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French Novelty Clock

Late 19th Century French Novelty ‘Quarterdeck’ Mantel Clock by Guilmet, Paris
Late 19th Century French Novelty ‘Quarterdeck’ Mantel Clock by Guilmet, Paris

Late 19th Century French Novelty ‘Quarterdeck’ Mantel Clock by Guilmet, Paris

By Andre Romain Guilmet

Located in Lymington, Hampshire

A late 19th century French gilt-brass and steel novelty ‘quarterdeck’ mantel clock by Guilmet

Category

Antique 19th Century French Mantel Clocks

Materials

Brass

A 19th Century Novelty Desk Compendium in the form of a Davy Lamp By Guilmet
A 19th Century Novelty Desk Compendium in the form of a Davy Lamp By Guilmet

A 19th Century Novelty Desk Compendium in the form of a Davy Lamp By Guilmet

By Andre Romain Guilmet

Located in Amersham, GB

, Mystery, Novelty & Fantasy Clocks, Derek Roberts 1999.

Category

Antique 1890s French Industrial Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass, Steel

Recent Sales

19th Century French Steam Clock
19th Century French Steam Clock

19th Century French Steam Clock

Unavailable

H 4.73 in W 8.27 in D 4.34 in

19th Century French Steam Clock

Located in Bransby, GB

French 19th century novelty clock and barometer in the form of a Watt types steam governor

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

Edwardian Novelty Gilt Brass & Nickel Plated Stirrup Clock
Edwardian Novelty Gilt Brass & Nickel Plated Stirrup Clock

Edwardian Novelty Gilt Brass & Nickel Plated Stirrup Clock

By France"

Located in Dereham, GB

Edwardian Novelty Gilt Brass & Nickel Plated Stirrup clock Nickel Plated Stirrup Supporting Gilt

Category

20th Century English Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Marble and Bronze Antique Bicycle Novelty Clock
19th Century French Marble and Bronze Antique Bicycle Novelty Clock

19th Century French Marble and Bronze Antique Bicycle Novelty Clock

By Henry Marc

Located in London, Nottinghill

A French marble and bronze antique clock with man and bicycle also in bronze. Signed 'Henry Marc a

Category

Antique 1880s European French Provincial Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

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Tapestry   Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period 1738 at the Gobelins
Tapestry   Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period 1738 at the Gobelins

Tapestry Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period 1738 at the Gobelins

By Aubusson Manufacture

Located in Madrid, ES

Tapestry from the Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period , made in 1738 at the Gobelins One panel from a series of Gobelins tapestries depicting the Hi...

Category

Antique Early 18th Century French Baroque Western European Rugs

Materials

Wool, Silk

Beautiful Pair of Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze, Enamel and Sèvres Style Vases
Beautiful Pair of Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze, Enamel and Sèvres Style Vases

Beautiful Pair of Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze, Enamel and Sèvres Style Vases

By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres

Located in Long Island City, NY

A Beautiful Pair of Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze and Champlevé Enamel Mounted White Sèvres Style Vases Gilt bronze tops above a long neck with raised gold designs. The painted fron...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Porcelain

Materials

Enamel, Bronze, Ormolu

Pair of Important Russian Gilt Bronze and Metal Vases
Pair of Important Russian Gilt Bronze and Metal Vases

Pair of Important Russian Gilt Bronze and Metal Vases

$893,968 / set

H 38.59 in W 16.93 in D 14.97 in

Pair of Important Russian Gilt Bronze and Metal Vases

Located in London, GB

Pair of important Russian gilt bronze and metal vases Russian, circa 1820 Dimensions: Height 98cm, width 43cm, depth 38cm This monumental pair of vases are exquisitely crafted i...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Russian Neoclassical Vases

Materials

Metal, Ormolu

CARTIER Paris 1909 Belle Epoque Enamel Repeater Carriage Clock In Sterling Agate
CARTIER Paris 1909 Belle Epoque Enamel Repeater Carriage Clock In Sterling Agate

CARTIER Paris 1909 Belle Epoque Enamel Repeater Carriage Clock In Sterling Agate

By Cartier

Located in Miami, FL

Belle époque quarter hour repeater carriage clock designed by Cartier. This luxurious and very rare table clock is the essence of Art Deco style. A very important and magnificent ca...

