Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
FEDERAL STYLE
Following the Revolutionary War, the American republic referenced the Roman Republic in its designs to celebrate its independence and declare itself a powerful new country. Imbued with neoclassical elements like those being promoted by architect Robert Adam in Great Britain, antique Federal-style furniture was the first distinctly American style in its melding of ancient influences, European aesthetics and national pride.
Dating roughly from 1790 to 1830, the style featured angular furniture with saber legs and smooth surfaces that contrasted with the curvy Rococo style that was previously in fashion. Eagles were common ornamental motifs on Federal-period furniture, as were cornucopia, lyres, garlands and scrolls, adding subtle flair to pieces characterized by clean lines, geometric symmetry, balanced shapes and a sense of grandeur.
Instead of sculptural carvings, authentic Federal-style furniture was adorned with inlays and patterned veneers that showcased the rich character of different grains and types of wood. As social life tended to be informal in the young country, furniture was often lightweight, so it could be easily rearranged in a drawing room or bedroom. Pieces like dining tables with drop leaves and sideboards became popular, replacing larger chests of drawers.
The Federal style varied by region: Artisans in Charleston, South Carolina, decorated chairs with carved backs, for instance, while those in Baltimore, Maryland, preferred painted details. Its major proponents included father-and-son cabinetmakers John and Thomas Seymour in Boston, Duncan Phyfe and Charles-Honoré Lannuier in New York and Samuel McIntire in Salem, Massachusetts.
Find antique Federal tables, mirrors, storage cabinets and other Federal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
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Style: Federal
Pennsylvania Cherry Tall Case Clock, Jedediah Weiss, Bethlehem
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional Federal cherry tall case clock with a brass eight day works signed Jedediah Weiss Bethlehem, with beautiful inlay including a contrasting fan carving above the waist d...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Cherry, Maple, Satinwood
Antique Colonial Mfg Co Beige Painted Tall Case Federal Style Grandfather Clock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Colonial Mfg. Co Beige Painted Tall Case Federal Style Grandfather Clock. Item features a working lock and key, includes all parts pictured. Very ...
Category
Early 20th Century Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Wood
American Walnut Tall Case Clock by Solomon Gorgas
Located in Essex, MA
By Solomon Gorgas. Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania. Works just cleaned and in good working order. With arched bonnet with pinwheel inlay in the scrolls. Glazed door opening to enameled wo...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Metal, Brass
John Nicholl Federal Tall Case Clock
By John Nicholl
Located in New York, NY
Federal Tall Case Clock
Made and Signed by John Nicholl, (1784-1862)
Belvidere, New Jersey Circa 1825
Primary Wood: Mahogany, Mahogany Ven...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Mahogany, Maple
19th Century Tiffany & CO Oak 5 Musical 5 Gong Tall Case Grandfather Clock
By Walter Durfee
Located in Long Branch, NJ
19th Century Tiffany & CO Oak 5 Musical 5 Gong Tall Case Grandfather Clock
Dimensions : 104" Tall X 26" Wide X 15.5" Deep
This gorgeous grandfather clock was made in the late 19th ...
Category
1890s American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Oak
American Federal Grain Painted and Stenciled Tall Clock by Rufus Cole
Located in Essex, MA
A Rare and Complete American Federal Tall Case Clock. Riley Whiting Wooden Works, original. A Rufus Cole Grain-Painted and Stenciled Case. S...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Pine
Early 1900s Carved Walnut Durfee Case Elliot Movement 5 Tube Grandfather Clock
By Walter Durfee
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a spectacular clock with what I believe is a solid carved walnut Durfee case and and has an Elliot of London movement. The case has some signs of wear and is in it's original...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Walnut
American Federal Mahogany Tall Case Clock, Silas Hoadley, CT, Circa 1820
By Silas Hoadley
Located in Charleston, SC
American Federal mahogany one day tall case clock with the original brass ball finials resting on three carved upper capitals, decorative intertwined fret work, arched hood with bras...
