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
Early 19th Century Empire Mantel Clock with Cupid in a Chariot
By Marie Prevost
Located in Paris, FR
Exceptional gilt bronze mantel clock with its key depicting a winged Cupid in a chariot. The chariot is pulled by two doves that are resting on a platform adorned with water-leaf. Th...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Clock Depicting Psyche Playing with a Butterfly After Canova
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French Empire Clock depicting Psyche playing with a butterfly after a marble statue by Canova displayed in the Louvre. A patinated bronze Psych...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Empire Fire Gilded Mantel Clock, circa 1820
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Beautiful fire gilded Empire mantel clock with a shepherdess on top with a wreath and ribbon. On the left a staff with pan flute.
At the bottom of the clo...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Gilt Bronze and Marble Clock of Seated Cupid Holding a Rose
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Finest quality period French Empire clock depicting a seated winged cupid holding a rose; the case in gilt and patinated bronze. The clock show a gilt cupid...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Vert Patricia Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Empire st. ormolu and Vert de Patricia marble clock, signed Armingault à Paris. The clock is raised by an impressive rectang...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Early 19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Dragon Handled Urn Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An rare model French Empire mantle clock featuring a classical urn with dragon handles. The clock is entirely of gilded bronze with original fire gilding. The urn-shaped case is surm...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Skeleton Clock with Vestal Virgins
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A Classic two dimensional French Empire skeleton clock, the finely chased and mercury gilded case depicts Amour holding a flaming torch and a banner, symbol of war, seated on a quiver full of arrows and set on top of the dial and movement. The dial is framed by two vestal virgins...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock with Venus and Cupid
Located in London, GB
French Empire gilt bronze mantel clock with Venus and Cupid
French, early 19th Century
Measures: Height 53cm, width 37.5cm, depth 13.5cm
This fine Empire period mantel clock is crafted from gilt bronze. The clock includes a sculptural surmount of Venus accompanied by Cupid. Venus sits atop the square clock...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Empire Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock Signed Vaillaint a Paris
Located in London, GB
Superb quality French Empire ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock in a beautifully restrained case. The casting and gilding of the finest quality. A classically dressed maiden st...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Period French Empire Mantle Clock
By Claude Galle
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
The clock features a winged cupid standing on his chariot drawn by two doves and supported on clouds; cupid holds the reins to two doves which appear to be guiding the chariot. The open 'wheel' of the chariot contains the outer enamel clock dial...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Bisque Porcelain and Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
French Empire Ormolu and Bisque Porcelain Mantel Clock
French Empire ormolu mounted Bisque porcelain mantel clock surmounted by a winged...
Category
1780s French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Porcelain
Empire Period Ormolu and Enamel Ceres Mantel Clock After 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
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 French Empire Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century finely chased and cast dore bronze mantle clock. Porcelain dial in excellent condition. Signed "Millet." Original pendulum. Don't have original key, but can have one made.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Clock of a Seated Roman Emperor
By Claude Galle
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A late French Empire period mantel (fireplace) clock showing a seated Roman emperor in finely chased patinated bronze holding a sword in one hand and a Roman banner in the other. He ...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Figurative Gilt Bronze Clock of a Roman Youth Holding a Scroll
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French Empire figurative clock of a Roman youth holding a scroll in gilded bronze showing a seated classically draped youth sitting atop the clock case holding a lyre in one hand a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Empire Bronze and Sienna Marble Clock with a bust of Apollo Belvedere
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine example of a French Empire period mantle clock, circa 1830. The rectangular stepped case is made of yellow Sienna marble and is decorated on the top and bottom with patinated ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
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
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 Figural Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
Winged cupid with flowing robe, clock resting between wings and fabric, raised on bronze ormolu-mounted verde antico plinth.
France, first half of the 19th century.
Measures: H ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
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
Empire Gilt Bronze Clock of Standing Classical Lady Unveiling an Urn of Plenty
By A. Ravrio
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A late French Empire mantle clock in gilded bronze depicting a standing classical lady on the left side of the clock plinth with her left ar...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Empire Mantel Clock by Ledure with Apollo or Eros
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
French Empire Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Vase Clock
Located in London, GB
French Empire patinated bronze and ormolu vase clock. Of unusual design set as it is on a spread ormolu base of eight sides, the front and back being long sides. The base sits upon f...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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
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 Early 19th Century Empire Period Mantel Clock Signed Ledure
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Very fine early 19th century Empire period mantel clock of patinated bronze. It is signed by one of the best Parisian bronzers Pierre Victor Ledure and h...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Empire Pendulum Clock the Spinner, Signed 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
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
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.