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Ormolu Furniture

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Material: Ormolu
Vintage French Ormolu Mounted Marquetry Bureau Plat Desk 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a gorgeous vintage French Louis Revival walnut, ormolu mounted, marquetry bureau plat, dating from the second half of the 20th Century. The shaped rectangular top has a deco...
Category

Late 20th Century French Ormolu Furniture

Materials

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

Large Ormolu & Glass Souvenir Trinket Jewelry Box, Deauville France, circa 1900s
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 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 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

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

French Cobalt Blue Opaline Crystal & Ormolu Mounted Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Very rare cobalt blue opaline crystal French dresser box with ormolu mountings. A very fine piece resting on paw feet.
Category

19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

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

Fine French Empire Mahogany Gilt Figural Sphinx Pier Console Table c. 1815
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A VERY FINE FRENCH EMPIRE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY CONSOLE TABLE With polychromed winged sphinx supports Paris, France circa 1815 38" H x 45 5/8" W x 19 1/4" D A perfectly balanced ...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

18th Century Baroque Period Italian German Guild Chest Cabinet Jewelry Casket
By Ferdinando Pogliani
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and most impressive 18th century European parcel ebonized rosewood hardstone bronze pewter bone ivory marquetry tabletop cabinet casket. Of exceptionally fine quality, lavish...
Category

Early 18th Century Baroque Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Metal, Brass, Bronze, Ormolu, Pewter

Exceptional French Ormolu-Mounted Turquoise Jeweled Sevres Porcelain Clock Set
Located in Long Island City, NY
An exceptional French bronze ormolu mounted turquoise jeweled Sèvres Porcelain clock set by Raingo Fres, Paris, circa 1880. Comprising of a clock in vase form and a pair of five-l...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Antique Ormolu Mounted Bijouterie Display Cabinet 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French ormolu mounted walnut bijouterie cabinet, circa 1880 in date. The shaped oval top has a glass insert over a serpentine glazed cupboard door which ...
Category

1880s Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Vintage Pair French Louis Revival Ormolu Mounted Occasional Tables 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful pair of vintage French Louis Revival ormolu mounted side tables, mid 20th century in date. The oval shaped top tables are framed with decorative ormolu borders a...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Ormolu Furniture

Materials

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

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 Vernis Martin Display Cabinet Vetrine Circa 1880 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 features a shaped top with  impressive ornate ormolu mounts and the...
Category

1880s Revival Antique 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

Ormolu and Glass Souvenir Trinket Jewelry Box, Lyon France, circa 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique French Églomisé Casket - Souvenir from Lyon, circa 1900 A charming French antique casket from circa 1900 with gilt brass fittings and clear glass panels. The hinged lid feat...
Category

Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

Jewelry Box French
Located in New York, NY
An antique French brass ormolu and velvet jewelry box, Rococo design style, circa late-19th century, France. Box is perforated brass ormolu (ormolu has a design of urns, leaves and f...
Category

Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Brass, 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

Antique Set of 6 French Louis Revival 3 Branch Ormolu Wall Lights 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A set of six antique Louis revival ormolu three branch wall lights, circa 1920 in date. They each feature three spiral-twist arms on oak leaf decorated back-plates with large ribbon...
Category

Early 20th Century English Ormolu Furniture

Materials

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

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

Vintage Ormolu Mounted Terrestrial Library Globe on Stand 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A fine vintage ormolu mounted terrestrial library globe, dating from the second half of the 20th Century. The globe is raised on a highly decorative walnut tripod stand which is fit...
Category

Late 20th Century English Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Brass, 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

Fine French Ormolu Crown Frame with Tinted Photograph, circa 1890–1910
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fine French Ormolu Crown Frame with Tinted Photograph, circa 1890–1910 A richly detailed French ormolu (gilt bronze) portrait frame, surmounted by a regal crown finial and finely de...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Antique French Empire Mahogany Marble Top Ormolu Commode Chest of Drawers 1810
Located in Portland, OR
A fine quality early 19th century antique French Empire mahogany marble top commode, with Neo-Classical ormolu mounts, circa 1810. The commode is of the finest quality, the top is ma...
Category

1810s French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

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

Gilt-Bronze Lacquer Low Table
Gilt-Bronze Lacquer Low Table
$3,920 Sale Price
39% Off
Marseille Antique French Grand Tour Souvenir Casket, Beveled Glass & Eglomise
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 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

Mid 19th Century Candlestick - Swans - Ormolu Gilt Bronze
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Refined French ormolu bronze candlestick, mid 19th century, finely detailed and beautifully cast. The base is formed by three sculpted swans, their long necks rising gracefully to su...
Category

1860s French Directoire Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French Antique Ormolu and Limoges Enamel Jewellery Box
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...
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Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Enamel, 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

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

19th Century Scottish Gilt Metal Banded Agate Vesta Case Match Box
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This exceptional 19th century Scottish vesta case is crafted from finely polished banded agate, admired for its striking natural striations in shades of brown, grey, white, and smoky...
Category

