Ormolu Clocks
to
40
840
3
57
761
22
3
18
1
6
1
232
75
73
53
32
19
7
4
3
3
2
1
6,629
4,101
1,607
1,604
1,093
538
279
824
773
28
28
7
Height
to
Width
to
843
843
843
18
12
9
9
8
Material: Ormolu
One Piece Engraved Repeating Carriage Clock
Located in Amersham, GB
A fine early repeating carriage clock in an engraved one piece case. With a gilt engin turned mask, and a white enamel dial and roman numerals.
The gilded case is engraved with foliate scrollwork, the 8 day repeating movement with English lever platform escapement strikes on a gong, is regulated by a silvered english lever platform escapement, although unsigned this clock is of the highest quality and is likely to have been made by one of the great Parisian makers. The gong block is signed FD in an oval cartouche, this supplier was used by both Henri Jacot...
Category
1850s French Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Brass, Enamel, Steel, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Empire Style Ormolu Clock By Etienne Maxant Paris
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 16 in W: 7 1/2 in D: 4 1/4 in
This exceptional 19th-century French Empire-style bronze ormolu clock, crafted by the renowned Parisian clockmaker Etienne Maxant and r...
Category
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Early 19th Century Sèvres Neoclassical Ormolu and Bisque Porcelain Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Period early 19th century Directoire clock attributed to Sèvres. Beautifully sculpted biscuit porcelain in white and Wedgwood blue jasper ware col...
Category
Early 19th Century French Directoire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th century French Empire Period Elm Barometer signed Gabriel
Located in London, GB
Empire Cistern Barometer by Gabriel
Of rectangular form, with the case waisted, veneered in burr elm with mounts in the manner of Percier and Fontaine, of cistern type, with bronze ...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Directoire Egyptian Style Mantel Clock Signed Leclerc
Located in London, GB
Beautiful antique French Directoire period Egyptian or Gout d'Egypt ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock. Superb quality and condition of the entir...
Category
1790s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Louis XV Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock by Balthazar
By Michel Baltazar
Located in London, GB
This mantel clock beautifully illustrates the classical myth of ‘The Abduction of Europa’. In this story, the god Zeus falls in love with a mortal woman called Europa. To seduce her, Zeus transforms himself into a white bull. Europa then mounts the bull and Zeus whisks her away from her home to Crete. Europa becomes the Queen of Crete and bears Zeus several children.
The clock takes the form of a patinated bronze bull which is saddled with a gilt bronze (ormolu) clock case. This case features a circular white enamel dial with black Roman and Arabic Numerals, as well as the maker’s name ‘Michel Baltazar...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
Late 19th Century Mathieu Planchon Belle Epoque French Cartel Clock
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine late 19th century French Belle Epoque mounted bronze Dòre flame mahogany Cartel wall clock. The clock features a circular white enamel dial, which is inscribed with both Roman Numerals and Arabic Numbers. beautifully incised gilt hands and convex glass inscribed "Planchon A Paris".
Circa 1880
French
Mathieu Planchon apprenticed with his father, served several years with other clockmakers including Robert-Houdin and then went into business for himself eventually opening his shop at the Palais Royal in 1890. He was a skilled maker who was influenced by both earlier decorative trends and the ingenious clocks originally designed by Nicolas Grollier De Servierè that were illustrated in DeServierè’s catalog .
Antique cartel clocks...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Gilt Bronze Mounted Malachite Turning Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique French gilt bronze mounted malachite turning mantel clock
French, late 19th century
Measures: Height 75cm, width 28cm, depth 25.5cm
The malachite mantel clock case is st...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique French Japonisme Mantel Clock with Floral Champlevé Enamel
Located in London, GB
Antique French Japonisme mantel clock with floral Champlevé enamel
French, late 19th century
Dimensions: Height 51cm, width 27.5cm, depth 22cm
Beautifully wrought from patinated bronze and champlevé enamel, this mantel clock is designed in the Japonisme style. The style was popular in 19th Century Europe following the opening of Japan to trade and cultural exchange.
The clock stands on four cabriole feet, with a pierced Japanese style apron to the bottom. The central case is stepped, with the main section of rectangular profile, and mounted with pierced patinated bronze vines...
Category
Late 19th Century French Japonisme Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Antique Empire Period Gilt Bronze Clock by Pierre-Philippe Thomire
Located in London, GB
Antique Empire period gilt bronze clock by Pierre-Philippe Thomire
French, Early 19th Century
Height 45cm, width 29cm, depth 19cm
This superb gilt bronze clock, created by the renow...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Second Empire Period Patinated and Gilt Bronze Three-Piece Clock Set
Located in London, GB
This three-piece mantel clock set contains a clock and two candelabra. The set was produced circa 1860, during the Napoleon III period, and demonstrates the eclecticism typical to de...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Louis XVI Ormolu Mounted Black and White Marble Mantel Clock, Paris, 1800
Located in Belmont, MA
Louis XVI ormolu-mounted black and white marble mantel clock, Paris, 1800.
