Moorish Clocks

MOORISH STYLE

After the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the eighth century, Islamic Spain became a cultural mix of influences that shaped both private homes and religious spaces. Moorish design was the name given to this style, which evolved through the 15th century with vibrant tile work, horseshoe arches and lavish ornamentation, most visible at sites such as Granada’s Alhambra and the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. Moorish furniture was often similarly ornate, and featured pieces inlaid with wood, ivory and bone.

When European designers began studying Moorish art and architecture in the early 19th century, it led to a Moorish Revival. Appropriating the style’s decorative flourishes and architectural elements, it promoted a romantic view of Islamic design. Travelers could bring home a memento of what they witnessed in the Middle East, a trend that aligned with a fad for themed interiors. Men’s smoking rooms arranged with ottomans, divans and settees and inlaid tables were especially popular, as were cafés where coffee was served amid bead curtains and colorful floor mats. (Handwoven rugs are a centerpiece of Moorish interiors.) Octagonal rooms with domed ceilings were created for wealthy homes, frequently with furnishings like pipe stands, filigree plasterwork and arched doorways. The horseshoe arch is an iconic attribute of Moorish architecture that, in addition to Spain, can be found in Sicily, Morocco and elsewhere.

Several late 19th to early 20th-century movements featured Moorish touches. The American and English Aesthetic Movement, for example, borrowed liberally from global decorating styles, as seen in furniture designed by Lockwood de Forest, a New York-born artist who mixed Eastern and Western forms. The visual vocabulary of Art Nouveau also references the elegant use of geometry in Moorish design, with Milanese Art Nouveau furniture designer Carlo Bugatti drawing inspiration from the style. The Arts and Crafts movement, which prized expressive yet simple design, incorporated Moorish influences; hand-painted furniture and tile work created by William De Morgan, a British designer and potter who made furnishings for the likes of Morris & Co., were informed by techniques from Moorish Spain.

Find a collection of Moorish lighting, decorative objects, folk art and more furniture on 1stDibs.

Style: Moorish

19th Century French Ormolu Mantle Clock in Orientalist Motif

Located in Nantucket, MA

19th Century French Ormolu Mantle Clock in "Orientalist" Motif, circa 1850, a romantic movement/Orientalist ormolu clock with ornate baroque case surmounted by an Arabic rider on rearing steed, with sabre drawn overhead, an enamel dial with Roman numerals, bell-strike mechanism by F.L. Hausburg, Paris, and marked on dial "Medaille d'Argent, Vincenti and Cie...

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Mid-19th Century French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century French Ormolu Mantle Clock in Orientalist Motif

$5,400

Egyptian Black Marble Sphinx Mantel Clock

Located in Queens, NY

Egyptian-style (19/20th Century) black marble mantel clock with sphinx top (Not working)

Category

19th Century African Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Marble

Egyptian Black Marble Sphinx Mantel Clock

$4,500

Fine 19th C. French Bronze Clock Garniture, Champlevé Enameled in Moorish Taste

Located in New York, NY

Exceptional quality bronze mounted Champlevé enamel 5 piece garniture set in Moorish style, French late 19th century. The clock signed Antony Bailly,...

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Fine 19th C. French Bronze Clock Garniture, Champlevé Enameled in Moorish Taste

$26,000 / set

Belle Époque Period Ormolu and Porcelain Mantel Clock in Moorish Style

Located in London, GB

This beautiful clock, formed from gilt bronze and porcelain, is designed and decorated in a discernibly Moorish style. The clock is supported by a flat shaped gilt bronze base, the base supporting four gilt bronze columns that support the gilt bronze clock drum. The cylindrical drum contains a circular dial, the dial of porcelain and inscribed with Roman numerals. The gilt bronze throughout is cast and chased with geometrical motifs—particularly evident on the front of the four vertical columns. These motifs are distinctively Moorish in scheme, the lattice-type geometrical sequences recalling Islamic decorative...

