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...
Enamel, 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...
Belgian Black Marble, Breccia Marble, Ormolu
French Empire vine orientated vase clock signed Blanc Fils
Located in London, GB
A fine French Empire vase or urn clock in patinated bronze and fire/ mercury gilt ormolu. With berry finial, fine Bacchus mounts to the shoulders o...
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Ormolu Cartel Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive and high quality French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu cartel clock. The clock is raised on its original wall mounting stand with a lovely foliate bottom finial ...
Ormolu
$8,081 / set
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...
Marble, Ormolu
French Empire Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock Signed Vaillaint a Paris
Located in London, GB
Superb quality French Empire ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock in a beautifully restrained case. The casting and gilding of the finest quality. A classically dressed maiden st...
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...
Ormolu, Bronze
French Neoclassical Style Lapis and Gilt Bronze Clock Set
Located in London, GB
French neoclassical style lapis and gilt bronze clock set French, late 19th century Clock height 52cm, width 39cm, depth 15cm Vases height 38cm, width 16cm, depth 12cm This be...
Lapis Lazuli, Ormolu, Bronze
French Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
French Ormolu Mantel Clock French mantel clock housed in an ormolu case with stepped base and decorated feet, floral, wreath and cherub decoration. To the side of the dial is a class...
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...
Brass, Ormolu
French Empire Period Ormolu Mantel Clock by Michelez
Located in London, GB
French Empire period ormolu mantel clock by Michelez French, circa 1815 Measures: Height 47cm, width 20cm, depth 15cm This beautifully formed and crafted mantel clock, dating to...
Ormolu, Bronze
French Directoire Marble Pillar Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
A Directoire Ormolu with black marble French pillar clock, three and a half inch enamel dial with Roman numerals signed ‘Viven Fils a Epernay’ with...
Ormolu
French Sevres style clock set, C19th
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French 19th Century Louis XVI Sevres style clock garniture. Having reclining maidens with garlands of flowers supporting an urn ...
Ormolu
A French 19th century Carrara marble and Ormolu clock, by Mathieu Planchon
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most delightful and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and Ormolu clock, signed by Mathieu Planchon. This stunning clock is raised by six finely ch...
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Neoclassical Louis XVI Period French Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Neoclassical Louis XVI period French mantel clock French, late 18th century Dimensions: Height 56cm, width 33cm, depth 9.5cm Crafted from o...
Malachite, Enamel, 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...
Griotte Marble, Bronze, 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...
Ormolu, Bronze
Gilt bronze mantel clock in form of Roman ruin
Located in London, GB
This wonderful mantel clock is designed in the image of an ancient Roman ruin. The clock is clearly inspired by the kind of prints, paintings and drawings of dilapidated Roman buildi...
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
Charles X Ormolu French Mantel Clock Surmounted by Lion
Located in London, GB
A French antique Charles X period ormolu mantel clock. The ormolu in excellent original condition and the case of very heavy, dense construction. All parts are beautifully cast. The ...
Ormolu
French Mantel Clock of Empire Period of "Borne" Form
Located in London, GB
Attractive french Empire clock in patinated bronze and ormolu of milestone or "borne" form. Having very fine applied ormolu mounts to the front and side of the case with also a fine ...
Bronze, 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...
Ormolu
19th Century Malachite and Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock by Honoré Pons
By Honoré Pons
Located in London, GB
This mantel clock is a truly beautiful piece of design, crafted by the leading early 19th century French clock-maker, Pierre-César Honoré Pons. Honoré Pons...
Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze
French Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
French ormolu mantel clock standing on a stepped base and resting on turned, chased feet with acanthus leaf decoration below a finely chased...
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...
Bronze, 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...
Ormolu
English Regency Neo-Classical Mantel Clock of Psyche and Cupid
Located in London, GB
English Regency neo-classical mantel clock of Psyche and Cupid. A fine case of rouge marble, patinated bronze and original ormolu. The superb rouge marble breakfront base with D ends...
Marble, Bronze, 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...
Ormolu, Bronze
French rouge marble and ormolu four glass clock signed Raingo Freres
Located in London, GB
A good antique French ormolu and rouge marble four glass clock by the eminent makers Raingo Freres. The clock with original ormolu is surmounted by an...
Marble, Ormolu
English Regency Fusee Mantel Clock in Ormolu and White Marble by Finer and Nowla
Located in London, GB
English Regency ormolu and white marble drum mantel clock. Typical drum shaped clock, set on four elaborate ormolu toupee feet. The white marble has an applied ormolu mount of flower...
Carrara 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...
Carrara Marble, 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...
Enamel, Ormolu
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...
