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Material: Ormolu
French three piece garniture set, signed by the Lemerle-Charpentier foundry
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely detailed and high quality French 19th century Regence st. Ormolu three piece garniture set, signed by the Lemerle-Charpentier foundry. This monumental garniture set cons...
Category
19th Century French Regency Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Enameled Gilt Bronze Carriage Clock
Located in London, GB
The contrast between rich blue enamel, in light and dark hues, and bright gilt bronze gives this carriage clock a sumptuous, luxurious feel. With a t...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mounted Long Case Clock, 1860, by Balthazar, Paris
By André Balthazar 1
Located in Brighton, Sussex
Pendulum clock "Regulateur de parquet" after Jean-Henri Riesener Napoleon III, Paris, circa 1850-1880.
Balthazar, Paris.
This fine quality late...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Swedish Black Lacquered and Gilt Chinoiserie Tall Case Clock, Lanner, Circa 1775
By Josua Lanner
Located in Charleston, SC
Swedish black lacquered and gilt Chinoiserie tall case clock with arched decorative floral hood, flanking finials, turned bulbous columns, ormolu and steel engraved face, figural flo...
Category
1770s Swedish Gustavian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Steel
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze and Turquoise Sèvres Porcelain 'Jeweled' Clock Set
Located in Long Island City, NY
Late 19th century gilt bronze and turquoise Sèvres porcelain 'Jeweled' three-piece clock set
The clock surmounted by a covered urn, the c...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Napoleon III Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Three Piece Clock Garniture
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Napoleon III gilt bronze and porcelain three piece clock garniture by Raingo Freres. The circular gilt and 'jewel' decorated porcelain dial of the clock with Roman numerals an...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Rococo Style Gilt Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Clock Garniture
Located in London, GB
This large and impressive clock garniture set consists of a central clock and a pair of flanking vases. The three pieces are extremely finely decorated with painted cartouches of fly...
Category
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
An Exceptional French Japonisme Ormolu and Champleve Enamel Five Piece Clock Set
Located in Queens, NY
An Exceptional French Japonisme Ormolu and Champlevé Enamel Five-Piece Clock Set, In the Manner of Edouard Lièvre, circa 1870, Paris.
This extraordinary French Japonisme clock set, ...
Category
19th Century French Japonisme Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
Exceptional French 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock and Candelabra Set
By Japy Frères
Located in London, GB
A Garniture de Cheminee by Japy Freres et Cie
Constructed in two color gold ormolu, comprising a richly decorated mantle clock and two candelabra in ...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century Raingo Frères Ormolu Bronze Cartel Wall Clock with Cherub
Located in Madrid, ES
Exhibiting the fine design and craftsmanship of French clockmakers Raingo Frères (Raingo Brothers), this impressively large clock, measuring over 1 meter tall ( 3 feet +), is an example of the “Second Rococo” period beginning circa 1830, when the highly ornate "Cartel" style of the early 18th century came back into fashion. The clock is crowned at top center by the figure of a putto or cherub, holding in one hand a dove and the other a garland of flowers. This allegorical figure can represent innocence or purity, and was a popular subject for sculptors of the 19th century. The term "Cartel clock" comes from the French "Pendule à Cartel" meaning roughly "clock in a frame for the wall" - the word "Cartel" meaning in this context "decorative frame". These clocks were almost always made from gilt bronze (also known as "ormolu") and highly decorated.
The clock is complete and includes a winding key, and will be checked by our specialist clockmaker to ensure it is functioning properly before shipping.
Established in the early 1800s, Raingo Frères was one of the leading makers of precision clocks...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Rococo Revival Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Brass, Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
$21,845 Sale Price
35% Off
Antique Neoclassical Louis XVI Gilt Bronze and Malachite Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique Neoclassical Louis XVI gilt bronze and malachite clock
French, late 18th Century
Measures: Height 56cm, width 35cm, depth 12cm
Crafted from gilt bronze and a later malac...
Category
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
A Monumental and Exceptional French Ormolu and Turquoise Sevres Porcelain Clock
Located in Queens, NY
A Monumental and Exceptional French Ormolu and Turquoise Sevres Porcelain Clock, circa 1875
Immerse yourself in the splendor of 19th-century French artistry with this monumental and...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Three Piece Alabaster Clock Garniture in the Form of a Neo-Gothic Cathedral
Located in London, GB
This exquisite three-piece alabaster clock garniture consists of a central clock with two flanking vases. The central clock is designed to resemble the shape of a neo-Gothic cathedra...