The white enamel dial with black Arabic numerals is contained ...
Category
1790s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
$4,720 Sale Price
20% Off
Large Empire Period Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Large Empire period gilt bronze mantel clock
French, early 19th Century
Measures: Height 52cm, width 28cm, depth 17.5cm
This superb Empi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
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 Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
French Empire Gilt Bronze Clock
Located in London, GB
French Empire gilt bronze clock
French, early 19th century
Measures: Height 38cm, width 27cm, depth 10cm
This fine gilt bronze man...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Ormolu Mantel Clock by Lemerle-Charpentier & Cie.
Located in North Miami, FL
Late 19th century french Louis XVI ormolu gilt bronze mantel clock by Lemerle-Charpentier & Cie.
By: Lemerle-Charpentier & Cie.
Materi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Metal, Bronze
French Ormolu 'Chariot' Table Clock
By Japy Frères
Located in Norwich, GB
Fine French Ormolu table clock featuring a beautifully decorated base with cherub and classical scenes resting on an ormolu outswept base with flo...
Category
1870s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Restauration Period Clock in Gilt Bronze, Romantic School
Located in BARSAC, FR
Superb clock in finely chiseled gilt bronze from the restoration period (circa 1830) presenting a scene characteristic of the romantic movement of the ti...
Category
1820s French Romantic Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Fine 19th Century French Ormolu and Bronze Mantel Clock with Marble Case
Located in Worcester, GB
Fine 19th Century French Ormolu and Bronze Mantel Clock with Marble Case
A finely cast French mantel clock dating to the third quarter of the 19th century, in the Louis XVI revival s...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique French Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze and White Marble Lyre Form Clock Set
Located in New York, NY
The exquisite and fine set comprises a central lyre-form mantel clock and a pair of matching candelabra, all constructed in white marble mounted with gilt bronze. The clock’s lyre-sh...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French 18th Century Louis XVI Period Ormolu and Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely elegant and very high-quality French 18th century Louis XVI period ormolu, Bleu Turquin and white Carrara marble clock signed by Jean-Baptiste Dutertre. The clock is rai...
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
A Louis XVI Ormolu and White Marble Mantel Clock of Cupid
Located in New York, NY
A Louis XVI Ormolu and White Marble Mantel Clock of Cupid
A magnificent and large clock with gilt bronze Cupid mounted to the clock face. He is flanked by a painter's palette and a...
Category
Late 19th Century Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
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 ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Louis XV Cartel D'applique
Located in Amersham, GB
This beautiful small cartel clock dates from the late 1760’s. This rare survivor is in excellent original condition, the large circular eight day movement strikes the hours on a bell...
Category
1760s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Brass, Enamel, Steel, Ormolu
Sèvres Style Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Carriage Clock
Located in London, GB
This beautiful clock was crafted in circa 1870 in France. Known as a carriage clock, it was designed for use when travelling. Such clocks were crafted on a small scale with handles, ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Napoleon III mantel clock in ormolu and pink porcelain
Located in London, GB
A most attractive French porcelain and ormolu mantel clock with a profusion of porcelain panels. The original gilding is in excellent condition and there are lovely silver highlights...
Category
1870s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Neoclassical Style Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This ormolu (gilt bronze) mantel clock is a stunning piece of design, which features beautiful neoclassical style low-relief decorations and three-dimensional sculptures.
The clock takes the form of a tall rectangular case with a circular white enamel dial near its top. This dial features black Roman Numerals and the maker’s signature, ‘Robin/ à Paris’. The dial is displayed behind a glass lens within a foliate bezel. The case is decorated in its upper corners with rosettes, and in the lower section with a stylised depiction of a swan. The case is topped by a sculpture of a wreath, propped up on a roll of paper or parchment. To the left of the case, there is a full-length statue of a man who wears a classical robe and holds a mirror. A lyre leans against the right side of the case.
The clock is set on a wide rectangular base which is decorated with a low-relief scene taken from the classical myth of Dido and Aeneas...
Category
Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
Victorian ebonised chimming mantle clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive Victorian period ebonised, chimming three train mantle clock on bells and gong. The eight day duration movement strikes on the hour and half hour. (strike silent op...
