Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
French, 1810-1892
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 prizes. 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 antique Ferdinand Barbedienne decorative objects, lighting and more.
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Creator: Ferdinand Barbedienne
Bronze and Enamel Barbedienne Paris Clock with Figural Ladies’ Faces & Hoof Feet
By Japy Frères, Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Boston, MA
Let me say that I feel this is the most amazing clock I have seen in over 30 years. The clock case is signed Barbedienne Paris. The clock works are signed with a medallion from Japy ...
Category
1850s French Rococo Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ormolu Wall Mounted Clock & Barometer
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XV st. ormolu wall mounted clock and barometer signed by Barbedienne. Each is set in...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Rare French Mantel Clock by F. Barbedienne with Bronze Figures
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Sofia, BG
French mantel clock by Ferdinand Barbedienne consisting of a terminal clock in the form of a fluted column in white marble and de...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Marble, Gilt, and Patinated Bronze Three-Piece Clock Set by Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
Marble, gilt, and patinated bronze three-piece clock set by Barbedienne
French, late 19th century
Measures: Clock: Height 93cm, width 60cm, depth 28cm
Candelabra: Height 97cm, width 46cm, depth 33cm
This monumental marble, gilt, and patinated bronze three-piece set is a stunning example of Barbedienne's craftsmanship during the Parisian Belle Époque. Paul Dubois' 'Le Courage Militaire...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Griotte Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Antique Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock by Sevin and Barbedienne
By Louis-Constant Sevin, Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
This ormolu clock is an exemplary work by the famous French 19th century metalworker and foundry-owner, Ferdiand Barbedienne. Working with a design made by the acclaimed onamentalist, Louis-Constant...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Antique Patinated Bronze and Onyx Mantel Clock by Mercié and Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne, Antonin Mercie
Located in London, GB
Antique patinated bronze and onyx mantel clock by Mercié and Barbedienne
French, Late 19th Century
Height 113cm, width 58cm, depth 40cm
Two renowned French makers, Antonin Mercié (...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Onyx, Bronze, Ormolu
Gilt Bronze and Hardstone Inlay Napoleon III Period Clock Set by Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
Gilt bronze and hardstone inlay Napoleon III period clock set by Barbedienne
French, 19th century
Measures: Clock: Height 50cm, width 23cm, depth 16c...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Stone, Ormolu, Bronze
Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Rouge Griotte Marble Clock Set
By Eugene-Antoine Aizelin, Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
Louis XVI style ormolu and rouge griotte marble clock set
French, 1867
Clock: height 67cm, width 46cm, depth 28cm
Candelabra: height 81cm...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Griotte Marble, Ormolu
Napoleon III Period Mantel Clock by Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
This stunning clock expertly showcases the ingenuity of its maker, Ferdinand Barbedienne, and its smart styling in the opulent Napoleon III style will make it an excellent addition t...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Neoclassical Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Clock Set by Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
Neoclassical style porcelain and gilt bronze clock set by Barbedienne
French, late 19th Century
Clock: Height 53cm, width 27cm, depth 24cm
Candelabra: Height 56cm, width 19cm, dep...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Clock Signed F. Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very elegant and richly chased 19th century French Louis XVI st. ormolu clock signed F. Barbedienne. The clock is raised by five toupee shaped feet. At the frieze are two rosettes encompassing a Rinceau design below the berried laurel band. Above is the original beveled curved glass door and enameled dial. The pediment is decorated with acanthus leaves. At the top is the urn of prosperity with a finial draped by a laurel leaf garland...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Bronze Three Piece Garniture Clock Set by Ferdinand Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unusual monumental clock set in Griotte marble signed Barbedienne and on the top of the clock you have a bronze made by one of the famous bronze m...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Louis XVI Style Ormolu Three-Piece Clock Set by Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
Comprising a central clock and a pair of flanking candelabra, the ormolu clock with circular dial and roman numbers signed 'F. Barbedienne', decorated with foliate scrolls and shells, surmounted by a putto, the pair of flanking three light candelabra similarly decorated on scrolling feet.
The elegance of this beautiful antique ormolu clock...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Bronze
French clock in bronze by Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very nice clock in bronze made by F.BARBEDIENNE louis XVI style of very high quality
the dial of the clock is in enamel, and its remarkably executed by one the best bronziers of ...
Category
1890s French Louis XVI Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Barbedienne French Champleve Enamel and Gilt bronze clock set
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
19th Century Barbedienne French Champleve Enamel and Gilt bronze clock set
A fine 19th Century French three piece clock garniture set.
Comprising of a clock and pair of candelabra, ...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Large Louis XV Style Rococo Ormolu Three-Piece Clock Set by Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
Large Louis XV style Rococo ormolu three-piece clock set by Barbedienne
French, late 19th century
Clock: height 58cm, width 51cm, depth 19cm
Candelabra: height 75cm, width 35cm, d...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
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Paris, France, second half of the 19th century, executed in luxurious Louis XVI taste, tastefully appointed, the neutral alabaster creates the perfect backdrop against the brilliant gilding.
