Empire Clocks
EMPIRE STYLE
From 1804–15, Napoléon I reigned as the emperor of France, bringing the country into a new era of opulence after the fall of the monarchy and the tumultuous years of the French Revolution. He declared, “We must have very solid things, made to last 100 years.” Empire-style furniture followed suit, with imposing pieces constructed from mahogany and adorned with gilded ornaments. Expanding on the neoclassicism popularized in the previous century — such as in Louis XVI style — Empire style borrowed from the great civilizations of antiquity, from Egypt to Greece and Rome, to connect this nascent empire to the power of the past.
Napoléon I believed the production of fine furniture would reflect the stature of the republic, with his official architects Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine leading the way with their work on his residences.
Luxurious materials, symmetrical shapes and bold colors characterize antique Empire-style bedroom furniture, armchairs, cabinets and other structures, with frequent motifs including mythological creatures, geometric designs, acanthus leaves, eagles, bees (the imperial emblem) and swans, a favorite of Empress Joséphine.
Flat surfaces, like marble tabletops, were accented with decadent details, such as the bronze furniture mounts made by sculptor Pierre-Philippe Thomire for the French palaces. Martin-Guillaume Biennais, who worked as the imperial goldsmith, crafted intricate luxury objects that mixed wood, fine metal, mother-of-pearl and ivory. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
The style became popular abroad, influencing the American Empire style. Stately pieces carved with sprigs of olives by cabinetmaker Pierre-Antoine Bellange were acquired by American President James Monroe for the White House in 1817.
Find a collection of antique Empire tables, lighting, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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Style: Empire
Item Ships From: Europe
French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock by Deverberie a Paris, Fire-Gilded
Located in Berlin, DE
French Empire mantel clock from DeVerberie a Paris.
Fire-gilded.
Age-related condition.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Large French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Figural Mantel Clock of Exceptional Quali
Located in Benington, Herts
A large and impressive French Empire period gilt bronze mantel clock of exceptional quality and colour.
French (possibly retailed in Italy) - Circa 1820.
The finely chased and original gilt bronze case depicting Orpheus playing his lyre with an eight-day bell striking movement, outside countwheel, backplate initialled and numbered 'A C D 1516’.
The dial with Roman numerals and inscribed Riccardo Pacinoti of Lavourne. It is a French movement (silk suspension) striking the hour and half hour. The case in the form of an oblong pillar cast with anthemium and cornucopia beneath a draped urn and a laurel wreath, flanked by the figure of Orpheus playing his lyre, the stepped plinth cast with wonderfully detailed underworld scenes, on leaf scroll feet.
In excellent condition the clock case has been cleaned with the movement completely overhauled and serviced to the highest standard by a specialist restorer.
In general 19th century French bronze clocks...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Important Empire Clock in Bronze with Two Patinas Alexander the Great 19th Cen
Located in Madrid, ES
Important Empire clock in bronze with two Patinas Alexander the Great 19th century
Weight: 11.00 kg
Sizes: H 51cm x L 39cm
France
very good condition.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Figural Bisque Porcelain w Gilt Bronze Clock Napoleonic Officer 19th century
Located in Sweden, SE
Made of bisque porcelain in the middle of 19th century, presumably by Royal French Porcelain Manufacture de Sevres, the clock in the form of a scene where an elegant officer was depi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Gold Plate, Brass, Bronze
French Empire Bisque Porcelain and Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
French Empire Ormolu and Bisque Porcelain Mantel Clock
French Empire ormolu mounted Bisque porcelain mantel clock surmounted by a winged...
Category
1780s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Porcelain
Table Clock Empire France
Located in New York, NY
A table clock made in France during the Empire 1790-1820. Made from blackened wood and burnt-gilt bronze. Godronned urn-formation, lion mascarons, pine cone all Empire attributes
Category
1790s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Empire Fire Gilded Mantel Clock, circa 1820
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Beautiful fire gilded Empire mantel clock with a shepherdess on top with a wreath and ribbon. On the left a staff with pan flute.
At the bottom of the clo...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Table Clock Empire Period France
Located in New York, NY
A mantel clock made during the Empire period 1790-1820 in France. Made from burnished gilt bronze. The Greek God Apollo is playing the lyre with his feet resting on a guilded stool.
Category
1790s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Empire Mantel Clock by H.Robert-Horloger De La Reine, Paris, circa 1820
Located in Madrid, ES
An Empire Mantel Clock by H.Robert-Horloger De La Reine, Paris, date circa 1820-1830
A superb Empire gilt and patinated bronze mantel clock of eight day duration signed on the white enamel dial H.Robert-Horloger a la Reine . The dial with Roman numerals and gilded steel Breguet style hands for the hours and minutes. The movement with anchor escapement, silk thread suspension, striking on a single bell, with outside count wheel. The extremely fine case featuring the standing figure of Urania, Muse of Astronomy holding a pen in her left hand which points to a star-studded globe adorned with the signs of the zodiac around its circumference, the globe set on the back of four putti upon a plinth, containing the dial with a serpent-wrapped
Paris, date circa 1820-30
Height 73 cm, width 50cm, depth 22 cm.
