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Empire Mantel Clocks

EMPIRE STYLE

From 1804–15, Napoléon I reigned as the emperor of France, bringing the country into a new era of opulence after the fall of the monarchy and the tumultuous years of the French Revolution. He declared, “We must have very solid things, made to last 100 years.” Empire-style furniture followed suit, with imposing pieces constructed from mahogany and adorned with gilded ornaments. Expanding on the neoclassicism popularized in the previous century — such as in ​​Louis XVI style — Empire style borrowed from the great civilizations of antiquity, from Egypt to Greece and Rome, to connect this nascent empire to the power of the past.

Napoléon I believed the production of fine furniture would reflect the stature of the republic, with his official architects Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine leading the way with their work on his residences.

Luxurious materials, symmetrical shapes and bold colors characterize antique Empire-style bedroom furniture, armchairs, cabinets and other structures, with frequent motifs including mythological creatures, geometric designs, acanthus leaves, eagles, bees (the imperial emblem) and swans, a favorite of Empress Joséphine.

Flat surfaces, like marble tabletops, were accented with decadent details, such as the bronze furniture mounts made by sculptor Pierre-Philippe Thomire for the French palaces. Martin-Guillaume Biennais, who worked as the imperial goldsmith, crafted intricate luxury objects that mixed wood, fine metal, mother-of-pearl and ivory. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.

The style became popular abroad, influencing the American Empire style. Stately pieces carved with sprigs of olives by cabinetmaker Pierre-Antoine Bellange were acquired by American President James Monroe for the White House in 1817.

Find a collection of antique Empire tables, lighting, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Empire
French Empire Period Ormolu Mantel Clock by Michelez
Located in London, GB
French Empire period ormolu mantel clock by Michelez French, circa 1815 Measures: Height 47cm, width 20cm, depth 15cm This beautifully formed and crafted mantel clock, dating to...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

French Empire Period Ormolu Mantel Clock by Michelez
French Empire Period Ormolu Mantel Clock by Michelez

French Empire Period Ormolu Mantel Clock by Michelez

$10,373
Empire 19th Century Ormolu and Painted Bronze Mantel Clock with Young Sailor
Located in Palm Desert, CA
An Empire ormolu and painted bronze mantel clock attributed to Jean-Simon Deverberie. Fitted in an ormolu case shaped as a cotton bale, the round enamel dial features Roman numeral hours and Arabic fifteen-minute graduations, indicated by two pierced gilt bronze hands. Shirtless and barefoot, a young black sailor...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Empire 19th Century Ormolu and Painted Bronze Mantel Clock with Young Sailor
Empire 19th Century Ormolu and Painted Bronze Mantel Clock with Young Sailor

Empire 19th Century Ormolu and Painted Bronze Mantel Clock with Young Sailor

$18,300
French Empire Mahogany and Cut Crystal Columned Portico Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A rare example of a late French Empire portico clock combining the use of mahogany casing with gilt bronze mounts and cut crystal. The four pillars linking the top and bottom section...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

French Empire Mahogany and Cut Crystal Columned Portico Clock
French Empire Mahogany and Cut Crystal Columned Portico Clock

French Empire Mahogany and Cut Crystal Columned Portico Clock

$7,500
French Empire Influenced Clock Set, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive 19th century Empire influenced green marble clock set. Having the arched clock with a white enamel clock face, an eight day striking m...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Empire Influenced Clock Set, 19th Century
French Empire Influenced Clock Set, 19th Century

French Empire Influenced Clock Set, 19th Century

$8,021 / set
Empire Pendulum Clock the Spinner, Signed Rossel in Rouen
By Rossel in Rouen
Located in Paris, FR
French Empire pendulum clock finely crafted of gilt bronze, featuring a young spinner wearing a classical dress, seating on the dial near a lyre ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Empire Pendulum Clock the Spinner, Signed Rossel in Rouen
Empire Pendulum Clock the Spinner, Signed Rossel in Rouen

Empire Pendulum Clock the Spinner, Signed Rossel in Rouen

$7,163
Empire Patinated Bronze Clock
Located in Atlanta, GA
Beautiful patinated bronze clock featuring Cupid and Psyche with a Sienna marble base
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Empire Patinated Bronze Clock
Empire Patinated Bronze Clock

Empire Patinated Bronze Clock

$28,600
Empire Period Ormolu and Enamel Ceres Mantel Clock After Thomire
By Pierre-Philippe Thomire
Located in London, GB
Empire period ormolu and enamel Ceres mantel clock after Thomire. French, c.1810 Measures: height 46cm, width 38cm, depth 13cm. This superb mantel clock was made in the First Fr...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

Empire Period Ormolu and Enamel Ceres Mantel Clock After Thomire
Empire Period Ormolu and Enamel Ceres Mantel Clock After Thomire

Empire Period Ormolu and Enamel Ceres Mantel Clock After Thomire

$20,746
Empire Clock The Spinner by Rossel in Rouen
Located in Paris, FR
French Empire pendulum clock finely crafted of gilt bronze, featuring a young spinner wearing a classical dress, seating on the dial near a lyre ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Empire Clock The Spinner by Rossel in Rouen
Empire Clock The Spinner by Rossel in Rouen

