Skip to main content

F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

French

Founded by one-time Parisian wallpaper dealer Ferdinand Barbedienne and engineer Achille Collas, one of the most revered foundries in 19th-century France began with the invention of a revolutionary 1830s-era device that could produce proportional reproductions — large or small — of sculptures. Collas’s machine, which yielded miniature likenesses of antiquities for the interiors of homes the world over, was pivotal to the success of the F. Barbedienne Foundry. The successful firm earned prestigious awards and critical acclaim and created exquisite bronze candleholders, clocks and lamps for a range of wealthy and prominent clients.

The duo first launched their company under the name Société Collas et Barbedienne, and early on, they optimized chemical processes for pigmenting and patinating their bronze statuettes. After Collas died in 1859, Barbedienne forged on alone, and the company’s name changed to simply F. Barbedienne.

Barbedienne employed more than 300 workers at that point, and the Maison created a range of furnishings and decorative objects that featured the integration of marble and ormolu accents. However, with the onset of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the foundry was forced to retrofit its molds, and the production of cannons replaced sculptures, furniture and vases.

When Ferdinand Barbedienne passed away in 1891, his nephew and heir, Gustave Leblanc, took over as president, changing the name to Leblanc-Barbedienne. Leblanc expanded production into Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, carrying on the company's legacy with monumental sculptures, and models and securing production rights for famous statues. Paul-Alexandre Dumas, an Art Nouveau maker and student of Louis Majorelle, succeeded Leblanc until the company's closing in 1952.

Barbedienne pieces had been exhibited regularly in the 19th century and were especially prevalent at Europe’s international expositions and world’s fairs, where they received numerous awards. Today, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris holds dozens of Barbedienne works in its collection, including intricate mirrors, vases and cups created by Louis-Constant Sévin at the foundry. For more than two decades, Sévin created lamps, boxes and more at Maison Barbedienne. Working alongside award-winning chaser Désiré Attarge, Sévin designed Napoleon III-era works that greatly appealed to European nobility.

Other notable artists who collaborated with Barbedienne included Eugene Aizelin, Emmanuel Fremiet, Antonin Mercié, Emile Guillemin, Edouard Lievre, Ferdinand Levillain and Auguste Rodin.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Barbedienne decorative objects, lighting and collectibles.

to
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Height
to
Width
to
1
1
1
33
64
29
22
20
Creator: F. Barbedienne Foundry
French 19th century Louis XVI/XV st. Ormolu cartel clock
By F. E. Becker & Co, F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most important and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI/XV st. Ormolu cartel clock, signed F. Barbedienne and E. Becker 98'. This impressive cartel clock with its original gi...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th century Louis XVI/XV st. Ormolu cartel clock
French 19th century Louis XVI/XV st. Ormolu cartel clock

French 19th century Louis XVI/XV st. Ormolu cartel clock

Related Items
Louis XVI Antique French Ormolu and Bronze Cartel Wall Clock
By Samuel Marti
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A large and superb cartel wall clock in the style of Louis XVI by Samuel Marti. It as formed as a round bronze body housing the movement suspended from an ormolu ribbon swag with a b...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Louis XVI Antique French Ormolu and Bronze Cartel Wall Clock
Louis XVI Antique French Ormolu and Bronze Cartel Wall Clock

Louis XVI Antique French Ormolu and Bronze Cartel Wall Clock

H 21.5 in W 10 in D 4 in
French 19th Century Ormolu Cartel Wall Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu wall clock, having Rococo influences to the scroll foliate decoration and cherubs above the eight day striking movement, circa 1880.
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Ormolu Cartel Wall Clock
French 19th Century Ormolu Cartel Wall Clock

French 19th Century Ormolu Cartel Wall Clock

H 29.53 in W 15.75 in D 5.91 in
Louis XV Style Cartel Clock
Located in Pembroke, MA
Louis XV style Cartel clock in gilt bronze with painted porcelain dial. The case has been re-gilded, and features typical rocaille ornament such as laurel leaves and berries, flowers...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Louis XV Style Cartel Clock
Louis XV Style Cartel Clock

Louis XV Style Cartel Clock

H 30 in W 14 in D 5 in
A Louis XVI Style Ormolu Cartel Clock
Located in Sheffield, MA
With a circular white enamel dial, surmounted by swags and ending with a woman’s face. Morbiere Movement
Category

19th Century French Antique F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

A Louis XVI Style Ormolu Cartel Clock
A Louis XVI Style Ormolu Cartel Clock

A Louis XVI Style Ormolu Cartel Clock

H 24 in W 18 in D 12 in
A Louis XVI Ormolu Figural Cartel Clock
Located in Kittery Point, ME
A Louis XVI Ormolu Figural Cartel Clock, the circular white enamel dial signed "Baudoin A Paris" within a cartouche-shaped case surmounted by an urn and ...
Category

Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

A Louis XVI Ormolu Figural Cartel Clock
A Louis XVI Ormolu Figural Cartel Clock

A Louis XVI Ormolu Figural Cartel Clock

H 25 in W 12.5 in D 6 in
Large Antique French Louis XV Ormolu Rococo Cartel Wall Clock
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A large and stunning original antique French Cartel Wall clock in finely gilded bronze, dating from around 1880. Elegantly designed in the Rococo style of Louis XV, it is formed of b...
Category