In addition to the above prestigious locations, clocks of this model can be found at Warsaw Castle and in the Bayerischen Nationalmuseum, Munich. The Parisian clockmaker Bailly (d. after 1818) was one of the finest of his day and as such earned the title of Horloger de LL. MM. II. Et RR (Clockmaker to Their Imperial and Royal Majesties). Working from rue de Richelieu he was with Lepaute one of the main suppliers to the Garde-Meuble. Bailly, who retired in 1818 had the responsibility of maintaining the clocks at Compiègne and the Trianons and is known to have used cases by the leading Parisian bronziers including Pierre-Philippe Thomire and Claude Galle as well as Ferdinand Schwerdfeger who supplied him with a case for a regulator surmounted by a star-studded and zodiac banded globe...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Empire Mantel Clock by Ledure with Apollo or Eros
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The clock is signed on the enamel dial by the famous Parisian bronzier ”Ledure Bronzier à Paris” and the clockmaker ”Hedon Hr" (horloger). Patinated and fully sculpted bronze figure ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Antique early 19th century French red marble and ormolu clock garniture
Located in London, GB
An impressive early 19th Century French bronze & ormolu Clock Garniture comprising a pair of campana shaped Urns with satyr mask carrying handles supported on red marble plinths with...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
18th Century Clock, Baillon in Paris
Located in Warsaw, PL
This is a unique, authentic antique French table or mantel clock. It is in finely chiseled and gilded bronze. The dial with outer Arabic numerals and inner Roman numerals and a fine pair of pierced gilt brass hands for the hours and minutes. Next to the clock is a tall lady figurine, accompanied by a child. The woman is holding a book in her right hand and a feather pen in her left hand. On the other side, the child draped in the Antique is standing on books and holding a paper. The white marble base rests on four small spinning feet.
This clock was made by Jean-Baptiste Baillon III, one of the most skilled and innovative makers of his day. Baillon achieved almost unprecedented success to become “the richest watchmaker in Europe” - F.J. Britten. He was also one of the most important clockmakers of the eighteenth century and undoubtedly the most famous member of a long line of clockmakers. His success was largely due to his ability to organise a vast and thriving private factory in Saint-Germain-en-Laye which was unique in the history of eighteenth century clockmaking. The renowned horologist, Ferdinand Berthoud was among many to be impressed by its scale and quality and in 1753 noted that Baillon’s “house is the finest and richest Clock Shop. Diamonds are used not only to decorate his Watches but even Clocks. He has made some whose cases were small gold boxes...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock Signed Vaillaint a Paris
Located in London, GB
Superb quality French Empire ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock in a beautifully restrained case. The casting and gilding of the finest quality. A classically dressed maiden st...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Elegant 19th Century Bronze Clock Empire
Located in Madrid, ES
Elegant 19th century bronze clock.
19th Century French clock in gilded bronze. The machinery works and has its pendulum and key. Difficult ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Miniature Ormolu Clock of Cupid Signed by Ledure and Thomas
Located in London, GB
French Empire miniature ormolu clock of Cupid signed by Ledure and Thomas. A small French Empire clock only 10 inches (25 cms high) but of outstanding quality. A figure of Cupid stan...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Empire Period Gilt Bronze Figurative Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Empire period gilt bronze figurative mantel clock
French, early 19th century
Measures: Height 33cm, width 31cm, depth 12cm
This superb mantel clock is a wonderful example of the...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Early 19th Century Empire Mantel Clock with Cupid in a Chariot
By Marie Prevost
Located in Paris, FR
Exceptional gilt bronze mantel clock with its key depicting a winged Cupid in a chariot. The chariot is pulled by two doves that are resting on a platform adorned with water-leaf. Th...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Late Empire Period Clock of Chronos Carrying Away Time
Located in London, GB
A fine model of Chronos carrying off time. The superbly modelled and cast figure of Chronos with scythe in one hand and carrying the clock under his arm. Set on a fine marble base wi...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Genre Mantel Clock of an Arcadian Hunting Scene
Located in London, GB
A very unusual French Empire Genre Arcadian mantel clock of a hunting scene. The primary subject is that of a finely dressed woman in riding habit, hat, whip and gloves riding side saddle on a fine patinated bronze hunter...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Austrian Clock Holder, Granite and Steel with Picture St Stephans Dome
Located in Stockholm, SE
A beautiful and exclusive clock stand made of steel and granite. Holding a picture of the Stephans-dome. The most famous church in Wienna, Austria.
High quality craftsmanship on all...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Granite, Steel
Empire Pendulum Clock the Spinner, Signed Rossel in Rouen
Located in Paris, FR
French Empire pendulum clock finely crafted of gilt bronze, featuring a young spinner wearing a classical dress, seating on the dial near a lyre ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
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 Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
19th Century Empire Pendulum from "French National Furniture" Called "The study"
Located in Marseille, FR
Pendulum of national furniture called "The study" of Empire period double patina and gilded bronze with scientific attributes of astronomy, on the base we find cupid, Minerev and his...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
French Early 19th Century Empire Period Mantel Clock Signed Ledure
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Very fine early 19th century Empire period mantel clock of patinated bronze. It is signed by one of the best Parisian bronzers Pierre Victor Ledure and h...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
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 Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Important Pendulum in Gilded Bronze and Onyx, 19th Century
By France"
Located in Madrid, ES
Important pendulum in gilded bronze and onyx from the nineteenth century.
The enamel dial.
Made for the russian market.
Large: 60 x 55 x 18 cm..
With pendulum and key 6550 euros.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
French Restauration Period Ormolu Lyre Mantel Clock with Apollo Mask
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An unusual French Restauration period ormolu mantel clock. The elaborately pierced gilt bronze case in the form of a lyre, with an Apollo mask cresting, on a white marble stepped bas...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, case pieces and storage cabinets, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Austria pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original clocks, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Claude Galle, Breguet a Paris, and C. Maniere. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $445 and tops out at $145,000 while the average work can sell for $7,774.