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Federal Clocks

FEDERAL STYLE

Following the Revolutionary War, the American republic referenced the Roman Republic in its designs to celebrate its independence and declare itself a powerful new country. Imbued with neoclassical elements like those being promoted by architect Robert Adam in Great Britain, antique Federal-style furniture was the first distinctly American style in its melding of ancient influences, European aesthetics and national pride.

Dating roughly from 1790 to 1830, the style featured angular furniture with saber legs and smooth surfaces that contrasted with the curvy Rococo style that was previously in fashion. Eagles were common ornamental motifs on Federal-period furniture, as were cornucopia, lyres, garlands and scrolls, adding subtle flair to pieces characterized by clean lines, geometric symmetry, balanced shapes and a sense of grandeur.

Instead of sculptural carvings, authentic Federal-style furniture was adorned with inlays and patterned veneers that showcased the rich character of different grains and types of wood. As social life tended to be informal in the young country, furniture was often lightweight, so it could be easily rearranged in a drawing room or bedroom. Pieces like dining tables with drop leaves and sideboards became popular, replacing larger chests of drawers.

The Federal style varied by region: Artisans in Charleston, South Carolina, decorated chairs with carved backs, for instance, while those in Baltimore, Maryland, preferred painted details. Its major proponents included father-and-son cabinetmakers John and Thomas Seymour in Boston, Duncan Phyfe and Charles-Honoré Lannuier in New York and Samuel McIntire in Salem, Massachusetts.

Find antique Federal tables, mirrors, storage cabinets and other Federal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

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Style: Federal
Vintage Waterford Crystal Lismore Carriage Clock
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
An elegant addition to any mantle or desk, the Lismore Carriage Clock features an elegant cream clockface with Roman numerals and brass finish, set in a sweeping frame of fine, handc...
Category

20th Century Irish Federal Clocks

Materials

Crystal

Federal Giltwood Banjo Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Typical form signed Willard on the reverse glass. Boston State house on lower panel. Brass eagle finial. Not currently working but can be.
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Metal

Pennsylvania Cherry Tall Case Clock, Jedediah Weiss, Bethlehem
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional Federal cherry tall case clock with a brass eight day works signed Jedediah Weiss Bethlehem, with beautiful inlay including a contrasting fan carving above the waist d...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Cherry, Maple, Satinwood

Federal Giltwood Banjo Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Typical form with white enamel dial and reverse painted waist and pendulum door. With key and pendulum.
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

American Mahogany Pillar and Scroll Mantel Clock, Eli Terry, Circa 1825
Located in Charleston, SC
American Federal mahogany pillar and scroll mantel clock with a broken arch pediment, three urn wood finials, flanking ringed columns, hinged glass d...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

Mason & Sullivan West German Oak Pillar & Scroll Shelf Mantel Clock 31"
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid to late 20th century Mason & Sullivan pillar and scroll style, chiming, key wound mantel / shelf clock. Slim rectangular wooden case flanked with slender pillars and scrollwo...
Category

20th Century American Federal Clocks

Materials

Glass

John Nicholl Federal Tall Case Clock
By John Nicholl
Located in New York, NY
Federal Tall Case Clock Made and Signed by John Nicholl, (1784-1862) Belvidere, New Jersey Circa 1825 Primary Wood: Mahogany, Mahogany Ven...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Mahogany, Maple

Elmer O. Stennes Weymouth MA Eglomise Girandole Banjo Clock
By Elmer O. Stennes
Located in Milford, NH
A beautiful example of a hand made girandole banjo clock by well known Weymouth, Massachusetts clockmaker Elmer O. Stennes (1911-1975), with a signed circular face with brass ball surround, surmounted by a gilt carved eagle...
Category

20th Century American Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

American Federal Banjo Wall Clock
Located in Queens, NY
American Federal banjo design wall clock with gold stenciling and painted glass ship scene panel. (Not working)
Category

18th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Glass

American Federal Mahogany Tall Case Clock, Silas Hoadley, CT, Circa 1820
By Silas Hoadley
Located in Charleston, SC
American Federal mahogany one day tall case clock with the original brass ball finials resting on three carved upper capitals, decorative intertwined fret work, arched hood with bras...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