Category
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Patinated Bronze and Onyx Mantel Clock by Mercié and Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
Antique patinated bronze and onyx mantel clock by Mercié and Barbedienne
French, Late 19th Century
Height 113cm, width 58cm, depth 40cm
Two renowned French makers, Antonin Mercié (...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Onyx, Bronze, Ormolu
French Ormolu and Blue Porcelain Four Seasons Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
French ormolu and blue porcelain mantel clock. The blue porcelain with blue ground and decorated with baskets of flowers, fruit and doves, ...
Category
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Bronze and Ormolu Clock, 19th Century, French, Silk Suspension Striking
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century French bronze and ormolu eight day silk suspension striking clock contained in ornate case surmounted by well-cast and gadrooned urn...
Category
Early 19th Century French Regency Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Ormolu Mantle Clock in Orientalist Motif
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century French Ormolu Mantle Clock in "Orientalist" Motif, circa 1850, a romantic movement/Orientalist ormolu clock with ornate baroque case surmounted by an Arabic rider on rearing steed, with sabre drawn overhead, an enamel dial with Roman numerals, bell-strike mechanism by F.L. Hausburg, Paris, and marked on dial "Medaille d'Argent, Vincenti and Cie...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Moorish Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Charles X Period Gilt-Bronze and Malachite Sculptural Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Charles X period gilt-bronze and malachite sculptural mantel clock.
French, c.1830.
Measures: height 55cm, width 40cm, depth 18cm.
Mounted by a seated maiden in robes with books to her feet upon a circular dial with enamelled chapter ring, and set on a base with further bronze icons and acanthus darting, this excellent piece is a large mantel clock...
Category
Early 19th Century French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
Burr Walnut and Ormolu Desk Set Signed Appay a Paris
Located in London, GB
Burr walnut and ormolu desk set signed Appay a Paris. A very smart Parisian turn of the 19th century desk set comprising a pair of inkwells with a pin drawer and an 8 day clock above...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu 8 Day Mantle Clock
Located in London, GB
An early 19th Century French bronze & ormolu 8-Day striking Clock with silver dial (stamped Douon on inner plate and one spring dated 1824) mounted in unusual bronze & ormolu case depicting centurion slaying dragon...
Category
19th Century French Regency Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Mounted Clock Set by Denière
Located in London, GB
This clock set contains a mantel clock and a pair of candelabra. The central mantel clock is formed of a rectangular gilt bronze mounted grey marble base. Raised on four gilt bronze ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
French Mantle Clock Garniture in the Louis XVI Manner
Located in London, GB
Constructed in gilt bronze and decorated with champleve´ enamel; the candelabra have toupie feet supporting the shaped circular bases, on which winged cherubs hold two armed candle a...
Category
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
18th Century French Directoire Ormolu and Enamel Clock by Deverberie
Located in Essex, MA
Period French marble and ormolu mantel clock with sunburst or sun king motif original works. Gilding in great condition. Neoclassical form with enamel embellishments in great conditi...
Category
Late 18th Century French Directoire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Early and Fine Bronze, Ormolu and Specimen Marble Clock with Cupid
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A large, fine and exquisite, early antique French clock depicting cupid holding a sharpened golden arrow. It is of stunning quality and fully serviced and tested by our clockmakers. ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Very Fine Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Very Fine Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock
The clock face is flanked by one child playing the french horn,the other playing with finger cymbals, all raised on an elabor...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Louis XVI Marble Gold Ormolu Gilt Bronze Cercle Tournant Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique Louis XVI Marble Gold Ormolu Gilt Bronze Cercle Tournant Mantel Clock
French, Late 18th Century
Height 40cm, diameter 28cm
Dating to the late 1700s, during the reign of Ki...
Category
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Enamel, Ormolu
Portico clock
Located in Atlanta, GA
Superb gilt bronze portico clock signed M. Morer, Rue Dauphine, Paris. L Dalton signed by hand on the pendulum.
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$12,600
Ormolu Mantel Clock, Belgium, circa 1810-1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Empire ormolu mantel clock, Belgium, circa 1810, Signed "J.B. Romaet a Gand". Decorated with a shepherd scene. Strikes the hour and half hour on a bell. With enamel clock face and si...