Category
19th Century French Gothic Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Alabaster, Ormolu
Very Rare 19th Century Coromandel Veneered Year-Running Clock by Thomas Cole
Located in London, GB
A Superb Coromandel-Veneered Mantle Clock
The case constructed of very well-figured Coromandel giving the maximum amount of decorative effect, with gilt bronze accents; the plinth base of rectangular form, with everted stepped corners, and precisely chased gilt bronze figures, two representing Mercury-the god of travel and merchants with his winged helmet and coin purse in hand; the others representing Fortuna-the goddess of luck; the sides glazed, with mooresque arcaded pierced mounts enclosing a vase, in gilt bronze with overlapping palm trees above: the top of domed form with an octagonal platform, surmounted by an architectural dome, its engraved detail and structure reminiscent of Byzantine prototypes. The silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals for the hours, and within an arabesque dial divided into quadrants, with the key aperture at 6 o'clock. Below, the manual calendar, and a semi-circular thermometer. The dial signed by the retailer "Hunt & Roskell / London." The mechanism replaced with a one-year duration movement by Achille Brocot.
English, circa 1860
A closely related clock, by Thomas Cole, though not bearing his signature, with a case of identical form and differing bronze decoration, previously with Butchoff. A third known coromandel-veneered example, also unsigned, is discussed by John...
Category
19th Century English Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
Napoleon III Period Gilt Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Mantel Clock
By Miroy Frères
Located in London, GB
This sophisticated gilt bronze mantel clock is an elegant piece of mid-19th century design, beautifully cast and gilded and set with two delicate Sèvres style porcelain panels. The clock case's finest feature is the charmingly naturalistic scene at its top, showing a full-length sculpture of a female figure sitting with a basket and two doves. They are displayed on a naturalistic, oval-shaped plinth, which is decorated all around its exterior with painstakingly intricate foliate motifs.
Either side of the plinth there are two Sevres style porcelain panels, each of which shows a winged putto. One putto is shown writing, while the other is shown holding a dove. Each is set inside a turquoise blue border decorated with delicate gilt scrolls. In the centre of the plinth sits the clock dial, which is enamelled and contains Roman numerals. It is signed 'Prize Medal 1851 / Miroy Fres Brevetes / Paris' after the clock's maker, Miroy Freres...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Rare and large ormolu mounted malachite mantel clock signed Manière
Located in London, GB
Rare and large ormolu mounted malachite mantel clock signed Manière
French, 19th Century
Height 60cm, width 35.5cm, depth 13cm
With an enamel dial signed 'Maniére / A Paris', th...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Enamel, Ormolu
Antique Figural Clock
Located in Atlanta, GA
Magnificent gilt bronze clock signed Barbadienne founder, rouge Royale marble base.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
$24,500
Unusually Large 18th Century Louis XVI Ormolu and Marble Obelisk Mantel Clock
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The movement is contained in an unusually large (67 cm!) white marble obelisk which is surmounted by an armillary sphere finial. The front with a panel chased with nymphs supporting ...
Category
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Marble and Gilt Bronze Clock and Barometer Set
By John Barwise
Located in London, GB
Antique marble and gilt bronze clock and barometer set
English, 19th Century
Height 49cm, width 20cm, depth 12cm
This exquisite set of gilt b...
Category
19th Century English Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Enamel, Ormolu
French 18th Century Louis XVI Period Ormolu and Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and high quality French 18th century Louis XVI period ormolu, Gris St. Anne and white Carrara marble clock, signed 'Mailland, a Paris'. The clock is raised by six mottled ...
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Napoléon III Sèvres Style Clock Garniture
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Napoléon III gilt-bronze and sèvres style cobalt blue ground 'Jewelled' Porcelain Three-Piece Clock Garniture
Comprising a mantel clock and a pair of five-light vase candel...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Rococo Style Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock and Barometer
Located in London, GB
In their elaborate use of C-scrolls, putti figures, stylised acanthus leaves and flowers, this clock and barometer are clearly Rococo in their style. The Rococo came into fashion in ...
