Ormolu Furniture
25
5,758
10
3
to
291
3,423
2,155
5,771
5,770
5,771
1,610
630
521
354
145
131
124
38
34
24
23
14
6
2
1
279
4,762
717
13
372
102
48
100
10
20
22
26
16
4
10
13
3
5,771
345,167
294,668
204,547
142,256
5,368
4,700
322
277
153
54
46
40
25
24
Material: Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. patinated bronze and ormolu lamps after a model by John Flaxman. Each lamp is raised by ormolu ball feet and a solid white Ca...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Ormolu and Sienna Marble Urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu and Sienna marble urns. Each urn is raised on a square base with ormolu foliate border. on th...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Siena Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Ormolu and Milk Glass Empire Fixture
Located in New Orleans, LA
The ormolu swans lend a special grace to this milk glass Empire style fixture. It is medium-sized and would work well in many settings.
Category
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Six-Arm Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and extremely elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. six arm ormolu chandelier. The chandelier is centered by a fine bottom inverted acorn finial below the tapered flut...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Kingwood, Ormolu and Brèche D'alep Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XV st. Kingwood, ormolu and Brèche d'Alep side table. The one drawer rectangular side table is raised by slender cabriole legs w...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Russian Malachite and Pietre Dure Plinths
Located in New Orleans, LA
The exquisite art of pietre dure is at its absolute finest in this spectacular pair of Russian ormolu and malachite plinths. True works of art of the Restauration period, these plinths each feature a matching pietre dure mosaic crafted of the finest stones, all chosen to create a sense of depth and dimensionality in the final work. Depicting an onyx vase with tulips, roses, daffodils, magnolia and other flowers, these pietre dure panels are among the finest examples of this ancient art we have seen.
The pietre dure is complemented by malachite panels of the highest quality, exhibiting exceptional depth through its extraordinary cellular structure. Malachite is one of Russia’s most precious stones, and its presence in these plinths indicates commission and ownership by an individual of considerable status. Mounted in an excellent stepped ormolu base, these plinths originally served as bases for vases or candelabra.
The overall execution and appearance of these plinths is very characteristic of the taste associated with the immensely wealthy collector Nicolas Demidoff. As early as 1806, Demidoff had commissioned the Parisian goldsmith Henri August to supply a guéridon; in 1819, he ordered famed French bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire to supply mounts for a massive malachite vase (now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York), as well as a console table with legs in the form of Nike. Other commissions included a table given as a gift to Grand Duke Leopoldo II of Florence, now in the Pitti Palace. Demidoff eventually settled in Florence in 1822 and became Russian minister to the Tuscan Court. Elevated to the rank of Count of San Donato by the Grand Duke, he built a magnificent villa at San Donato on the site of lands formerly owned by the Medici. The villa was later inherited by Anatole, his son, Prince of San Donato, and there are records which confirm transactions he had with the Opificio delle Pietre Dure.
The 19th century proved to be the golden age of Russian malachite. The stone became a sign of prestige and a token of wealth, so much so that Russian papers of the time wrote: "To afford having a big piece wrought in malachite is synonymous to owning diamonds." Year after year the Russian (Romanov) treasury paid increasingly unreasonable prices to hoard the best malachite, much of which went into Romanov palaces and extravagant objets d'art. The Hermitage Museum possesses a collection of over two hundred examples of this “palatial” malachite...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
Pair of French Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Rouge Griotte Marble Statues
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very handsome and high quality pair of French Louis XVI st. ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble statues. Each is raised by an ormolu bottom plate below the mottled edge circular Rouge ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Statue of Mercury
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th century Neo-Classical st. patinated bronze and ormolu statue of Mercury, possibly by F. Barbedienne. The statue is raised on i...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Bronze and Ormolu Cherub Busts
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and most elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. patinated bronze and ormolu cherubs busts. Each charming and high quality bust is rai...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Napoleon III Period Statue/Desk Accessory
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Napoleon III period ormolu statuary grouping of Jean de la Fontaine's Fable "Le Loup plaidant contre le renard par-devan...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Silver, Brass, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Kingwood, Tulipwood, Ormolu and Marble Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A lovely and most elegant French 19th century Louis XV st. Kingwood, Tulipwood, ormolu, and Gris des Ardennes marble cabinet. The two door cabinet is raised by cabriole legs with bea...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Gilt bronze lantern
Located in Atlanta, GA
Very fine gilt bronze lantern with beveled glass panels and oak leaf garlands
Category
1930s French Vintage Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French 18th Century Louis XVI Period Ormolu Fireplace Chenets/Andirons
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant pair of French 18th century Louis XVI period ormolu fireplace Chenets/andirons. Each Chenet is raised by a square base with a wrap around acanthus leaf border. At the ...
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Crystal and Ormolu Vases
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. crystal and ormolu vases. Each circular tapered shaped crystal vase displays beautiful thick cut crystal with diamond shaped de...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Louis XVI style Mantle Clock, 19th Century 16.5"(42cm)
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very pleasing 19th century French gilded ormolu and white marble mantel clock, having a cherub holding a torch and a bow and arrow, leaning against the inset eight day chiming clock.
