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Ormolu Clocks

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Material: Ormolu
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Parcel-Gilt and Biscuit Porcelain Clock
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Parcel-Gilt and Biscuit Porcelain Clock

Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Parcel-Gilt and Biscuit Porcelain Clock

Located in Long Island City, NY

A beautifully design late 19th century gilt bronze mounted parcel-gilt and biscuit porcelain mantel (fireplace) clock The front carved with Apollo riding his chariot. The bottom wit...

Category

Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Rouge Griotte Marble and Ormolu Clock
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Rouge Griotte Marble and Ormolu Clock

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Rouge Griotte Marble and Ormolu Clock

By Zacharie Raingo

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 19th Century Louis XVI St. Cobalt Blue Porcelain and Ormolu Clock
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Cobalt Blue Porcelain and Ormolu Clock

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Cobalt Blue Porcelain and Ormolu Clock

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A striking and most elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. cobalt blue porcelain and ormolu clock. The clock is raised by a square ormolu base with cut corners with fine rosettes ...

Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French Early 19th Century Louis XVI St. Marble And Ormolu Clock By Raingo Frères
French Early 19th Century Louis XVI St. Marble And Ormolu Clock By Raingo Frères

French Early 19th Century Louis XVI St. Marble And Ormolu Clock By Raingo Frères

By Raingo Frères

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A spectacular and very important French early 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu clock by Raingo Frères. The clock is raised by elegant topie shaped feet with fine wrap around berried laurel bands below the white Carrara marble base with rounded sides decorated with richly chased pierced intertwined berried laurel and blooming flower bands, and a finely detailed central plaque depicting charming cherubs playing musical instruments. Above are two exquisite patinated bronze maidens sitting on a mottled support with lovely foliate designs each draped in wonderfully executed garments and holding a wreath and flowers with a charming winged cherub extending his arms up. At the center is the elegant enameled dial with Arabic hour numerals amidst lovely floral garlands and numbers indicating the date at the border with delicate pierced ormolu hands with a remarkable pieced foliate design at the back. Above is the lightly curved fluted top crown with a stunning array of richly chased branches and blooming flowers in a superb satin and burnished finish. All original gilt and patina throughout. Raingo Fréres, established in 1813 in Paris, specialized in the high precision clock...

Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Napoleon III Lyre Clock with Ormolu Hands
Napoleon III Lyre Clock with Ormolu Hands

Napoleon III Lyre Clock with Ormolu Hands

Located in Lymington, Hampshire

A superb Napoleon III Lyre clock by 'Raingo Press, Paris' with an exquistely painted enamel face and finely cast ormolu hands in the shape of lyre. The move...

Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Vert Patricia Marble Clock
French 19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Vert Patricia Marble Clock

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 Louis XVI St. White Carrara Marble and Ormolu Clock
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. White Carrara Marble and Ormolu Clock

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

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Porcelain Clock
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Porcelain Clock

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Porcelain Clock

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI St. ormolu and porcelain clock. The small scale clock is raised by fine tapered fluted legs below striking richly chased block rosettes cente...

Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Mantel Clock
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Mantel Clock

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Mantel Clock

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A spectacular and unique French early 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu mantel clock, signed by Chapsal a Paris. The clock is raised on finely chased swan supports below a rectangula...

Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Ormolu, Patinated Bronze, And Marble Clock
French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Ormolu, Patinated Bronze, And Marble Clock

French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Ormolu, Patinated Bronze, And Marble Clock

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A sensational French 19th century Neo-Classical st. Ormolu, patinated Bronze, and marble clock signed by Germain, Paris, 1825. The clock is elegantly raised on a white Carrara marble...

Category

19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Empire 19th Century Ormolu and Painted Bronze Mantel Clock with Young Sailor
Empire 19th Century Ormolu and Painted Bronze Mantel Clock with Young Sailor

Empire 19th Century Ormolu and Painted Bronze Mantel Clock with Young Sailor

Located in Palm Desert, CA

An Empire ormolu and painted bronze mantel clock attributed to Jean-Simon Deverberie. Fitted in an ormolu case shaped as a cotton bale, the round enamel dial features Roman numeral hours and Arabic fifteen-minute graduations, indicated by two pierced gilt bronze hands. Shirtless and barefoot, a young black sailor...

Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

A Large Gilt-Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Three-Piece Clock Garniture
A Large Gilt-Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Three-Piece Clock Garniture

A Large Gilt-Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Three-Piece Clock Garniture

Located in Brighton, West Sussex

A Large Gilt-Bronze and Sèvres Style Cobalt Blue Ground Porcelain Three-Piece Clock Garniture. Comprising a mantle clock and a pair of vases and covers. The mantel clock modelled w...

Category

19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. White Carrara Marble Clock
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. White Carrara Marble Clock

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. White Carrara Marble Clock

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

An exquisite French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu clock. The clock is raised by ormolu topie shaped supports below a marble base with ormolu scrolling foliage and ormolu beaded row. Above is the central fluted marble column...

Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Ormolu Three-Piece Garniture Set
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Ormolu Three-Piece Garniture Set

French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Ormolu Three-Piece Garniture Set

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

An extraordinary and high quality French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu three piece clock and candelabras garniture set. Each raised by square tapered fluted feet with fine acanth...

Category

19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French Mid 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Clock, by Bardon, Montpellier
French Mid 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Clock, by Bardon, Montpellier

French Mid 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Clock, by Bardon, Montpellier

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A stunning French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu clock, by Bardon, Montpellier. The clock has two love birds on the left looking over to a patinated bronze cupid, standing pro...

Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French Mid-19th Century, Louis XVI St. Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Clock
French Mid-19th Century, Louis XVI St. Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Clock

French Mid-19th Century, Louis XVI St. Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Clock

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A most exquisite French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and white Carrara marble clock. The clock is raised by topie shaped ormolu supports, The rectangular marble base is deco...

Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

French Ormolu Mantel Clock  pendulum France, Mid-Late 19th Century
French Ormolu Mantel Clock  pendulum France, Mid-Late 19th Century

French Ormolu Mantel Clock pendulum France, Mid-Late 19th Century

Located in Lantau, HK

A French ormolu mantel clock French, mid-late 19th century Measres: Height 37 cm, width 39 cm, depth 13.5 cm. A late 19th century French gilt-bronze (ormolu) and marble mantel clock ...

Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Renaissance St. Bronzre, Marble, and Ormolu Garniture Set
French 19th Century Renaissance St. Bronzre, Marble, and Ormolu Garniture Set

French 19th Century Renaissance St. Bronzre, Marble, and Ormolu Garniture Set

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A striking and very high quality French 19th century Renaissance st. Rouge Griotte marble, patinated bronze, and ormolu garniture clock set. The clock at the center is raised by hand...

Category

19th Century French Renaissance Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Figural Clock
Figural Clock

Figural Clock

Located in Atlanta, GA

Gilt bronze musical cherubs figural clock.

Category

19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Three Piece Sèvres Style Clock Set
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Three Piece Sèvres Style Clock Set

Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Three Piece Sèvres Style Clock Set

Located in Long Island City, NY

Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Three Piece Cobalt Blue Sèvres Style Clock Set Comprising: a round clock with a final with two birds; a pair of five-light candleabra with sc...

Category

19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Early 19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu Eight Day Striking Clock
Early 19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu Eight Day Striking Clock

Early 19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu Eight Day Striking Clock

Located in London, GB

An early 19th century French eight day silk-suspension, striking clock, contained in ormolu case mounted with vases and urns of flowers with well-cast b...