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Belle Époque Period Ormolu and Porcelain Mantel Clock in Moorish Style

$7,506

Antique French Orientalist/Moorish Silver/Gilt Bronze and Enamel Figural Clock

Located in New York, NY

A very unusual 19th century antique French orientalist/Moorish silvered bronze, gilt bronze and champleve enamel figural clock, signed Boulez, marks on movement ROBLIN & FILS FRERES,...

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1880s French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Antique French Orientalist/Moorish Silver/Gilt Bronze and Enamel Figural Clock

$24,500

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19th Century French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze

Antique Enameled Gilt Bronze Carriage Clock

$8,871

H 7.88 in W 4.34 in D 3.94 in

Tiffany & Co. Ormulu Bronze Champlevé Enamel Mantel Clock Garniture

By Tiffany & Co.

Located in Guaynabo, PR

Tiffany's clock case with enamel roman numbers and bronze snake dials. At the top, the clock is adorned with an Indian palace gallery and dome that has a crane finial over it and dragon head legs. The rectangular clock...

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Late 19th Century American Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Tiffany & Co. Ormulu Bronze Champlevé Enamel Mantel Clock Garniture

$10,800 Sale Price / set

28% Off

H 21.5 in W 11 in D 7 in

Art Deco Marble Mantel Clock

Located in Norwich, GB

Classic Art Deco mantle clock standing on a beige marble base with black inserts. A gilded dog is leaping over the clock. Gilded dial with ‘Deco’ numerals and original ‘Deco’ han...

Category

1920s French Vintage Moorish Clocks

Materials

Marble

Art Deco Marble Mantel Clock

$5,391

H 13.5 in W 16.75 in D 4.25 in

French 19th Century Mantle Clock

Located in Brighton, Sussex

A very good quality French late 19th century gilded ormolu and champleve enamel mantel (fireplace) clock. Having urns and a cherub above the eight day clock that chimes...

Category

19th Century French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

French 19th Century Mantle Clock

$7,915

H 18.51 in W 10.24 in D 6.3 in

French 19th Century Ormolu Cartel Wall Clock

Located in Brighton, Sussex

A good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu wall clock, having Rococo influences to the scroll foliate decoration and cherubs above the eight day striking movement, circa 1880.

Category

19th Century French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Ormolu Cartel Wall Clock

$5,183

H 29.53 in W 15.75 in D 5.91 in

19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu Clock

By Claude Galle

Located in Scottsdale, AZ

19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu Clock. circa 1810 clock Napoleonic Empire Bronze Dore. La Liseuse" clock after Reiche, by Claude Galle & Grand Girad. Signed in Paris

Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu Clock

$6,000 Sale Price

20% Off

H 9 in W 15 in D 9 in

Antique French Gilt Bronze Baroque Clock

Located in Belper, Derbyshire

A beautiful original antique French clock, modelled in the Baroque style in gilt bronze. It is of architectural form with an applied motif of flowers, scrolls and cornucopia. Scrolli...

Category

19th Century French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Gilt Bronze Baroque Clock

$3,104

H 18.25 in W 9.75 in D 6 in

Egyptian Revival Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock

By Societe Clusienne

Located in Norwich, GB

Egyptian Revival Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock Egyptian revival mantel clock housed in a polishes black slate and marble stepped case, decorated with winged uraeus and hieroglyphs, surmounted by a patinated bronze sphinx wearing nemes and resting on lions paw feet. Enamel dial with Arabic numerals and original ‘blued’ steel hands. Eight day French movement with anchor escapement striking the hours and halves on a silvered bell. The backplate signed Societe Clusienne S.C.A.P.H. Cluses and numbered 4144. C.1870 Societe Clusienne were based in Cluses near to the Swiss border in France. The case attributed to G.Servant Georges Emile Henri Servant ( 1828-1890) succeeded his father at their foundry at Rue Vieille-du-Temple, Paris in 1855. He specialised in the production of Neo-Egyptian style clocks. He was noted for the high quality of his bronzes at both the Paris Universal Exhibition 1855 and the London Exhibition in 1862. Many of his clocks were exported to the United States where his Sphinx clocks...