Category
1860s French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Statue
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most charming and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. patinated bronze and ormolu statue, signed E Drouot. The statue is raised by a circular ormolu base with a mottled ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Italian 19th Century Neoclassical Style Consoles and Mirrors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very handsome pair of early 19th century Italian Neo-Classical st. walnut, ebonized fruitwood, brass and ormolu mounted consoles with matching mirrors. The consoles are raised by a...
Category
19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
English 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Mahogany and Ormolu Buffet/Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and extremely high quality English 19th century Neo-Classical st. flamed Mahogany and ormolu buffet/cabinet signed Edwards and Roberts. The one drawer two door cabinet is ...
Category
19th Century English Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Renaissance St. Ormolu Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful French 19th century Renaissance st. ormolu lamp. The lamp is raised by a lovely circular base with a fine wrap around foliate band below the pierced dome shape support displaying scrolled...
Category
19th Century French Renaissance Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
English 19th Century Neoclassical Style Deux Corps Buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational English 19th century Neo Classical st. rosewood, satinwood, giltwood, ormolu and Black Antico marble, Deux Corps buffet. The buffet is raised by handsome giltwood paw feet below the four doors which each retain their original fitted glass panes with elegant pleated silk curtains. The doors display a striking rosewood border with a fine ormolu filet and ormolu keyhole. Flanking the doors are striking eternal flames with opened wings and superb palmettes. The straight frieze displays...
Category
19th Century English Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Corner Shelf
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A lovely French 19th century Louis XV st. kingwood, tulipwood and ormolu corner Étagère. The elegant corner shelf displays four tiers each displaying charming intricately detailed inlaid marquetry...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Renaissance St. Porcelain and Ormolu Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and extremely decorative French 19th century Renaissance st. Pâte sur Pâte celadon colored porcelain and ormolu lamp. The lamp is raised by a beautiful finely detailed ci...
Category
19th Century French Renaissance Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Kingwood Parquetry and Floral Ormolu-Mounted Cabinet, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
French kingwood parquetry and ormolu-mounted vitrine.
In the Louis XV-XVI Transitional style, of kingwood and tulipwood crossbanding and o...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Large Antique Carved Gilt Wood Marble Top Center Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A stunning 19th century continental Rococo style oval hand carved giltwood and marble top center table with a single drawer. This large table is raised on four elegant cabriole legs ...
Category
1870s European Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century First Empire Neoclassical Style Présentoirs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent pair of French early 19th century First Empire Neo-Classical st. Baccarat and ormolu three level Présentoirs. Each is raised on a circular ormolu base and has finely ch...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Set of Eight Continental 19th Century Biedermeier Style Dining Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant and complete set of eight Continental 19th century Biedermeier st. mahogany, burl walnut and ormolu dining chairs. Each chair is raised by fine circular tapered front ...
Category
19th Century Unknown Biedermeier Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu candelabras. Each three arm candelabra is raised by a fine circular base with a detailed Coeur de Rai wrap around band...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Neoclassical St. Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An outstanding and unique pair of French 19th century Neo-Classical st. patinated bronze and ormolu sconces. Each four arm sconce is centered by a hexagonal patinated bronze backplat...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Asian & French Collaboration 19th Century Louis XVI Style Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A lovely and high quality Asian and French collaboration 19th century Louis XVI st. Imari porcelain and ormolu lamp. The lamp is raised by an elegant ormolu base with fine wrap aroun...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Set of Eight French 19th Century Neoclassical Ormolu Two Arm Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and high quality complete set of eight French 19th century Neo-Classical ormolu two arm sconces, attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire. Each sconce is centered by an elega...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Marble and Ormolu Statues
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking true pair of French 19th century Neo-Classical st. black Belgian marble and ormolu statues of Cleopatra and Semiramis, signed Bouret 1874. Each statue is raised by an eleg...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu
Pair Of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Napoleon III Period Ormolu Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and most decorative pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Napoleon III period ormolu sconces. Each unique three arm sconce is centered by a charming finely detailed bo...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century 1st Empire Period Ormolu Candelabra Centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular and extremely high quality French 19th century 1st Empire period ormolu candelabra centerpiece. The centerpiece is raised by a fine triangular base with cut corners, concave sides and an elegant stepped design with a lovely wrap around foliate band. The three curved central supports each display handsome paw feet, striking palmette designs and impressive richly chased open winged griffins in a beautiful satin and burnished finish. Each of the supports are connected by a fine pierced scrolled Rinceau design stretcher. The reeded bowl...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Silvered Bronze and Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and most unique pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. silvered bronze and ormolu lamps. Each lamp is raised by a pierced circular ormolu base with silvered bronze bord...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Neoclassical St. Ormolu Three-Arm Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive large scale pair of French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu sconces. Each three arm sconce is centered by charming finely detailed oak leaves and acorns below the ...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Large Pair of Grand Tour Campana Bronze Urns, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive pair of 19th century French, Grand Tour gilded ormolu and patinated bronze Campana Urns. Each with wonderful classical scenes of frolicking Bacchus Putti in bronze,...
