French Clocks

French 19th century Louis XVI style mantel clock signed by J Marti. Made from marble and gilt bronze with porcelain dial.

A magnificent French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu clock, by Alix à Paris. The clock is raised by six elegant tapered ormolu feet below the white Carrara...

Ormolu bronze mantel clock flanked by a troubadour and musical instruments, signed 'Ferdinand Berthoud a Paris'. The end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century was a crucial time in which new technological advances helped to make watches more accurate and more portable. During the 1790s, the production of gilded bronze increased considerably as working conditions improved. The freedom of trade initiated by the French Revolution allowed many casters to develop large factories. The new factory environment gave them a chance to execute all stages of bronze work including drawing, casting, gilding, assembly, and trade of art objects. While the bronzers took creative liberty in creating all kinds of clocks in contrast to the noble and rigorous structure carried by the movement of neoclassicism. Under the reign of Empire, the case designs started gradually to develop away from a proportionate and strict classicism towards a baroque style and revival style. The rediscovery of medieval civilization was one of the intellectual curiosities of the beginning of the 19th century, with much input from the Ancien Régime and its institutions, rites and the medieval churches in which family ceremonies occurred. This early nineteenth-century figural mantel clock is surmounted by a medieval musician. To be more precise, it is a french troubadour. Troubadours were known for composing and performing lyric poetry for the nobility back during medieval times. The clock is featuring a chiselled bronze troubadour, dressed in medieval fashion while holding a flute, playing a tune from sheet music called "Du Troubadour" that is resting on top of the rectangular clock case. In addition to that, the clock features a gilt bronze lute or vielle resting on a small stool on the opposite side of the clock’s case. The white enamel dial features the inscription Berthoud and is underlined by a bronze entourage chiselled with palmette motif, plus encompassed by c-scrolls and wreaths. The original hands are in blued steel and encircled by Roman numerals indicating hour next to Arabic numerals indicating minutes. The small details that adorn the hexagonal plinth are reliefs, depicting two water fountains or basins on both sides with a lyre in between. The sculpted image of a lyre raised above the background features also foliage garlands tied on top with ribbons. The clock rests on seven spinning feet. The clock was made in the well-known workshop of the Berthoud’s family that was recognized for their excellent work by the King. Berthoud Clockmakers History. Ferdinand Berthoud was a horologist and author of extensive treatises on timekeeping as well as a Swiss clockmaker serving the king of France, that produced many marine clocks, including a weight-driven version that inspired the first American sea-going clock. He was born in Plancemont, Switzerland, the son of an architect and judiciary. In 1741 he began a three-year apprenticeship as a clockmaker under his brother, Jean-Henri. He made his first marine chronometer in 1754 (sent for trial in 1761) and in 1764 was appointed a member of the Royal Society, London and Horloger Mécanicien de Sa Majesté et de la Marine ayant l'inspection de la construction des Horloges Marines. In 1769, Ferdinand Berthoud sent for his nephew Pierre-Louis Berthoud (1754–1813), commonly known as Louis Berthoud, a talented young watchmaker and clockmaker, inviting him to come to Paris from Couvet, Switzerland, to pursue his apprenticeship. Louis helped Ferdinand manufacture and repair the sea clocks...

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...

Antique French Louis XVI Mahogany and ormolu longcase clock, circa 1890.

A stunning and most unique French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu, patinated bronze and marble clock, stamped Vincent 1855. The clock is raised by fine ormolu supports below the ci...

This is a delicately gilded clock. Designed in the Louis XVI style, it is a very similar barometer. Originating from France in the 18th century, this watch gives the viewer an extrem...

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 ...

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...

Louis XVI style Ormolu Mounted long case clock by H&F À PARIS This clock is from 18th century Louis XV The special thing is that it runs accurately, and the power reserve is 12mon...

Antique French Louis XVI bronze d'ore 3-piece garniture clock set, Circa 1880.