1880s Scottish Victorian Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Agate, Metal, Bronze, 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

Fine JP Ehalt Signed French Louis XVI Style Rosewood Marquetry Dining Table
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning, fine quality vintage French gilt bronze ormolu mounted marquetry inlaid rosewood extension dining table by J.P. Ehalt. Exquisitely handcrafted using only the finest materials and highest level of craftsmanship, the mid-century antique reproduction lavishly finished in Neoclassical Louis XVI taste, having an extensively inlaid oval shaped top, richly decorated marquetry at the center features intricate floral motif, wonderfully designed and exceptionally executed built-in hide-a-way extension leaves that rest under the table in the manner of Maison Jansen, sliding out to extend the length of the table from 72 to 107 inches. The frieze luxuriously decorated with gilt bronze mounted running ornamentation with beaded trim, accented by stylized foliate gilded bronze embellishments, above fluted tapered legs. Signed J.P. Ehalt (Jean-Pierre Ehalt) Circa 1960s; France JP Ehalt...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Bronze, 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

Fine Antique French Ormolu Bureau Plat Desk After Linke 19th Century
Located in London, GB
A fine antique French wood, porcelain and ormolu mounted bureau plat, in the manner of Linke, Circa 1860 in date.   The shaped ormolu mounted serpentine top is fitted with a gold too...
Category

19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front or cantilevered desk. Under the dark grey marble top is a secret, entablature drawe...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, 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 Grand Tour Souvenir Casket, Eglomise Breslau, Wrocław, Poland 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique Ormolu and Églomisé Casket - Souvenir from Breslau, Poland circa 1900 A charming antique casket from circa 1900 with gilt brass fittings and clear glass panels. The hinged l...
Category

Early 1900s Polish Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

Early 19th Century Ormolu Mantel Clock "Portefaix", Paris, circa 1810
Located in Greven, DE
Pendule Portefaix Paris Bronze, enamel Empire around 1810 Dimensions: H x W x D: 36 x 28 x 11 cm Description: Beautiful, fire-gilded and patinated bronze pendule from the early 19...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

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

Antique French Pair Regency Gilt Bronze Dore Candlesticks Candelabra 1815
Located in Dublin, Ireland
PAIR French very stylish Regency Ormolu and Bronze Miniature Candlesticks, internally fully weighted, complete with their original firm fitting drip pans. Each triangular base below ...
Category

19th Century French Regency Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Antique Ormolu Mounted French Empire Revival Pedestal Desk 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an exquisite antique French Empire Revival pedestal desk, Circa 1920 in date. This desk has been beautifully crafted from flame mahogany. The top has a decorative ormolu bod...
Category

1920s French Empire Revival Vintage Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

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

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

Vintage Pair of French Glass & Ormolu Table Lamps 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an elegant pair of vintage French ormolu and glass table lamps, mid 20th century in date. These elegant lamps have a sophisticated moulded glass body with splendid  high-lig...
Category

Mid-20th Century French 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

Antique Pair Monumental Ormolu Mounted Malachite Obelisks 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A monumental pair of Neoclassical ormolu mounted malachite obelisks, Circa 1920 in date. The square conforming malachite columns taper to pyramid shapes with applied decorative g...
Category

1920s Neoclassical Vintage Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

Set or Pair of Marble and Ormolu Mounted Garniture Urns or Vases
Located in Nashville, TN
A set of satin polished garnitures with ormolu or gilt bronze mounts , The exceptional crispness of well chased realistic mounts in form of floral garlands or festoons joined at eac...
Category

1830s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, 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

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

Antique Victoran Coromandel Three Crystal Decanter Tantalus & Games 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a superb antique Victorian coromandel, ormolu mounted and cased three decanter tantalus and games compendium, circa 1870 in date. It was skilfully crafted in rare coromandel with a satinwood interior and ormolu mounts. The three cut crystal glass decanters with stoppers, a mirrored back and compartmens containing four cut glass drinking glasses...
Category

1870s Victorian Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

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

French Antique Etched and Faceted Crystal Lidded Boxes with Bronze Ormolu, Pair
Located in Doylestown, PA
Pair of French antique etched and faceted cut crystal lidded boxes with ormolu mounts, c. early 20th century. Gorgeous gilt bronze mounted boxes with intricately etched crystal of f...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu

Exquisite Baccarat "Elephant" 'Cave A Liquor' - Exposition Universelle 1878
Located in Long Island City, NY, 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

Vintage Ornate Cut Glass & Ormolu Centrepiece Dish 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A beautiful vintage cut glass and ormolu dish that would make a stunning centrepiece, late 20th Century in date. The craftsmanship is second to none throughout all aspects of this ...
Category

1990s English Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor: An Exquisite Ormolu and Églomisé Bureau Plat
Located in Long Island City, NY, 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

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.