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Material: Ormolu
Large 19th Century French Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive 19th century French gilded ormolu and Severs porcelain mantel clock. Having putti on either side, holding garlands of flowers. Inset hand-painted Sevres porcelain p...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI 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
Antique Three-Piece Louis XV and Sèvres Style Clock and Ewer Set
Located in London, GB
Antique Three-piece Louis XV and Sèvres style clock and ewer set
French, late 19th century
Dimensions: Height 36cm, width 34cm, depth 12cm
Consisting of a central mantel clock a...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Louis XV Style Imari Mantle Clock Garniture
Located in Montreal, QC
Louis XV style gilt bronze and porcelain Imari mantel clock and garniture.
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$5,800 / set
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and white Carrara marble clock. The clock is raised by fine circular ormolu supports below the demi lune shaped white Carrara marb...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze and Malachite Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This wonderfully ornate gilt bronze mantel clock is covered with fine sculptural decoration, including female busts, architectural motifs and stylized foliage. With its wealth of cla...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, 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
19th Century French mantel clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French gilded ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock, having a seated cherub holding the rains of a winged dragon pulling a scrolling foliate ...
Category
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Monumental Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze and Marble Clock with Putti in the Clouds
Located in New York, NY
A fine Louis XVI-style large gilt-bronze and greige Rococo marble figural mantel clock is surmounted by three dore bronze putti figures hanging floral adornments among clouds with lo...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France
Located in New York, NY
Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France. A French mantle in gilt bronze decorated with neoclassical symbols ...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$6,000 Sale Price
23% Off
Large French Art Nouveau Mantel Clock and Garniture
Located in SAINTE-COLOMBE, FR
Large French Art Nouveau Mantel Clock and Garniture
This impressive clock set features a woman and child holding a floral branch with a bird perched above.
A striking centrepiece...
Category
Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Brass, Spelter, Ormolu
French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu and white Carrara marble clock. The clock is raised by fine circular mottled ormolu feet below the solid whit...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, 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...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Louis XV Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Clock
Located in London, GB
Designed in a fanciful Louis XV style, this beautiful mantel clock takes the form of an Asian elephant, saddled with a howdah (carriage). The clock features a patinated sculpture of ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Grandfather Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular and extremely high quality French mid-19th century Louis XV st. kingwood, tulipwood, and ormolu grandfather clock. The clock is raised by a fine scalloped shaped kingwo...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Neoclassical Mantel Clock in Ormolu and Sevres Style Porcelain by Ernest Royer
By Ernest Royer
Located in London, GB
This splendid neoclassical style French mantel clock is beautifully crafted in ormolu and porcelain decorated in the Sevres style. 'ER', the mark of French clockmaker Ernest Royer, active in the later 19th Century, is stamped on the underside of the ormolu mounts. There are three Sevres style porcelain plaques in total, all set on turquoise ground: the plaque to the front of the clock depicts a cherub and a nymph as well as containing the clock face with Roman numerals. The two sides of the clock case feature further porcelain plaques, which portray Neptune, Aurora and mermaids. The rectangular ormolu clock case is surmounted by a putto with a dog. There is a neoclassical pilaster...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
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
Champleve enamel mantle clock, 19th Century.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality late 19th Century French gilded ormolu Champleve enamel mantle clock, having an urn finial to the top, columns supported by winged sphinx's. The eight day duration clo...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
Napoleon III Period Mantel Clock by Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
This stunning clock expertly showcases the ingenuity of its maker, Ferdinand Barbedienne, and its smart styling in the opulent Napoleon III style will make it an excellent addition t...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Antique Clock, Ormolu, Patinated Bronze and Marble
By L. Ravrio 1
Located in London, GB
French Empire clock of stunning quality of borne shape constructed of rouge marble, original fire gilt ormolu and patinated bronze. The dial of the clock is signed "L Ravrio" below 1...
Category
Early 1800s French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Louis XVI style Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality French 19th century Rococo gilded ormolu mantel clock. The eight day movement, chimes on the hour and half hour.
Category
19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
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
$3,900 Sale Price
50% Off
French 18th Century Louis XV Period Tortoiseshell and Ormolu Boulle Cartel Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A large and important French 18th century Louis XV period Tortoiseshell and ormolu Boulle cartel clock signed Le Faucheur, A Paris. The clock is ra...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
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...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
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...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
$8,719 / set
Charles X Period Ormolu Mounted Jacob Petit Porcelain Mantel Clock
By Jacob Petit
Located in London, GB
Charles X Period Ormolu Mounted Jacob Petit Porcelain Mantel Clock
French, c.1825
Height 36cm, width 18.5m, depth 10.5cm
Set within a beautiful porcelain case, parcel gilt, and flor...