Category

Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Revival Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French Pink Porcelain and Ormolu Mantel Clock
French Pink Porcelain and Ormolu Mantel Clock

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

Antique Alabaster, Ormolu and Silvered Bronze Clock Set in the Neo-Grec Style
Antique Alabaster, Ormolu and Silvered Bronze Clock Set in the Neo-Grec Style

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

Gilt Bronze and Blue Lapis Lazuli Clock with Bust of Molière
Gilt Bronze and Blue Lapis Lazuli Clock with Bust of Molière

Gilt Bronze and Blue Lapis Lazuli Clock with Bust of Molière

Located in London, GB

A gilt bronze and blue lapis lazuli clock with bust of Molière French, circa 1830 Measures: Height 61cm, width 27cm, depth 13cm This exquisite French mantel clock originates fr...

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Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Bronze, Ormolu

Restauration Period Gilt Bronze Mounted Lapis Mantel Clock
Restauration Period Gilt Bronze Mounted Lapis Mantel Clock

Restauration Period Gilt Bronze Mounted Lapis Mantel Clock

By Gérard-Jean Galle

Located in London, GB

This mantel clock dates from the period of Charles X and is crafted from gilt bronze with a later lapis lazuli veneer. The clock body is columnar in form, having a rectangular profil...

Category

Early 19th Century French Restauration Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Ormolu, Bronze

French Classical Mantel Clock, circa 1880
French Classical Mantel Clock, circa 1880

French Classical Mantel Clock, circa 1880

Located in Brighton, Sussex

An enchanting classical Louis XVI style gilded ormolu and marble mantel clock, having a standing cherub holding a Cockerel above a white enamel clock face, retails name; Rob. Engstro...

Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Victorian Ormolu Clock and Barometer Desk Set, of Maritime or Naval Interest

Victorian Ormolu Clock and Barometer Desk Set, of Maritime or Naval Interest

Located in London, GB

Each in the form of a ship's wheel with 2.5 inch silvered dial, contained in cases, one with seven turned banded agate handles, the other with eight banded agate handles, each on ova...

Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Agate, Ormolu

French Empire Influenced Clock Set, 19th Century
French Empire Influenced Clock Set, 19th Century

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

Garniture set
Garniture set

Garniture set

$68,500 / set

Garniture set

Located in Atlanta, GA

Very fine three piece garniture set, of gilt bronze and Rouge Griotte marble, the clock face signed Thiebaut Freres. The candelabra are 35 inches in heig...

Category

19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Palatial & Rare Napoleon III French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Clock, Detouche
Palatial & Rare Napoleon III French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Clock, Detouche

Palatial & Rare Napoleon III French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Clock, Detouche

By C. Detouche

Located in Long Island City, NY, NY

A Palatial and Extremely Rare Napoleon III French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Regulateur de Parquet Clock by Louis-Constantin Detouche, Paris, Circa 1850 An exceptional testament to the grandeur and technical mastery of 19th-century French horology, this palatial and extraordinarily rare Napoleon III ormolu and patinated bronze Regulateur de Parquet clock stands as a crowning achievement of the renowned Parisian horologist Louis-Constantin Detouche. Created circa 1850, this monumental timepiece exemplifies the perfect synthesis of artistic opulence and mechanical precision, distinguishing itself as one of the most impressive works from Detouche’s illustrious oeuvre. At over six feet tall, this clock’s imposing scale and decorative grandeur make it an object of immense historical and aesthetic significance. The case, crafted from the finest French ormolu, features two majestic patinated bronze seated putti, serving as allegorical figures and underscoring the artistic sophistication characteristic of the Second Empire style. The white enamel dial, elegantly signed "C. Detouche/Paris," affirms its prestigious maker, while the movement, meticulously numbered 7064 and bearing the stamps "C. Detouche RUE St. MARTIN" and "C. DETOUCHE 158 R. St MARTIN 160," speaks to the highest standards of 19th-century horological craftsmanship. Further distinguishing this piece is the medaille d’argent stamp, a testament to the numerous accolades and awards bestowed upon Detouche for his innovations in timekeeping. A Masterpiece of Horological Artistry: Louis-Constantin Detouche was not merely a clockmaker; he was a visionary whose contributions to horology redefined precision and complexity. This particular regulator clock...

Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Bronze, 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.