How do I tell if a clock is an antique French clock?

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.

How do I adjust a French mantel clock?

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.

French Pillar Clock

Antique Regulator Clocks

Bronze Pillars

Antique Pillars

Corinthian Pillar

Mantle Clock Bronze Marble

Pendulum Sculpture

Pendulum Clock Movement

Pendulum Art

French White Marble and Ormolu Pillar Mantel Clock

$4,624

H 14.75 in W 7.25 in D 3.5 in

French White Marble and Ormolu Pillar Mantel Clock

Located in Norwich, GB

French ormolu and white marble pillar clock with ormolu mounts surmounted by an ornate finial with

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Directoire Marble Pillar Mantel Clock

$8,501

H 16 in W 8.5 in D 3.25 in

French Directoire Marble Pillar Mantel Clock

Located in Norwich, GB

A Directoire Ormolu with black marble French pillar clock, three and a half inch enamel dial with

Category

Antique 1790s French Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Antique French Ormolu Bronze Case Portico Pillar Mantel Clock with Double Swan

$3,200

H 19 in W 9.5 in D 5.25 in

Antique French Ormolu Bronze Case Portico Pillar Mantel Clock with Double Swan

Located in Danville, CA

1880 Antique French Ormolu Bronze Case Portico Pillar Mantel Clock w Double Swan MOVEMENT: 8 day

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Recent Sales

Empire four pillar mantel clock by Dieudonné Kinable

Unavailable

H 20.08 in W 11.23 in D 7.49 in

Empire four pillar mantel clock by Dieudonné Kinable

By Dieudonné Kinable

Located in HAARLEM, NL

An extremely high quality early Empire four pillar table precision regulator mantel clock. This

Category

Antique Early 1800s French Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

High Quality Early Empire Four Pillar Mantel Clock by Dieudonné Kinable

Unavailable

H 20.08 in W 11.23 in D 7.49 in

High Quality Early Empire Four Pillar Mantel Clock by Dieudonné Kinable

By Dieudonné Kinable

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

An extremely high quality early Empire four pillar table precision regulator mantel clock. This

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Marble Corinthian Pillar Mantle Clock with Bronzed Figures Ormolu Mounts

Sold

H 16.15 in W 10.63 in D 4.73 in

Vintage Marble Corinthian Pillar Mantle Clock with Bronzed Figures Ormolu Mounts

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this nice vintage marble Corinthian pillared mantle clock with

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French French Provincial Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Vintage Marble Pillared Clock with Working Pendulum Movement Nautical Theme

Sold

H 15.36 in W 7.49 in D 7.49 in

Vintage Marble Pillared Clock with Working Pendulum Movement Nautical Theme

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this nice vintage marble pillared mantle clock with the nautical

Category

20th Century French Modern Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Marble

French Four Pillar Marble Clock

Sold

H 10.5 in Dm 6.25 in

French Four Pillar Marble Clock

Located in Bridgehampton, NY

French Four Pillar Marble Clock

Category

Antique 19th Century French Clocks

Materials

Marble, Brass

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Late 18th Century Louis XVI Period Bronze Ormolu Mantel Clock with Candelabras

$4,972

H 16.54 in W 8.27 in D 5.12 in

Late 18th Century Louis XVI Period Bronze Ormolu Mantel Clock with Candelabras

Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant

A finely bronze fire-gilded ormolu mantel clock set with matching candelabras. Rich ornate with typical Louis XVI mounts, floral garlands, scrolls, ribbons and bow. The case is made ...