Category

Antique Early 1900s French Belle Époque Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Multi-gemstone, Silver, Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Gothic Revival Gilt Mantel Clock
Gothic Revival Gilt Mantel Clock

Gothic Revival Gilt Mantel Clock

$9,500

H 17.75 in W 12 in D 5.5 in

Gothic Revival Gilt Mantel Clock

Located in Queens, NY

English Gothic Revival style (19th Cent) gilt mantle clock with silver plate decoration and supported by 2 gnome figures with a pediment having a finial top. *Not working

Category

Antique 19th Century English Gothic Revival Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Metal

Important Five Pieces Marble and Gilded Bronze Clock Set, France, Circa 1860
Important Five Pieces Marble and Gilded Bronze Clock Set, France, Circa 1860

Important Five Pieces Marble and Gilded Bronze Clock Set, France, Circa 1860

By Henri Picard

Located in PARIS, FR

Marked on the dial Furet & Bon, Hrs du Roy, à Paris Measures: Clock – Height 98 cm (38 1/2 in.), width 70 cm (27 1/2 in.), depth 25 cm (9 3/4 in.) Candelabra – Height 116 cm ...

Category

Antique 1860s French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair of Very Large Malachite and Ormolu Vases
Pair of Very Large Malachite and Ormolu Vases

Pair of Very Large Malachite and Ormolu Vases

$316,327 / set

H 55.12 in W 35.83 in D 35.83 in

Pair of Very Large Malachite and Ormolu Vases

Located in London, GB

Pair of very large malachite and ormolu vases French, 20th Century Height 140cm, diameter 91cm Of impressive size and quality, the vases are made from vibrant green malachite ...

Category

20th Century French Neoclassical Vases

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

19th Century, Monumental Carved Boiserie Panels from Lartington Hall
19th Century, Monumental Carved Boiserie Panels from Lartington Hall

19th Century, Monumental Carved Boiserie Panels from Lartington Hall

Located in London, GB

The Lartington hall carved Boiserie panels by Signor Anton Leone Bulletti. A highly important suite of eight carved and patinated wood panels commissioned by Monsignor Thomas Edw...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Renaissance Revival Panelling

Materials

Wood, Pine

Antique Gothic Revival Porcelain Clock by Dagoty & Honoré
Antique Gothic Revival Porcelain Clock by Dagoty & Honoré

Antique Gothic Revival Porcelain Clock by Dagoty & Honoré

By Dagoty

Located in London, GB

Antique Gothic Revival porcelain clock by Dagoty & Honoré French, c. 1830 Measures: Height 51cm, width 25.5cm, depth 17cm This beautiful Gothic Revival style porcelain clock was...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Gothic Revival Mantel Clocks

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Gilt Bronze and Malachite Casket by Monbro Fils Ainé
Antique Gilt Bronze and Malachite Casket by Monbro Fils Ainé

Antique Gilt Bronze and Malachite Casket by Monbro Fils Ainé

By Monbro Ainé 1

Located in London, GB

Antique gilt bronze and malachite casket by Monbro Fils Ainé French, mid 19th Century Measures: Height 68cm, width 92cm, depth 52cm This marriage casket is a wonderful piece of ...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Boxes

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

18th Century Antique Mahogany Neoclassical Musical Clock by Ralph Gout of London
18th Century Antique Mahogany Neoclassical Musical Clock by Ralph Gout of London

18th Century Antique Mahogany Neoclassical Musical Clock by Ralph Gout of London

Located in Devon, GB

An impressive and unique 18th centur,y, GeorgeIII period antique circular mahogany musical table clock, in a case of neoclassical design by Ralph Gout of London. The substantial ma...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century English Neoclassical Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

French Porcelain Mantel Clock by Dagoty and Honore
French Porcelain Mantel Clock by Dagoty and Honore

French Porcelain Mantel Clock by Dagoty and Honore

$24,756

H 24.02 in W 10.04 in D 6.5 in

French Porcelain Mantel Clock by Dagoty and Honore

By Edouard Honoré 1, Dagoty

Located in London, GB

This beautiful Gothic Revival style porcelain clock was made by the prestigious French firm Dagoty and Honore, founded by the esteemed porcelain makers Pierre-Louis Dagoty and Edouar...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Gothic Revival Mantel Clocks

Materials

Porcelain

An Extremely Fine Ormolu Portico Mystery Clock
An Extremely Fine Ormolu Portico Mystery Clock