Early 1900s Carved Walnut Durfee Case Elliot Movement 5 Tube Grandfather Clock
By Walter Durfee
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This exquisite early 1900s grandfather clock is a fine example of American craftsmanship, featuring a richly carved walnut Durfee case paired with an exceptional Elliot 5-tube chimin...
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Walnut

American Federal Grain Painted and Stenciled Tall Clock by Rufus Cole
Located in Essex, MA
A Rare and Complete American Federal Tall Case Clock. Riley Whiting Wooden Works, original. A Rufus Cole Grain-Painted and Stenciled Case. S...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Pine

Antique Colonial Mfg Co Beige Painted Tall Case Federal Style Grandfather Clock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Colonial Mfg. Co Beige Painted Tall Case Federal Style Grandfather Clock. Item features a working lock and key, includes all parts pictured. Very ...
Category

Early 20th Century Federal Clocks

Materials

Wood

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19th Century Swedish Ántique Grandfather Clock Tall Case Clock Original Paint
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19th century Folk Art tall case clock from Luleå Norrbotten, Northern Sweden. Made in wood. Nice details and beautiful carvings. Beautiful handpainted flowers on the front. The M...
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Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Federal Clocks

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Rococo Giltwood Clock
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine 18th century rococo carved and giltwood shelf clock, the crest with stork holding a bone in his beak pearched on a romantic castle ruin with carved...
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Late 18th Century Austrian Antique Federal Clocks

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Rococo Giltwood Clock
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American Mahogany Pillar and Scroll Mantel Clock by Eli Terry, Circa 1820
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19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Antique Enameled Gilt Bronze Carriage Clock
Located in London, GB
The contrast between rich blue enamel, in light and dark hues, and bright gilt bronze gives this carriage clock a sumptuous, luxurious feel. With a t...
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19th Century French Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze

Antique Enameled Gilt Bronze Carriage Clock
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Tall Case Clock, Bristol, England, circa 1830, Victorian
Located in Darmstadt, DE
The case of the grandfather clock is made of mahogany and was possibly made by the watchmaker Nathaniel Edgecombe. The clock is from Bristol England, circa 1830. + The ship in the d...
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Early 19th Century English Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

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Tall Case Clock, Bristol, England, circa 1830, Victorian
Tall Case Clock, Bristol, England, circa 1830, Victorian
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H 92.52 in W 25.2 in D 10.24 in
Regency Mahogany Tall Case Clock By W. Ashford, London
Located in Essex, MA
With arched bonnet with brass finials over a convex glass bezel opening to a steel clock face. Newly cleaned and put in ready to go condition. The case with pendulum door. Weights, k...
Category

1810s English Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass, Iron

Carriage clock with case. 19th century
Located in Madrid, ES
Travel clock with case. Metal, glass, leather, etc. XIX century. Case with lid at the top and front with a transparent glass sheet, upholstered on the inside, containing a travel cl...
Category

19th Century European Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Metal, Other

Carriage clock with case. 19th century
Carriage clock with case. 19th century
$723
H 5.32 in W 3.94 in D 3.35 in
Arts & Crafts Oak Cased Mantel Clock with Copper Dial
Located in Norwich, GB
Arts & Crafts oak cased mantel clock. Two columns with brass capitals support either side of the dial with brass inlay decoration to the front panel. Copper dial...
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1880s German Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Copper

French White Marble and Ormolu Pillar Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
French ormolu and white marble pillar clock with ormolu mounts surmounted by an ornate finial with and standing on four gilded bun feet. The four pillars have fine ormolu mounts and are decorated with ornate chain swags. Enamel dial with Arabic numerals and finely cut original gilded hands. Eight day French striking movement with outside countwheel and starburst pendulum, circa 1870 An exceptionally fine French pillar clock...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French White Marble and Ormolu Pillar Mantel Clock
French White Marble and Ormolu Pillar Mantel Clock
$4,702
H 14.75 in W 7.25 in D 3.5 in
Waltham 8 Day Banjo Clock for Shreve Crump and Low, Simon Willard Patent
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of the Waltham “Willard” presentation model weight driven banjo clock. Waltham banjo clocks of Willard Design are faithful reproduc...
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20th Century American Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

Victorian Mahogany Cased French Striking Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Mahogany mantel clock in a break arch case with brass columns to either side, brass inlay to the front and surmounted by four brass finials. Beautifully d...
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1870s French Antique Federal Clocks