19th Century French Rococo Antique F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Large Antique French Louis XV Ormolu Rococo Cartel Wall Clock
Large Antique French Louis XV Ormolu Rococo Cartel Wall Clock

Large Antique French Louis XV Ormolu Rococo Cartel Wall Clock

H 20 in W 12.75 in D 5.25 in
19th Century French Louis XVI Carved Oak Wall Clock ~ Cartel
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis XVI Wall Clock ~ Cartel was sculpted from solid old-growth quarter-sawn oak to create a work of art for your wall that was also originally designed to provi...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Louis XIV Antique F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Louis XVI Carved Oak Wall Clock ~ Cartel
19th Century French Louis XVI Carved Oak Wall Clock ~ Cartel

19th Century French Louis XVI Carved Oak Wall Clock ~ Cartel

H 34.5 in W 16 in D 5 in
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ebonized Cartel Clock and Barometer
By CAM Opticien
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and palatial pair of French 19th- 20th century Louis XV style ebonized and gilt bronze-mounted cartel clock and matching barometer by La Maison Cam Opticien. The pair sim...
Category

1890s French Louis XV Antique F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ebonized Cartel Clock and Barometer
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ebonized Cartel Clock and Barometer

Pair of French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ebonized Cartel Clock and Barometer

H 45.25 in W 13 in D 4.38 in
Late 18th Century, French Louis XVI Neoclassical Ormolu Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very fine Louis XVI period ormolu striking cartel clock “aux guirlandes”, the movement signed on the white enamel by Gille L’Aine, Paris. Pierre II. Gille l’ainé (1723-1784) was th...
Category

Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Late 18th Century, French Louis XVI Neoclassical Ormolu Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock
Late 18th Century, French Louis XVI Neoclassical Ormolu Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock

Late 18th Century, French Louis XVI Neoclassical Ormolu Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock

H 28.35 in W 13.39 in D 5.12 in
Mantel Clock 19th Century Louis XV Period
Located in Warsaw, PL
An exquisite 19th-century Louis XV-style mantel clock, showcasing a harmonious blend of Neoclassical and Rococo influences. This elegant timepiece features a finely crafted white ena...
Category

Late 18th Century French Louis XV Antique F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Mantel Clock 19th Century Louis XV Period
Mantel Clock 19th Century Louis XV Period

Mantel Clock 19th Century Louis XV Period

H 18.12 in W 11.82 in D 5.12 in
Louis XVI Ormolu Cartel Clock
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The circular glazed white enamel dial with Roman and Arabic chapters, set within a pierced case with ribbon-tied fruiting laurel trails, each side with a ram’s mask capped pilaster, ...
Category

Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Louis XVI Ormolu Cartel Clock
Louis XVI Ormolu Cartel Clock

Louis XVI Ormolu Cartel Clock

H 31.75 in W 16.75 in D 4 in
Rare 19th Century Ormolu Elephant Clock in the Louis XV Style
Located in London, GB
An important mantle Clock 'à l'éléphant' in the Louis XV style. Constructed from gilt, hand-chased, and burnished bronze with patinated detail, the mantle clock on an asymmetric Rococo scrolling base with naturalistic features; the main body modelled as an elephant astride, mounted with a turbaned figure of a mahout (elephant keeper) in charge and his companion monkey, the elephant's back supporting a bamboo houdah enclosing the white enamelled dial marking the hours and minutes in Roman and Arabic numerals respectively, a tasselled cushion perched atop with two oriental figures holding parasols. French, circa 1840 Clocks incorporating animals reigned supreme during the Louis XV period, at a time when curiosity for new cultures was at its height. The exoticism found expression in the accounts of explorers describing rhinoceros, lions and elephants, which were enthusiastically absorbed into European decorative arts. The elephant acquired a particular aura following the diplomatic gift of the King of Siam to King Louis XIV of an elephant in 1686. Elephants had been used as motifs in horology since the Renaissance period, representing the theme of 'rulership' in the Kunstkammer, as seen in the Augsburg Automaton in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum. The Elephant Clock...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Rare 19th Century Ormolu Elephant Clock in the Louis XV Style
Rare 19th Century Ormolu Elephant Clock in the Louis XV Style

Rare 19th Century Ormolu Elephant Clock in the Louis XV Style

H 17 in W 15 in D 8.5 in

F. Barbedienne Foundry wall clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

F. Barbedienne Foundry wall clocks are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of ormolu and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of F. Barbedienne Foundry wall clocks, although orange editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original wall clocks by F. Barbedienne Foundry were created in the louis xv style in france during the 19th century. Prices for F. Barbedienne Foundry wall clocks can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $59,500 and can go as high as $59,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $59,500.

Recently Viewed

View All

More F. Barbedienne Foundry Furniture

F. Barbedienne Foundry Mantel Clocks
F. Barbedienne Foundry Sculptures
F. Barbedienne Foundry Candle Holders
F. Barbedienne Foundry Vases and Vessels
F. Barbedienne Foundry Table Lamps
F. Barbedienne Foundry Bowls and Baskets
F. Barbedienne Foundry Centerpieces
F. Barbedienne Foundry Wall-mounted Sculptures
F. Barbedienne Foundry Pedestals and Columns
View All Popular Wall Clocks Searches