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Ormolu Clocks

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Material: Ormolu
English Regency Fusee Mantel Clock in Ormolu and White Marble by Finer and Nowla
Located in London, GB
English Regency ormolu and white marble drum mantel clock. Typical drum shaped clock, set on four elaborate ormolu toupee feet. The white marble has an applied ormolu mount of flower...
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1820s English Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Ormolu and Porcelain Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive late 19th century French gilded ormolu and cobalt blue porcelain urn clock set, the clock having seated putti holding garl...
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Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Antique French Ormolu, Bronze and Red Marble Louis XV Clock Set
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
An exceptional antique French Louis XV style clock set, circa 1870. Beautifully made in ormolu (finely gilded Bronze Dore), patinated bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble. The clock is mo...
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19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Griotte Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

French 18th Century Louis XVI Period Carrara Marble and Ormolu Garniture Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and high quality French 18th century Louis XVI period white Carrara marble and ormolu garniture clock set signed by Jean-Simon Bourdier. The clock is raised by elegant mot...
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18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Mid 19th Century Louis XVI St. Clock in Ormolu Signed ‘Beurdeley À Paris’
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most spectacular and sensational quality French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. clock in ormolu signed ‘BEURDELEY À PARIS’. The large scaled clock is raised by bun supports decorate...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Clock Signed Cheuret À Marseilles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely decorative and large scale French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu clock signed Cheuret à Marseilles. The clock is raised on topie feet below a straight frieze with pro...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Exceptional Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze and Malachite Grandfather Clock
Located in London, GB
Exceptional Louis XVI style gilt bronze and malachite grandfather clock French, late 19th century Measures: Height 250cm, width 54cm, depth 33cm This superb longcase clock is a wonderful example of the Belle Époque impetus to draw inspiration from the styles of the past. The clock, crafted during the late nineteenth century—though the malachite finish is later—is inspired by a famous eighteenth-century original. The clock is of traditional form, which a cubic clock case inset with an enamel dial and a gilt bronze bezel cast with signs of the zodiac. The central section of the clock includes a window, which reveals the pendulum inside, while the lower section is in the form of a plinth. The malachite veneer is wonderfully varied, with lighter and darker shades of the stone utilised to add visual interest. The clock is surmounted by a sculpture in gilt bronze of Apollo in his chariot, pulled by a quadriga of horses. The dial is signed for Rosel Bruxelles...
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Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu Bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Louis XV. st. ormolu, patinated bronze and Rouge Griotte marble clock. The clock is raised b...
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19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Large 18th Century Louis XVI Ormolu Female Mask Wall Clock, "Juhel à Paris"
Located in Berlin, DE
18th Century Louis XVI Gilt Bronze Female Mask Wall Clock, sign. "Juhel à Paris" The ormolu cartouche-shaped case surmounted by a twin-handled neoclas...
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Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Belle Époque Period Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period ormolu clock signed by Raingo Frères. The clock is raised by lovely mottled feet with a floral desig...
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19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French Mid 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu Portico Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French mid 19th century Empire st. ormolu portico clock. The clock raised on a rectangular base with finely chased borders and satin and burnish finish interlocking circ...
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19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 18th Century Louis XV Period Tortoiseshell and Ormolu Boulle Cartel Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A large and important French 18th century Louis XV period Tortoiseshell and ormolu Boulle cartel clock signed Le Faucheur, A Paris. The clock is ra...
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18th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Marble and Ormolu Portique Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu Portique clock, signed "Tiffany'. Raised by a marble base with ormolu topie shaped supports. Above are two columns decorated by finely chased floral ormolu mounts. The columns are flanked by two fluted tapering ormolu design elements. The enamel dial has a foliate garland at the center and ormolu pendulum. At the top crown is an ormolu floral basket with two lovebirds...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

