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Material: Ormolu
Empire Period Gilt Bronze Figurative Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Empire period gilt bronze figurative mantel clock
French, early 19th century
Measures: Height 33cm, width 31cm, depth 12cm
This superb mantel clock is a wonderful example of the...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
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...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
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 Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Giant Rouge Marble Carriage Clock
By A.D. Mougin
Located in Amersham, GB
This oversized 'Carriage clock' in an xquisite rouge marble case with gilded mounts and handle, has an eight day movement with english lever platform escapement striking on a bell. T...
Category
1870s French Late Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Griotte Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Sèvres Style Ormolu-Mounted Porcelain Figural Clockset
Located in New York, NY
A fine quality 19th century Sèvres ormolu-mounted porcelain clockset.
Origin: French
Date: 19th century
Dimension: Clock: 25 in high; Urns: 24 in high.
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century (Early) French Clock Marble & Ormolu
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century (Early) French Clock Marble & Ormolu
Unique clock purchased in France. Gorgeous Marble. impeccable condition.
See Detailed Pics.
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Louis Xvith Period Lyre Clock
Located in London, GB
A very attractive Louis XVIth period French antique mantel clock of lyre form. Set on four shaped feet the sharp ended oval base with inset ormol...
Category
1780s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Minature Onyx + Ormolu Table/Mantel Clock, Late 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An unusual late 19th Century French minature gilded ormolu and carved Onyx mantle clock, in the style of a Louis XVI longcase clock. Having an enamel clock face and classical mounts....
Category
Late 19th Century French Empire Revival Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Onyx, 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 Clock, Directoire Period, Portico Form, Signed Revel Paris
Located in London, GB
A French Directoire ormolu mounted black marble portico clock of Egyptian temple form. Set upon ormolu toupee feet with a rectangular black marble base. Black marble columns rise up ...
Category
1790s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu
Continental Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Clock, signed Imperial
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most decorative Continental Turn of the Century Louis XVI st. Ormolu, Vert Antique marble and patinated Bronze clock, signed Imperial. The clock is raised on six Ormol...
Category
20th Century Unknown Louis XVI Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Rococo Cartel Wall Clock, in the Louis XVI Style
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive 19th century Louis XVI style gilded ormolu and patinated bronze sun burst cartel wall clock. Depicting cherubs among clouds and sun rays. The white enamel clock fac...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Charles X Musical Ormolu Mantel Clock of Gaius Marius Signed Robert Houdi
By Robert Houdin
Located in London, GB
An extremely rare antique French Charles X period ormolu musical mantel clock of Gaius Marius amidst the ruins of Carthage by the noted maker Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin. The superb an...
Category
1820s French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
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
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...
Category
1820s French Louis Philippe Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique early 19th century French red marble and ormolu clock garniture
Located in London, GB
An impressive early 19th Century French bronze & ormolu Clock Garniture comprising a pair of campana shaped Urns with satyr mask carrying handles supported on red marble plinths with...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
18th Century French Louis XVI Marble & Gilt Bronze Portico Clock C. Bertrand
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A monumental 18th Century Portico clock signed by Charles Bertrand. It is of the classical style of Louis XVI, made of white marble mounted with ormolu decoration. The movement is he...
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Large Antique French Empire Style Bronze and Marble Figural Clock
Located in New York, NY
A Large Antique French Empire style figural patinated bronze, gilt bronze and green marble clock depicting two neoclassical figures.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Sèvres Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Three-Piece Clock Set
Located in London, GB
This exquisite clock set is designed in an elegant 18th-Century Rococo manner, in the style of Sèvres porcelain wares. Rococo is characterised by its use of pastel colours, graceful ...
Category
19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Beautiful Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze and Marble Clock Set – Lieutaud Paris
By Balthazar Lieutaud
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Beautiful Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze and Marble Three Piece Clock Set – Lieutaud Paris
The excellent quality clock case in white marble with figures of Venus and Cupid embracin...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French Ormolu and Porcelain Panel Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
French Ormolu and porcelain mantel clock
French ormolu mantel clock standing on a beaded oval base and resting on a mahogany plinth.
Floral swag decoration to either side of the dial.
The enamel dial with Roman numerals, original ‘blued’ steel hands signed ‘HRY Marc, Paris.
Finely painted porcelain panel...
Category
19th Century French Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
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, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Patinated Bronze Putto Seated on a Gilt Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
A Majestic patinated bronze putto seated on a gilt mantel clock.