Category

Antique 1770s French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu, Enamel

Antique French Ormolu and White Marble Louis XVI Clock

$3,326

H 12.75 in W 6.75 in D 4.5 in

Antique French Ormolu and White Marble Louis XVI Clock

By Samuel Marti

Located in Belper, Derbyshire

A beautiful classical clock made in the style of Louis XVI by Samuel Marti. Stunning ormolu (finely gilded bronze) mounted on a marble base. It is decorated with an inset laurel swag...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Fine 19th Century French Neo-Gothic Gilt Metal Cathedral Church Reliquary Pair

$6,500 / set

H 14.75 in W 6.75 in D 6.75 in

Fine 19th Century French Neo-Gothic Gilt Metal Cathedral Church Reliquary Pair

Located in Forney, TX

A stunning pair of very fine quality French Neo-Gothic gilt metal church reliquaries. circa 1860s Most impressive objets d’art, born in France in the second half of the 19th century...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Gothic Revival Religious Items

Materials

Brass, Bronze

19th Century French Cathedral Clock

$3,250

H 18.5 in W 7.13 in D 4.75 in

19th Century French Cathedral Clock

Located in High Point, NC

19th century beautifully hand crafter cathedral clock in gilt bronze. This is a magnificent example of 19th century French craftsmanship. There are many beautiful details to this p...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Sevres Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

$8,841

H 18.9 in W 14.57 in D 7.88 in

Antique French Sevres Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

Located in London, GB

The combination of sumptuous, lustrous ormolu and finely decorated Sevres style porcelain makes this mantel clock an exceptional piece. Built in France and retailed by the prestigiou...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Gilt Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Louis XVI Style Casket on Stand

$380,207

H 52.37 in W 35.83 in D 24.41 in

Gilt Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Louis XVI Style Casket on Stand

Located in London, GB

Gilt bronze and Sèvres style porcelain Louis XVI style casket on stand This magnificent Louis XVI style ormolu casket is supported by a mirror-topped table stand, which sits on fo...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ormolu

Fine Sevres Porcelain and Ormolu Antique French Clock

$3,598

H 10.25 in W 8.75 in D 4.5 in

Fine Sevres Porcelain and Ormolu Antique French Clock

By Vincenti et Cie

Located in Belper, Derbyshire

A fine, early antique French clock by André Hoffmann of Paris, the movement by Vincenti et Cie, circa 1850. It is beautifully made in ormolu (fire gilded bronze doré) mounted with ex...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th-20th century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Marquetry Commode

$24,950Sale Price|47% Off

H 37 in W 63 in D 27 in

French 19th-20th century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Marquetry Commode

By François Linke

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A fine French 19th-20th century Louis XV style gilt bronze-mounted kingwood, amaranth, satinwood and Tulipwood Bois Satiné and Bois de Bout Floral Marquetry Two-Drawer Commode of bom...

Category

Antique 1890s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French 19th C. Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze-Mounted & Marquetry Commode by Boudet

$38,360Sale Price|20% Off

H 34.5 in W 55.5 in D 24 in

French 19th C. Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze-Mounted & Marquetry Commode by Boudet

By Jean Baptiste Hedouin

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A Very Fine and Impressive French 19th century Louis XV style gilt bronze-mounted tulipwood, kingwood and fruitwood marquetry bombé two-drawer commode with marble top, by Maison Boud...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Empire Portal Clock, France, Early 19th Century

$3,599Sale Price|20% Off

H 21.26 in W 11.42 in D 6.89 in

Empire Portal Clock, France, Early 19th Century

Located in Greding, DE

Portal clock on a rectangular, stepped base in mahogany veneered with small bun feet. The stepped architrave is supported by four smooth columns, the capitals and bases are in fire-g...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mantel Clock by Henri Picard & Fedinand Barbedienne

$46,000Sale Price|20% Off

H 27.25 in W 22.5 in D 27.25 in

Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mantel Clock by Henri Picard & Fedinand Barbedienne

By F. Barbedienne Foundry

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A Very Fine French 19th Century Gilt-Bronze Figural Mantel Clock, Horloge à Poser, by Henri Picard and Fedinand Barbedienne - ‘F. Barbédienne & Cie. / A Paris’, after the model by É...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Important, Rare French Ormolu Sevres Style Porcelain Jewelry Box on Bronze Table

$651,300

H 20 in W 31 in D 18 in

Important, Rare French Ormolu Sevres Style Porcelain Jewelry Box on Bronze Table

Located in Long Island City, NY, NY

A rare and important French ormolu/bronze and Sevres style turquoise porcelain jewelry box casket on matching French ormolu/bronze table with Sevres style porcelain plaques. Of pala...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

