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.

Style: Empire

Empire 19th Century Ormolu and Painted Bronze Mantel Clock with Young Sailor

Located in Palm Desert, CA

An Empire ormolu and painted bronze mantel clock attributed to Jean-Simon Deverberie. Fitted in an ormolu case shaped as a cotton bale, the round enamel dial features Roman numeral hours and Arabic fifteen-minute graduations, indicated by two pierced gilt bronze hands. Shirtless and barefoot, a young black sailor...

Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Empire 19th Century Ormolu and Painted Bronze Mantel Clock with Young Sailor

$18,300

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

Elegant 19th Century Bronze Clock Empire

$2,686

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

French Empire Influenced Clock Set, 19th Century

$8,019 / set

Empire Patinated Bronze Clock

Located in Atlanta, GA

Beautiful patinated bronze clock featuring Cupid and Psyche with a Sienna marble base

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Empire Patinated Bronze Clock

$28,600

Empire Period Ormolu and Enamel Ceres Mantel Clock After Thomire

By Pierre-Philippe Thomire

Located in London, GB

Empire period ormolu and enamel Ceres mantel clock after Thomire. French, c.1810 Measures: height 46cm, width 38cm, depth 13cm. This superb mantel clock was made in the First Fr...

Category

1810s French Antique Empire Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

Empire Period Ormolu and Enamel Ceres Mantel Clock After Thomire

$20,741

Empire Pendulum Clock the Spinner, Signed Rossel in Rouen

By 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

Empire Pendulum Clock the Spinner, Signed Rossel in Rouen

$7,162

Empire Clock The Spinner by 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

Empire Clock The Spinner by Rossel in Rouen

$5,491

French Empire Ormolu and Marble Mantel Clock of Cupid

Located in London, GB

French Empire Ormolu and marble vert mantel clock of Cupid whispering. Wonderful original fire gilded mercury ormolu. The quality of the casting and chasing is superb, from the indiv...

Category

1810s French Antique Empire Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Empire Ormolu and Marble Mantel Clock of Cupid

$18,321

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

French Empire Genre Mantel Clock of an Arcadian Hunting Scene

$10,024

Early 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock "Pouring Wine"

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A fine Early 19th century French Empire ormolu bronze mantel clock. Depicting a winged cherub standing atop a barrel while a kneeling lady pouring wine ...

Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Early 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock "Pouring Wine"

$9,800

Patinated and Fire-Gilt Clock in the Form of a Vase c. 1800

Located in 263-0031, JP

A French patinated and fire-gilt clock in the form of a vase, Empire Era, 1800-1815. The silk-thread mechanism is in good working condition with key and pendulum.

Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Patinated and Fire-Gilt Clock in the Form of a Vase c. 1800

$2,064 Sale Price

20% Off

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

Late Empire Period Clock of Chronos Carrying Away Time

$7,259

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

French Restauration Period Ormolu Lyre Mantel Clock with Apollo Mask

$7,043

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

French Empire Miniature Ormolu Clock of Cupid Signed by Ledure and Thomas

$5,185

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

Important Empire Clock in Bronze with Two Patinas Alexander the Great 19th Cen

$8,237

French 19th century Empire st. Gris st. Anne, Carrara marble, and Ormolu clock

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A stunning and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Gris st. Anne, white Carrara marble, and Ormolu clock. This beautiful clock is supported on a circular white Carrara marble...

Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th century Empire st. Gris st. Anne, Carrara marble, and Ormolu clock

$29,800

19th Century French Rooster Clock

Located in Stamford, CT

A 19th century French gilt bronze rooster clock with brass eight-day spring driven movement. Newly cleaned and operational.

Category

1860s French Antique Empire Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century French Rooster Clock

$5,500

Early 19th Century Vase-Shaped Porcelain Clock

By Normant

Located in Paris, FR

Vase-shaped mantel clock in gilded porcelain. Breguet hands track the hours and minutes on white, enamel dial with hours marked in Roman numerals. The porcelain is interspaced with g...

Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks

Materials

Porcelain

Early 19th Century Vase-Shaped Porcelain Clock

$7,998

19th Century Empire Mantel Clock

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Excellent condition with finely chased dore bronze mounts. Has key and pendulum.

Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Empire Mantel Clock

$13,950

Large 19th Century French Gilt Bronze and Marble Lyre Shaped Clock Garniture

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A 19th century French gilt-bronze and white marble figural lyre clock. The case mounted with floral swags, with a figure of Cupid to the top and two cherubs to the sides, on fluted r...

Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Large 19th Century French Gilt Bronze and Marble Lyre Shaped Clock Garniture

$18,990

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.