Classical Greek Mantel Clocks

CLASSICAL GREEK STYLE

There is rare surviving furniture from ancient Greece, yet this classical style has informed design for centuries. Interiors of houses in antiquity were minimal, with much of a room’s color coming from frescoes on the walls and mosaics on the floors. Classical Greek furniture was sparing but finely crafted and influenced by Egyptian furniture design through Mediterranean trade.

Furnishings of the period were usually made from local wood like cypress, cedar, oak and willow from ancient Greece’s plentiful forests, although some pieces were carved from marble, such as a 300–200 B.C. throne with lion legs and a curved back now at the Getty Villa. Comfort and clean lines characterized designs during the Classical era, the symmetry and thoughtful proportions reflecting the architecture of Greek temples.

Some pieces of ancient Greek furniture were simple, rectangular platforms like the klinē, a multipurpose ancestor of today’s couches or daybeds that held cushions stuffed with wool, dry grass or down. These structures were used for both sleeping and dining, which wealthy Greeks did while reclining. At night, oil lamps illuminated rooms that frequently surrounded a garden courtyard.

Most of what scholars have learned about Greek furniture design owes to its representations in art like vases and stelae. The portable diphros stool, with its backless design and four turned legs, was one of the more common types of seating in daily Greek life — it appears as such for the gods on the Parthenon frieze. Stools without backs have been found in early Roman tombs, while benches were also common Greek seating furniture created for use in theaters. In houses of the Hellenistic period, benches seemingly functioned as tables, too.

Some designs evolved through adaptations by the Romans, including the klismos chair. After prominent archaeological excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum, the klismos chair — with its four saber legs and the elegant curves that define its back — was a source of inspiration for aesthetics in eras ranging from 18th-century neoclassicism to 20th-century Art Deco.

Find a collection of Classical Greek decorative objects, wall decorations and building and garden elements on 1stDibs.

Style: Classical Greek

Ariadne and the Panther Bronze After Johann Heinrich Dannecker, Mantel Clock

Located in Toronto, CA

A lovely, solid bronze mantel clock depicting Ariadne and the Panther, after the famous sculpture by Johann Heinrich Dannecker (1758-1841). Here the princess Ariadne, wife of Dionysi...

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Ariadne and the Panther Bronze After Johann Heinrich Dannecker, Mantel Clock

$1,100

Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze, Enamel and Lapis Lazuli Mantel Clock

By Maison Marnyhac 1

Located in London, GB

This Grecian style mantel clock was crafted at the end of the 19th century and retailed by the acclaimed Maison Marnyhac, which was based on the Rue de la Paix in Paris. Founded ...

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Mantel Clocks

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Bronze, Enamel

Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze, Enamel and Lapis Lazuli Mantel Clock

$10,098

19th Century French Pink Marble and Ormolu Clock Set

Located in London, GB

19th Century French pink marble and ormolu clock set French, Late 19th Century Clock: Height 46cm, width 23cm, depth 18cm Candelabra: Height 44.5cm, width 22cm, depth 20cm This unusual three-piece clock garniture combines stunning pink marble with ormolu classicised decoration. Featuring ornate pierced gilt brass hands, the porcelain dial of the mantel clock is framed with a floral motif that complements the tones of the marble. The clock is covered with elegant gilt-bronze classical decoration: surmounting the dial is an ormolu torch and laurel...

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Brass, Ormolu

19th Century French Pink Marble and Ormolu Clock Set

$16,157 / set

Magnificent French 19th Century Mantel Clock, Victor Paillard, Paris

By Victor Paillard

Located in Brighton, Sussex

A magnificent 19th century bronze mantel clock depicting allegorical figures representing Geography and literature. The white enamel clock face, Roman numerals, an eight day duration...

Category

19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Magnificent French 19th Century Mantel Clock, Victor Paillard, Paris

$114,451

Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire by Bonieris À Paris

$4,542

H 16.93 in W 12.21 in D 3.55 in

Renaissance Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Mantel Clock

Located in London, GB

Renaissance style gilt bronze and enamel mantel clock French, late 19th century Measures: Height 53cm, width 28cm, depth 23cm This exquisite mantel clock is crafted in the idios...

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel

Renaissance Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Mantel Clock

$20,197

H 20.87 in W 11.03 in D 9.06 in

19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu Clock

By Claude Galle

Located in Scottsdale, AZ

19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu Clock. circa 1810 clock Napoleonic Empire Bronze Dore. La Liseuse" clock after Reiche, by Claude Galle & Grand Girad. Signed in Paris

Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu Clock

$6,000 Sale Price

20% Off

H 9 in W 15 in D 9 in

Gilded and Lapis Lazuli Mantel Clock by Jaeger Le Coultre

By Jaeger-LeCoultre

Located in Norwich, GB

JAEGER LE COULTRE Jaeger Le Coultre gilt table clock with Lapis Lazuli dial, Roman numerals signed ‘Jaeger Le Coultre’ and original gilded hands. R...

Category

1970s French Vintage Classical Greek Mantel Clocks

Materials

Brass

Gilded and Lapis Lazuli Mantel Clock by Jaeger Le Coultre

$2,625

$2,495

H 7.5 in W 14 in D 18 in

Gilt Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock, Signed F. Berthoud, Paris

By Ferdinand Berthoud

Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires

Gilt bronze and marble mantel clock, signed F. Berthoud, Paris, France, early 19th century. Clock works.

Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Gilt Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock, Signed F. Berthoud, Paris

$25,000

H 17.72 in W 13.78 in D 5.91 in

Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire by Leroy à Paris

Located in Warsaw, PL

A magnificent 19th-century Empire-style mantel clock, signed by the esteemed clockmaker Leroy à Paris. This timepiece exudes classical elegance, featuring a finely detailed gilt bron...

Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire by Leroy à Paris

$5,299

H 16.93 in W 12.21 in D 3.94 in

H 17 in W 21 in D 8.75 in

Classical Greek mantel clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Classical Greek 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 bronze, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Classical Greek mantel clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original mantel clocks, popular names associated with this style include Maison Marnyhac, and Victor Paillard. 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 $9,467 and tops out at $108,640 while the average work can sell for $59,054.