Category
19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
$24,147 / set
Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Marble Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This neoclassical style French mantel clock is crafted from patinated and gilt bronze in addition to flecked black and grey marble. The clock body is formed from a lopsidedly mounted...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
French Early 19th Century Louis XVI St. Marble And Ormolu Clock 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
Antique French Hand-Painted Enamel Carriage Clock with Allegorical Themes
Located in London, GB
A fine cased carriage clock
The substantially sized 'Gorge' case houses a lever platform escapement, striking the hours and half hours on a blued st...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Steel, Ormolu, Bronze
French Ormolu Figural Mantel Clock with Glass Dome, circa 1820
Located in Tarzana, CA
A French Charles X period ormolu mantel clock. The drum case flanked by a young couple standing under a palm tree with flowers all around, while the lady touched the man's hand.
The...
Category
1820s French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Louis XV Style Ormolu Grandfather Clock
By Jean-Henri Riesener
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine 19th century french Louis XV style ormolu-mounted mahogany grandfather clock, having wonderful gilded ormolu mounts, with three cherubs in clouds around the white and black en...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$42,929 Sale Price
20% Off
French Gilt Bronze and Faience Clock Set in the Chinoiserie Style
Located in London, GB
French gilt bronze and faience clock set in the chinoiserie style
French, late 19th century
Clock: Height 52cm, width 43cm, depth 18cm
Candelabra: Height 53cm, width 26cm, depth 1...
Category
Late 19th Century French Chinoiserie 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
$37,563 / set
Grand French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock in the Empire Style
Located in London, GB
Constructed in bronze, patinated and gilt; the rectangular form case supported on engraved oblate spherical feet, the frieze dressed with a row of female masks capping pillars, linke...
Category
19th Century English Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Early 18th Century Louis XV Period Tortoise Shell and Ormolu Cartel Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular and extremely high quality French early 18th century Louis XV period tortoise shell and ormolu mounted Cartel clock. The impressive clock rests on its original wall mou...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Gilt Bronze Clock Set by Royer
By Ernest Royer
Located in London, GB
This beautiful gilt bronze (ormolu) clock set was crafted, circa 1870 in France. The set is designed in a rich Rococo style, after decorative art of the Louis XV period (1715-1774).
...
Category
1870s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
$42,929 / set
English Regency Mahogany Bracket Clock by Moore of Ipswich
Located in London, GB
A fine English Regency brass inlaid mahogany striking bracket clock. Of good color and restrained decoration. Dial signed Moore of Ipswich. Double fusee movement with anchor escapement.
Category
1810s English Regency Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Louis XVI Mahogany and Ormolu Longcase Clock, circa 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Louis XVI Mahogany and ormolu longcase clock, circa 1890.
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Louis XVI style, Mantel Clock 17"(43cm)
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th Century French gilded ormolu mantel clock. Having a cherub playing a base violin, a four glass case mounted with ormolu foliate and swag decoration, an eight...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century French Pink Porcelain Clock by Japy Fréres in the Louis XVI Manner
By Japy Frères
Located in London, GB
A table clock in the Louis XVI Manner
By Japy Frères
The finely chased ormolu case is dressed with pink 'Sèvres' style hand decorated polychrome panels to the face and sides, dep...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century Sevres Style Porcelain Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu and Sevres style porcelain mantel clock. Having a blue porcelain urn to the top with ormolu swags, scrolling gilded ormolu folia...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu Bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Louis XV. st. ormolu, patinated bronze and Rouge Griotte marble clock. The clock is raised b...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Chinoiserie Cold Painted and Gilt Bronze Clock and Candelabra
Located in London, GB
This clock set is designed in a wonderful ‘chinoiserie’ style. This style was inspired by the art of China, and it was very fashionable in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. The ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Chinoiserie Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Régence Style Gilt Bronze Clock Garniture
Located in London, GB
French Régence style gilt bronze clock garniture
French, late 19th century
Clock: Height 60cm, width 36cm, depth 20cm
Candelabra: Height 67cm, width 25cm, depth 25cm
This wonde...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
$10,061 / set
French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
French Empire period gilt bronze mantel clock
French, early 19th century
Measures: Height 50cm, width 36cm, depth 12cm
This mantel clock, wrought from gilt bronze during the French Empire period, features a rectangular base, set above four bun feet, the front of the base adorned with a gilt bronze relief panel...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Sèvres Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This beautiful mantel clock has been designed in an 18th century Rococo style, which was popularised by the Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory. The clock has been expertly cast in bronze a...