19th Century French Empire Style Bronze Mantel Clock, circa 1870

$4,202

H 20.87 in W 8.27 in D 5.91 in

19th Century French Empire Style Bronze Mantel Clock, circa 1870

Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Antique 19th century French Empire style gilt bronze mantle clock. The foliate and fruit engraved gilt-brass dial with enamel painted roman numerals. Inside with eight day movement w...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Enamel

1880 French Silk Suspension Ormolu Empire Bronze Mantel Clock by Angevin A Paris

$2,850

H 16 in W 7 in D 5 in

1880 French Silk Suspension Ormolu Empire Bronze Mantel Clock by Angevin A Paris

Located in Danville, CA

Antique French Ormolu Empire bronze mantel clock by Angevin A Paris Movement: 8 day wind up mechanism Function: time with half hour and hour striking Size: 16" H x 7" W x 5"...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Antique Gilded Chiseled Bronze Clock

$1,696Sale Price|63% Off

H 21.66 in W 14.18 in D 5.91 in

French Antique Gilded Chiseled Bronze Clock

Located in LA CIOTAT, FR

A superb quality 19th century French bronze gilt mantel clock, retaining its original glass dome, and adorned with a finely detailed rustic female figure in period dress, reclining o...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Empire Crystal Regulator Clock

$2,400

H 13.5 in W 8.5 in D 5.25 in

Antique French Empire Crystal Regulator Clock

Located in Toledo, OH

A beautiful brass clock with gold dore finish. Beveled glass panels with a porcelain dial and time and strike. French works. Running condition. Corner crack in one glass panel.

Category

20th Century European Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Brass

Decorative Objects Under $1,000

Antique and Vintage Decorative Objects

19th Century Decorative Objects

Metal Decorative Objects

European Decorative Objects

Decorative Objects on Sale

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French Pillar Clock For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the French pillar clock you’re looking for at 1stDibs. A French pillar clock — often made from metal, stone and ormolu — can elevate any home. Your living room may not be complete without a French pillar clock — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. When you’re browsing for the right French pillar clock, those designed in Louis XVI, Empire and Victorian styles are of considerable interest. Many designers have produced at least one well-made French pillar clock over the years, but those crafted by Japy Frères, Samuel Marti and A.D. Mougin are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a French Pillar Clock?

Prices for a French pillar clock can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $695 and can go as high as $270,442, while the average can fetch as much as $7,254.

Finding the Right Mantel-clocks for You

Personal time-telling devices may have migrated from our pockets to our wrists and finally onto our phones, but despite the convenience of a handheld digital timekeeper, nothing can beat well-made vintage, new and antique mantel clocks.

Invented by clockmakers in France and popularized in the 18th and 19th centuries, these practical yet ornate pieces were typically displayed on top of fireplaces or desks. While the most common mantel clocks were created in the traditional tambour style, which features a wide base that flares into an upright drum- or camelback-shaped case, modern clockmakers and furniture designers have experimented with their own ideas for these decorative objects over the years, introducing different forms and working with unconventional materials. A collection of whimsical, monochromatic handmade mantel clocks crafted by Dutch designer Kiki van Eijk, called Floating Frames, for example, features minimalist frames of anodized wire and ceramic clockfaces.

When shopping for an antique, vintage or new mantel clock, don’t be afraid to branch out. Wood mantel clocks of any era will bring a classic, elegant allure to the shelving in your living room or the bookcase in your bedroom, while Empire-style mantel clocks will comparatively boast eye-catching gilt bronze and pronounced sculptural attributes. Some Art Deco mantel clocks will feature an integration of marble or glass and will likely be marked by the decorative embellishments associated with that particular furniture style.

There’s just something about cool clocks, right? Spend your time with an extraordinary collection of mantel clocks on 1stDibs today.

Questions About French Pillar Clock

How do I tell if a clock is an antique French clock?
1 Answer
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.
How do I adjust a French mantel clock?
1 Answer
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.