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.
12
to
6
4
12
12
12
456
384
369
275
271
260
233
172
159
144
106
59
49
37
34
19
18
12
11
1
1
Height
to
Width
to
10
6
5
4
4
11
7
4
4
1
Style: Medieval
Early 19th Century, Gothic Brass Skeleton Clock on Wood Base with Glass Dome
Located in Middleburg, VA
Early 19th century Gothic brass skeleton clock on wood base with glass dome. Bell on peak with steeple design and halberd hammer. Painted metal fa...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Continental Brass Skeleton Clock on Wood Base with Glass Dome
Located in Middleburg, VA
Early 19th Century Continental Brass Skeleton Clock on Wood Base with Glass Dome. Silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals. Measurements: Clock -...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century, Gothic Brass Skeleton Clock on Marble Base with Glass Dome
Located in Middleburg, VA
Early 19th century Gothic brass skeleton clock on marble base with glass dome. Three steeple pediment. Silvered metal face with Roman numerals. Op...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century, Continental Brass Skeleton Clock on Marble Base with Dome
Located in Middleburg, VA
Early 19th century Continental brass skeleton clock on marble base with glass dome. Silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals. Measurements: clock...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Marble, Brass
Baroque Style Mantel Clock, Bronze and Black Slate, Bordeaux Maker, 19th Century
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
A French early 19th century Gothic style black slate and bronze mantel or library clock of outstanding quality with gilt highlights, the case profusely decorated with swirling leaf and berry patterns, the body highlighted with male and female busts in medieval attire, the top decorated with two gilt finials and surmounted by a gilt highlighted two handled tazza, decorative bronze frieze to the base with swept feet.
The black painted dial with gilt Gothic numerals and a highly decorative gilt bezel and surround, inscribed 'A. Pasques A Bordeaux'.
The two train French...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Slate, Bronze
French Gothic Style Brass and Silver Filigree Mantel Clock, 19th Century
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
A rare French Gothic style mantel clock with brass case inset with decorative silvered panels profusely decorated in relief, surmounted to the corners by four brass and silvered orbs and a central frieze of 23 brass finials. Mounted on silvered ball feet,
Late 19th century.
The white ceramic dial with decorative brass bezel and visible escapement. There is one small hairline crack to the dial, at the six o'clock position, which can be seen in the images.
The high quality French two train movement is by Japy Frères and bears the makers medaille de bronze...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Brass
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
Enamel, Brass
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
Bronze, Ormolu
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
French Gothic Style Inlaid Marble Mantel Clock Dial Signed H. Azur à Paris
Located in New York, NY
French 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
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
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
Related Items
Mystery Pinwheel Upside Down Skeleton Hanging Swinging Clock with Marble Base
Located in Danville, CA
Mystery pinwheel upside down skeleton swinging clock with marble base.
Here is a very nice looking French style mystery upside down swinging clock. It's in brushed bras with a black...
Category
Early 2000s Medieval Clocks
Materials
Brass
H 19.5 in W 8 in D 8 in
Classical 19th Century French Enamel Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th century French Louis XVI style gilded ormolu mantel clock. Having a broken arch pediment with a twin handled urn to the centre. The inset champlevé enam...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Wall Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A traditional Austrian Biedermeier wall clock featuring a rectangular carved and gilded wood frame clock face; surmounted by a gilt bronze winged eagle. The decorations on the frame ...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Sevres Style Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An unusual and very good quality 19th century French Sèvres style porcelain and gilded ormolu mantel clock. Having a domed top with a painte...
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
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 Medieval Clocks
Materials
Metal, Other
19th Century French Empire Portico Mantel Clock in Original Glass Dome
Located in Dallas, TX
Keep time in your office, study, or atop your mantel with this elegant antique clock in the original glass dome. Crafted in France, circa 1870, the portico clock stands on a wooden g...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Brass
Antique 19th Century English 8 Day Fusee Brass & Glass Dome Skeleton Clock, 1870
Located in Portland, OR
A good & large antique 19th century eight day single fusee skeleton clock, under a glass dome, circa 1870.
The clock has just been serviced and overhauled by a clocksmith, the brass...
Category
1870s English Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Thin Glass Pinwheel Escapement Big Wheel Marble Base Skeleton Clock
Located in Danville, CA
French Style Thin Glass Pinwheel Escapement Great Wheel Skeleton clock with marble base.
Here is a very rare glass mystery skeleton clock. This is a ...
Category
Early 2000s French Medieval Clocks
Materials
Glass
19th Century French Alabaster / Gilt Mantel Clock
Located in Tarry Town, NY
19th Century John Bennett , Paris alabaster with Gilt brass design detail mantel clock . The clock features an alabaster case with turned columns and gilt brass metal mounts on a det...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Alabaster, Brass
19th Century Small Marble Clock
Located in Charlottesville, VA
This sweet little French clock has lots of charm. It has great decoration.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Marble
19th Century Old Brass Travel Clock, Alarm Clock
Located in Berlin, DE
Old clock, brass case roundherum flanked with polished glass. Digit with Arabic / Roman numerals three pointers. Clockwork should be overtaken. Left glass plate at the lower corner m...
Category
19th Century English Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Brass
19th Century Boulle Mantel Clock
By Payne and Co. 1
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French boulle mantel clock with wonderful scrolling foliate ormolu mounts to the surround, brass inlay to the red tortoiseshell. White enamel roman n...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Tortoise Shell
Previously Available Items
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 on the door that f...
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 A.D. Mougin, Cie Des Bronzes De Bruxelles
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 Stamford, CT
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
Japy Freres Antique French Gilt Bronze Gothic Clock Set
By Japy Frères
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A stunning Gothic clock set by the famous maker Japy Freres, circa 1880. It is of architectural form, finely modelled and well finished in gilt bronze. T...
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Gothic Style J.E. Caldwell Gilt Bronze Clock Garniture Set
Located in Stamford, CT
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
Antique German Junghans Mahogany Shelf or Mantel Clock, circa 1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique German mantel clock by Junghans offers mahogany case in arch form with face having Arabic numerals, speed dial and chime dial, c...
Category
20th Century German Medieval Clocks
Materials
Mahogany
Large Antique French Gothic Gilt Bronze Clock
By Vassy, Paris
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A very large antique French clock in the Gothic style. It is of exquisite quality in gilt bronze, architectural in design with a domed top, blind fret work decoration and scrolling b...
Category
19th Century French Antique Medieval Clocks
Materials
Bronze
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.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Mantel Clock And Urn
French Cherub Clock
Antique Bracket Clock Case
Louis Freres
Paris Clock Set
Malachite Gilt
Ball Clock
Antique Porcelain Bells
French Bronze Clock Depicting
Clock Garniture Antique Clocks
Black Marble Clocks
Bronze Lyre
Antique Clock Garnitures
French Marble Mantels Ormolu
Gold Laurel Wreath
Gilt Metal Clock
French Standing Clock
French Gilt Figural Clock