Empire Clock The Spinner by Rossel in Rouen

$5,491
French Empire Ormolu and Marble Mantel Clock of Cupid
Located in London, GB
French Empire Ormolu and marble vert mantel clock of Cupid whispering. Wonderful original fire gilded mercury ormolu. The quality of the casting and chasing is superb, from the indiv...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Empire Ormolu and Marble Mantel Clock of Cupid
French Empire Ormolu and Marble Mantel Clock of Cupid

French Empire Ormolu and Marble Mantel Clock of Cupid

$18,325
French Empire Genre Mantel Clock of an Arcadian Hunting Scene
Located in London, GB
A very unusual French Empire Genre Arcadian mantel clock of a hunting scene. The primary subject is that of a finely dressed woman in riding habit, hat, whip and gloves riding side saddle on a fine patinated bronze hunter...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

French Empire Genre Mantel Clock of an Arcadian Hunting Scene
French Empire Genre Mantel Clock of an Arcadian Hunting Scene

French Empire Genre Mantel Clock of an Arcadian Hunting Scene

$10,027
Late Empire Period Clock of Chronos Carrying Away Time
Located in London, GB
A fine model of Chronos carrying off time. The superbly modelled and cast figure of Chronos with scythe in one hand and carrying the clock under his arm. Set on a fine marble base wi...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu, Bronze

Late Empire Period Clock of Chronos Carrying Away Time
Late Empire Period Clock of Chronos Carrying Away Time

Late Empire Period Clock of Chronos Carrying Away Time

$7,261
Early 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock "Pouring Wine"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine Early 19th century French Empire ormolu bronze mantel clock. Depicting a winged cherub standing atop a barrel while a kneeling lady pouring wine ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Early 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock "Pouring Wine"
Early 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock "Pouring Wine"

Early 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock "Pouring Wine"

$9,800
French Empire Miniature Ormolu Clock of Cupid Signed by Ledure and Thomas
Located in London, GB
French Empire miniature ormolu clock of Cupid signed by Ledure and Thomas. A small French Empire clock only 10 inches (25 cms high) but of outstanding quality. A figure of Cupid stan...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French Empire Miniature Ormolu Clock of Cupid Signed by Ledure and Thomas
French Empire Miniature Ormolu Clock of Cupid Signed by Ledure and Thomas

French Empire Miniature Ormolu Clock of Cupid Signed by Ledure and Thomas

$5,186
Early 19th Century Empire Mantel Clock by Ledure with Apollo or Eros
By Pierre-Victor Ledure, Claude Hemon
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The clock is signed on the enamel dial by the famous Parisian bronzier ”Ledure Bronzier à Paris” and the clockmaker ”Hedon Hr" (horloger). Patinated and fully sculpted bronze figure ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Early 19th Century Empire Mantel Clock by Ledure with Apollo or Eros
Early 19th Century Empire Mantel Clock by Ledure with Apollo or Eros

Early 19th Century Empire Mantel Clock by Ledure with Apollo or Eros

$10,148
Early 19th Century Vase-Shaped Porcelain Clock
By Normant
Located in Paris, FR
Vase-shaped mantel clock in gilded porcelain. Breguet hands track the hours and minutes on white, enamel dial with hours marked in Roman numerals. The porcelain is interspaced with g...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Porcelain

Early 19th Century Vase-Shaped Porcelain Clock
Early 19th Century Vase-Shaped Porcelain Clock

Early 19th Century Vase-Shaped Porcelain Clock

$7,999
Large 19th Century French Empire Style Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and fine quality 19th century French Empire influenced clock set. Having a pair of winged female figures supporting five branch candelabra with scrolling foliate decoration, raised on gilded globes and green marble plinths with ormolu mask mounts. The clock having winged lovers standing over the green marble clock...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Large 19th Century French Empire Style Clock Set
Large 19th Century French Empire Style Clock Set

Large 19th Century French Empire Style Clock Set

$41,492 / set
19th Century Empire Mantel Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Excellent condition with finely chased dore bronze mounts. Has key and pendulum.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Empire Mantel Clock
19th Century Empire Mantel Clock

19th Century Empire Mantel Clock

$13,950
Large 19th Century French Gilt Bronze and Marble Lyre Shaped Clock Garniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A 19th century French gilt-bronze and white marble figural lyre clock. The case mounted with floral swags, with a figure of Cupid to the top and two cherubs to the sides, on fluted r...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Large 19th Century French Gilt Bronze and Marble Lyre Shaped Clock Garniture
Large 19th Century French Gilt Bronze and Marble Lyre Shaped Clock Garniture

Large 19th Century French Gilt Bronze and Marble Lyre Shaped Clock Garniture

$18,990

Empire mantel clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire mantel clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th 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 metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire mantel clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Austria pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original mantel clocks, popular names associated with this style include Claude Galle, Breguet a Paris, C. Maniere, and Claude Hemon. 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 $960 and tops out at $102,428 while the average work can sell for $8,222.

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