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Ormolu Clocks

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Material: Ormolu
Antique Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Mantel Clock with Chivalric Scenes
Located in London, GB
This beautiful porcelain mantel clock is designed in the shape of a shield which is propped up on a gilt bronze (ormolu) easel support, composed of two shields and a staff topped by ...
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Late 19th Century French Gothic Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

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...
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Late 19th Century French Renaissance Revival Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel

Large 19th Century Raingo Fres, Paris Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality French 19th Century gilded ormolu and patinated bronze clock garniture, having a pair of seven branch flower like candelabra, being supported by putti, raised on circular plinth bases with scrolling decoration. The clock having bronze patinated mother and three children, one sculpting, one painting and the other reading. Mounted on this beautiful gilded ormolu base with flowers, shells and foliage. The eight day duration clock chimes on the hour and half hour and is signed; Raingo Fres...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Marble and Ormolu Portique Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu Portique clock, signed "Tiffany'. Raised by a marble base with ormolu topie shaped supports. Above are two columns decorated by finely chased floral ormolu mounts. The columns are flanked by two fluted tapering ormolu design elements. The enamel dial has a foliate garland at the center and ormolu pendulum. At the top crown is an ormolu floral basket with two lovebirds...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

Sleigh Form Ormolu and Onyx Antique Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This beautiful and unusual clock is formed as an ormolu sleigh, which is set upon a rectangular block of green onyx which is further set upon an ormolu base with four acanthus leaf f...
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Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Onyx, Ormolu

Mantelpiece Clock in the Louis XVI Manner, Retailed by E & S Watson of London
Located in London, GB
Constructed in a fine quality two-tone ormolu case, and adorned with rose ground ‘Sevres’ style panels to both front and sides, depicting; rising from oblate toupie feet, the domed case is of modest breakfront form, with a flambeaux urn atop, having tea rose garlands conjoining the body; the clock face delineates the hours in Roman numerals in white cartouches, and is driven by an eight day movement, striking on a bell, with the backplate having the retailer’s stamp, ‘E & S Watson...
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19th Century English Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Gold, Ormolu

Sèvres Style Ormolu Mounted Mantel Clock by Kreisser
Located in London, GB
This gilt bronze mounted mantel clock is formed about a beautiful sky-blue, parcel gilt Sèvres style porcelain vase. The enamel dial is mounted within a gilt bronze drum that is drap...
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1850s French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Rococo style gilt bronze and marble mantel clock
Located in London, GB
Rococo style gilt bronze and marble mantel clock French, c. 1870 Height 44cm, width 20cm, depth 15cm This Rococo style gilt bronze and olive-green mantel clock...
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Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Fine 19th century French ormolu mantel clock (pendule) by Leroy a Paris, c. 1825
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A most beautiful French ornolu mantel clock by Leroy à Paris A lovely French late Empire/early Charles X mantel clock with an ormolu case, c. 1825. The ormolu brass case depicts a celebration of Science and Learning. It is dominated by a rectangular superstructure containing the movement, flanked by an engine-turned column with a celestial globe on top on the left and an elegant lady reading a book on the right. The superstructure is surmounted by a bookcase and a bust of Socrates...
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Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

Large 19th Century French Champleve Enamel Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality large 19th century French gilded ormolu and Champlevé enamel clock garniture, having cherubs perched on top and to the sides, turned finials and columns. Bright coloured classical motif enamel decoration, flanked by a pair of...
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19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

Rare Orientalist Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock by Denière et Fils
Located in London, GB
Rare orientalist gilt bronze mantel clock by Denière et Fils French, circa 1830 Measures: Height 54cm, width 40cm, depth 18cm This beautiful mantel clock is crafted from gilt br...
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Early 19th Century French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