Category
Early 19th Century French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
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 ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Arch top French mantel clock in a finely decorated Ormolu case with classical scene to the front, standing on a mahogany base with brass banding and resting on brass feet.
Enamel ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Museum Quality French Marble And Ormolu Clock circa 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
This lovely clock is in good running order. It was retailed by Bigelow Kennard in Boston, MA.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Stunning Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Boudoir Antique French Clock
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A fine and stunning original antique French boudoir clock. It is beautifully made of ormolu (finely gilded bronze), very well modelled and chased, and mounted with exquisite Sèvres s...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Japonisme style gilt bronze and enamel mantel clock
Located in London, GB
French Japonisme style gilt bronze and enamel mantel clock
French, 19th Century
Height 30cm, width 18cm, depth 14.5cm
This fine mantel clock is of rectangular form, with a gilt bron...
Category
19th Century French Japonisme Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Enamel
French Louis XVI Style Mantel Clock, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu mantel clock, having Sevres style porcelain panels, depicting a romantic scene, a gilded ormolu urn with swags above the clock f...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
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...
Category
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 18th Century Louis XVI Period Ormolu and Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely elegant and very high-quality French 18th century Louis XVI period ormolu, Bleu Turquin and white Carrara marble clock signed by Jean-Baptiste Dutertre. The clock is rai...
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Louis XVI Style Mantel Clock + Candelabra, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality mid 19th Century French gilded ormolu Louis XVI style mantel clock with a matched pair of classical five brach candelabra, with putti supporting cornucopia. The c...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Neoclassical Style Malachite, Silvered and Gilt Bronze Clock Set
Located in London, GB
This spectacular clock set is based on the works of the esteemed Neoclassical artist James Pradier (French, 1790-1852), whose sculptures can be found in nearly all of Paris's major m...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze
Neoclassical Style French Malachite and Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Neoclassical style French malachite and gilt bronze mantel clock
French, late 19th century
Dimensions: Height 48cm, width 30cm, depth 15cm
This neoclassical Louis XVI style mant...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Enamel, Ormolu
Antique French Louis XVI style gilt bronze cartel clock
Located in London, GB
Antique French Louis XVI style gilt bronze cartel clock
French, late 19th Century
Height 63cm, width 28cm, depth 10cm
This elegant cartel clo...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
English Egyptian Revival Mantel Clock with Fusee Movement by Moore of London
Located in London, GB
A fabulous and very rare antique English, Egyptian revival mantel clock with fusee movement by John Moore and Sons of London. This clock has a number of very unusual features. Constr...
Category
1860s English Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Charles X Ormolu "Cupid" Mantel Clock
Located in Astoria, NY
Charles X Ormolu "Cupid" Mantel Clock, circa 1830, the blue painted globular clock surmounted by Cupid upholding a birds nest, standing on a cloud, the white enamel dial, with strike...
Category
1830s French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
A Louis XVI Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze and Marble Clock Garniture
By Jollet & Cie
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Louis XVI Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze and Marble Clock Garniture, Comprising a 'Pendule à Cercles Tournants' Modelled with the Three Graces and a Pair of Cherub Four-Light Cand...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Rococo Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Porcelain Clock Garniture
Located in London, GB
Rococo style gilt bronze mounted porcelain clock garniture
French, late 19th century
Measures: Clock: Height 38cm, width 27cm, depth 13...
Category
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Byzantine Style Gilt Bronze and Champlevé Enamel Garniture by Raingo Frères
Located in London, GB
Byzantine style gilt bronze and champlevé enamel clock garniture by Raingo Frères
French, late 19th century
Measures: Clock: Height 55cm, width 34cm, depth 25cm
Candelabra: Height 67cm, width 31cm, depth 28cm
The present clock set is by Raingo Frères, one of nineteenth-century France’s leading producers of luxury clocks...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel
French 19th Century NeoClassical St. Marble & Ormolu Obelisk Shaped Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and unique French early 19th century Neo-Classical st. white Carrara marble and ormolu obelisk shaped clock. The clock is raised by a rectangular white Carrara marble base with a thick bottom ormolu band and superb richly chased fitted ormolu plaques with the front plaque depicting a bearded man laying outside draped in fur with trees and a ruin in the background and the side plaques depicting beautiful pierced palmettes. At the center are exquisite panther like sphinges flanking draped garlands and superb most decorative bucranium amidst stars at the center. The white enameled clock face displays elegant pierced foliate hands and Arabic hour markings framed within a mottled ormolu bezel. Leading upwards is a wonderfully executed fitted ormolu plaque of a beautiful richly chased maiden draped in flowing period attire throwing flowers...
