Medieval Clocks
MEDIEVAL STYLE
The Middle Ages in Europe followed the end of the Roman Empire, and in this time of change, which preceded the Renaissance, furniture was simple and utilitarian, with most homes having only the necessities like chests and benches. Much of medieval furniture, which was often made in oak or walnut, was built for the elite, particularly the emerging merchant class who owned multiple homes.
Life for many in the medieval era was unstable, and furniture was designed to be functional and portable. Peasants worked the fields for affluent landowners and didn’t have access to literature in the way that nobles and people of the church did (women less so than men). The furniture in their modest dwellings was typically limited to cookware and a handful of stools. Foldable chairs, while uncommon in homes of the early Middle Ages and emblematic of wealth, like all other furnishings of the time, allowed for easy transportation of a household. Trestle tables with detachable legs and collapsible beds were designed to be simply moved from place to place.
Medieval blanket chests were among the most important furniture objects and could further serve as tables or even beds. Some ancient traditions were carried forward to build this sturdy furniture, such as turnery. Although the furniture was minimally designed, embellishments like carvings added elegance to the heavy wood pieces. These details sometimes reflected trends in religious art like rose windows.
By the later Middle Ages, storage pieces like chests of drawers were often adorned with high relief carvings, such as geometric and floral motifs. By the 14th and 15th centuries, design had developed to include more involved pieces like cupboards and desks, while benches frequently doubled as chests with hinged seats. Beds also changed in this era from basic boards to four-post designs with large drapes to keep the sleeper warm. These beds and other medieval bedroom furniture were significant status symbols, passed down through families and used as places to conduct business and receive visitors.
Surviving examples of medieval furniture are very rare, yet its distinctive aesthetics influenced later styles like William and Mary and Arts and Crafts.
Find a collection of medieval seating, garden elements, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
to
1
7
1
5
1
1
444
366
361
288
267
264
211
179
164
129
106
69
50
34
33
21
18
10
5
3
2
2
2
4
3
6
5
1
1
Height
to
Width
to
7
7
7
1
Style: Medieval
Antique Seth Thomas English Gothic Style Mahogany Bracket Clock C1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Seth Thomas English Gothic Style Mahogany Bracket Clock C1910
Measures- 15"H x 10.5"W x 7.5"D
Category
Early 20th Century Medieval Clocks
Materials
Mahogany
Georgian Mahogany Gothic Style Tall Case Clock with Moon Phase Dial
Located in Milford, NH
A fine English Georgian Gothic style tall case clock, its bonnet with a swan’s neck broken arch pediment with Battersea enamel oval polychrome urn accents surmounting scrolled fabric...
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Metal, Brass
Three Piece Alabaster Clock Garniture in the Form of a Neo-Gothic Cathedral
Located in London, GB
This exquisite three-piece alabaster clock garniture consists of a central clock with two flanking vases. The central clock is designed to resemble the shape of a neo-Gothic cathedra...
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Alabaster, Ormolu
Neo-Gothic antique three piece ormolu clock set
Located in London, GB
The central clock with dial to the center, displaying hours in individual plaques in Roman numerals and five minute intervals engraved into the ormolu case in Arabic numerals, the ca...
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Mantel Clock with Chivalric Scenes
Located in London, GB
This beautiful porcelain mantel clock is designed in the shape of a shield which is propped up on a gilt bronze (ormolu) easel support, composed of two shields and a staff topped by ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Antique brass clock set with religious decoration
Located in London, GB
This three-piece brass clock set is wonderfully designed to look like a collection of Christian church bells. The mantel clock features a bell-shaped b...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Brass, Enamel
French Gothic Style Inlaid Marble Mantel Clock Dial Signed H. Azur à Paris
Located in New York, NY
French 19 century Gothic style inlaid marble mantel clock.
Dial signed H. Azur à Paris. Height 21 inches, width 14 1/4 inches.
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Marble
Related Items
Antique Seth Thomas Adamantine Victorian Faux Marble Shelf Mantel Clock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Seth Thomas Adamantine Victorian Faux Marble Shelf Mantel Clock. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurements: 11" H x 16" W x 7" D.
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Wood
Mid-19th Century Seth Thomas Ogee Shelf Clock
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exquisite mid-19th-century Seth Thomas Ogee shelf clock, crafted in Thomaston, Connecticut, showcases the refined craftsmanship of one of America’s most renowned clockmakers. Th...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Metal
Second Empire Gothic Cathedral Clock and Garniture
By Pierre-François Feuchère
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A mid 19 century French Gilt Bronze Gothic style mantel clock and garniture which the French call " A la Cathedrale". The three pieces are of finely chased and gilded bronze; the cl...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Antique German Three Piece Porcelain Clock Garniture
Located in Montreal, QC
For those who enjoy the fine quality of blue and white German porcelain from the middle of the last century, this is a particularly fin...
Category
1880s German Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century Early American Seth Thomas Tall Case Grandfather Clock
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful Seth Thomas long case clock, circa first half 19th century. Features an American poplar case in Early American styling with an open pediment, c...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Poplar
H 94 in W 18.5 in D 10.5 in
Antique Georgian Tall Case 8 Day Grandfather Calendar Clock Carved Oak Case 1780
Located in Portland, OR
A very good 18th century early George III 8 day tall carved oak case grandfather clock, Gulielmus (William) Dickinson & George Brownless, of Staindrop Village, County Durham, England...