Modelled with a seated putto holding two doves, the putto leaning over a gilt mantel clock with garland, surmounted ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Marble and Ormolu Clock, Signed Simona a Paris
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular and extremely high quality French early 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu clock, signed Simona à Paris, circa 1819. The clock is raised by six elegant topie shaped feet below the exceptional and most decorative scallop shaped white Carrara marble base. The base displays an exceptional stepped design and beautiful pierced baluster like wrap around ormolu gallery with a fine twisted ribbon fillet and central rosette. Leading up each side are impressive columns raised by square supports with exceptional concave sides decorated with fitted pierced foliate ormolu mounts, and rosettes encased by unique posts and chains. The columns are each adorned with lovely swaging ormolu fabrics, tassels, and an exquisite array of beaded and twisted ribbon ormolu fillets leading upwards to the superb ball and chain pendants. Above the beautiful pendulum with two intricately detailed rooster heads and central sun mask is the elegant enameled clock face with Arabic hour and minute markers with pieced hands with the rare inclusion of a second hand framed within an outstanding and finely detailed ormolu band of intertwined ropes. Above is a handsome richly chased Roman soldier wearing a cape and holding a dagger and sheath...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Champleve Enamel and Ormolu Clock Set
Located in New York, NY
Fine quality and attractive French champleve gilt bronze and light blue champleve enamel clock set. Retailed by Camerden & Forster, New York. Gilt bronze and champleve enamel.
Or...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
Lemerle-Charpentier & Compagnie Red Marble, Gilt and Patinated Bronze Clock Set
Located in London, GB
This fine and ornate antique clock set by Lemerle-Charpentier & Compagnie comprises a clock and two flanking candelabra. The asymmetrical clock is set on a red marble base with ormolu feet and features a central relief panel in patinated bronze. The circular red marble clock...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
French Ormolu Mantel Clock with Champleve Decoration by Japy Freres
By Japy Frères
Located in Norwich, GB
French gilt ormolu mantle clock with beautiful champlevé decoration with turned pilasters, architectural pediment with four turned finials.
Gilded chapter ring with Roman numerals...
Category
1870s French Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
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
19th Century Sèvres Style Ormolu and Painted Porcelain Clock Set
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite 19th century French gilt bronze and hand painted jeweled Sevres Porcelain clock set.
Fine gilt bronze and hand painted jeweled...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Directoire Period Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock Signed Maniere
By C. Maniere
Located in London, GB
French Directoire period ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock signed Maniere a Paris. A magnificent antique French Directoire mantel clock in patinated bronze and finest ormolu signed Maniere a Paris for Charles-Guillaume Maniere who was working in the Rue...
Category
Early 1800s French Directoire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Empire Period Mantle Clock by Leroy a Paris
Located in Montreal, QC
This mantle clock is by a well-respected Paris maker in a fashionable style. The oval base supports a vase shaped clock case in turn supported by winged dolphin heads and flanked by ...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Monumental Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze and Marble Clock with Putti in the Clouds
Located in New York, NY
A fine Louis XVI-style large gilt-bronze and greige Rococo marble figural mantel clock is surmounted by three dore bronze putti figures hanging floral adornments among clouds with lo...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
English Regency Antique Miniature Mantel Clock in Patinated Bronze and Ormolu
Located in London, GB
A small and unusual patinated bronze and ormolu English Regency mantel clock. Set on four feet the shaped base with ormolu mounts. A putti stands beside the clock housing with his arm raised. The clock is surmounted by a gilt bronze finial. The convex white enamel dial is in fine condition. The 30 hour fusee...
Category
1810s English Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Ormolu Mantel Hen House Clock
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century French ormolu mantel clock, having 8-day movement with enamel dial, mounted in “hen house” with urn and flower mounts to side, the oval...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Neoclassical Malachite and Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
French neoclassical malachite and gilt bronze mantel clock
French, circa 1830
Measures: Height 51cm, width 33cm, depth 14cm
This mantel ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Annular Signed Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most spectacular and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble, ormolu and patinated bronze annular clock, signed MARTI, circa 1840. Raised by a...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
English Victorian Ormolu Horseshoe Clock in Original Box
Located in London, GB
An English ormolu horseshoe clock in the manner of Thomas Cole. Small 3/4 plate movement with dust covers to rear for wind, adjust and regulate. Fine original silvered bronze dial wi...
Category
1860s English Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
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...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
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
C19th French Gilded ormolu Clock set.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A French late 19th Century Louis XVI style gilded ormolu clock set. The clock having a classical urn mounted to the top, Lion mask drop handles either...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Pink Porcelain and Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
An attractive French Napoleon III antique mantel clock in original ormolu and fine pink, handpainted and jewelled porcelain. The clock sits upon its ori...