Category
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Louis XVI Style Mid-19th Century Ormolu Marble Clock, Signed Frères
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period ormolu and Griotte de Campan Rouge marble clock, signed ...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Louis XVI Style Clock Garniture
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very pleasing French gilded ormolu and white marble clock garniture in the Louis XVI style. The clock having a cherub holding a chicken, the white enamel clock face with an eight d...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
$6,707 / set
French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality mid-19th century French Louis XIV st. ormolu clock. The clock is raised by four tapered fluted legs decorated with acanthus leaves. The scalloped shaped c...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
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
$5,151 Sale Price
20% Off
A late Louis XVI marble and ormolu portico clock
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A late Louis XVI marble and ormolu portico clock, comprising a central drum-shaped clock with a sunburst pendulum, surmounted by the gilded figure of Athena wearing armour with a plu...
Category
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Gilt Bronze and Enamel Miniature Carriage Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique French gilt bronze and enamel miniature carriage clock
French, late 19th Century
Clock: Height 11cm, width 5.5cm, depth 5cm
Case: ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
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...
Category
Late 19th Century French Chinoiserie Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel
Large Clock Garniture Signed Houdon
Located in Tarzana, CA
An exceptional large 19th century French figural clock set after a model by Jean Antoine Houdon. Mounted with a large bronze model of a cupid holding a gilt bow and arrow, upon a naturalistic base with flowers and doves, supported on a rouge marble and ormolu mounted circular base with inset clock. Each candelabra modeled with a sitting putti holding a branch with two lights in each hand, raised upon a circular ormolu mounted rouge marble base.
Signed: Houdon,
circa 1860
Dimesions:
Clock
Height 36? (91 cm)
Width 15? (38 cm)
Depth 20? (20 cm)
Candelabra
Height 26? (66 cm)
Width 12? (30 cm)
Depth 9? (22 cm)
Jean-Antoine Houdon a French neoclassical portrait...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$84,500 / set
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Gris St. Anne Marble and Ormolu Pedestal Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. Gris St. Anne marble and ormolu pedestal clock. The rectangular shaped pedestal clock is raised by ormolu topie shaped legs below a mottl...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Clock Signed F. Barbedienne
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very elegant and richly chased 19th century French Louis XVI st. ormolu clock signed F. Barbedienne. The clock is raised by five toupee shaped feet. At the frieze are two rosettes encompassing a Rinceau design below the berried laurel band. Above is the original beveled curved glass door and enameled dial. The pediment is decorated with acanthus leaves. At the top is the urn of prosperity with a finial draped by a laurel leaf garland...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century French Petite Sonnerie Ormolu Carriage Clock by Grohé with Calendar
Located in London, GB
A Petit Sonnerie carriage clock by Grohe of Paris
The gilt bronze case comprehensively engraved, and having a retractable carrying handle; the lever movement driving the petit son...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Brass, Bronze
KPM Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Rococo Style Clock Set
Located in London, GB
KPM porcelain and gilt bronze Rococo style clock set
German, late 19th century
Measures; Clock on base: Height 51cm, width 36cm, depth 17cm
Candelabra: Height 47cm, width 27cm, de...
Category
Late 19th Century German Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$32,196 / set
Louis XV Ormolu Mntd. Meissen Porcelain Chinoiserie Elephant Clock w/ Snail
Located in New York, NY
An Exceptionally Rare 18th Century Louis XV Ormolu Mounted Meissen Porcelain Chinoiserie Elephant, Snail, and Flower Mantel Clock. The clock drum is painted with floral reserves on a yellow-ground porcelain case, surmounted by a seated monkey modeled in cream-glazed porcelain. The dial is inscribed “MILLOT / Her DU ROY,” referring to the Parisian clockmaker Millot, horloger du roi, and retains its original single-barrel movement with platform lever escapement. The interior of the case bears a stamped “B.” The entire composition is supported by a scrolling structure of polychrome porcelain flowers mounted on ormolu branches, leading to a central Meissen figure seated on a saddled elephant, positioned on an elaborately cast gilt bronze rocaille base.