An Extremely Fine Ormolu Portico Mystery Clock

$22,349

H 21.26 in W 11.42 in D 4.73 in

An Extremely Fine Ormolu Portico Mystery Clock

By Breguet a Paris

Located in Amersham, GB

This extremely rare swinging portico clock by Béchot Paris, in an ormolu case of exquisite quality, finely cast and gilded with its original burnished and chased finish, this clock i...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

A Napoleon III Gilt and Silvered Bronze, Onyx and Enamel Figural Clock Set
A Napoleon III Gilt and Silvered Bronze, Onyx and Enamel Figural Clock Set

A Napoleon III Gilt and Silvered Bronze, Onyx and Enamel Figural Clock Set

By Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse

Located in Brighton, West Sussex

A Napoleon III Gilt and Silvered Bronze, Onyx and Champlevé Enamel Figural Three-Piece Clock Garniture. By Eugène Cornu for the Société des Marbres Onyx d'Algerie, the figure cast fr...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Mantel Clocks

Materials

Onyx, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

Gilt and Patinated Bronze Empire Period Mantel Clock by Gaston Jolly
Gilt and Patinated Bronze Empire Period Mantel Clock by Gaston Jolly

Gilt and Patinated Bronze Empire Period Mantel Clock by Gaston Jolly

By Gaston Jolly

Located in London, GB

Depicting a young woman seated at a table holding a book and looking at a celestial globe, above the central dial signed 'Gaston Jolly Paris' and flanked by two busts.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

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French Novelty Clock For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the French novelty clock you’re looking for. Each French novelty clock for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, bronze and brass. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer French novelty clock, there are earlier versions available from the 19th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. A French novelty clock is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Art Nouveau, Louis XVI and Victorian styles are sought with frequency. A well-made French novelty clock has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by François Linke, Andre Romain Guilmet and Elkington & Co. are consistently popular.

How Much is a French Novelty Clock?

The average selling price for a French novelty clock at 1stDibs is $18,477, while they’re typically $1,200 on the low end and $105,496 for the highest priced.

Finding the Right Clocks for You

A sophisticated clock design, whether it’s a desk clock, mantel clock or large wall clock for your living room, is a decorative 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. Given the versatility of these treasured fixtures — they’ve long been made in a range of shapes, sizes and styles — a clock can prove integral to your own particular interior decor.

Antique and vintage clocks can whisk us back to the 18th and 19th centuries. When most people think of antique clocks, they imagine an Art Deco Bakelite tabletop clock or wall clock, named for the revolutionary synthetic plastic, Bakelite, of which they’re made, or a stately antique grandfather clock. But the art of clock-making goes way back, transcending continents and encompassing an entire range of design styles and technologies. In short, there are many kinds of clocks depending on your needs.

A variety of wall clocks can be found on 1stDibs. A large antique hand-carved walnut wall clock is best suited to a big room and a flat background given what will likely be outwardly sculptural features, while Georgian grandfather clocks, or longcase clocks, will help welcome rainswept guests into your entryway or foyer. An interactive cuckoo clock, large or small, is guaranteed to bring outsize personality to your living room or dining room. For conversation pieces of a similar breed, mid-century modern enthusiasts go for the curious Ball clock, the first of more than 150 clock models conceived in the studio of legendary architect and designer George Nelson

Minimalist contemporary clocks and books pair nicely on a shelf, but an eye-catching vintage mantel clock can add balance to your home library while drawing attention to your art and design books and other decorative objects. Ormolu clocks dating from the Louis XVI period, designed in the neoclassical style, are often profusely ornate, featuring architectural flourishes and rich naturalistic details. Rococo-style mantel clocks of Meissen porcelain or porcelain originating from manufacturers in cities such as Limoges, France, during the 18th and 19th centuries, exude an air of imperial elegance on your shelves or side tables and can help give your desk a 19th-century upgrade.

On 1stDibs, find a range of extraordinary antique and vintage clocks today.

Questions About French Novelty Clock
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Check the clock for a manufacturer’s mark or label. Once you have this, you should be able to look up the clock’s brand to see if it is French in origin. A clock is considered antique once it is 100 years old. A professional can also help verify the origin of your clock. Shop an array of expertly vetted antique clocks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    How you adjust a French mantel clock depends on its design. In many antique clocks, there is a winding slot that says R for Retard on one side and A for Advance on the other. If you wish to make the clock faster, you turn the key toward the R. To slow down the clock, turn the key in the opposite direction toward the A. Find a large collection of French mantel clocks on 1stDibs.