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Mahogany

Giltwood Cartel Wall Clock Complete, Original Key, Enameled Face, Pendulum
Located in Miami, FL
Giltwood Cartel Wall Clock Complete Original Key, Enameled Face, Pendulum Offered for sale is, a lovely and very decorative cartel wall clock with a heavy gilt finish from Sweden or...
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Early 20th Century Federal Clocks

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Metal, Brass

Previously Available Items
Henry Hahn Reading, Pennsylvania Cherry Tall Clock with Moon Phase Dial
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of a cherry tall case clock by Henry Hahn of Reading, PA, active clockmaker from 1790-1820, with broken pediment carved arched bonnet with scroll rosettes, urn finials...
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Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Metal

New Hampshire Federal Mahogany And Tiger Maple Banjo Clock
Located in Essex, MA
With urn finial over a round clock face with painted iron dial and Roman numerals. Hinged glass bezel. Waisted case with finely figured tiger maple flanked by carved mahogany side a...
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1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass, Iron

Antique American Simon Willard & Son 8 Day Banjo Clock Patent Timepiece 1825
Located in Portland, OR
Rare antique American Simon Willard & Son Mahogany Patent Timepiece or "Banjo" Clock, Boston, Massachusetts, c. 1825. The case made of Cuban mahogany with figured mahogany panels to ...
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1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

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Mahogany

Bailey Banks & Biddle Mahogany Federal Style Case Tall Case Grandfather Clock
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Bailey Banks & Biddle Mahogany Federal Style Case Tall Case Grandfather Clock Dimensions : 97" Tall X 28" Wide X 18" Deep This grandfather cloc...
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1910s American Vintage Federal Clocks

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Mahogany

Rare Old American Stennes Fed, Sty, Inlaid Mahog, Automaton 8day Longcase Clock
By Elmer O. Stennes
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
One of the most highly collected midcentury longcase clocks, this fabulous Federal Style 8-day inlaid honey-colored, fiddle-grain, highly figured mahogany Clock with a wonderfully ha...
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Mid-20th Century American Federal Clocks

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Brass

American Walnut Tall Case Clock by Solomon Gorgas
Located in Essex, MA
By Solomon Gorgas. Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania. Works just cleaned and in good working order. With arched bonnet with pinwheel inlay in the scrolls. Glazed door opening to enameled wo...
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Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

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Metal, Brass

Antique Mahogany Grandfather Longcase Clock
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Mahogany grandfather longcase clock Additional information: Materials: Mahogany Color: Brown Period: 19th century Styles: Federal Item type: Vintage, antique or pre-...
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19th Century Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Mid Century Seth Thomas Brookfield Banjo 8 Day Springwound Eagle Wall Clock
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage 1950s Seth Thomas Brookfield Colonial banjo style 8-day spring wound, pendulum, chiming wall clock with eagle finial. “Fabulous re-creation of the circa 1810 Willard Banjo Clock...
Category

1950s Vintage Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

Antique Federal Style Carved Oak Tall Case Clock by Ithaca, 20th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Federal style tall case clock by Ithaca offers oak case with hood having broken arch top having central eagle with flanking ball & spire finials, column with glass door ov...
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20th Century American Federal Clocks

Materials

Oak

Diminutive Timothy Chandler Federal Cherry Case Tall Clock Concord NH circa 1800
Located in Milford, NH
A fine New Hampshire Federal cherry tall case clock with 8-day weight-driven brass works by Timothy Chandler, active clockmaker in Concord, NH f...
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Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Metal, Brass

American Cherry Rocking Ship Tall Case or Grandfather Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Connecticut Federal cherry tall case clock, ca. 1800, the fretwork bonnet enclosing an eight day English works with rocking ship, the face inscr...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Cherry

Aaron Willard Mahogany Tall Case Clock with Moon Phase Dial 1793
Located in Milford, NH
A fine mahogany tall case clock with wonderful proportions by Aaron Willard (1757-1844), with a reticulated carved crest with three ball and spire finial...
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1790s American Antique Federal Clocks

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Brass

Federal clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Federal 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 and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Federal clocks made in a specific country, there are North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original clocks, popular names associated with this style include Eli Terry & Sons, Elmer O. Stennes, Seth Thomas Clock Company, and Silas Hoadley. 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 $470 and tops out at $18,500 while the average work can sell for $6,800.