Ormolu Clocks
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Material: Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Garniture Set, By Jacques Gudin
By Jacques-Gérôme Gudin
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful French 19th century Louis XVI st. Rouge Griotte marble, Ormolu, and patinated Bronze three piece garniture set, by Jacques Gudin, Paris, circa 1820. The elegant set inclu...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Belle Époque Period Bronze, Ormolu and Marble Clock
By Henry Dasson
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period patinated bronze, ormolu, and Rouge Griotte marble clock attributed to Henry Dasson. The c...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Louis XV Tortoiseshell Boulle Clock by St Martin, Paris, circa 1720
Located in Norwich, GB
Louis XV tortoiseshell Boulle Timepiece with ‘Silent’ pull quarter repeat by St. Martin, Paris, circa 1720
Waisted case with fine ormolu mounts and cut brass inlay to the stained tortoiseshell with ‘mother of pearl’ and coloured floral decoration. Gilded top surmounted by a cherub feeding through a straw from a scallop shell over leafy corner mounts. Shaped bead-bordered glazed door applied with an apron mount of a child chromos holding a sandglass and staff, set within a leafy trail surround. Brass lined recessed arch windows to the sides, the interior of the case with symmetrical Rococo panel...
Category
1720s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Neo-Classical Period Marble, Ormolu, & Bronze Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and finely detailed French 19th century Neo-Classical period Alabaster, Ormolu, Sainte-Anne Grand Dessin marble, and patinated Bronze annu...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Sèvres Style Ormolu and Cobalt-Blue Painted Porcelain Clockset
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent Sèvres style gilt bronze and cobalt-blue 'Jeweled' painted porcelain clockset.
The central clock case surmounted by a ruby and pearl 'jeweled' coupe flanked by bracket...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French 19th Century Ormolu and Porcelain Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive late 19th century French gilded ormolu and cobalt blue porcelain urn clock set, the clock having seated putti holding garl...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Clock Signed Cheuret À Marseilles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely decorative and large scale French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu clock signed Cheuret à Marseilles. The clock is raised on topie feet below a straight frieze with pro...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French White Marble Clock Retailed by Tiffany, 19th Century
Located in Cypress, CA
Remarkable 19th century French Louis XVI style ormolu mounted white marble clock with love birds.
Retailed by Tiffany.
The clock is surmounted...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Enamel
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Belle Époque Period Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period ormolu clock. The clock is raised by elegant block feet with fine fluted and les oves designs. Impressive mirrored ...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Marble mantle clock and calendar.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th Century black and rouge marble mantle clock with calendar. Having a gilded ormolu foliate mount to the top, a gilded clock face with an eight day, hour and h...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Breccia Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Sévres Porcelain And Ormolu Annular Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Sévres porcelain and Ormolu annular clock. The clock is raised by a square Ormolu base with a Coeur de Rai border des...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Porcelain and Ormolu Mantel Clock Stamped in Bronze H. Picard
By Henri Picard
Located in London, GB
French Ormolu and porcelain mantel clock of Classical design dating from the mid-19th century stamped in the mint and original Ormolu H. Picard. Numbered in the bronze, 1297. The original ormolu is in quite pristine and totally original condition. The case inset with painted porcelain panels with fruit and floral decoration in the classical style. The clock surmounted by a Bacchanalian mask and two handled vase with grapes, standing on six vase shaped feet on a velvet plinth...
Category
1850s French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Charles X Period Mantel Clock in Ormolu and Patinated Bronze
Located in London, GB
A very smart and stylish antique French Charles X period mantel clock in ormolu and patinated bronze with original ormolu throughout and surmounted by a fine ormolu urn on a stepped base. The clock signed on the dial "Mallet Hr. de Mg le Duc d'Orleans". The clock is set on decorated ormolu block feet and is constructed of patinated bronze with ormolu mouldings and applied ormolu mounts. A fine ormolu moulding is above the base and above this is a fine mount of a lyre surrounded by volumes of book and laurel. To the top of the clock is a superb ormolu urn decorated with scenes of putti playing, or holding an arrow of love or patting the dog...
Category
1820s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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 Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th century Belle Époque period Louis XVI st. patinated Bronze, clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A lovely and high quality French 19th century Belle Époque period Louis XVI st. patinated Bronze, Ormolu, and Rouge Griotte marble clock, signed Falconet. This stunning miniature tim...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French Directoire or Empire Clock with Cupid Riding a Dog
Located in London, GB
Magnificent and very rare French Directoire or Empire clock in patinated bronze and the finest highly worked ormolu. Set upon toupee feet below a rectangular ormolu base with applied...
