Aesthetic Movement Mantel Clocks
AESTHETIC MOVEMENT
In 1880, polymath designer William Morris declared: “If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” His words encapsulated the Aesthetic Movement, which prized beauty above all and blurred the lines between fine art and the decorative arts, particularly through lavishly crafted furniture pieces.
The Aesthetic Movement, whose major proponents included author Oscar Wilde, flourished from the 1860s to the 1880s and was mostly popular in England and the United States. Design expositions like the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, as well as the publishing of how-to books for interior design, helped disseminate Aesthetic Movement bedroom furniture, serveware, coffee tables and other items, especially to the middle class.
The establishment of new art museums, art clubs and a rising passion for collecting at the time contributed to a growing appreciation for art. Morris’s founding of Morris & Co. in 1862 and the commercializing of this “cult of beauty” by the Liberty store in London, starting in the late 19th century, further disseminated the idea of a domestic space that was thoughtfully and floridly designed.
Leading Aesthetic Movement furniture designers included E.W. Godwin, who drew on Japanese influences and whose work reflected a wider enthusiasm for imported East Asian art. British designer Christopher Dresser created textiles, ceramics and more that were also inspired by Japanese decorative art but were representative of additional diverse design sources that ranged from Egypt to Mexico.
The Aesthetic Movement’s eclecticism resulted in dazzling interiors. Japanese fans were positioned on Renaissance-inspired cabinets with brass hardware, while mantels made of rich walnut or finely carved ebonized wood and adorned with painted Minton tiles mingled with cast-iron chairs against a backdrop of floral wallpaper. In 1881, in New York City, stenciled checkerboard motifs and painted floral murals could be found under an opalescent glass chandelier in a luxurious dressing room designed by German émigré cabinetmaker-decorator George Alfred Schastey. Amid the rise of the industrial age, the style’s promotion of art in everyday life would inform the Arts and Crafts Movement and Art Nouveau.
Find a collection of antique Aesthetic Movement seating, tables, decorative objects and other furniture and antiques on 1stDibs.
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Style: Aesthetic Movement
Lewis Foreman Day. A rare Aesthetic Movement mantel clock with floral decoration
Located in London, GB
Lewis Foreman Day for Howell James & Co. An Aesthetic Movement mantel clock with hand painted floral decoration and sunflower to the dial flanked...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Mantel Clocks
Materials
Walnut
Lewis Foreman Day. Made by Howell and Sons. An Aesthetic Movement ebonized clock
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement ebonized clock with finely carved decoration, the clock movement is by Edwards and Sons with a pair carved devices below and a blue and white floral ceramic bor...
Category
1880s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ceramic, Walnut
Howell and James, A small Aesthetic Movement walnut mantle clock
By Howell & James Ltd
Located in London, GB
Howell and James in the style of Lewis Foreman Day. A small Aesthetic Movement walnut mantle clock with brass finials and brass feet, a pierced gallery to the top centred with a fan ...
Category
1880s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Mantel Clocks
Materials
Brass
19th Century Aesthetic Movement Mantle Clock
Located in Ross, CA
Aesthetic movement mantle clock made in France in the late 19th century. The face is blue and white hand painted enamel centered over blue and white porcelain. The round case which i...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Mantel Clocks
Materials
Porcelain
James Aitchison Aesthetic Movement mantel or bracket clock with Owls & Songbirds
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement mantel or bracket clock, Signed James Aitchison, Paris in the number 12, with finely carved floral decoration to the front and sides, a french city evening scen...
Category
1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Mantel Clocks
Materials
Walnut
Aesthetic Movement Zodiac Black Marble Mantle Clock with Gong-Striking Movement
Located in London, GB
A rare and wonderful Aesthetic Movement black marble brass gong-striking mantel clock with brass finials and brass gallery to the top, just below with hand-painted porcelain panels o...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Mantel Clocks
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Brass
Lewis F Day, Howell, James & Sons Aesthetic Movement Ebonised & Polychrome Clock
Located in London, GB
Lewis Foreman Day, for Howell, James and Sons.
An Aesthetic Movement ebonized and polychrome painted mantle clock with a carved floret to the centre of the arched and turned gallery flanked by turned finials, with a dentil moulding below, and criss cross lattice work to the upper sides, the lower sides with hand painted Aesthetic flowers in planters...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Mantel Clocks
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Gilt Bronze and White Marble Three Piece Clock Garniture
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A French Gilt Bronze and White Marble Three Piece Clock Garniture, Late 19th Century. Comprising mantel clock and pair of five light candelabra. The clock with circular white enamele...
Category
1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Aesthetic Movement Ebonised Mantel Clock Attributed to Lewis Foreman Day
Located in London, GB
A magnificent Aesthetic Movement mantel clock, with an ebonised mahogany case and an exquisitely painted dial. The case embodies the style of the Aesthetic Movement, with an arched a...
Category
1870s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Mantel Clocks
Materials
Mahogany
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H 17.5 in W 12.5 in D 10 in
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Located in London, GB
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Aesthetic Movement mantel clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Aesthetic Movement mantel clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage mantel clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Aesthetic Movement mantel clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original mantel clocks, popular names associated with this style include Howell James & Co., and Lewis Foreman Day. 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 mantel clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $4,596 and tops out at $10,870 while the average work can sell for $5,894.