Ormolu Furniture
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Material: Ormolu
Antique Pair Neo-Classical Ormolu & Glass Flaming Torch Wall lights c.1920
Located in London, GB
This is a superb pair of stylish French Neo-classical ormolu & glass flaming torch wall lights, circa 1920 in date.
Each has an ormolu foliate and ribbon backplate holding a fr...
Category
1920s Neoclassical Vintage Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Ormolu Jewelry Box French Casket Bevelled Glass Paris Village Suisse
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique French Églomisé Casket - Souvenir from France, circa 1900
A charming French antique casket from circa 1900 with gilt brass fittings and clear glass panels. The hinged lid fe...
Category
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Antique French Grand Tour Souvenir Casket, Beveled Glass & Eglomise of Opera
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique French Églomisé Casket - Souvenir from France, circa 1900
A charming French antique casket from circa 1900 with gilt brass fittings and clear glass panels. The hinged lid fe...
Category
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Faux Malachite Empire style Centre Table
Located in London, GB
Stunning French Empire Style Center Table
Faux Malachite
Stunning Center Table
Category
20th Century French Empire Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$9,280 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Ormolu Jewelry Box Souvenir Casket Bevelled Glass Grand Tour France 1900
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique French Églomisé Casket - Souvenir from Verdun, France, circa 1900
A charming French antique casket from circa 1900 with gilt brass fittings and clear glass panels. The hinge...
Category
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Antique French Grand Tour Ormolu Griffin Sculpture Early 19th Century
Located in London, GB
A beautiful French Grand Tour ormolu griffin sculpture, early 19th Century in date.
The finely cast winged beast features the head of an eagle and the body of a lion with large ange...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Slate, Ormolu
Antique French Bronze Dore Ormolu Portrait Photo Photograph Picture Frame Silk
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A Stunning French heavy gauge Ormolu Standing or wall hanging Photo Frame of medium proportions and outstanding quality, mid to late Nineteenth Century.
The rectangular outline orm...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Vintage Italian Sorrento Marquetry Drinks Tray Mid 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a lovely vintage Italian Sorrento walnut and ormolu drinks tray.
The shaped tray is very decorative, with profuse floral marquetry decoration with a central bouquet of flowe...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Empire Mahogany Ormolu Bookcase Bibliotheque Display cabinet 1810
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique French Empire Mahogany & ormolu mounted bookcase display cabinet, circa 1910.
This elegant antique cabinet is made of the finest mahogany, the top with an archite...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Bronze Dore Ormolu Portrait Photo Photograph Picture Frame Silk
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A Stunning French heavy gauge Ormolu Standing Photo Frame of medium proportions and outstanding quality, mid to late Nineteenth Century.
The rectangular outline ormolu frame enclos...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Vintage Italian Sorrento Marquetry Drinks Trolley Mid 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a very entertaining vintage two tier Italian Sorrento drinks trolley, mid century in date,
The oval top with flaps featuring marquetry decoration of a crane, flowers, butter...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Mid-19th Century French Banded Agate and Ormolu Jewel Casket, Miniature
Located in Atlanta, GA
Mid-19th Century French Banded Agate and Ormolu Jewel Casket
A refined French banded agate and gilt bronze (ormolu) rectangular jewel casket, mid-19th century, of hinged form with c...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Agate, Ormolu
Antique Vintage French Gilt Marble Religious Holy Crucifix Jesus Christ Cross
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An Exceptionally Fine Museum Quality Example of a Well Cast Parian (unglazed porcelain) Figure depicting Jesus Christ nailed to a plain black marble standing Cross of impressive prop...
Category
19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu
Early 20th Century Holy Water Font - France - Onyx, Bronze and Crystal
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Elegant French holy water font dating from circa 1900–1910, crafted from richly veined onyx, adorned with an ormolu gilt bronze relief depicting the Virgin Mary with Child, and fitte...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Onyx, Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique French Walnut & Marble Louis-Philippe Walnut Commode Chest Drawers 1840
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine antique French Louis-Philippe figured burl walnut & marble top commode, chest of drawers, circa 1840.
