Neoclassical Period Collection

Neoclassical Furniture (FRANCE AND UNITED KINGDOM, CA. 1750)

Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms. Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, Neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.

The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.

Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of Neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.

Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. As you can see from the furniture shown on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep Neoclassicism fresh.

Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France

Located in New York, NY

Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France. A French mantel clock in gilt bronze. Neoclassical symbols such Cup...

Category

Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Ormolu

Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France

$4,500 Sale Price

40% Off

Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France

Located in New York, NY

Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France. A French mantle in gilt bronze decorated with neoclassical symbols ...

Category

19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Ormolu

Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France

$6,000 Sale Price

23% Off

Category

Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

19th Century French gilt mantle clock with sevres plaques

$2,112

H 14.75 in W 15 in D 5.25 in

French 19th Century Mantle Clock

Located in Brighton, Sussex

A very good quality French late 19th century gilded ormolu and champleve enamel mantel (fireplace) clock. Having urns and a cherub above the eight day clock that chimes...

Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

French 19th Century Mantle Clock

$7,944

H 18.51 in W 10.24 in D 6.3 in

Wall clock. Gilt bronze. France, 19th century.

Located in Madrid, ES

Wall clock. Gilt bronze. France, 19th century. Gilt bronze wall clock of the type known as a "cartel" due to its shape, featuring Parisian movement and a white dial with Roman numer...

Category

19th Century French Neoclassical Revival Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Bronze, Other

Wall clock. Gilt bronze. France, 19th century.

$2,496

H 25.99 in W 11.82 in D 3.94 in

19th Century Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock By Richond of Paris

Located in Dublin, IE

A stunning 19th Century gilt bronze mantle clock by Richond of Paris, stamped by the maker H & F and is of exceptional quality. The finely cast gilt bronze clock in the Neoclassical...

Category

19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

19th Century Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock By Richond of Paris

$2,912

H 16.5 in W 11.25 in D 6 in

Mid-19th Century French Slate & Marble Mantle Clock

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Mid-19th century French slate & marble mantle clock. Drum head form. Black slate & green, black & white marble. Made by P. Marti et Cie. 8-day movement. History of clock repairs on b...

Category

Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Marble, Slate

Mid-19th Century French Slate & Marble Mantle Clock

$600

H 10.25 in W 15.88 in D 5.75 in

Very Fine Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock

Located in Long Island City, NY

A Very Fine Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock The clock face is flanked by one child playing the french horn,the other playing with finger cymbals, all raised on an elabor...

Category

Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Very Fine Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock

$25,000

H 18 in W 28 in D 7.5 in

19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

Located in Dallas, TX

This 19th Century French Empire Mantle Clock features a stunning frame made of gilt bronze, exuding elegance and luxury typical of the Empire style. The clock showcases intricate det...

Category

19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

$5,400

H 24 in W 12.5 in D 7.5 in

French 19th Century Boulle mantle clock.

Located in Brighton, Sussex

A very good quality French 19th Century Boulle mantle clock, having a gilded ormolu putti seated on the top, Red tortoiseshell and brass inlay to the serpentine shaped case, wonderfu...

Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

French 19th Century Boulle mantle clock.

$3,835

H 18.12 in W 8.67 in D 4.73 in

19th Century Gilt Bronze French Mantle Clock with Rose Swags

Located in Old Town Orange, CA

Late 19th century gilt bronze French mantle clock with rose swags. Decorated with a large ribbon bow and clusters of roses swags around the face, and sides of the clock. A beautiful...

Category

19th Century American Louis XVI Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

19th Century Gilt Bronze French Mantle Clock with Rose Swags

$2,250 Sale Price

50% Off

H 12 in W 12 in D 9 in

French Gilt Bronze Cherub Mantle Clock 19th Century

Located in Staffordshire, GB

French 19th century Ormolu And White Marble Cherub Clock. A superb small ormolu and white marble 8 day French timepiece with white prcelain dial, arabic numerals, with putto holding ...

Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Bronze

French Gilt Bronze Cherub Mantle Clock 19th Century

$1,356

H 7.09 in W 5.52 in D 3.15 in

French 19th Century Mantle Clock

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

French metal mantle clock with ‘Boiscontier a Paris Rue De Caumartin’ printed on its face. The crest is a basket with elaborate foliate motif over a symme...

Category

19th Century French Other Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Metal

French 19th Century Mantle Clock

$2,500

H 15.75 in W 11 in D 5.38 in

19th Century French Marble Mantle Clock

Located in Charlottesville, VA

A stately French Empire mantle clock. In marble with bronze mounts

Category

19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Materials

Marble, Metal

19th Century French Marble Mantle Clock

$1,200

H 16.5 in W 11 in D 6 in

Neoclassical Period Collection

Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France

19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France

Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

19th Century French gilt mantle clock with sevres plaques

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

French 19th Century Mantle Clock

19th Century French Neoclassical Revival Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Wall clock. Gilt bronze. France, 19th century.

19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

19th Century Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock By Richond of Paris

Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Mid-19th Century French Slate & Marble Mantle Clock

Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

Very Fine Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock

19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

French 19th Century Boulle mantle clock.

19th Century American Louis XVI Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

19th Century Gilt Bronze French Mantle Clock with Rose Swags

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

French Gilt Bronze Cherub Mantle Clock 19th Century

19th Century French Other Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

French 19th Century Mantle Clock

19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Period Collection

19th Century French Marble Mantle Clock

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