Category
1770s English Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Brass
H 81 in W 21.5 in D 11 in
Jaeger LeCoultre, Atmos Clock with Moon Phase, Fontainebleu, 1990s
Located in Greven, DE
Jaeger LeCoultre - Atmos Fontainebleu with Moon Phase
Switzerland
Mahogany, brass, glass
Year of manufacture 1993
Dimensions: H x W x D: 25 x 20 x 16 cm
Description:
Atmos Fontain...
Category
1990s Swiss Medieval Clocks
Materials
Brass
Exceptional Late 19th Century Three-Piece Clock Set by Ferdinand Gervais
Located in Long Island City, NY
An exceptional late 19th century gilt bronze-mounted marble three-piece clock set
By Ferdinand Gervais
The lyre shaped case surrounded with bronze roses, acanthus and lilys, a ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Georgian Scottish Orkney Island Tall Case 8 day Grandfather Clock 1810
Located in Portland, OR
A fine & rare antique Georgian Scottish inlaid mahogany eight day tall case grandfather clock, by Patrick Bews, Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, circa 1810. Just professionally serviced and overhauled by a professional clock-smith.
This very rare antique clock...
Category
1810s Scottish Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Brass
H 85.75 in W 21.5 in D 9.75 in
Comtoise Morbier Tall Case Clock
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice Comtoise Morbier tall clock in a floral paint decorated Pine case, France - late 19th century. Rings on the hour and two minutes after the hour...
Category
1870s French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Pine
Empire Gilt Bronze Clock Mantel, circa 1800
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
An Empire gilt bronze clock mantel, circa 1800
The case surmounted by an Alexander the Great bust.
Dial signed: "Rocquet à Paris” France.
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Bronze
French Painted Tall Case Morbier Clock
Located in Woodbury, CT
Faux-painted, French Morbier tall case clock with brass and enamel face, hammered brass pendulum. Posies, lily-of-the-valley and strawbe...
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Pine
Previously Available Items
Antique French Gothic Cartel Wall Clock - Rare - Fully restored - Henri Riondet
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A rare and superb antique French Gothic cartel clock. It is designed architecturally with twin spires and a soaring roof of tracery. Perched above is a mythical flying creature, deli...
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Bronze
H 26.25 in W 11.5 in D 4.5 in
A Lovely French Bronze Gothic Shelf Clock
Located in Pewsey, GB
A French 19thc Bronze Gothic Shelf Clock . With an embossed dial and Porcelain numbers that has a 8 day time and strike movement. The piece has a number of decorative details includi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Ormolu and Porcelain Gothic Clock - Vincenti - Fully Overhauled
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A lovely, early ormolu (finely gilded bronze) Gothic clock mounted with exquisite porcelain panels with a royal blue ground. These are beautifully decorated with heraldic motifs. The...
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
H 12.75 in W 8.5 in D 5.25 in
Early 20th Century Carved Oak Gothic 5 Gong Tall Case Grandfather Clock
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Early 20th Century Carved Oak Gothic 5 Gong Tall Case Grandfather Clock
Dimensions : 109" Tall X 23" Wide X 19" Deep
This grandfather clock was made in the early 1900's and has a ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Medieval Clocks
Materials
Oak
Antique Wm Gilbert Gothic Mahogany Reverse Painted Mantel Steeple Clock
By Gilbert Clock Co
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century mahogany cathedral / steeple Gothic Revival mantel clock by William L Gilbert Clock Company, with Roman numeral face and reverse painted scene...
Category
19th Century Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Glass, Mahogany, Paint
English Clock, William Barrow, London, circa 1870
Located in Chorzów, PL
The English clock, ref. William Barrow, London, circa 1870.
Good condition.
Dimensions: height 206 cm.
Category
1870s English Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Walnut
Antique Gilt Bronze Gothic Clock
By Cie Des Bronzes De Bruxelles, A.D. Mougin
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A lovely decorative Gothic clock, dating from circa 1900, by the famous bronze foundry Compagnie Des Bronzes of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Brussels and the mo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Hounds of the Devil, Antique French Gothic Gilt Bronze Cartel Wall Clock
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A wonderful and rare Gothic Cartel clock, circa 1870, beautifully modelled in gilt bronze. Chronos the god of time holds the clock from a bracket while the winged hounds of the devil...
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Bronze
H 27.25 in W 12.5 in L 27.25 in
19th Century Gothic Style J.E. Caldwell Gilt Bronze Clock Garniture Set
Located in Manhasset, NY
A simply stunning Gothic Style J.E. Caldwell (1882) gilt bronze clock garniture set. A finely cast bronze clock with a pair of matching candelabra each 24 inches tall having five arms and the pair retaining their original snuffers.
James Emmett Caldwell (1813-1881) apprenticed to Peter B...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Japy Freres Antique French Gilt Bronze Gothic Clock
By Japy Frères
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A superb antique French clock by Japy Frères, circa 1870. It is very well made in gilt bronze in the Gothic style. The case is architecturally formed of 4 gothic columns supporting f...
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Hounds Of The Devil, Large Gothic Antique French Gilt Bronze Cartel Wall Clock
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A wonderful and rare Gothic cartel clock, beautifully modelled in gilt bronze dating from around 1870. Chronos the god of time holds the clock from a bracket while the winged hounds ...
Category
1870s French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Bronze
H 27.25 in W 12.5 in D 4.5 in
English Skeleton Clock by J. Smith & Sons of Clerkenwell
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional two-train English skeleton clock was crafted by the celebrated clockmakers J. Smith & Sons of Clerkenwell. The beautifully desi...
Category
19th Century English Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Metal, Brass
Medieval clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Medieval clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 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 metal, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Medieval clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 $1,900 and tops out at $18,581 while the average work can sell for $4,705.