The commode is in excellent condition, it is made from the finest vi...
Category
1840s French Louis Philippe Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Exceptional C19th French Boulle Mantle Clock
Located in London, GB
A very Important French Ormolu Mounted Boulle Mantel Clock
Inlaid Brass in The Regency Style
Each Corner Decorated with Recumbent Horses
Nice Large Dial 8 and a half inches surround...
Category
19th Century French Regency Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
$29,480 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique French Louis Revival Dining Table and 6 Chairs 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful dining set comprising an antique French Louis Revival dining table, Circa 1920 in date, and a beautiful set of six Gondola Dining Chairs C1950.
This antique Fre...
Category
20th Century French Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Famille Rose Medalion Canton Cantonese Chinese Porcelain Ormolu Vase Urn
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stunning and very large Chinese Canton famille verte ormolu mounted porcelain vase of museum quality, from the city of Canton, is decorated in the so-called Famille Verte manner, mid...
Category
19th Century Chinese Early Victorian Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Pair Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Ormolu Table Lamps Blue Green Gilt
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An Exceptionally Fine Pair of Cantonese Hand Decorated Porcelain Oil Lamps with ornate Ormolu bases now converted to Electric Table Lamps, of medium proportions, (see last image in s...
Category
19th Century Chinese Late Victorian Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Vintage Flame Mahogany Regency Revival Dining Table Mid 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A beautiful Regency Revival flame mahogany dining table dating from the mid 20th century.
The table is of fabulous quality, in excellent condition, can comfortably seat ten and is h...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Regency Revival Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Set of 4 Neo-Classical Ormolu Flaming Torch Wall Lights 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a superb antique set of four stylish French Neo-classical ormolu & glass flaming torch wall lights, circa 1920 in date.
Each has an ormolu foliate and ribbon backplate holdi...
Category
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Stunning quality antique Victorian ormolu mantle clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Stunning quality antique Victorian ormolu mantle clock having a quality Victorian ormolu mantle clock, the clock case having elaborate scrollwork, floral patterns and decorative moti...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair 19th Century Ebonized Empire Style Black Hair Hide Armchairs
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 19th Century ebonized mahogany Empire style fauteuil with winged caryatids, newly upholstered in a deep espresso hairhide.
Category
Late 19th Century European Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Large Vernis Martin Bombe' Display Cabinet 19th Century
Located in London, GB
A stunning large antique French wood Vernis Martin five panel display cabinet in the Louis XV manner and of extravagantly shaped Bombe form, circa 1870 in date, with exquisite hand painted decoration and exquisite ormolu mounts.
It has five decorative Vernis Martin panels with beautiful hand painted decoration, the central panel depicting a courting couple and the others with classical figures in pastoral country scenes. The central panel bears the artists signature, Le Brun.
The large central clear serpentine glazed door opening to a large capacious cupboard below, flanked by clear glazed serpentine panels, with further shaped glass on the sides.
It is smothered in gorgeous gilded ormolu mounts, the shaped apron with foliate mounts and sabots, standing on cabriole legs. The mirror backed interior is fitted with glass shelves, the lower shelf lined with golden velvet, to display your collection of china or silver beautifully.
This magnificent piece is in excellent condition and the quality and attention to detail throughout is second to none.
Add a touch of unparalleled style to your home.
Condition:
In really excellent original condition having only been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
height 193 x width 115 x depth 50
Dimensions in inches:
height 6 foot, 4 inches x width 3 foot, 9 inches x depth 1 foot, 8 inches
Vernis Martin
is a lustrous lacquer substitute widely used in the 18th century to decorate furniture and such personal articles as brisé fans...