Category
1870s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Louis XVI Style Mantel Clock + Candelabra, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality mid 19th Century French gilded ormolu Louis XVI style mantel clock with a matched pair of classical five brach candelabra, with putti supporting cornucopia. The c...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Large French Charles X Period Ormolu Clock Representing Ceres
Located in London, GB
Large French Charles X period ormolu clock representing Ceres. A monumental clock of very fine quality and with totally original fire gilded ormolu. T...
Category
1820s French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century French Clock Garniture By Prosper Roussel Of Paris
Located in Dublin, IE
A stunning ormolu and onyx mantle clock with garniture. Surmounted by a seated cupid on a octagonal shaped base with a wreath border, twin barrel movement striking on a bell ,an enamel dial with the hours and minutes in Roman numerals respectively, the dial signed Prosper Roussel...
Category
19th Century French Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Onyx, Ormolu
French 19th Century NeoClassical St. Marble & Ormolu Obelisk Shaped Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and unique French early 19th century Neo-Classical st. white Carrara marble and ormolu obelisk shaped clock. The clock is raised by a rectangular white Carrara marble base with a thick bottom ormolu band and superb richly chased fitted ormolu plaques with the front plaque depicting a bearded man laying outside draped in fur with trees and a ruin in the background and the side plaques depicting beautiful pierced palmettes. At the center are exquisite panther like sphinges flanking draped garlands and superb most decorative bucranium amidst stars at the center. The white enameled clock face displays elegant pierced foliate hands and Arabic hour markings framed within a mottled ormolu bezel. Leading upwards is a wonderfully executed fitted ormolu plaque of a beautiful richly chased maiden draped in flowing period attire throwing flowers...
Category
Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France
Located in New York, NY
Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France. A French mantel clock in gilt bronze. Neoclassical symbols such Cup...
Category
Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Large 19th Century French Bronze Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An enchanting 19th century French gilded ormolu and patinated bronze Louis XVI style clock garniture.
The four branch, Rococo influenced candelabra each supported by three classical...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze and Malachite Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Neoclassical style gilt bronze and malachite mantel clock
French, late 19th Century
Measures: Height 47cm, width 19cm, depth 19cm
This wonderful Louis XVI style mantel clock is designed in malachite and gilt bronze—with the malachite being a later veneer. The clock takes after a famous original 1775 model by Brécourt, known as 'Vase pendule...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, 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
Charles X French Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Clock Celebrating Hero and Leander
Located in London, GB
French Charles X period patinated bronze and original mercury gilded ormolu "Borne" clock. Fine clock with superb ormolu in the shape of a borne (or milestone). The subject that of Hero and Leander. He sits by an altar as Hero anoints his hair. The clock takes its inspiration directly from the superb paiting "Hero et Leandre" by Pierre-Claude-Francois Delorme ( 1783-1859) presented to the Salon in Paris in 1814. Superb modelling, finishing and gilding. The patinated bronze case is surrounded at the front by a very fine ormolu moulding decorated with Acanthis leaf and Amthemion outside of a beaded border. The feet are decorated with a flaming torch passing through two wreaths. The fine dial decorated again with an outer border of stiff leaf and dart pattern, then Acanthus and Amthemion to the middle circle while to the inside the decoration is laurel leaf and forget-me-not flowers. The dial is signed " Charles Oudin...
Category
1820s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Revolving Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful late 19th century French Annular Louis XVI style gilded ormolu revolving mantel clock, depicting putti representing the arts and music, either side of a rotating tole urn...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XIV 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
Antique Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Figurative Mantel Clock by Dasson
By Henry Dasson
Located in London, GB
Antique patinated bronze and ormolu figurative mantel clock by Dasson
French, 1888
Measures: Height 30cm, width 30cm, depth 13cm
This fine mantel clock is by the celebrated make...
Category
1880s French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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 Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
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 Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Ormolu Clock of Borne Shape and of Hero and Leander
Located in London, GB
French Charles X period patinated bronze and original mercury gilded ormolu "Borne" clock.
Fine clock with superb ormolu in the shape of a borne (or milestone).
The subject that of...
Category
1820s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and white Carrara marble clock. The clock is raised by fine circular ormolu supports below the demi lune shaped white Carrara marb...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Mantle Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French late 19th century gilded ormolu and champleve enamel mantel (fireplace) clock. Having urns and a cherub above the eight day clock that chimes...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, 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.