19th Century Gilded Ormolu and Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive late 19th century French gilded ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock. Having three putti mounted to the top each playing musical instruments. The clock having an ei...
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Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th Century, Louis XVI Style Clock Garniture
Located in Brighton, Sussex
French 19th century Louis XVI style white marble and gilded ormolu clock garniture, having a two handled urn finial above a white enamel clock face, an eight day duration clock that ...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Antique Neoclassical Louis XVI Gilt Bronze and Malachite Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique Neoclassical Louis XVI gilt bronze and malachite clock French, late 18th Century Measures: Height 56cm, width 35cm, depth 12cm Crafted from gilt bronze and a later malac...
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Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Clock Signed F. Barbedienne
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very elegant and richly chased 19th century French Louis XVI st. ormolu clock signed F. Barbedienne. The clock is raised by five toupee shaped feet. At the frieze are two rosettes encompassing a Rinceau design below the berried laurel band. Above is the original beveled curved glass door and enameled dial. The pediment is decorated with acanthus leaves. At the top is the urn of prosperity with a finial draped by a laurel leaf garland...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French Early 19th Century Marble and Ormolu Quarter Strike Clock with Sundial
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very high quality and unique French early 19th century white Carrara marble and ormolu quarter strike clock with sundial, signed Robert et Courvoisier. The clock is raised on an ebonized fruitwood support with ball feet. The rectangular white Carrara marble base above is decorated with finely chased ormolu mounts of cherubs and mythological scenes, topped with wonderfully chased lions perched at each corner. The white Carrara marble sundial is raised on an ebonized fruitwood panel, framed with a chased ormolu border. Above is the large enamel clock within a twisted rope ormolu designed border. The impressive top crown has a white Carrara marble base and semiprecious stone globe clutched by an open winged ormolu eagle. With a very intricate movement, including a crown wheel escapement and machinery striking on the back panel. A remarkable double chime at every quarter with three chimes at the 3rd quarter. Louis Courvoisier (1758é1832) A Swiss clock...
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19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Annular Signed Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most spectacular and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble, ormolu and patinated bronze annular clock, signed MARTI, circa 1840. Raised by a...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XV St. Grandfather Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular and extremely high quality French mid-19th century Louis XV st. kingwood, tulipwood, and ormolu grandfather clock. The clock is raised by a fine scalloped shaped kingwo...
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19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Silvered Bronze Clock Set Depicting Hebe & Jupiter's Eagle by Charpentier & Co
Located in London, GB
In classical mythology, Hebe, the personification of youth, is also cupbearer to the gods. She is the daughter of Juno and Jupiter (represented here by his eagle). Seated between his wings, she is holding the oinochoe (wine pitcher) in one arm while with her free hand she gracefully offers him divine nectar known as ambrosia, a drink which reinforced the Olympians' immortality. The three-piece clock garniture centred around the large silvered bronze figural group after the original by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, supported on a gilt-bronze mounted onyx clock base, denoting the hours in Roman numerals, the central clock flanked by a pair of silvered and gilt bronze female figures in neoclassical garb, their amphoras issuing five scrolling candleholders...
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19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Onyx, Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Ormolu and Marble Garniture Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and most decorative French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble three piece garniture set signed Japy Frères. The impressive clock, which Japy Frères won a gold metal for this clock in 1855, at the center is raised by a rectangular Rouge Griotte marble base with fine bun feet and a striking wrap around Coeur de Rai and pierced palmettes bands at the mottled border. The white enameled clock face displays pierced hands and Roman hour numerals set within the mottled ormolu bezel with intricately detailed beaded and foliate designs with two charming and most unique butterflies. A beautiful maiden is seated above draped in a wonderfully executed flowing garment while breastfeeding a charming winged cherub with an anchor, a quiver, and an ewer at their side. The pair of urns are displayed at each side and are each raised by elegant square bases with a bottom ormolu band and an exceptional wrap around mottled band. Above the square Rouge Griotte pedestal...
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19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Early 18th Century Louis XV Period Tortoise Shell and Ormolu Cartel Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular and extremely high quality French early 18th century Louis XV period tortoise shell and ormolu mounted Cartel clock. The impressive clock rests on its original wall mou...
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18th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Tortoiseshell / Ormolu Westminster Chiming Mantle Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and fine quality late 19th Century English bracket / mantel clock. Veneered in red Tortoiseshell and having wonderful gilded ormolu mounts and mouldings. Having fla...
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Late 19th Century English Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. White Carrara Marble and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French early 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu mounted clock. Raised on ormolu supports the rectangular marble base with beaded trim and Clodion...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Rouge Griotte Marble and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent French 19th century Louis XVI st. Rouge Griotte marble and ormolu clock by Raingo Frères, Paris. At the base are stunning ormolu mounts of rosettes and scrolled foliate...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Sèvres Porcelain and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent French 19th century Louis XVI st. Sèvres porcelain and ormolu clock. The clock is raised by fine topie shaped feet below the ormolu base which is decorated with elegant...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French Antique Ormolu Mounted Porcelain Japonisme Style Garniture Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine antique 19th century French gilt bronze and hand painted porcelain 3-piece clock set in the Japonisme style. The clock finely decorated with porcelain plaques, painted in the Japanese style with Cherry blossom branches. The front plaque features a Sulphur-crested cockatoo with a red sun in the sky on the right. The clock’s rectangular body is crowned by an arched top which contains a circular porcelain dial. This dial features a painting of a pair of birds on a cherry branch at its center, encircled by black Roman Numerals within white cartouches. The shoulders of the clock are mounted with gilt bronze elephant...
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Late 19th Century French Japonisme Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and white Carrara marble clock. The clock is raised by fine circular ormolu supports below the demi lune shaped white Carrara marb...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

