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
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 Style Mantel Clock, circa 1820
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and stylish early 19th Century gilded ormolu and green marble mantle clock, having two classical maidens either side feeding Rams, an Eagle above the circular white...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
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
$7,840 / set
19th Century Clock Empire Clock in Siena Marble
Located in Madrid, ES
XIX CENTURY CLOCK EMPIRE CLOCK IN SIENA MARBLE AND DECORATED WITH BRONZE. SUSPENSION MECHANISM WITH FILE. COMPLETE WITH ITS KEY AND PENDULUM. MEASURES: 45 CM HIGH
good condition.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Marble
19th Century Mantel Empire clock bronze
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Magnificent empire clock in its original gilding , one of the most beautiful models
executed at this time.The beauty of this woman standing ,the base decorated with children
one of w...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Empire period gilt bronze clock with Cupid and Psyche by Le Roy et fils
Located in London, GB
This beautiful mantel clock was crafted in c.1810 by the famous Parisian clock-making firm, Le Roy et fils. The company was founded by Basile Charles Le...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
Gilt and Patinated Bronze Empire Period Mantel Clock by Gaston Jolly
By Gaston Jolly
Located in London, GB
Depicting a young woman seated at a table holding a book and looking at a celestial globe, above the central dial signed 'Gaston Jolly Paris' and flanked by two busts.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze, 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 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 Mantel Clock of Two Cupids Signed Coeur
Located in London, GB
exceptionally rare French Empire mantel clock of two cupids signed Coeur fils Rue St Honore No 140 a Paris. This small mantel clock of exceptional q...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
French Empire Ormolu mantel clock resting on four turned feet supporting an oval base with raised garland and zig-zag rope decoration...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Empire Era Fire-Gilt Bronze Clock Representing a Figure in Neo-Egyptian Style
Located in 263-0031, JP
A French patinated and fire-gilt clock depicting a standing figure in the neo-Egyptian style, Empire Era, 1800-15. The silk-thread mechanism is in good working condition with key and...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
$1,984 Sale Price
20% Off
Fine and Rare French Empire Clock of Cupid as Magician Uncovering Flaming Hearts
Located in London, GB
Fine and rare French Empire ormolu clock of Cupid as magician, uncovering flaming hearts with the 3 cup trick. The shaped base with four tal...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Ormolu French Empire clock, drumhead case with applied frieze decoration to the base, standing on turned and engraved feet.
Superb engine turned dial centre, the gilded dial with Roman numerals, original hands and floral cast bezel surround.
Convex glass to the rear supporting the eight day movement with outside countwheel striking and silk suspension.
The whole surmounted by a gilded winged...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
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 Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock with Venus and Cupid
Located in London, GB
French Empire gilt bronze mantel clock with Venus and Cupid
French, early 19th Century
Measures: Height 53cm, width 37.5cm, depth 13.5cm
This fine Empire period mantel clock is crafted from gilt bronze. The clock includes a sculptural surmount of Venus accompanied by Cupid. Venus sits atop the square clock...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Very Fine Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire Mantle Clock
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine gilt bronze period Empire mantle clock. France, circa 1805.
Period Empire clock featuring an stylized Hercules with Lion's pelt. Origin...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
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
French Empire Figural Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
Winged cupid with flowing robe, clock resting between wings and fabric, raised on bronze ormolu-mounted verde antico plinth.
France, first half of the 19th century.
Measures: H ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
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
Grandvoinnet In Paris - Bronze Clock From The Empire Period
Located in Beaune, FR
Very beautiful gilded bronze pendulum from the Empire period (18th century) representing Cupid seated in the chariot of Venus pulled by two doves. The enamel dial is signed "Grandvoi...
Category
18th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
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
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
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
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
French Empire Period Ormolu Mantel Clock by Michelez
Located in London, GB
French Empire period ormolu mantel clock by Michelez
French, circa 1815
Measures: Height 47cm, width 20cm, depth 15cm
This beautifully formed and crafted mantel clock, dating to...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Empire Clock in the Form of a Classical Urn, by Maison Lepautre, circa 1825
By Pierre-Basile Lepaute
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A gilt bronze Empire clock in the form of a classical urn, by Maison Lepautre.
French, circa 1825.
The dial signed 'Lepaute a Paris'.
The clock has an ornate cast bezel with a 3-inch porcelain dial with Roman numerals and Breguet style hands. The twin train eight-day movement with outside count wheel striking on a bell and silk thread suspension.
This elegant Empire style clock has a gilt bronze case in the form of a classical urn with swan neck handles and a winged cherub to the neck. The circular pedestal base is raised on a footed stepped square plinth.
The Lepaute family were the premier French clockmakers of their day. Their significance lies in their contribution to the clock making industry which had hitherto come under the trade of locksmiths. The family held the brevet Horlogers du Roi.
Jean-André Lepaute (1720–1789) arrived in Paris at an early age and in 1740 founded the family business. A skilled artist and mechanic, he quickly gained an excellent reputation. He was received as maître by the clockmakers guild in 1759, was granted royal lodgings from the king in The Luxembourg Palace, and was entrusted with the construction of the majority of the great public clocks of Paris. He executed, amongst others, those in The Luxembourg Palace, the Jardin des Plantes, the Château de Bellevue and the Château des Ternes. His clock at Paris’s École Militaire still works today. Three editions of his Traité d’Horlogerie were published in Paris in 1755, 1760 and 1767. A small volume, Description de Plusieurs Ouvrages d’Horlogerie appeared in 1764. Jean-André’s wife, Nicole-Reine Etable de la Brière (1723-1788), was a highly esteemed mathematician and astronomer. Her passion for science lent itself to Lepaute’s work and she played an active role in the scientific and mathematical aspects of the clock making.
Jean-André’s younger brother Jean-Baptiste Lepaute (1727-1802) joined him in Paris in 1747 and immediately started working for the family business. He was received as maître in 1776 and was known for the clocks he constructed for the Paris Hôtel de Ville (1780), destroyed in a fire of 1871, and for the Hôtel des Invalides (1784). Jean-Baptiste took over the workshop when Jean-André retired in 1775.
After Jean-Baptiste’s death in 1802, the firm was taken over by his nephew Pierre-Basil Lepaute (1750-1843) where he was duly joined by his own nephew Jean-Joseph (1768-1846) and son Pierre-Michel (1785-1849). By 1816, Pierre-Michel Lepaute was in charge of the business. His masterpieces include the astronomical clock in Paris’s Bureau...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Clocks
Materials
Bronze
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
Early 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock "Pouring Wine"
Located in Tarzana, 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
Brisbart In Paris - Empire Period Clock
Located in Beaune, FR
Early 19th century Empire period vase-shaped clock in gilded and patinated bronze. It rests on a square base decorated with a frieze representing chimeras. The vase rests on a golden...
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
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
$2,326 Sale Price
20% Off
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.
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