19th Century French Pink Porcelain Clock with Cupid & Romantic Emblems
Located in London, GB
A Symbolic clock in the Louis XVI style By Japy Fréres et Cie. The finely chased ormolu case encompassing pink porcelain panels decorated with beads to the face and sides; the wh...
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Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Rare and large ormolu mounted malachite mantel clock signed Manière
Located in London, GB
Rare and large ormolu mounted malachite mantel clock signed Manière French, 19th Century Height 60cm, width 35.5cm, depth 13cm With an enamel dial signed 'Maniére / A Paris', th...
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19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Enamel, Ormolu

French Architecturally Formed Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
French architecturally formed ormolu mantel clock French, 19th Century Height 52cm, width 28cm, depth 17cm This beautiful Baroque style mantel clock is crafted from gilt bronze. The highly detailed case takes the form of a piece of miniaturised architecture: a campanile of sorts, the top level contains the clock dial while the lower level, approached by shallow steps, is flanked by figurative sculptures and culminates in a bas relief frieze...
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19th Century French Baroque Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze

Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock and Companion Barometer by Henry Vian
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Exceptional Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock and Companion Barometer By Henry Vian after Jean-Charles Delafosse Henry Vian after Jean-Charles Delafosse The tops with a...
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Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Large Gilt-Bronze and Malachite Charles X Style Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Large gilt-bronze and malachite Charles X style mantel clock French, 19th Century Height 74cm, width 53cm, depth 24cm This superb and impressively large mantel clock...
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19th Century French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

French Early 19th Century Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive French early 19th century ormolu and white Carrara marble clock. The clock is raised by elegant scrolled foliate supports with dolphin heads. The rectangular white Carr...
Category

19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

19th Century Sevres Style Gilded Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful French 19th century gilded ormolu mantel clock, having a putti mounted to the top holding garlands of flowers, draping down the case, Rams heads and urns of flowers. The ...
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Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Belle Époque Period Ormolu and Porcelain Mantel Clock in Moorish Style
Located in London, GB
This beautiful clock, formed from gilt bronze and porcelain, is designed and decorated in a discernibly Moorish style. The clock is supported by a flat shaped gilt bronze base, the base supporting four gilt bronze columns that support the gilt bronze clock drum. The cylindrical drum contains a circular dial, the dial of porcelain and inscribed with Roman numerals. The gilt bronze throughout is cast and chased with geometrical motifs—particularly evident on the front of the four vertical columns. These motifs are distinctively Moorish in scheme, the lattice-type geometrical sequences recalling Islamic decorative...
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Late 19th Century French Moorish Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu, Bronze and Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu, patinated bronze and Brèche Violette marble clock. The clock is raised by a square marble base with cut corners and a mottled...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Rouge Griotte Marble and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent French 19th century Louis XVI st. Rouge Griotte marble and ormolu clock by Raingo Frères, Paris. At the base are stunning ormolu mounts of rosettes and scrolled foliate...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19th Century French Louis XVI Style Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A charming French 19th century Louis XVI style gilded ormolu and green marble clock garniture, having four ormolu cherubs supporting the urn clock a...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Ormolu, White Marble and Tole Cercle Tournant Mantel Clock by Lepaute
By Lepaute, Francois Vion
Located in London, GB
This exceptional mantel clock was created in the early 20th century in France, inspired by an 18th century model by the famous metalworker, François Vion (French, 1737-1790). The clock’s design includes sculptures of the Three Graces holding up a spherical clock with a revolving, or ‘cercle tournant...
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Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu, Tôle, Bronze

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. White Carrara Marble, Ormolu And Jeweled Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble, Ormolu and jeweled dial clock. The most elegant lyre shaped clock is raised on a stunning white Carrara marble base...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Large 19th Century Sevres Style Porcelain Mounted Ormolu Figural Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A magnificent French mantel clock in patinated bronze and original ormolu. Modeled with figures of two classically dressed females sitting back to back against the clock drum and rea...
Category