Category
1790s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Three-Piece Onyx and Ormolu Garniture Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very handsome French 19th century Louis XVI st. 3-piece onyx and ormolu garniture set. The three urns, each with a green onyx body are raised on concave c...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Onyx, Ormolu
French Champleve enamel clock set, 19th Century.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French gilded ormolu and champleve enamel clock set. The matching three brach candelabra with scrolling foliate rococo style decoration and bold...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
French 18th Century Louis XV Period/Louis XVI Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu nine light chandelier. The chandelier is centered by an outstanding bottom acorn inverted finial amidst richly chased acanthus leaf patterns. Each S scrolled arm is decorated with fine acanthus leaves ending in striking floral candle cups and reeded twisted bobeches. The reeded straight central fut leads up to a large, attractive acanthus leaf canopy. With all original gilt throughout. Julien Le Roy (1686-1759) a renowned 18th Century Parisian...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
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...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Three-Piece Tortoiseshell and Gilt Bronze Clock Set
Located in London, GB
French three-piece tortoiseshell and gilt bronze clock set
French, late 19th century
Clock: Height 55cm, width 26cm, depth 15cm
Candelabra: Height 46cm, width 22cm, depth 20cm
...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Greek Revolution or Hellenistic Clock of Marmaluke
Located in London, GB
Greek Revolution or Hellenistic clock of Marmaluke. Constructed of patinated bronze and ormolu, the fire gilt/mercury gilding in excellent original condition. The Marmaluke is laying on an animal skin blanket, wearing a turban with a blue jewel to the top and has a dagger in his hand. The naturalistic base is in patinated bronze with ormolu paw feet with an ormolu acanthus swag between . There is also an applied ormolu mount of a wreath. The dial is of white enamel with blued steel hands. The movement has been changed at some point in its past to an English movement signed Townsend London. The movement is an adapted English Sedan clock...
Category
1820s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Antique Ormolu Mounted Porcelain Japonisme Style Garniture Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine antique 19th century French gilt bronze and hand painted porcelain 3-piece clock set in the Japonisme style. The clock finely decorated with porcelain plaques, painted in the Japanese style with Cherry blossom branches. The front plaque features a Sulphur-crested cockatoo with a red sun in the sky on the right. The clock’s rectangular body is crowned by an arched top which contains a circular porcelain dial. This dial features a painting of a pair of birds on a cherry branch at its center, encircled by black Roman Numerals within white cartouches. The shoulders of the clock are mounted with gilt bronze elephant...
Category
Late 19th Century French Japonisme Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Rare 19th Century Sevres Style Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very fine quality French late 19th century Sevres style and gilded ormolu clock garniture. Having a pair of four branch candelabra, each with ram's head and female mask mounts, dra...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
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
19th Century Antique French Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze Clock Garniture
Located in Dublin, IE
An exceptional quality three-piece clock set designed in a grand neoclassical style by 'Domange Rollin Rue de Bretagne Paris'. France.
The set is comprised of a central clock and tw...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
A Diminutive Bracket Clock by Adams of Lombard Street
By Adams
Located in Amersham, GB
A rosewood and ormolu mounted bracket clock. With an eight day twin fusee movement, signed Adams of Lombard Street on the 5 inch silvered dial and movement back plate. Striking on a ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English William IV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
French 19th Century Napoleon III Period Marble, Ormolu and Bronze Garniture Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French 19th century Napoleon III period black Belgian marble, ormolu and patinated bronze garniture set. The three pi...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Fine 19th century French ormolu mantel clock (pendule) by Leroy a Paris, c. 1825
By LeRoy
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...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
French Louis XVI Style Mid-19th Century Ormolu and Rouge Griotte Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and very high quality French mid-19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble clock, stamped L. Oudry, Paris. The c...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Charles X Clock with Bust of Apollo
Located in London, GB
French Charles X patinated bronze, ormolu and black marble clock with bust of Apollo. Very well proportioned clock with a fine bronze taken from the classical marble of Apollo. The bronze was created by the feted Paris bronziers of Choiselat and Gallien who also made some of the fine bronze clocks of "Jason and the Golden fleece...
Category
1830s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Siena Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Marble and Ormolu Lyre Clock in the Louis XVI Style
Located in London, GB
A French Clock Garniture
in the Louis XVI Manner
The clock and its accompanying candelabra constructed in gilt bronze mounted Italian Carrara marble; the timepiece with stepped elli...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Napoleon III Period Boulle Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking high quality French 19th century Napoleon III period ormolu, tortoiseshell, and brass inlaid Boulle clock. The clock is raised by handsome ormolu paw feet with acanthus le...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
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...
Category
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Large 19th Century French Ormolu Clock Garniture in the Louis XVI Style
Located in Dublin, IE
Measures: H: 25 1/2 in / 64.7 cm ; W: 22 1/4 in / 56.5 cm ; D: 9 1/2 in / 24.2 cm
An exceptional quality three-piece clock set designed in a grand neoclassical.