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1870s French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Slate

Egyptian Revival Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock

$10,918

H 14.5 in W 15.75 in D 7.25 in

High Victorian inlaid black marble mantel clock

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

High victorian inlaid black marble mantel clock circa 1870. Fine quality mantel clock of large proportions from the period in victorias reign when it was in vogue to commemorate the...

Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Marble, Brass

High Victorian inlaid black marble mantel clock

$1,494

H 19.5 in W 19 in D 5.5 in

19th Century Black Marble Mantel Clock

Located in LA CIOTAT, FR

This elegant antique French mantel clock is crafted from exquisite black marble, showcasing timeless sophistication and 19th-century charm. The clock features a circular enamel dial ...

Category

19th Century French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Marble, Brass

19th Century Black Marble Mantel Clock

$1,480

H 13.39 in W 9.85 in D 5.91 in

Egyptian Revival Mantel Clock Set

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Egyptian revival mantel clock & garniture set, early 20th century. Circular white sunken dial with black Arabic numerals and brass sunburst with two train movement set in a polished black slate and stepped rouge marble case...

Category

Early 20th Century Moorish Clocks

Materials

Marble, Brass, Bronze

Egyptian Revival Mantel Clock Set

$9,200 / set

H 14.25 in W 15.25 in D 7.25 in

Antique French Gilt Bronze Rococo Clock

By A.D. Mougin

Located in Belper, Derbyshire

A large, superb and very decorative original antique French clock by the famous maker A.D. Mougin. It is boldly modelled in the Rococo style in finely gilded bronze. Asymmetric waisted case, decorated profusely with sweeping acanthus leaves, 'C' scrolls and floral swags. To the top is a large elaborate final of a stylised flaming lamp...

Category

19th Century French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Gilt Bronze Rococo Clock

$3,207

H 19.25 in W 11 in D 6.75 in

Previously Available Items

Antique French Empire Moorish Revival Style Bronze Mantel Clock

Located in New York, NY

A finely crafted French gilt and patinated bronze mantel clock in the Empire style made for the Islamic market, dating from late 19th to early 20th century, with portico case with go...

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Empire Moorish Revival Style Bronze Mantel Clock

H 23.63 in W 11.25 in D 5.75 in

French Marble, Onyx, Enamel and Ormolu Pedestal Clock

Located in New Orleans, LA

This beautiful French vitrine clock styled in the Moroccan taste is an exquisite work of artistry and craftsmanship. Featuring a clock, thermometer and barometer, no detail has been overlooked regarding its functionality, design and construction. This magnificent clock rests on four bracket feet with gadrooned ormolu bases atop a square red marble plinth...

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Onyx, Marble, Enamel, Ormolu

French Marble, Onyx, Enamel and Ormolu Pedestal Clock

H 58.88 in W 19.75 in D 19.75 in

Moorish Mantel Clock by Tiffany & Co.

By Tiffany & Co.

Located in New Orleans, LA

An incredible example of American clockmaking, this Tiffany & Co. mahogany and gilt bronze mantel clock is a shining example of the firm's outstanding artistry in decorative metalwor...

Category

Late 19th Century North American Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Moorish Mantel Clock by Tiffany & Co.

H 29 in W 14.75 in D 11.38 in

Gilt Bronze and Malachite Three-Piece Clock Set in the Moorish Revival Style

Located in London, GB

This unusual three-piece clock set is crafted in the Moorish style, which was revived in the 19th century as part of a larger movement and general interest in Asia and the Far East. ...

Category

19th Century French Antique Moorish Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

Gilt Bronze and Malachite Three-Piece Clock Set in the Moorish Revival Style

H 25.2 in W 14.97 in D 7.88 in

Moorish clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Moorish clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th 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, ormolu and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Moorish clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, and France 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 $5,400 and tops out at $98,500 while the average work can sell for $15,657.