Category
Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
The Astronomy Lesson French Empire Mantel Clock
Located in New Orleans, LA
This magnificent French Empire ormolu mantel clock features the iconic Neoclassical genre scene often referred to as "The Astronomy Lesson." A popular motif during this period, Emper...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Enamel, Ormolu
French Charles X Malachite, Lapis Lazuli, and Gilt Bronze Figurative Clock
Located in London, GB
French Charles X malachite, lapis lazuli, and gilt bronze figurative clock
French, c. 1830
Measures: Height 75cm, width 53cm, depth 23cm
This fine mantel clock is a superb example of the Charles X style. The clock, wrought from malachite, lapis lazuli, and gilt bronze, features the distinctive feature of most Charles X period clocks: a large sculptural surmount. In the present clock, the sculptural surmount depicts Urania, Greek muse of astronomy. She is accompanied by a lapis lazuli globe...
Category
1830s French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu
Attractive quality antique 19th century French ormolu mantle clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Attractive quality antique 19th century French ormolu mantle clock, having a fine quality antique 19th century French ornate gilt mantle clock with beautiful ornate detailing with ac...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Large Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock Commemorating Napoleon
Located in London, GB
Large gilt bronze mantel clock commemorating Napoleon
French, circa 1840
Measures: Height 57cm, width 40cm, depth 15cm
The gilt bronze m...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Monumental Version of Psyche and Cupid in Rouge Marble, Patinated Bronze
Located in London, GB
Magnificent monumental version of the iconic clock depicting Psyche and Cupid. This verson dating from circa 1820-1830 is by JB Marchand a re-knowned bro...
Category
1820s French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
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
Antique 18th Century Boulle Bracket Clock by Brezagez and Marchand
By Marchand
Located in London, GB
Antique 18th century Boulle bracket clock by Brezagez and Marchand
French, circa 1740
Measures: Clock: Height 87cm, width 47cm, depth 21cm
Bracket: Height 40cm, width 53cm, depth 24cm
Total: Height 127cm
This beautiful 18th century French bracket clock...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Brass, Enamel, Ormolu
Large Neoclassical Style Marble and Gilt Bronze Circular Movement Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Large neoclassical style marble and gilt bronze circular movement mantel clock
French, late 19th century
Measures: Height 82cm, width 26cm, depth 26cm
Crafted from the finest of materials, including beautiful white marble, gilt bronze, and patinated bronze, this unusually large mantel clock is a superb piece of neoclassical design. The clock features a white marble vase-shaped case, which houses its circular movement. The vase is set above a plinth form base, which is inset with gilt bronze relief panels...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
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 Ormolu and Porcelain Panel Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
French Ormolu and porcelain mantel clock
French ormolu mantel clock standing on a beaded oval base and resting on a mahogany plinth.
Floral swag decoration to either side of the dial.
The enamel dial with Roman numerals, original ‘blued’ steel hands signed ‘HRY Marc, Paris.
Finely painted porcelain panel...
Category
19th Century French Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
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 French Sevres Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French 19th century gilded ormolu and pink Sevres porcelain mantel clock. Having monopodia supports, a putti supporti...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Chinoiserie Style Gilt-Bronze and Enamel Figural Clock
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A rare Chinoiserie style gilt-bronze and enamel figural clock.
This elegant and sophisticated clock has a finely chiselled gilt-bronze case with gold and enamel highlights. It dep...
Category
19th Century French Chinoiserie 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
Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Rouge Griotte Marble Clock Set
Located in London, GB
Louis XVI style ormolu and rouge griotte marble clock set
French, 1867
Clock: height 67cm, width 46cm, depth 28cm
Candelabra: height 81cm...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Griotte Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Pink Marble & Ormolu 3 Piece Clock Garniture Set, Circa 1880-1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Pink Marble and Ormolu 3 Piece Clock Garniture Set, Circa 1880-1890.
Clock: 18" High x 8" Wide x 5 1/2" Deep
Candelabra (2): 13" High x 10...
Category
Late 19th Century French 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.
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