19th Century Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French Late 19th Century Louis XVI St. Patinated Bronze And Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French late 19th century Louis XVI st. Patinated Bronze and Ormolu clock. The clock in the shape of the Urn of Prosperity is raised by a square base with concave corners a...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Imposing 19th Century French Ormolu Clock Garniture 29"(73cm) high
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A large and impressive, very good quality French gilded ormolu clock garniture. The clock supported by a pair of Caryatids, decorated with swags and classical motifs, four bevelled g...
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1860s French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Neoclassical Mantel Clock in Ormolu and Sevres Style Porcelain by Ernest Royer
Located in London, GB
This splendid neoclassical style French mantel clock is beautifully crafted in ormolu and porcelain decorated in the Sevres style. 'ER', the mark of French clockmaker Ernest Royer, active in the later 19th Century, is stamped on the underside of the ormolu mounts. There are three Sevres style porcelain plaques in total, all set on turquoise ground: the plaque to the front of the clock depicts a cherub and a nymph as well as containing the clock face with Roman numerals. The two sides of the clock case feature further porcelain plaques, which portray Neptune, Aurora and mermaids. The rectangular ormolu clock case is surmounted by a putto with a dog. There is a neoclassical pilaster...
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19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century French marble and ormolu clock garniture.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An enchanting French 19th Century white marble and gilded ormolu clock garniture, having a mother and childly the white enamel clock face, striking on the hour and half hour on a bel...
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19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

Barbedienne French Mantel Clock, circa 1890
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality Louis XVI style French gilded ormolu mantel clock, signed Barbedienne. Having shield and foliate decoration to the top, white enamel roman numerals, a lyre shaped pend...
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Late 19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th century Louis XVI st. marble and Ormolu clock, signed Derniere
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and finely decorated French 19th century Louis XVI st. Gris St. Anne marble and Ormolu clock, signed Derniere. This exquisite and high quality clock is raised on an imp...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Classical Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive 19th century classical French Louis XVI style mantel clock, having gilded ormolu figures of a naked maiden looking in a mirror with two cherubs to her side, above a...
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Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Garniture Set Retailed by Tiffany & Co
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period ormolu, white Carrara marble, Lapis Lazuli, and Baccarat crystal garniture set retailed by...
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19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Crystal, Marble, Ormolu

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Grandfather Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Late 19th century French Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted parquetry longcase grandfather clock. Surmounted an ormolu figure of a classical seated lady holding a globe, circa ...
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19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Ormolu, Patinated Bronze, And Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational French 19th century Neo-Classical st. Ormolu, patinated Bronze, and marble clock signed by Germain, Paris, 1825. The clock is elegantly raised on a white Carrara marble...
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19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Antique Early 19th Century Empire Gold Brown Gilt Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique Early 19th Century Empire Gold Brown Gilt Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock French, Early 19th Century Height 54cm, width 52cm, depth 20cm Dating to the early 1800s and desi...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

French Louis XVI Style Clock Garniture
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very pleasing French gilded ormolu and white marble clock garniture in the Louis XVI style. The clock having a cherub holding a chicken, the white enamel clock face with an eight d...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Napoleon III Clock Garniture Designed by Sévin, Cast by Barbedienne
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Napoleon III gilt-bronze and porcelain mounted clock garniture, designed by Louis-Constant Sévin, cast by Ferdinand Barbedienne, The Movement by Japy Frères. Frédéric Japy ...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Large Empire Bronze and Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in London, by appointment only
France, circa 1820-1830. A large-scale early 19th century bronze and gilt bronze mantel clock, the clocks hunting theme, featuring three different scenes. The bronze Diana...
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1820s French Louis Philippe Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Gilt Bronze and Pink Sevres Style Porcelain Antique Clock Set
Located in London, GB
This exquisite pink porcelain clock set is made in the Louis XVI style and comprises of two vases flanking a central clock. The porcelain clock dial is delicately painted and bears a...
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Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Cartel Clock, by L. Marchand
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu cartel clock, by L. Marchand. The clock has a a fine berried and foliate bottom inverted finial and finely etched...
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19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Industrial Series Nautical Desk Clock
Located in Amersham, GB
This stylish desk clock made in the last quarter of the 19th century has a french eight day movement with a lever platform escapement. the movement is housed in a drum forming the ce...
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Late 19th Century French Industrial Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Griotte Marble, Brass, Enamel, Nickel, Ormolu