French Early 18th Century Louis XV Period Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A superb French early 18th century Louis XV period ormolu clock, signed Gaudrons du Roy, Paris. The clock is raised on an ormolu base with luxuriant scrolled movements. Below the fac...
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18th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XV Style Cartel Wall Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful, classical Empire influenced 19th century gilded ormolu Cartel wall clock, having ribbon and scrolling foliate decoration. The white enamel clock face set in a Lyre with ...
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19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 18th Century Louis XVI Period Ormolu and Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely elegant and very high-quality French 18th century Louis XVI period ormolu, Bleu Turquin and white Carrara marble clock signed by Jean-Baptiste Dutertre. The clock is rai...
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18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Marble and Ormolu Clock, by Alix À, Paris
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu clock, by Alix à Paris. The clock is raised by six elegant tapered ormolu feet below the white Carrara...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

Mid 19th-Century Gilt-Bronze Carriage Clock
Located in Greenlawn, NY
Lee & Son, Belfast – Retailer The very heavy gilt-bronze case has a bollard handle, a glass viewing panel above, is stamped 1522 and has a pinned back door with the release on th...
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Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Napoleon III Period Boulle Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking high quality French 19th century Napoleon III period ormolu, tortoiseshell, and brass inlaid Boulle clock. The clock is raised by handsome ormolu paw feet with acanthus le...
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19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

French 19th Century Neoclassical Empire Style Ormolu and Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular mid 19th century French Neo-Classical Empire st. ormolu and marble clock. The clock is raised on a rectangular Vert Maurin marble base with ormolu supports. Centered at...
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19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Porcelain Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI St. ormolu and porcelain clock. The small scale clock is raised by fine tapered fluted legs below striking richly chased block rosettes cente...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality mid-19th century French Louis XIV st. ormolu clock. The clock is raised by four tapered fluted legs decorated with acanthus leaves. The scalloped shaped c...
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19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Marble and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu, black Belgian and white Carrara marble clock, signed Vaillant à Paris. The clock is raised by a black Belgian marble base with fine ormolu topie feet and striking fitted ormolu plaques...
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19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Carrara Marble, Ormolu

French Mid 18th Century Louis XV Period Tall Case Clock, circa 1740
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational French Louis XV period, circa 1740, tall case clock with an extremely rare mechanism movement signed Jean Charost. The original case in kingwood, ebony and rosewood ven...
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18th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Clock, Stamped Vincent, 1855
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most unique French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu, patinated bronze and marble clock, stamped Vincent 1855. The clock is raised by fine ormolu supports below the ci...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Marble, Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Clock
By Jean A. Rennes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble, ormolu and patinated bronze clock, signed Jean, A Rennes. The clock is raised by four fine topie s...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Clock Signed 'Raingo Freres, Paris
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and very high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and patinated bronze clock, signed Raingo Frères Paris. The clock is ...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mounted Long Case Clock, 1860, by Balthazar, Paris
By André Balthazar 1
Located in Brighton, Sussex
Pendulum clock "Regulateur de parquet" after Jean-Henri Riesener Napoleon III, Paris, circa 1850-1880. Balthazar, Paris. This fine quality late...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Neo-Classical Style Porcelain and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most attractive French 19th century neo-classical st. porcelain and ormolu clock. The clock is raised by fine scrolled ormolu feet below the beautiful deep forest green porcelain b...
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19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Large Baroque Style Austrian Ormolu Mounted Musical Clock
Located in London, GB
Large Baroque style Austrian ormolu mounted musical clock Austrian, early 19th Century Total height: 211cm Clock: Height 135cm, width 86cm, depth 52 Stand: Height 76cm, width 81c...
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Early 19th Century Austrian Baroque Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Continental Gilt Bronze, Cut Glass, and Porcelain Clock Set
Located in London, GB
Antique Continental gilt bronze, cut glass, and porcelain clock set Continental, late 19th century Clock: Height 45cm, width 30cm, depth 22cm Candelabra: Height 46cm, width 23cm, ...
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Late 19th Century European Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

c.1820 French Ormolu Mantle Clock Depicting Orpheus
Located in Greenlawn, NY
Case: The well-cast and finished ormolu case depicts a large male figure, Orpheus, standing on rockwork while leaning on the clock and playing the flute. He is surrounded by severa...
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Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ormolu Signed Garniture Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French mid 19th century Louis XV st. ormolu clock and candelabra garniture set, signed Barrand & Vignon Horlogerie, Paris. The clock is raised by an elegant scrolled Rocai...
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19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French Early 19th Century Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive French early 19th century ormolu and white Carrara marble clock. The clock is raised by elegant scrolled foliate supports with dolphin heads. The rectangular white Carr...
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19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