Category
1870s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Antique Ormolu and Limoges Enamel Jewellery Box
By Limoges
Located in Newark, England
LIMOGES ENAMEL PANELS
From our Decorative collection, we are delighted to offer this French Napoleon III Ormolu and Enamel Jewellery Box. The Jewellery...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
Antique Georgian Long Case Grandfather Clock Higgs & Evans London Spanish Market
By Robert and Peter Higgs of London
Located in Portland, OR
A fabulous investment quality antique George III Flame mahogany & gilt bronze eight day movement tall case grandfather clock, by Robert & Peter Higgs & David Evans, made for the Span...
Category
1770s English George III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Ormolu Beveled Glass Trinket Box
Located in Pearland, TX
A gorgeous antique 19th Century French ormolu glass trinket box, circa 1860. This miniature box has the original tufted silk lining, thick beveled ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Louis XVI gilt bronze - ormolu candlesticks - 19th century - 11" 3/4
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
Antique French pair of candlesticks, beautiful finely chiseled ormolu (solid bronze gilt with fine gold) Louis XVI style pattern. Our model is richly ornamented with pearls, gadroons...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
$3,345 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Gilt-Bronze Lacquer Low Table
Located in Huntington, NY
Two 19th Century, Brown/Red “tinta Negra” gilt decorated lacquer panels mounted on a gilt-bronze frame.
Frame tightened panels touched up & waxed
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$3,920 Sale Price
39% Off
An Extremely Rare Ships Wheel Pendulum Four Glass Clock
By Samuel Marti
Located in Amersham, GB
This Fine french four glass mantel clock has a beautifully gilded case with thick bevelled glass panels and doors. the eight day movement with visible jewelled Brocot escapement is m...
Category
1870s French Victorian Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Brass, Enamel, Steel, Ormolu
Antique Pair French Vernis Martin Vitrine Display Cabinets 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a stunning pair of antique French louis XV Revival Vernis Martin display cabinets, circa 1880 in date.
The cabinets feature shaped tops with impressive ormolu mounts, the b...
Category
1880s Revival Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Louis XV Marble Top Ormolu Bombe Shape Inlaid Tulip-wood Commode
Located in Portland, OR
A fine quality antique French Louis XV style marble top & ormolu mounted tulipwood & kingwood bombe shape commode chest, circa 1900.
The serpentine shaped top having the original var...
Category
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Empire Style Ebonized Cocktail Table with Marble Top
Located in Houston, TX
Early 20th Century rectangular cocktail table executed in the Empire style. The ebonized wood base is fitted with applied bronze ormolu mounts with shaped supports joined by a lower ...
Category
20th Century Italian Empire Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
A French Empire Ormolu Bronze Mantle Clock after Percier et Fontaine
Located in Long Island City, NY
A French Empire Ormolu Bronze Mantle Clock after Percier et Fontaine, 19th Century.
In the hallowed halls of horological history, this Empire gilt-bronze ormolu mantle clock, a subl...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
$12,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique French Sèvres Style Porcelain Ormolu Gilt Bronze Dore Vase Centerpiece
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stunning imposing Pair of French Sevres Style Soft Paste Porcelain and Ormolu Twin Handle Electric Table Lamps of traditional bulbous form, and of good size proportions, raised on a ...
Category
19th Century French Late Victorian Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Pair Ormolu Hand Carved Bovine Candlesticks Table Lamps Chinese Japanese
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptionally fine and quite rare Pair of Asian Hand Carved Bovine and ormolu early Victorian Single Light Candlesticks of tall slender form and fairly large proportions, now conv...
Category
19th Century Chinese Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate, Ormolu
Vintage Boxed Cartier Crystal Ice Bucket Sterling Silver-Gilt Tongs 20th Century
By Cartier
Located in London, GB
An elegant vintage Cartier ice bucket, presented in its original fitted box, complete with sterling silver-gilt ice tongs. This piece was retailed as part ...
Category
20th Century French Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Sterling Silver, Ormolu
Fine quality antique 19th Century French ormolu mantle clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Fine quality antique 19th Century French ormolu mantle clock, having a fine quality antique French Rococo style mantle clock, having a fantastic quality decorated case with ormolu de...