French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu and white Carrara marble clock. The clock is raised by fine circular mottled ormolu feet below the solid whit...
Category

19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

Napoleon Empire Egyptian theme mantel clock with musical movement
Located in London, GB
A rare and unusual French Directoire/ Empire clock depicting Napoleon standing among trophies of war including cannon, cannon balls, map scrolls and standards bearing eagles. The sil...
Category

1810s French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century Ormolu Figural Cartel Clock
Located in London, GB
An ormolu cased Cartel clock by Vincenti & Cie Constructed in gilt bronze, depicting a well modelled figure of Father Time, carrying his scythe, with a winged cherub surmount, hou...
Category

19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

French Louis XVI style Cartel wall clock, 52" 1880
Located in Brighton, Sussex
This large and impressive late 19th-century French gilded ormolu cartel wall clock exemplifies the elegance of the Louis XVI style. Adorned with intricate detailing, it features a m...
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19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French Louis XV Style Porcelain Gilt Mixed Metal Mantel Clock
Located in Forney, TX
A breathtaking antique French Belle Époque period (1871-1914) porcelain mounted mixed metal mantel clock. Born in France in the late 19th / early 20th century, fine quality Parisian work, exceptionally executed in luxuriously opulent 18th century Louis XV Rocaille taste, finished on all sides so it can be placed anywhere in the room, featuring a visually striking sculptural floral fiolate adorned gilt metal case, heavily embellished with fine porcelain flowers...
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Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Metal, Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

French 19th Century Empire St. Vert Patricia Marble and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Empire st. Vert Patricia marble and ormolu clock. The clock is raised by fine rectangular ormolu supports below the Vert de Patricia marble base. A str...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Louis XV Style Bronze Ormolu Mounted Tall Case Clock Manner of Zwiener
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 92 1/2 in W: 24 in D: 17 in This magnificent French Louis XV style tall case clock represents the pinnacle of turn of the century horological artistry, executed in ...
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Early 20th Century French Louis XV Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

A French Ormolu Quarter-Striking Pendule D'Officier By Le Roi & Fils
Located in Dublin, IE
A superb quality French ormolu grande sonnerie pendule d'officier with alarm by Le Roi & Fils. The ormolu case profusely decorated with floral swag friezes and oval floral mounts to the sides, entwined serpent handle, resting on on four paw feet. The white enamel Arabic...
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Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century French Enamel Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful quality late 19th century French Louis XVI style gilded ormolu and Champlevé enamel clock garniture, the clock having a two handled turquoise enamel urn with swags above ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

19th Century French Mantel Clock, by 'Monbro Aine, Paris'
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality, large French 19th century gilded ormolu and white marble mantel clock, signed; 'Monbro Aine, Paris'. Having an urn of grapes with semi...
Category