The composition centers around a chinoiserie theme, which was highly fashionable in mid-18th century France, particularly during the reign of Louis XV. In this example, the chinoiserie elements are expressed through the seated porcelain figure in Chinese dress, riding atop a caparisoned elephant with a vibrantly painted red and gold saddle and bright yellow cushion. The elephant, modeled with expressive naturalism, features finely detailed ears, trunk, and legs in Meissen’s distinctive hand-painted porcelain, with further ornamentation in applied gilding. Surrounding the central figure and timepiece is an elaborate framework of metal branches issuing dozens of individually modeled porcelain blossoms. These include peonies, roses, and tulips in various stages of bloom, each petal uniquely hand-shaped and painted in hues of lilac, ivory, pink, and violet, with naturalistic green leaves extending outward on slender bronze stems.
The gilt bronze mount is executed in the Rococo taste, with asymmetrical shell forms, Snails, C-scrolls, and foliate scrollwork typical of French bronze work from the Louis XV period. The ormolu is mercury-gilded, a process common in the 18th century which involved the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury to the surface of the bronze, followed by firing to vaporize the mercury. This technique created a matte yet luminous surface, prized for its depth and lasting quality. The ormolu is cast in a deeply three-dimensional style, with scrolled feet and boldly molded foliate ornaments that cradle the base of the Meissen elephant...
Category
18th Century German Chinoiserie Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Fine Quality French Empire Baccarat Style Crystal Vase Clock, circa 1860
By Baccarat
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality French Empire style Baccarat hobnail cut lead crystal glass two handled vase clock with ormolu-mounts, having a white enamel clock face with roman numerals and raised ...
Category
19th Century French Empire Revival Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Sèvres Style Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This Sèvres style clock is an elegant piece of late 19th century design, which will make a wonderful addition to a mantelpiece. It has been beautifully cast in bronze and gilded (orm...
Category
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Large Louis XVI Style Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th century French gilded ormolu clock garniture, having a pair of five branch scrolling foliate candelabra either side. The white enameled clock face with ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$10,732 / set
Fine Gilt-Bronze & Rouge Griotte Marble Table Clock - François Linke Index No 86
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Fine French 19th Century 'Belle Époque' Gilt-Bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble Table Clock by François Linke (1855-1946) Index Number 86. The clockcase modelled as a tambourine amidst blossoming roses, a mask and fan, on an oval bead-edged marble plinth with recessed panels mounted with fruiting vines, on turned feet, the reverse of the white enamel clock dial with Roman hours and Arabic minutes signed 'F. Linke, Paris', timepiece movement. Circa: Paris, 1895.
François Linke (d. 1946) was awarded the gold medal for his Grand Bureau at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. He was the most celebrated Ébéniste of his time. Born in Bohemia in 1855, he moved to Paris in 1881. He produced furniture of the highest quality at his workshops at 170, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, and established showrooms at 26, Place Vendme. A much simpler version of this commode, with fewer ormolu mounts and with no marquetry, is illustrated in Christopher Payne's "François Linke 1855-1946 The Belle Epoque of French Furniture" Antique Collectors' Club, 2003 Edition, Index 720, Page 498.
Literature
Payne, C., François Linke 1855-1946: The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, 2003, models illustrated pp. 160, 182, 247 and the black and white cliché on p. 487.
Another example of this model was sold at Sotheby's New York, Sale 19th Century Furniture, Sculpture, Ceramics, Silver and Works of Art on April 22, 2010, Lot 448 'Lot 448: FRANÇOIS LINKE 1855 - 1946 A GILT-BRONZE AND ROUGE GRIOTTE MARBLE TABLE CLOCK PARIS, CIRCA 1895, INDEX NUMBER 86' Sold for $10,000 USD
Another example of this model was sold at Christie's New York, Sale '500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe' (PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF RAYMOND AND MIRIAM KLEIN) on October 20, 2011, Lot 146A 'A FRENCH ORMOLU AND ROUGE MARBLE TABLE...
Category
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$6,750 Sale Price
28% Off
Three-piece French porcelain and gilt bronze clock set
Located in London, GB
Three-piece French porcelain and gilt bronze clock set
French, late 19th Century
Clock: Height 27cm, width 36.5cm, depth 12cm
Candelabra: Height 33cm, width 20cm, depth 11.5cm
This fine three-piece clock set is by Henri Picard, one of the leading producers of luxury bronze...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
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.
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