Category
19th Century French Grand Tour Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair Of Italian 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Matching Mirrors And Consoles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and most rare pair of Italian 19th century Neo-Classical st. Cherrywood, giltwood, polychrome, ebonized Fruitwood, ormolu matching mirrors and consoles. The consoles ar...
Category
19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Porcelain and Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. porcelain and ormolu Pâte sur Pâte lamps. Each lamp is raised by a fine ormolu base with mo...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Turn-of-the-century Louis XVI St. Ormolu, Crystal and Glass Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and unique French Turn-of-the-Century Louis XVI st. ormolu, crystal and frosted glass chandelier. The eight arm chandelier is centered by a beautiful richly chased bottom...
Category
20th Century French Louis XVI Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
19th Century French Sevres, Louis XVI Style Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th century French gilded ormolu and Sevres style porcelain clock garniture.
The clock having this wonderful cobalt blue ground fluted, lidded vase with ring...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French Early 19th Century Louis XVI Style Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning true pair of French early 19th century Louis XVI st. patinated bronze, white Carrara marble and ormolu three arm candelabras. Each candelabra is raised by a square base be...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Set of Four French Early 19th Century First Empire Period Four-Arm Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and complete set of four French early 19th century 1st Empire period patinated bronze and ormolu sconces, circa 1805. Each four arm sconce i...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French Turn of the Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Glass Platfonniers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and very unique pair of French turn of the century Louis XVI st. ormolu and etched frosted crystal plafonniers. Each plafonnier is centered by an exceptional and most dec...
Category
20th Century French Louis XVI Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
French, 19th Century, Neo-Classical St. Onyx and Ormolu Pedestal Column
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th century Neo-Classical st. onyx and ormolu pedestal column. The pedestal is raised by a square onyx base with elegant cut corners and a mottled design with fine...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Onyx, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Porcelain Lamp, Signed by Sèvres
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive and large scale French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and porcelain lamp, signed by Sèvres. The lamp is raised by striking triangular shaped porcelain base with ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Bronze and Ormolu Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. patinated bronze and ormolu candelabras. Each four arm candelabra is raised by a square ormolu base with a fine wrap around berri...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Japanese Black Lacquer Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular and important French 19th century Louis XVI st. tulipwood, ormolu, Vert de Patricia marble and Japanese black lacquer cabinet...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Ormolu Mounted Louis XV / XVI Style Corner Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a fine and unusual 19th century French ormolu mounted mahogany "Vernis Martin" decorated, marble top corner vitrine cabinet,
circa 1880
Dimensions:
Height 63" (160 cm)...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany and Ormolu Bench
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. mahogany and ormolu bench. The bench is raised by slender circular tapered fluted legs with richly chased fitt...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French Mid-19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A monumental pair of French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu sconces. Each magnificent sconce has a ribbon style bow backplate accented with a rosette at the top and a cornucopi...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Kingwood and Ormolu Desk Possibly by François L
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XV st. Kingwood and ormolu desk possibly by François Linke. The desk is raised by elegant cabriole legs with handsome ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Five-Arm Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and large scale pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Baccarat crystal five arm sconces. Each sconce is centered by beautiful and richly chased berried and ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Pair of Italian 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu Mirrored Venetian Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and extremely decorative true pair of Italian 19th century Louis XV st. ormolu mirrored Venetian sconces. Each four arm sconce is centered by a beautiful finely detailed p...
Category
19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Set of Four French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Three-Light Ormolu Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and grand scale set of four French mid-19th century Louis XVI style three light ormolu Bras de Lumière sconces. Each sconce is centered by a tapered, fluted and highly ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Vert Antique Marble Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Vert antique marble lamps. Each lamp is raised on ormolu ball feet below the marble...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Ormolu Clock Stamped ‘DENIERE A PARIS”
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu clock stamped 'DENIERE A PARIS". The clock is raised by square tapered fluted feet with fine...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Flamed Mahogany Cabinet Vitrine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent French 19th century Louis XVI st. flamed mahogany, patinated bronze and ormolu vitrine cabinet. The cabinet is raised on ormolu ball feet with an ebony bottom border. T...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Kingwood, Exotic Wood And Ormolu Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and very high quality French 19th century Louis XV st. Kingwood, exotic wood, and ormolu center table. The rectangular table signed BURY is raised by impressive cabriole legs with fine fitted wrap around ormolu sabots and lovely scrolled foliate designs with an ormolu chute which leads to stunning richly chased foliate corner mounts in a superb satin and burnished finish. The striking arbalest shaped apron displays an exceptional array of wonderfully executed inlaid exotic wood floral and foliate designs with a charming and most decorative cube...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV 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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