American Federal Grain Painted and Stenciled Tall Clock by Rufus Cole
Located in Essex, MA
A Rare and Complete American Federal Tall Case Clock. Riley Whiting Wooden Works, original. A Rufus Cole Grain-Painted and Stenciled Case. Signed R. Cole Painter. Circa 1820-25 ...
Pine
American Federal Birch and Birdseye Maple Tall Case Clock, Wingate, ca 1820
By Frederick Wingate
Located in Essex, MA
American Tall Case or Longcase Clock by Frederick Wingate, Augusta, ME 1818. This very well-proportioned clock is made of indigenous wood, birch, Birdseye maple and pine secondary w...
Birch, Birdseye Maple, Pine
American Cherry Longcase Clock
Located in Chicago, IL
A tall, elegant American cherry 8-day longcase clock with reeded quarter columns and pierced fretwork cornice. Original painted face with no restoration. Original decorative brass fi...
Brass, Metal
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H 94 in W 18.5 in D 10.5 in
Antique 19th Century Early American Seth Thomas Tall Case Grandfather Clock
By Seth Thomas Clock Company
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful Seth Thomas long case clock, circa first half 19th century. Features an American poplar case in Early American styling with an open pediment, columns around a glass face,...
Poplar
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H 85 in W 18.5 in D 11 in
Antique 19th C. Early American Cherry Tall Case Grandfather Clock Painted Face
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful tall case clock, circa first half 19th century. Features an American Cherry case with a strip of crotch mahogany veneer below the face. The hand painted face is accented ...
Cherry, Mahogany
American Cherry Rocking Ship Tall Case or Grandfather Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Connecticut Federal cherry tall case clock, ca. 1800, the fretwork bonnet enclosing an eight day English works with rocking ship, the face inscribed Chr. Gould Londini fecit, over a ...
Cherry
American Colonial Mfg Co. Mahogany Tall Case Clock
Located in Astoria, NY
American Colonial Manufacturing Company Mahogany Tall Case Clock, with urn finial crest, gilt metal clock face with angel and floral decoration, having pendulum and two weights, the ...
Mahogany
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H 100.5 in W 18.5 in D 11.5 in
American Chippendale Tall Case Clock by Goldsmith Chandlee of Winchester
By Goldsmith Chandlee
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Goldsmith Chandlee (Am. 1751-1821) is considered one of the most notable American clock and instrument makers of the 18th and early 19th centuries. Best known for his compasses, many...
Cherry
Tiffany & Co. Grandfather Clock
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Houston, TX
Mahogany cased tall grandfather clock Signed on the bronze dore face "tiffany New York" Exceptional clock in good running condition Hand painted moon dial with Westminster chime ...
Wood
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H 80 in W 20.25 in D 16 in
Antique American Mission Arts & Crafts Oak 8-Day Grandfather Clock, circa 1900
Located in Portland, OR
Antique American Mission Arts & Crafts oak 8-day grandfather tall case clock, circa 1900. The clock made from solid oak and having through mortis and tenon construction, the dial hav...
Oak
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H 92.5 in W 19.5 in D 10.5 in
American Chippendale Mahogany Tall Case 8 Day Mahogany Clock, circa 1830
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This stately American Chippendale tall case grandfathers 8 day mahogany clock features a double scroll split pediment cresting centering a brass globe finial and flanked by identical...
Metal, Brass
Empire Style Long-Case Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mahogany and gilt bronze mounted long case clock, circa 1880, has beautiful details and is an elegant alternative to the more traditional English or early American Grandfather c...
Ormolu
American Tiffany Mahogany Grandfather Clock
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Denver, CO
Retailed by: Tiffany & Co. (New York, 1837-present) Made for: Herschede Clock Co. (Cincinnati, OH, 1885-1984) Tubes marked for Herschede. Movement marked: Germany. The steel and b...
Mahogany
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H 100.5 in W 25.5 in D 12.38 in
Walter Durfee Marquetry Galle Japanesque Inlay Tall Clock, Providence, circa 1900
By Walter Durfee
Located in Providence, RI
At the turn of the century, embellishment took a turn toward more naturalistic inlay representing flowers, poppies, etc. in a Japanesque context. This is the only time we have seen t...
Wood
Early 19th Century Philadelphia Tall Case Clock
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
An elegant early 19th century mahogany Philadelphia tall case clock featuring a second hand and phases of the moon and days of the month complications by John Riley.
Mahogany
Antique grandfather clocks and longcase clocks are staples of old-world design sensibilities, and, along with their storied history, these statuesque timepieces can bring a feeling of warmth to living rooms, dining rooms and other areas of your home.
Longcase clocks, which originated in England and were manufactured in the United States beginning in the 1700s, refer to tall clocks with a face and clock works positioned high in the housing while a large swinging pendulum movement is tucked inside the case, which is supported by a carved base called a plinth.
While guests making their way through your foyer (another ideal location for such a furnishing) might typically refer to your longcase clock as a “grandfather clock,” there are actually three varieties of these stylish floor clocks, which include granddaughter clocks (the shortest, generally not one solid piece of wood and around three to five feet tall), grandmother clocks (the slimmer middle ground, between five feet and six feet tall) and grandfather clocks, which are typically between six and seven feet tall.
Sculptural and statement-making, antique grandfather clocks created by the likes of the Seth Thomas Clock Company, the Howard Miller Clock Company, Hermle or other clockmakers are an alluring choice in filling up space in a room, while the shorter longcase clocks are just as useful if you need an element that is comparatively muted or you’re working with limited space.
Each generation of artisan clockmakers, working in various furniture styles over time, contributed its own flourishes to the design of longcase clocks. Antique grandfather clocks in the Georgian style share commonalities with neoclassical design. They were often made in dark woods such as mahogany and feature intricate carving. Mahogany is also common for Victorian-era grandfather clocks, although examples of this style can be found in oak and walnut too. Designers of contemporary grandfather clocks are using a range of materials.
It’s easy to get confused when determining the origins or value of an antique grandfather clock or other vintage longcase clock. While an antique appraiser will be able to tell quickly, searching for a manufacturer’s name engraved on the face and dial of the clock may be an easy way to learn about the history of your clock.
Find a distinctive variety of antique grandfather clocks and longcase clocks on 1stDibs, and browse our collection of unusually beautiful clocks, wall clocks, desk clocks and other vintage clocks too.
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