Ormolu, Bronze
Large English Late 19th Century Ormolu Strut Clock in Manner of Cole
Located in London, GB
Large beautifully cut and engraved ormolu English Victorian strut clock in the manner of Cole. Silvered dial with engine turned centre with beaut...
Ormolu
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...
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
$34,832 / set
Antique Gilt Bronze Mounted Cut Glass Clock Set
Located in London, GB
This graceful three-piece clock set is designed in a refined neoclassical style, which was fashionable in France in the 19th century. The set has been crafted from finely cut clear g...
Ormolu, Bronze
French 18th Century Louis XVI Period Ormolu and Marble Clock, Signed Déliau
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An incredible and extremely high quality French late 18th century Louis XVI period ormolu, white Carrara marble and black Belgian marble clock signed Déliau - Rue De La Bartillerie N...
Belgian Black Marble, Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Glass and Marble Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This French mantel clock is designed in an elegant Neoclassical style, after the decorative arts of the Louis XVI period (1754-1793). This clock will look beautiful placed on a mante...
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
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.
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...
Carrara Marble, 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...
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...
Marble, 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...
Malachite, Ormolu
Gilt Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Clock Garniture
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
Gilt bronze and Sèvres style porcelain clock garniture French, 19th century Measures: Clock height 46cm, width 29cm, depth 24c...
Ormolu, Bronze
$13,236 / set
Antique French Gilt Bronze and Cut Glass Clock Set
Located in London, GB
This beautiful three-piece clock set is designed in a French neoclassical style, popular in 19th century decorative arts. The set has been crafted from clear, cut glass and fine gilt...
Ormolu, Bronze
$20,063Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Sèvres Porcelain and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent French 19th century Louis XVI st. Sèvres porcelain and ormolu clock. The clock is raised by fine topie shaped feet below the ormolu base which is decorated with elegant...
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Three Piece Garniture Set, Signed Denière
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. three piece garniture set, signed Denière, Paris. The elegant set includes a pair of two arm candelabras raised on sq...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French Empire Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock with Venus and Cupid
Located in London, GB
French Empire gilt bronze mantel clock with Venus and Cupid French, early 19th Century Measures: Height 53cm, width 37.5cm, depth 13.5cm This fine Empire period mantel clock is crafted from gilt bronze. The clock includes a sculptural surmount of Venus accompanied by Cupid. Venus sits atop the square clock...
Bronze, Ormolu
$9,056 / set
Antique Gilt Bronze Three-Piece Clock Garniture
Located in London, GB
This clock set contains a mantel clock and a pair of candelabra. Unusually, the clock and candelabra are constructed entirely of gilt bronze. The bronze dial of the mantel clock is i...
Ormolu, Bronze
Antique Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This mantel clock is a wonderful piece of French Neoclassical design. It is an unusual and very beautiful item, which has been expertly crafted from gilt bronze (ormolu). The clock will add elegance and sophistication to a mantelpiece. The clock features a table-form body which is topped by a classical urn. The urn is crowned by a pomegranate finial and mounted with twin handles in the shape of rams’ heads with rings in their mouths. The urn is decorated with twisted and cabled fluting, a belt draped with foliate swags, panelled motifs and a ropework band. The urn stands on a table-shaped body which is surmounted by outward-pointing pinecone finials and laurel branches. The stepped tabletop has scalloped corners and is decorated with an egg-and-dart and leaf-and-dart band, as well as a central Green Man mask. This top is supported on six legs which feature leafy scrolled tops draped with swags and hoof feet. Between the legs, there is a drum clock...
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
Antique Three-Piece Meiji Period Japonisme Vase Clock Set
Located in London, GB
Antique three-piece Meiji period Japonisme vase clock set French/Japanese, late 19th century Measures: Clock height 47cm, diameter 22cm Candelabra height 55cm, width 25cm, depth 2...
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...
Carrara 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 ...
Ormolu, Bronze
Oriental Style Gilt Bronze and Champlevé Enamel Clock Set
Located in London, GB
This clock set was designed in France in the late 19th century in a fanciful ‘Oriental’ style. The set is comprised of a mantel clock and a pair of candelabra, all of which have been...
Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel
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...
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...
Onyx, Ormolu
French 19th Century Belle Époque Period Marble Clock By Charpentier & Cie.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period ormolu, patinated bronze and white Carrara marble clock by Charpentier...
Marble, Bronze, 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...
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Biscuit De Sèvres Garniture Clock Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French 19th century Louis XVI st. Biscuit de Sèvres garniture clock set. The set has a pair of urns of prosperity with two cherubs on eac...
Ormolu
Classical French Louis XVI Style Mantel Clock, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French Louis XVI style gilded ormolu and marble mantel clock, depicting a mother and child after harvesting above an eight day duration chiming clock...
Marble, Ormolu
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.