Pendulum clock "Regulateur de parquet" after Jean-Henri Riesener Napoleon III, Paris, circa 1850-1880. Balthazar, Paris. This fine quality late...

A very good quality late 19th century French gilded ormolu and Sevres style porcelain clock garniture. The clock having this wonderful cobalt blue ground fluted, lidded vase with ring...

In fine condition with eagle finial over an enameled clock dial signed Degre, a fine Paris maker listed in Tardys book of French clockmakers. Flanked by two pairs of urns one white marble and the other black over marble columns wrapped in spiraling gilt bronze vines...

A very fine Louis XVI ormolu clock set, by Ferdinand Berthoud, Paris, circa 1770 This clock set is presented in gilt Bronze and Bleu Turqin and...

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...

An exceptional and very high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and patinated bronze clock, signed Raingo Frères Paris. The clock is ...

An elegant French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. patinated bronze, ormolu, and white Carrara marble clock signed H Luppens & Cie. The clock is raised by five topie shaped feet with f...

A spectacular and extremely high quality French early 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu clock, signed Simona à Paris, circa 1819. The clock is raised by six elegant topie shaped feet below the exceptional and most decorative scallop shaped white Carrara marble base. The base displays an exceptional stepped design and beautiful pierced baluster like wrap around ormolu gallery with a fine twisted ribbon fillet and central rosette. Leading up each side are impressive columns raised by square supports with exceptional concave sides decorated with fitted pierced foliate ormolu mounts, and rosettes encased by unique posts and chains. The columns are each adorned with lovely swaging ormolu fabrics, tassels, and an exquisite array of beaded and twisted ribbon ormolu fillets leading upwards to the superb ball and chain pendants. Above the beautiful pendulum with two intricately detailed rooster heads and central sun mask is the elegant enameled clock face with Arabic hour and minute markers with pieced hands with the rare inclusion of a second hand framed within an outstanding and finely detailed ormolu band of intertwined ropes. Above is a handsome richly chased Roman soldier wearing a cape and holding a dagger and sheath...

A very rare Louis XVI style gilt-bronze and glass, Pendule a cage, by Francois Linke, with a white marble base. Linke Index no. 076'. Linke Title: 'pendule a cage'. Signed to th...

An exceptional and very high quality French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu cartel clock, by Etienne Maxant. The impressive wall clock is centered by a stunning richly chased b...

Mantel clock 18th Century styl Boulle by JOSUE PANIER À PARIS.

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...

Case: The ormolu rockwork case has patinated figures to the sides, military implements and several flags above and stands on a red variegated base with flattened bun feet. A celebr...

A spectacular French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu clock in the manner of Clodion. The clock is raised by elegant reeded topie shaped feet below the ...

Our Louis XVI style clock in the manner of Louis Simon Boizot (1743-1809) features the patinated figures of neoclassical standing females supporting...

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...

"Mantel clock 18th century Louis XVI study And Philosophy Ormolu Mantel Clock by Piezze Rive A Colmaer. Ormolu mantel clock entitled "L’Etude et La Philosophie", This clock was an en...

Maker: Etienne Lenoir Case: The ormolu and patinated case features a prancing horse with a finely textured finish, a wellcast snail, scrolling foliage above framing the clock ...

An impressive French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu mounted on white Carrara marble clock Garniture set. The three piece set includes a pair of two arm candelabras ormolu mounted with beads and C scrolled arms. The clock is ornamented with ormolu laurel garlands and an urn of prosperity above. The whole is raised on four marble columns...

A most exquisite French mid-19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu, white Carrara marble and crystal clock. The clock is raised on a moulded oval white Carrara marble base supported by ri...

Antique French Louis XVI white marble & gold bronze 3 piece Garniture clock set. Clock: 14" High x 10" Wide x 4-1/2" Deep Candelabra: 12" High x 6" Diameter at Top and 5" Diameter ...

A stunning and very high quality French mid-19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble clock, stamped L. Oudry, Paris. The c...