Category
1810s Belgian Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Alabaster, Ormolu and Silvered Bronze Clock Set in the Neo-Grec Style
Located in London, GB
Antique Alabaster, Ormolu and Silvered Bronze Clock Set in the Neo-Grec Style
French, Late 19th Century
Clock: Height 55cm, width 33cm, depth 16cm
Candelabra: Height 62.5cm, width 1...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Alabaster, Silver Plate, Bronze, Ormolu
English Regency Bronze Arcadian "Genre" Mantel Clock of Boy Feeding Chickens
Located in London, GB
Unusual Antique English Regency bronze "genre" mantel clock genre clock . In the " Arcadian" genre manner made popular in France by Marie Antoinette and then later by the Empress Josephine. I have had the French Empire model of this clock and this is an English version of that model. The subject is of a boy feeding chickens grain out of his hat. Set upon an oval base with toupe feet and an applied ormolu mount of chicken feeding. The clock dial and movement housed within a chicken coup decorated with applied mounts to each side of flowers in a pot...
Category
1820s English Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Sèvres Style Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This Sèvres style clock is an elegant piece of late 19th century design, which will make a wonderful addition to a mantelpiece. It has been beautifully cast in bronze and gilded (orm...
Category
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
French Empire Ormolu mantel clock resting on four turned feet supporting an oval base with raised garland and zig-zag rope decoration...
Category
Early 1800s French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and very high quality French 19th century Louis XV st. ormolu clock. The clock is raised by most elegant scroll acanthus leaves centering a beautiful foliate reserve. ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Large 19th Century French Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive 19th century French gilded ormolu and Severs porcelain mantel clock. Having putti on either side, holding garlands of flowers. Inset hand-painted Sevres porcelain p...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
A most decorative French 19th century Louis XVI st. Onyx and Ormolu mantel clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A unique and most decorative French 19th century Louis XVI st. Onyx and Ormolu mantel clock. This exceptional clock themed around the classical art is raised on ball feet below a two...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Onyx, Ormolu
19th Century Sevres Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality 19th century French Sevres porcelain and gilded ormolu clock garniture. Having a very impressive pair of five branch candelabra each...
Category
1890s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$76,322 / set
Gilt bronze garniture set
Located in Atlanta, GA
Very fine gilt bronze Rococo style garniture set depicting frolicking cherubs and a satyr. The clock is 31 inches high and 24 inches wide. The candelabra...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$75,000 / set
Antique French Pink Marble & Ormolu 3 Piece Clock Garniture Set, Circa 1880-1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Pink Marble and Ormolu 3 Piece Clock Garniture Set, Circa 1880-1890.
Clock: 18" High x 8" Wide x 5 1/2" Deep
Candelabra (2): 13" High x 10...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Arch top French mantel clock in a finely decorated Ormolu case with classical scene to the front, standing on a mahogany base with brass banding and resting on brass feet.
Enamel ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French, rare Champleve enamel and ormolu mantel clock
Located in London, GB
French antique, rare Champleve enamel and ormolu mantel clock. A very rare model with two good figures of cupids holding up the platform on which the clock face rests and the swags a...
Category
1890s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
French 19th Century Ormolu Cartel Wall Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu wall clock, having Rococo influences to the scroll foliate decoration and cherubs above the eight day striking movement, circa 1880.
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Ormolu and Porcelain Panel Mantel Clock, A.B.Savory, Cornhill
Located in Norwich, GB
Ormolu and Porcelain Panel Mantel Clock
Ormolu figural mantel clock with beautifully cast maiden in flowing robes holding a bunch of grapes towards a ...
Category
1860s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Japanism Champleve Enamel Ormolu Mounted Clock, Christofle & Cie, 1800s
Located in New York, NY
French Japanism Champlevé Enamel Ormolu Mounted Clock, Christofle & Cie. The clock consists of a spherical champlevé enamel body mounted in an ormolu structure. The enamel surface i...
Category
19th Century French Japonisme Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Enamel
A Rare 18th C. French Dore Bronze Clock w/ Putti & Musician, Att. Robert Osmond
Located in New York, NY
A Magnificent and Rare French 18th-Century Doré Bronze Mantel Clock Attributed to Robert Osmond. The clock is designed in the form of an urn, supported by a central pedestal and a re...
Category
1750s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
English Egyptian Revival Mantel Clock with Fusee Movement by Moore of London
Located in London, GB
A fabulous and very rare antique English, Egyptian revival mantel clock with fusee movement by John Moore and Sons of London. This clock has a number of very unusual features. Constr...
Category
1860s English Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, 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.
More Ways To Browse
Clocks With Birds
Deniere A Paris
English Regency Clocks
Green Marble Clock
Library Clock
Louis Xv Boulle Clock
Pink Mantel Clock
Portico Marble Clock
Psyche Clock
Regency Bracket Clock
Antique Calendar Clocks
Antique Guilloche Miniature Clock
Art Nouveau Bronze Clock
Clock Horse
French Art Deco Mantle Clock
Inlaid Grandfather Clock
Le Roy Paris
Mantel Clock With Angel Gold