Category
19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
A French 19th C. Louis XV Style Ormolu Cherub Clock & Candelabra Garniture Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An Assembled Very Fine French 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze and White Marble Figural Mantel Clock and Candelabra Garniture Set. The finely chased ormolu clock body, with it...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Mantel Clock, signed Ferey au Havre, Ormolu
Located in Greven, DE
Small mantel clock with bas-relief
France
Bronze, enamel
early 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 33 x 19 x 9 cm
Description:
Antique, fire-gilt portal clock with figurative, Gre...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Pair 19th Century Italian Empire Consoles
Located in Houston, TX
A stately pair of 19th Century Italian Empire white marble top mahogany consoles supported by ebonized caryatid columns.
Category
19th Century Italian Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Vernis Martin Vitrine Display Cabinet 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a stunning antique French louis XV Revival Vernis Martin display cabinet, circa 1880 in date.
The cabinet feature a shaped top with impressive ornate ormolu mounts, the body is serpentine shaped with a glazed ormolu mounted door that features a fantastic Vernis Martin hand painted panel of a courting couple, with the two side panels depicting country scenes.
The interior is lined with the rich original pink fabric which beautifully complements the cabinet.
Complete with original working lock and key.
It is very rare to find such an exquisite cabinet and it is sure to attract a lot of attention from your guests.
Condition:
In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 170 x Width 85 x Depth 43
Dimensions in inches:
Height 5 foot, 7 inches x Width 2 foot, 9 inches x Depth 1 foot, 5 inches
Vernis Martin
is a lustrous lacquer substitute widely used in the 18th century to decorate furniture and such personal articles as brisé fans...
Category
1880s French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century empire revival mahogany pier mirror
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century empire revival mahogany pier mirror circa 1870.
Excellent quality pier mirror using the finest mahogany. Architectural cornice top with cresent shape which showcases t...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Ormolu-Mounted Kingwood and Parquetry Vanity Dressing Table
Located in Doylestown, PA
French Louis XV style ormolu-mounted kingwood and satinwood parquetry dressing table or coiffeuse, late 19th century.
Incredibly luxurious petite dressing table...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Pair French Bleu Celeste Sevres Urns 19th C
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique pair of French Sevres style porcelain and ormolu mounted twin handled urns, in the Louis XV manner, Circa 1870 in date.
The bleu celeste...
Category
1870s French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
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, scr...
Category
1770s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu, Enamel
Pair of Fine French Louis XV Side Tables After Francois Linke
Located in Forney, TX
A pair of magnificent fine quality vintage French Louis XV style gilt bronze ormolu mounted mahogany side tables after celebrated master Parisian ébéniste Francois Linke (b.1855-1946...
Category
Late 20th Century Louis XV Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Style Twelve Branch Ormolu Chandelier
Located in Germantown, MD
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Style Twelve Branch Heavy cast Brass and Ormolu Chandelier. Great vintage condition. This heavy cast brass Jewel will not rust.
Measures 28" in d...
Category
Early 20th Century American Louis XIV Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
Antique Gilt Bronze Renaissance Revival Table Lamp, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a truly superb large French antique Renaissance Revival ormolu table lamp, circa 1870 in date.
It is relief cast with grapevines, cherubs and acanthus leaves, the serpentine handle rising to a seated winged amorini and descending to a mask at the figural relief cast body with waisted stem and terminating in a circular base.
This gilt bronze 19th century ewer...
Category
1870s French Renaissance Revival Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Louis Revival Ormolu Mounted dining table desk 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French Louis Revival ormolu mounted dining table / desk, circa 1920 in date and in 18th Century style.
The elegantly crafted oval walnut top features exq...
Category
20th Century French Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Set of 6 French Neo-Classical Style Ormolu Wall Lights 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a stunning set of six antique French Neo-Classical ormolu three branch wall sconces, Circa 1880 in date.