1860s French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Early Tripod Table Clock by Thomas Cole with Glass Dome
Located in London, GB
An extraordinary rustic tripod table clock by Thomas Cole Retailed by E. White of London The circular green velvet-clad base supporting three equidistantly spaced brass imitation logs, from which the clock and its mechanism are suspended; housed within a brass bezel conformingly styled as naturalistic logs, the circular etched and engraved gilt dial with elegant blued steel hands, marked at 6 o'clock "E. White, 20 Cockspur St, London", having the hours marked in Roman numerals; the tapered two-tier movement has a six wheel train with five-spoke crossings between spotted plates, the upper section fixed by blued steel screws to the backplate, enclosing a Brocot-style deadbeat escapement incorporating rubies and train to the centre wheel, the pendulum of most unusual design styled as a lidded cauldron over a simulated fire. Complete with a glass dome and key. The front plate numbered “1637.” London made, circa 1861 Thomas Cole, (1800-1864) Son of Thomas Cole Snr, a Somerset clockmaker, his history and works are fully recorded in 'Thomas Cole & Victorian Clockmaking' by John B. Hawkins, published 1975, in Sydney. Known as a specialist in making decorative timepieces of the highest quality, Cole exhibited at the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in 1851; he warranted an 'honourable mention' in the Paris Exhibition of 1855 and the London 1862 Exposition International, where he was awarded a medal for 'excellence of taste and design'. Hawkins discuss Thomas Cole's tripod clocks...
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19th Century English Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Brass, Ormolu, Bronze

An empire mantel clock "AU PORTEFAIX" after Jean andre reiche
Located in Harrington Park, NJ
MANTEL CLOCK "Au bon sauvage" or "PORTEFAIX", late Empire, after a design by J.A. REICHE (Jean-Andre Reiche, 1752-1817), Paris, 19th century. Gilt ...
Category

1810s French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Exceptional French Tiffany & Co Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock with Marble Base
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional French gilt bronze mantel clock marketed by Tiffany & Co, with classical cast gilt figures of a boy and girl reading on each side of the clock, a central raised panel ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Early 19th Century Ormolu Mantel Clock, Atala freeing Chactas, Paris, circa 1810
Located in Greven, DE
Mantel Clock "Atala and Chactas" Paris Bronze (fire-gilt and patinated), enamel Empire around 1810 Dimensions: H x W x D: 40 x 32 x 11 cm Description: Very rare and extremely high quality French mantel clock, so-called Pendule Au Bon Sauvage. Depicted are scenes from the love story "Atala or the love of two savages in the desert" written by Francois René Vicomte de Chateaubriand in 1801. At the beginning of the 19th century, this was probably the most famous love story in Europe, but today it has been forgotten. The story, set in present-day Louisiana (USA), is roughly rewritten about the forbidden love between Chactas, a young Indian, and Atala, the beautiful daughter of a Spaniard. Chactas is captured in a battle between two Indian tribes, chained to a palm tree and is to be sacrificed. Atala wants to save his life and convert him to Christianity. She unties him from the palm tree at night and they flee together into the wilderness of North America. Their love for each other grows stronger and stronger and they have prospects for a future together. The story takes a tragic turn when Atala, who must remain a virgin due to a vow made by her mother, can no longer withstand the conflict of her feelings and commits suicide. The main group of characters thus shows Chacta's liberation through Atala. Atala is leaning against a pile of logs. The animal fur thrown over the logs and the weapons leaning against the stack on the right give the impression of a night camp. The bronze is of rarely beautiful quality, finely chiselled and makes the scene appear very lively. The contrast of fire-gilded and patinated bronze adds tension to the composition. In the base we see the Entombment as the end of the tragic love story. This bronze work is also very detailed, the interplay of bright and matt gilding makes the flat relief appear much deeper than it is. The depiction of the mantel clock presented here shows that the exotic was only known from stories and that the bronzier had his own ideas about the appearance of this distant world. The Indian, for example, has very European facial features and his skin was not black in reality, of course. The palm tree was also certainly not found in the North American wilderness. The heart of the clock is a French pendulum movement, integrated into the wooden pile, with an eight-day power reserve and a lock plate striking a bell on the half and full hour. The pendulum is suspended on a thread, typical of the period. The classically shaped hands, so-called Breguet hands, are also typical of the time. The enamelled dial has black Roman hour numerals, Arabic quarter hours and bears the signature: Le Roy hr. de Madame A PARIS. Interesting facts: The period from 1795 to about 1815 saw the creation of probably the most spectacular group of bronzes: The "Au bon Sauvage" pendulums - depictions of the "Noble Savage". Today's viewers react to these objects with both fascination and irritation. Enthusiastic on the one hand about the obvious quality of the detailed bronzes and the allure of the exotic, on the other hand distanced and cautious because of the possible discrimination that is suspected behind them. The ambivalence of this feeling motivates the search for the conditions of origin of these pendulums. Europeans found their new ideal of the natural man primarily in fictional and realistic travelogues about the Indians of North America...
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Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