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Brass
Related Items
English Oak Tall Case Clock
Located in Woodbury, CT
Fancy for a country clock, this particular tall case clock has an impressive dial and mahogany crossbanding and inlay that dress it up in formal wear suitable for a country estate. A beautifully arched swan neck pediment on the bonnet leads the eye down to a painted break arch featuring the small portrait of a girl holding a dove. The narrow case...
Category
19th Century British Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Oak, Mahogany
Antique Ithaca Clock Co. Tall Case Walnut Grandfather Clock C1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Reduced Delivery Rates - See Below or Click “Ask The Seller” to Request a Quote***
Antique Ithaca Clock Co. Tall Case Walnut Grandfather Clock C1920
...
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Early 20th Century Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Wood
19th Century English Mahogany Tall Case Clock
By James Ritchie
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century English tall case clock crafted of beautiful figured and crotch, bookmatched mahogany with turned columns flanking dial case and door. Decorative brass ball finials on carved split-pediment top. Colorful painted surround illustrates a tavern scene from the Robert Burns narrative poem, Tam O'Shanter. Signature and town of the clockmaker on the painted dial: James Ritchie...
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Early 19th Century Scottish Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Brass
Federal Giltwood Banjo Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Typical form with white enamel dial and reverse painted waist and pendulum door. With key and pendulum.
Category
1820s American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Brass
19th Century Musical Picture Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A large well-detailed musical picture clock. The oil painting on canvas depicts a village scene in Europe with manor home, mountains at sunset in...
Category
1850s European Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Canvas, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century Early American Seth Thomas Tall Case Grandfather Clock
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful Seth Thomas long case clock, circa first half 19th century. Features an American poplar case in Early American styling with an open pediment, c...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Poplar
H 94 in W 18.5 in D 10.5 in
Antique Georgian Tall Case 8 Day Grandfather Calendar Clock Carved Oak Case 1780
Located in Portland, OR
A very good 18th century early George III 8 day tall carved oak case grandfather clock, Gulielmus (William) Dickinson & George Brownless, of Staindrop Village, County Durham, England...
Category
1770s English Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Brass
H 81 in W 21.5 in D 11 in
19th Century Swedish Tall Case Clock with Painted Case
Located in Milford, NH
Wonderful polychrome 19th century Swedish tall case clock with central urn with swags, Roman numeral dial, brass works and waist door with circular window. Very good overall conditio...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Brass
Antique Georgian Tall Case 8 Day Grandfather Clock Joseph Thompson of Whitehaven
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique Georgian Regency period tall case 8 day inlaid mahogany grandfather clock, by Joseph Thompson of Whitehaven, circa 1820.
The clock is made of figured flame mahogany an...
Category
1820s English Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Ebony, Mahogany, Satinwood
H 92 in W 21.5 in D 9.75 in
Tall Case Clock, Bristol, England, circa 1830, Victorian
Located in Darmstadt, DE
The case of the grandfather clock is made of mahogany and was possibly made by the watchmaker Nathaniel Edgecombe. The clock is from Bristol England, circa 1830.
+ The ship in the d...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Nutwood, Spruce
19th Century Swedish Ántique Grandfather Clock Tall Case Clock Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Folk Art tall case clock from Luleå Norrbotten, Northern Sweden. Made in wood. Nice details and beautiful carvings.
Beautiful handpainted flowers on the front.
The M...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Pine
H 94.89 in W 23.23 in D 8.27 in
19th Century French Comtoise Grandfather Clock
By Alexandre Fournier
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century Country French comtoise, or grandfather clock, with polychrome painted pine case and embossed brass pendulum. Original seven day Morbier...