Louis XVI Architectural Gilt Bronze and Malachite Clock
Located in London, GB
Louis XVI architectural gilt bronze and malachite clock French, late 18th century Measures: Height 53cm, width 35.5cm, depth 11cm Crafted from ormolu and a later malachite venee...
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Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze and Malachite Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Neoclassical style gilt bronze and malachite mantel clock French, late 19th Century Measures: Height 47cm, width 19cm, depth 19cm This wonderful Louis XVI style mantel clock is designed in malachite and gilt bronze—with the malachite being a later veneer. The clock takes after a famous original 1775 model by Brécourt, known as 'Vase pendule...
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Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu and white Carrara marble clock. The clock is raised by fine circular mottled ormolu feet below the solid whit...
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19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. White Carrara Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu clock. The clock is raised by ormolu topie shaped supports below a marble base with ormolu scrolling foliage and ormolu beaded row. Above is the central fluted marble column...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

French 18th Century Coromandel and Ormolu Grandfather Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent large scale French 18th century Coromandel and ormolu Grandfather Clock, by André Furet. This very unique and high quality clock is raised by rectangular base with a li...
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18th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century First Empire Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A remarkable French early 19th century First Empire ormolu clock, with the original silk threaded movement, dated 1809. Raised on a square moulded ormolu platform above bun supports. The pedestal base has a scalloped chasing below and a reeded one at the top with a scalloped foliate mount at the base of the clock. Standing in a reeded and scalloped cornucopia on one side is a charming winged putti with a quiver on the shoulder sharpening an arrow. On the other side is a lovely winged maiden in classic attire, turning the sharpening wheel...
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19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French Neoclassical Style Malachite and Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
French Neoclassical style malachite and gilt bronze mantel clock French, late 19th Century Measures: height 42cm, width 22cm, depth 11cm This fine clock...
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Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

French Mid 19th Century Charles X Period Ormolu Portico Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional French mid 19th century Charles X period ormolu portico clock. The clock is raised by fine bun feet below the rectangular base with an elegant mottled design and richl...
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19th Century French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Ormolu Clocks for Sale on 1stDibs

Antique ormolu clocks and other decorative objects can be incorporated into a variety of spaces, and while demand for the material and/or technique was at its peak in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries — older French ormolu clocks are especially coveted today — ormolu is still widely loved by contemporary designers and collectors.

What is ormolu?

Ormolu is a brilliant form of decorative trickery. To the untrained eye, ormolu clocks, jewelry boxes and other ormolu furniture and decor look like they're made of solid gold. But those in the know recognize ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — as having been essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.

“Most commonly, ormolu refers to a bronze object that has been covered with gold, typically 18 karat or 24 karat,” explains Jamie Sinai, director of the antiques specialist Mayfair Gallery, in London. “For that reason, ormolu is sometimes called gilt bronze or, in French, bronze doré. Strictly speaking, however, the term ormolu also denotes the technique of applying gold to a metal.”

“The word comes from the French or moulu, which translates as ‘ground or powdered gold’ — the form the gold takes before it is applied to a metal surface.”

From the court of King Louis XVI to that of Napoleon I, the French elite snapped up furniture mounted with ormolu, as well as sconces, candelabra and table lamps made from the material. 

If you're looking to bring a touch of this 19th-century pizzazz to your desk, an antique ormolu desk clock is a decorative touch that blends ornament and functionality. The clamor for desk clocks arose as the Industrial Revolution transitioned labor from outdoors to indoors, and allowed for the mass production of clock parts in factories. Naturally, elaborate designs soon followed and clocks could be found made by artisans and luxury houses like Cartier. Indeed, an ormolu clock is an object to be admired in your home as much as it is a necessary functional element. (This is part of the reason clocks make such superb collectibles!)

Today, antiques collectors and interior designers seek out the finest in antique ormolu clocks and continue to prize ormolu for its extraordinary craftsmanship and history-infused glamour. 

“This wondrous material was highly sought after in France as the ultimate luxury. It magically resembled solid gold and sparkled under candlelight,” says Sinai.

Find antique ormolu desk clocks, wall clocks, mantel clocks and other furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.

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