A Louis XVI style cartel wall clock, made in France circa 1880-1890. The case is made of casted spelter (metal alloy) and fitted with four beveled mirror glass. The dial is covered w...

An extremely high quality French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. signed 'Lepaute, Paris' ormolu clock. The clock with a superb chasing throughout has all of its original gilt. Raised ...

Mantel clock 18th century Louis XV by PICARD, HENRI (FRENCH, FL. 1831-1864) Henri Picard was a prestigious 19th century fondeur and doreur, who worked in Par...

Antique 1920s Louis XVI style bronze & crystal mantle clock from a Palm Beach estate. Inside the clockworks is the "Made in Paris" sign -- see pictures we assume the clock is n...

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...

A 19th century gilt bronze and white marble portico clock.

Louis XVI ormolu-mounted black and white marble mantel clock, Paris, 1800. The white enamel dial with black Arabic numerals is contained ...

Antique French gilt bronze mounted malachite turning mantel clock French, late 19th century Measures: Height 75cm, width 28cm, depth 25.5cm The malachite mantel clock case is st...

A very good quality 19th century Louis XVI style gilded ormolu clock garniture, the clock having a classical urn finial with garlands, ribbons and foliate decoration. The white ename...

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...

An exceptional and high quality French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. Rouge Griotte marble and patinated Bronze clock. The clock is raised by eight patinated Bronze foliate fluted fe...

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...

Louis XVI portico clock Pendulum called "portico" in white and gilted bronze. The enamelled dial, including Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic num...

Gilt bronze clock in the Louis XVI style representing a nymph and two cherubs. The nymph, undressed and resting on a cushion, is nursing one of the cherubs while the second one calls...

The outstanding mantel clock is in the style of Louis XVI – Louis Seize (1774-1792). Royal breath appears in each motif. Almost the entire upper part of the clock is inlaid with or...

An elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu clock. The clock is raised by foliate topie shaped feet below the oblong shaped white Ca...

Louis XVI period gilt bronze mounted malachite clock French, late 18th century Measures: Height 50cm, width 34.5cm, depth 13.5cm This fine mantel clock was produced during the e...

The fine quality Sèvres-style Louis XVI gilt-bronze and jeweled porcelain turquoise mantel clock. Surmounted with a twin handled urn with grapes, the central enamel dial with Roman n...

A stunning French 18th century Louis XVI period ormolu and silvered bronze clock, signed Pfeñinger, Zurich. The clock is centered by a striking f...

A magnificent and very high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. marble and finely chased ormolu clock. The clock is raised on six ormolu topie shaped feet below the white Carrara marble base with scrolled foliate ormolu mounts and beaded border. Perched above is a charming winged cherub holding up an arrow. At each side are lovely ormolu maidens draped in classic attire with their flowing hair, holding up a floral wreath. Centered is the ormolu clock with paw feet fluted and scrolled designs at the base and swaging foliate garland. Above the enamel dial is decorated with a winged cherub bust...

“A Louis XVI style lion mask wall clock” This fire gilt bronze Louis XVI style lion mask wall clock was one of the most outstanding masterpieces, which was originally made by Edme-J...

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...

A charming and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and patinated bronze clock, signed Denière. The clock is raised by a fine oval shaped ormolu base with a richly chased wrap around berried laurel band and mottled border. The adorable and wonderfully detailed patinated bronze winged cherub is seated with his bow and arrows in a quiver at his side draped in a lovely flowing fabric. He is attentively holding a scroll in his left hand, seemingly reading and taking notes with a pen in his right hand while leaning on the clock with a curious raven at his side. The clock is set in a patinated bronze box...

The clock is in excellent and perfect working order. In addition, it has been recently cleaned and maintained by a professional watchmaker specializing in museum maintenance. The ei...

A very handsome French 19th century Louis XVI st. 3-piece onyx and ormolu garniture set. The three urns, each with a green onyx body are raised on concave c...