Category
19th Century French Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Previously Available Items
Henry Hahn Reading, Pennsylvania Cherry Tall Clock with Moon Phase Dial
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of a cherry tall case clock by Henry Hahn of Reading, PA, active clockmaker from 1790-1820, with broken pediment carved arched bonnet with scroll rosettes, urn finials...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Metal
H 92.5 in W 20.25 in D 10.5 in
Bailey Banks & Biddle Mahogany Federal Style Case Tall Case Grandfather Clock
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Bailey Banks & Biddle Mahogany Federal Style Case Tall Case Grandfather Clock
Dimensions : 97" Tall X 28" Wide X 18" Deep
This grandfather cloc...
Category
1910s American Vintage Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Mahogany
H 97 in W 28 in D 18 in
Rare Old American Stennes Fed, Sty, Inlaid Mahog, Automaton 8day Longcase Clock
By Elmer O. Stennes
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
One of the most highly collected midcentury longcase clocks, this fabulous Federal Style 8-day inlaid honey-colored, fiddle-grain, highly figured mahogany Clock with a wonderfully ha...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Brass
H 86.5 in W 17.75 in D 11 in
Antique Mahogany Grandfather Longcase Clock
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Mahogany grandfather longcase clock
Additional information:
Materials: Mahogany
Color: Brown
Period: 19th century
Styles: Federal
Item type: Vintage, antique or pre-...
Category
19th Century Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Federal Style Carved Oak Tall Case Clock by Ithaca, 20th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Federal style tall case clock by Ithaca offers oak case with hood having broken arch top having central eagle with flanking ball & spire finials, column with glass door ov...
Category
20th Century American Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Oak
Diminutive Timothy Chandler Federal Cherry Case Tall Clock Concord NH circa 1800
Located in Milford, NH
A fine New Hampshire Federal cherry tall case clock with 8-day weight-driven brass works by Timothy Chandler, active clockmaker in Concord, NH f...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Metal, Brass
H 82 in W 18.5 in D 9.75 in
American Cherry Rocking Ship Tall Case or Grandfather Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Connecticut Federal cherry tall case clock, ca. 1800, the fretwork bonnet enclosing an eight day English works with rocking ship, the face inscr...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Cherry
Aaron Willard Mahogany Tall Case Clock with Moon Phase Dial 1793
Located in Milford, NH
A fine mahogany tall case clock with wonderful proportions by Aaron Willard (1757-1844), with a reticulated carved crest with three ball and spire finial...
Category
1790s American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Brass
Long Case Dwarf Wood Clock
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a long case Dwarf wood clock. Its bonnet is decorated with a swan neck pediment at the top and an a bronze urn shaped finial. Below the finial, ther...
Category
19th Century American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Wood
Antique Pennsylvania Federal Mahogany Tall Case Clock, 18th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Pennsylvania Federal longcase clock offers mahogany case with broken arch hood with central finial and flanking columns, hand painted floral face with Roman numerals, 18th...
Category
18th Century American Antique Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Colonial Mfg Co Empire Style Mahogany Grandfather Clock German Movement
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Colonial Mfg Co Empire style mahogany grandfather clock German movement
Colonial manufacturing antique grandfather clock, circa 1920s. An em...
Category
Early 20th Century Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Mahogany
H 85 in W 17.5 in D 13.25 in
Antique Federal Tiffany & Co., NY Moon Phase Mahogany Long Case Clock circa 1900
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Federal style long case clock by Tiffany & Co offers mahogany case with broken arch pediment having central urn form finial surmounting moon phase face with Arabic numeral...
Category
Early 20th Century American Federal Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks
Materials
Metal, Brass
H 100 in W 23 in D 17.5 in
Federal grandfather clocks and longcase clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Federal grandfather clocks and longcase clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage grandfather clocks and longcase clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Federal grandfather clocks and longcase clocks made in a specific country, there are North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original grandfather clocks and longcase clocks, popular names associated with this style include Elmer O. Stennes, and Silas Hoadley. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for grandfather clocks and longcase clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,600 and tops out at $18,500 while the average work can sell for $8,725.