A Large French Rouge Marble Gilt Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock by A. Beurdeley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French Napoleon III Period Rouge Marble Gilt & Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley Movement marked: J. Lefebvre Fils Paris & Numbered1938 Movement stamped: Medaille De Bronze J. Marti & Cie & Numbered 92 Dial signed: A. Beurdeley Fila, Paris France, Circa 1875 Dimensions: Height: 24" (61cm), Width: 22" (56cm) Depth: 11" (28cm) Excellent Working Condition Biography French — Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley was a Parisian cabinetmaker who specialized in the manufacture of luxurious French furnishings...
Category

1870s French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu, Bronze

Antique French Gilt Bronze and Enamel Miniature Carriage Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique French gilt bronze and enamel miniature carriage clock French, late 19th Century Clock: Height 11cm, width 5.5cm, depth 5cm Case: ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Cartel Clock Signed F.Lesage Paris
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century Louis XIV st. tortoiseshell, brass and ormolu Cartel Clock signed F.Lesage Paris. The beautiful clock is raised on its orig...
Category

19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

An Extremely Fine Ormolu Portico Mystery Clock
Located in Amersham, GB
This extremely rare swinging portico clock by Béchot Paris, in an ormolu case of exquisite quality, finely cast and gilded with its original burnished and chased finish, this clock i...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Ormolu Clocks for Sale on 1stDibs

Antique ormolu clocks and other decorative objects can be incorporated into a variety of spaces, and while demand for the material and/or technique was at its peak in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries — older French ormolu clocks are especially coveted today — ormolu is still widely loved by contemporary designers and collectors.

What is ormolu?

Ormolu is a brilliant form of decorative trickery. To the untrained eye, ormolu clocks, jewelry boxes and other ormolu furniture and decor look like they're made of solid gold. But those in the know recognize ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — as having been essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.

“Most commonly, ormolu refers to a bronze object that has been covered with gold, typically 18 karat or 24 karat,” explains Jamie Sinai, director of the antiques specialist Mayfair Gallery, in London. “For that reason, ormolu is sometimes called gilt bronze or, in French, bronze doré. Strictly speaking, however, the term ormolu also denotes the technique of applying gold to a metal.”

“The word comes from the French or moulu, which translates as ‘ground or powdered gold’ — the form the gold takes before it is applied to a metal surface.”

From the court of King Louis XVI to that of Napoleon I, the French elite snapped up furniture mounted with ormolu, as well as sconces, candelabra and table lamps made from the material. 

If you're looking to bring a touch of this 19th-century pizzazz to your desk, an antique ormolu desk clock is a decorative touch that blends ornament and functionality. The clamor for desk clocks arose as the Industrial Revolution transitioned labor from outdoors to indoors, and allowed for the mass production of clock parts in factories. Naturally, elaborate designs soon followed and clocks could be found made by artisans and luxury houses like Cartier. Indeed, an ormolu clock is an object to be admired in your home as much as it is a necessary functional element. (This is part of the reason clocks make such superb collectibles!)

Today, antiques collectors and interior designers seek out the finest in antique ormolu clocks and continue to prize ormolu for its extraordinary craftsmanship and history-infused glamour. 

“This wondrous material was highly sought after in France as the ultimate luxury. It magically resembled solid gold and sparkled under candlelight,” says Sinai.

Find antique ormolu desk clocks, wall clocks, mantel clocks and other furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.

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