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Ormolu Clocks

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Material: Ormolu
French 19th Century First Empire Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A remarkable French early 19th century First Empire ormolu clock, with the original silk threaded movement, dated 1809. Raised on a square moulded ormolu platform above bun supports. The pedestal base has a scalloped chasing below and a reeded one at the top with a scalloped foliate mount at the base of the clock. Standing in a reeded and scalloped cornucopia on one side is a charming winged putti with a quiver on the shoulder sharpening an arrow. On the other side is a lovely winged maiden in classic attire, turning the sharpening wheel...
Category

19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century First Empire Ormolu Clock
French 19th Century First Empire Ormolu Clock

French 19th Century First Empire Ormolu Clock

$28,900
Antique Continental Gilt Bronze, Cut Glass, and Porcelain Clock Set
Located in London, GB
Antique Continental gilt bronze, cut glass, and porcelain clock set Continental, late 19th century Clock: Height 45cm, width 30cm, depth 22cm Candelabra: Height 46cm, width 23cm, ...
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Ormolu Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Continental Gilt Bronze, Cut Glass, and Porcelain Clock Set
Antique Continental Gilt Bronze, Cut Glass, and Porcelain Clock Set

Antique Continental Gilt Bronze, Cut Glass, and Porcelain Clock Set

$13,227 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Palatial & Rare Napoleon III French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Clock, Detouche
By C. Detouche
Located in Queens, 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

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

Price Upon Request

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.

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