been in our family at least since the 1920’s. It currently resides with my brother who inherited it from our grandfather.
February 20, 2016 at 10:28 pm
They are a lovely pair with the famous Ansonia Clock. I want the Ansonia clock with the two together in perfect condition. However it is very hard to find them in their original condition. Most I’ve found have been repaired and or painted to cover up any glitches, etc. Of course they are NOT cheap either. Thanks for the quote. God bless.
March 12, 2017 at 1:19 pm
I just have set but no clock they are in original but 9ne base has a crack
January 5, 2017 at 10:06 pm
I have Don Caesar, sans the intact sword. He has a metal name plate on a substantial, different base than photo shows in article. I enjoy him, and with more info as you gave, I’ll continue to. And keep eyes open for his brother Juan. Purchased in thrift store in GA for $5.
January 6, 2017 at 10:57 am
I’m glad we could help!
November 30, 2017 at 7:51 pm
I have both figures that my mom left me. I’m sure she got them from her family in New Orleans. I’d like to sell them, but I have no idea where or for how much.
Thanks for your info!