Having a soft, warm, creamy off-white alabaster base with subtle chalky beige undertones, shaped, with rounded sides, step molding and two hand-painted blue enamel parcel gilt turned tapering urn forms, raised on brass feet, decorated with lavish gilt metal ornamentation, including accents, ormolu flaming urn finials, unique recessed gilt brass perforated-like textured panels, and sculptural gilt bronze raised drum-form case, housing the classic white porcelain enameled dial with black Roman numerals, sophisticated gold-tone Breguet hands, framed by a beaded bezel, with must likely the original operational 8-day key-wind Japy Fils movement enclosed.
Surmounted by an ornate brilliantly gilded spelter figural sculpture, finely detailed, depicting young boy and girl courting, holding a bird's nest with eggs over the housing, with large branching tree behind them, the couple posed leaning in to each other, wavy garb with incised detailing, standing on the alabaster base.
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The Japy Frères workshop (1776-1930s) was started by Frédéric Japy in 1776 under a different name, eventually the iconic French clock and watchmaking firm was founded in 1806 by Frédéric Japy along with his sons, Pierre, Fritz and Louis, thus creating the trademark we know today, ‘Japy Freres’ or (Japy Brothers).
Japy Frères won a number of medals at important exhibitions and achieved international recognition throughout much of the nineteenth century, including the prestigious Grand Medal of Honour, which was awarded to Japy in 1855 at the important Exposition Universelle Paris.
- MARKS / SIGNED / HALLMARKED:
Works stamped "Japy Fils depos 1855 medailler 1844 1840" circular medallion; "RS" within square, "2949" "55"
Case housing: stamped "44", case underside "44" written in pencil, incised "IX", elaborate illegible writing in pencil, last word may say "Richebois?", possibly where the clock was to be sent or who it was commissioned by
PROVENANCE / ACQUISITION:
09/2024- Acquired from the reputable auction house, Dallas Auction Gallery, Dallas Texas. Great Estates, Fine Art, Furniture & Design auction catalog, lot#0064
Owned and curated by Reyne Hirsch, a long time media personality and expert in 20th century decorative arts. Hirsch was a top appraiser for Antiques Roadshow on PBS for 13 years. She's also a leading contributer to the Huffington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, amongst other publications. Hirsch has also founded highly regarded permanent art galleries as well as important exhibits throughout the United States.
DIMENSIONS: (approx)
12" Tall, 12" Wide, 5" Deep
CONDITION REPORT:
Good original unrestored antique condition, especially considering its age, attractive appearance, patina, bright lustrous gilding, and working movement.
Nicely aged patina over the whole, antique character and charm throughout, including rubbing to blue enamel with significant losses, age related patination, oxidation, tarnishing throughout, minor chips, nicks, abrasions to alabaster edges, all typical wear consistent with age, use, handling and exposure.
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Fine Renaissance Style Wall-Clock by Sévin and Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne, Louis-Constant Sevin
Located in PARIS, FR
Signed on the dial F. Barbedienne à Paris
A gilt bronze wall-clock decorated with Renaissance style motifs, such as scalloped scrolls, pomegranates, a faun head and putti framing the dial.
In decorative arts, the "cuir découpé" motif (cut leather) recalls a cut leather or metal piece, wound like stylized volutes. This decorative motif is characteristic of the French Renaissance as showed in the inner decoration of the Galerie François I (1535) at the Château de Fontainebleau. Used by artists on tapestry and engravings, this motif was back into fashion in the 19th century.
Louis-Constant Sévin (1821-1888) designed as soon as 1839 silver-smith’s objects for famous firms like Denière, Froment-Meurice, Morel and Duponchel. During the Revolution in 1848, he joined Morel in London, as workshop manager and designed pieces that Morel exhibited in 1851. Back in France, he worked in 1855 for Ferdinand Barbedienne as sculptor-ornemanist until the end of his life. Sévin’s works are considerable, he designed furniture bronzes for the “hôtel de La Païva.” At the London Exhibition in 1862, he was awarded a medal for the artistic excellence of the furniture he designed and which was exhibited by F. Barbedienne. He won a second class medal at the Union centrale des Arts décoratifs Exhibition...
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Antique Barbedienne French Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock, circa 1870
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Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique French Barbedienne gilt bronze mantel clock features scrolled, foliate and scale decoration, hand-painted porcelain dial with floral swags with "Barbedienne" and &q...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Clocks
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Ferdinand Barbedienne clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
Ferdinand Barbedienne clocks are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Ferdinand Barbedienne clocks, although gold editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original clocks by Ferdinand Barbedienne were created in the neoclassical style in france during the 19th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider clocks by and Susse Frères. Prices for Ferdinand Barbedienne clocks can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $8,000 and can go as high as $94,905, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $38,636.
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