The set is compri...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. White Carrara Marble and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu clock. The clock is raised by foliate topie shaped feet below the oblong shaped white Ca...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Charles X Gilt and Silver Clock
Located in Dallas, TX
An impressive Charles X gilt and silver clock in the gothic taste, France. Circa 1825
Category
Early 19th Century French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Clock by Roque, Paris
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most impressive French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu clock by Roque, Paris. The clock is raised by elegant circular mottled feet with fine wrap around foliate band...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Ormolu Mantle Clock in the Louis XV Rococo Style
Located in London, GB
An Elegant Mantle Clock
In the Louis XV Manner
The clock and its plinth executed in gilt bronze in a dynamic rococo style, rising from scrolling foliage, the dial in the shape of a ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French 18th Century Louis XVI Period Carrara Marble and Ormolu Garniture Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and high quality French 18th century Louis XVI period white Carrara marble and ormolu garniture clock set signed by Jean-Simon Bourdier. The clock is raised by elegant mot...
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. White Carrara Marble and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French early 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu mounted clock. Raised on ormolu supports the rectangular marble base with beaded trim and Clodion...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
An ormolu mantel clock with Queen Victoria in medieval dress, by Monroux, 1832
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
This fine and unusual mantel clock is a rare model produced in France for the British market. The case incorporates a finely cast and chased figure of a lady in medieval dress, almos...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
A French 19th Century Clock Garniture
Located in London, GB
A French 19th Century gilt bronze clock garniture. The clock has two cherubs, holding the clock, on a white marble and Ormolu mounted ba...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French Charles X Crystal and Ormolu Mantel Clock Signed Lepine et Cie a Paris
By Lepine
Located in London, GB
French Charles X crystal and ormolu mantel clock signed Lepine et Cie a Paris. This is a fabulous and very unusual mantel clock from circa 1820. ...
Category
1820s French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Cherub clock set, by Deniere, Paris
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An enchanting and very good quality French 19th Century grey marble and gilded ormolu clock garniture, each piece with a patinated bronze cherub seated hold candle sticks either side...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French Neoclassical Style Sevres Bisque Clock Signed Guyon a Lyon
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French neo-classical st. Sèvres Bisque clock signed Guyon a Lyon ( Jean Baptiste Guyon). The clock is raised by ormolu supports below th...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
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 Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, 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...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, 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
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Clock, Stamped Vincent, 1855
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most unique French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu, patinated bronze and marble clock, stamped Vincent 1855. The clock is raised by fine ormolu supports below the ci...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Marble Clock Signed Raingo Frères
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and very high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble clock signed Raingo Frères. The clock is raised by two elegant rectangular reeded supports at the front and circular spiral fluted feet behind below striking richly chased elongated rosettes centering a fine pierced fitted intertwined laurel branch also repeated at the rounded sides. At the center is an impressive pierced fitted ormolu mount with Rinceau shaped scrolled acanthus leaves and berried laurel garlands flanked by striking fluted columns with fitted decorative ormolu chandelles and stunning lightly curved richly chased cornucopias with ribbons at each side. The enamel dial displays Roman numeral hour markings and Arabic numeral minute markings with elegant pierced foliate ormolu hands framed within an elegant mottled bezel with foliate and beaded designs. Above is the remarkable top crown a richly chased berried laurel wreath, a quiver, arrows, a bow and the eternal flame all tied with a flowing ribbon and displaying a wonderful satin and burnished finish. All original gilt throughout.
Raingo Fréres, established in 1813 in Paris, specialized in the high precision clock...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Neoclassical St. Vert Patricia Marble and Ormolu Clock
By Jollet & Cie
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th century neo-classical st. Vert Patricia marble and ormolu clock, signed Jollet & Cie. The clock is raised by a square stepped base with a finely chased pierced...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Clock Signed 'Raingo Freres, Paris
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and very high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and patinated bronze clock, signed Raingo Frères Paris. The clock is ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Large 19th Century Gilded Ormolu and Bronze Clock Set, by Deniere, Paris
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A large and impressive 19th century gilded ormolu and bronze Louis XVI style clock garniture, having a reclined classical lady reading, next to a white enamel clock face with an eigh...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Louis XVI Style 19th Century Ormolu-Mounted White Marble Obelisk Mantel Clock
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A French white marble mantel clock of obelisk form with ormolu decorations in Louis XVI style. The enamel dial with Arabic numerals an...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Louis XVI Style Champleve Enamel Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality, 19th century French gilded ormolu and champleve enamel clock garniture. The clock has a cherub on either side, an urn with swags to the top, 'C' scroll and folia...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
A French early 19th century Louis XVI st Ormolu white Carrara Gris St Anne clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and most unique French early 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu, white Carrara, and Gris St. Anne marble clock. This adorable clock in the shape of a well is raised on a ci...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
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...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI 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.