They feature ribbon tied and torch form back plates with laurel swa...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Louis XVI Style Bronze Ormolu Mantel Clock Garniture
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A very fine Louis XVI style figural mantel clock with matching flanking candelabra. The clock is bronze casted and has an ormolu f...
Category
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor: An Exquisite Ormolu and Églomisé Bureau Plat
Located in Queens, NY
A Timeless Masterpiece:
The Exquisite Bureau Plat of The Duke and Duchess of Windsor
In the world of fine art and antiques, certain pieces transcend time, becoming symbols of opul...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Exquisite Baccarat "Elephant" 'Cave A Liquor' - Exposition Universelle 1878
Located in Queens, NY
The Magnificent Baccarat Elephant Cave A Liquor: A Majestic Exploration of a Timeless Masterpiece from the Exposition Universelle of 1878.
The Bacca...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Bronze Clock with Sèvres Porcelain
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A fine quality Louis XVI style bronze ormolu mantel clock. The case is made of gilt brass and bronze ormolu casted ornaments, Roman numerals in white enameled cartouches. On top of t...
Category
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Italian Empire Style Commode
Located in Houston, TX
1900s Italian Empire mahogany chest of drawers with gilt bronze ormolu, keys and black marble top.
Category
19th Century Italian Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Pair Victorian Walnut Marquetry Pier Cabinets 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a superb antique pair of decorative Victorian burr walnut and floral marquetry pier cabinets, dating from Circa 1860.
Adding to their truly unique character they are decora...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century French Ormolu & Patinated Bronze Sculpture of a Seated Satyr
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th Century French Ormolu & Patinated Bronze Sculpture of a Seated Satyr
France, Circa 1875
A good quality 19th Century French Ormolu & Patinated Bronze Sculpture of a Seated Saty...
Category
19th Century Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
$760 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique French Ormolu Casket Jewelry Box Sevres Urn Vase Religious Rosary Beads
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stunning French Sevres Soft Paste miniature hand decorated Rich Celeste Blue Porcelain Urn of exceptional quality.
French ormolu circular hinge lidded trinket box with beautiful ce...
Category
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
A Magnificent Pair of French Louis XVI Style Ormolu Vases
Located in Queens, NY
A Magnificent Pair of French Louis XVI Style Ormolu Vases
A superb pair of French Louis XVI style ormolu vases, exquisitely cast and richly decorated in the Neoclassical taste. Each...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Ormolu Clocks, Lamps and Other Furniture and Decorative Objects for Sale
Antique ormolu furniture and decorative objects can be incorporated into a variety of spaces, and while demand for the material and/or technique was at its peak in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries, ormolu is still widely loved by designers and collectors today.
What is ormolu?
Ormolu is a brilliant form of decorative trickery. To the untrained eye, ormolu clocks, jewelry boxes and other ormolu furniture and decor look like they're made of solid gold. But those in the know recognize ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — as having been essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
“Most commonly, ormolu refers to a bronze object that has been covered with gold, typically 18 karat or 24 karat,” explains Jamie Sinai, director of the antiques specialist Mayfair Gallery, in London. “For that reason, ormolu is sometimes called gilt bronze or, in French, bronze doré. Strictly speaking, however, the term ormolu also denotes the technique of applying gold to a metal.”
“The word comes from the French or moulu, which translates as ‘ground or powdered gold’ — the form the gold takes before it is applied to a metal surface.”
From the court of King Louis XVI to that of Napoleon I, the French elite snapped up furniture mounted with ormolu, as well as sconces, candelabra and table lamps made from the material. “As the French reputation for supreme art, architecture and furniture developed, the craze for ormolu spread across Europe,” adds Sinai.
Today, antiques collectors and interior designers continue to prize ormolu for its extraordinary craftsmanship and history-infused glamour.
“This wondrous material was highly sought after in France as the ultimate luxury. It magically resembled solid gold and sparkled under candlelight,” says Sinai.
Find antique ormolu furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
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