Qing Clocks

QING STYLE

The last imperial dynasty from 1644 to 1912 was a time of change in China, beginning with the invasion by Manchurian forces that ended the Ming dynasty and established the Shunzhi Emperor. The expansion of exportation and trade that had bolstered the arts during the Ming era continued, as Qing dynasty furniture involved the same attention to craftsmanship with expert construction techniques in hardwood pieces that were assembled with mortise and tenon joints rather than nails or glue. Together, these eras comprise a golden age of Chinese furniture design.

Ming-style furniture is simple and elegant with clean lines. Chairs of the period and other Ming furniture made an impression on Scandinavian modernist Hans Wegner and his streamlined seating, for example. Whereas Qing-style furniture is elaborate, with an increasing influence from the West leading to lavish carving inspired by the European Baroque and Rococo styles. And while many of the forms that define examples of the latter are common within classical Chinese furniture, such as curving and folding chairs as well as large screens, Qing designs are laden with ornamentation. Frequently, the carved motifs and inlaid designs in mother-of-pearl were auspicious, such as peonies for wealth or dragons for luck. Bats were symbols of happiness in the design of Qing furniture, with one of the characters in the word for bat, bianfu, being a homophone for fu, or “fortune.”

While several types of wood were used in the construction of Qing beds, tables, storage pieces and seating, today’s collectors know that the most prized were the rare rosewoods zitan and huanghuali. They were both sourced from Hainan, China’s largest island, and are marked by a rich luster that occurs naturally, without the application of lacquer or other decorative materials. Many of the most popular woods were imported from southeast Asia, adding to their value. Red sandalwood was also sought after for its durability and connection with Chinese medicine, with some chairs being made for health benefits.

Find a collection of antique Qing tea tables, stools, benches, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.

Style: Qing

Antique Chinese Mother of Pearl Inlaid Automaton Figure Enamel Bracket Clock

$28,500

Antique Chinese Mother of Pearl Inlaid Automaton Figure Enamel Bracket Clock

Located in Danville, CA

Here we are offering a rare Chinese rosewood bracket clock with enamel column on each side. Front case is inlaid with mother of pearl and nearly in perfect condition. 5 brass finials located on the top of the case. This clock has an 8 day fusee chain driven movement with quarterly striking. On the hour strike, the pair of figures above the dial raises their hammers and strikes the bell. The brass movement is engraved and signed. A large window...

Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Qing Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Brass

Automaton Waterfall & Figure Mother of Pearl Inlaid Musical Canton Bracket Clock

$17,600Sale Price|20% Off

Automaton Waterfall & Figure Mother of Pearl Inlaid Musical Canton Bracket Clock

Located in Danville, CA

Here for your consideration is a large Chinese Canton bracket clock. The gorgeous ebony case is decorated with beautiful mother of pearl inlaid on the front. There are 5 brass pineapple form finials on the top to make the appearance of this clock even more impressive. The mother of pear floral inlaid can be found on the entire front section of the case, including the top crest, front door, and even the pedestal. The Roman numeral dial is made of porcelain without any cracks or hairlines. Engraved brass floral decorations surrounds the center dial. At the end of the sweeping second hand, you can find a Chinese double coin form, which represents good fortune and wealth. The time and the automaton feature can be seen through a large beveled glass panel. This clock strikes every 15 minutes, Petite...

Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Qing Clocks

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Napoleon III Mother of Pearl Inlay Wall Clock

$850

H 24 in W 19.38 in D 5 in

French 19th Century Napoleon III Mother of Pearl Inlay Wall Clock

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

A stunning 19th century wall clock, diamond in shape, with rippling clock frame of ebony-painted wood. mother of pearl astral and filigree designs is inlaid in differently stained ma...

Category

19th Century French Antique Qing Clocks

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl

French 19th Century Napoleon III Mother-of-Pearl Inlay Wall Clock

$850

H 24.5 in W 19.25 in D 5.25 in

French 19th Century Napoleon III Mother-of-Pearl Inlay Wall Clock

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

This 19th century clock is stunning with its diamond shaped rippling clock frame of ebony painted wood. Mother-of-pearl floral and foliate designs are inlaid in differently stained m...

Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Qing Clocks

Materials

Porcelain, Mother-of-Pearl, Hardwood, Mahogany

Vintage Carved Wood and Poly Chrome Painted Figural Musical Clock Figurine

$899

H 14.25 in W 6.5 in D 4.5 in

Vintage Carved Wood and Poly Chrome Painted Figural Musical Clock Figurine

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

This vintage hand carved and hand painted musical clock is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in or near Austria in circa 1950 in a Folk Art style. The carving depicts a male figure leaning against a post mounted Black Forest styled clock. The carving is quite detailed and well executed on all sides and has been hand painted in a realistic style. Both the clock and the music box are currently not working as both have been over-wound and would require servicing. The head of the carving should turn slightly left to right while the music box is playing, but in its current state it is unknown whether the mechanism functions and/or what tune the music box may play. In addition, there is currently no key for the clock, but these normally use a standard small music box...

Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Qing Clocks

Materials

Metal

Antique Napoleon III French 19th C. Ebonized Mother of Pearl Inlaid Wall Clock

$658Sale Price|30% Off

H 24 in W 19.5 in D 5 in

Antique Napoleon III French 19th C. Ebonized Mother of Pearl Inlaid Wall Clock

Located in Dayton, OH

Mid 19th Century Napoleon III Era French wall clock by Sarda Besancon. Features an oviform with serpentine ebonized wood and a glass face. The beautiful clock face is enameled porcel...

Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Qing Clocks

Materials

Porcelain, Glass, Hardwood

Antique 8 Day Tall Case Grandfather Clock Automaton Andrew Rich Bridgewater 1820

$3,995

H 92 in W 20 in D 10.5 in

Antique 8 Day Tall Case Grandfather Clock Automaton Andrew Rich Bridgewater 1820

Located in Portland, OR

A fine antique Georgian Regency period tall case 8 day inlaid mahogany grandfather clock with a rocking figure of Old Father Time, by Andrew Rich of Bridgwater Somerset, circa 1820. The clock is made of the finest figured flame mahogany & inlaid with satinwood stringing, the clock hood with twin arched 'swan's neck' pediment with brass rosettes & a central brass urn shaped finial. The hood door is flanked by a pair of turned columns with gilt brass capitals & bases, the door enclosing a painted dial with gilding & floral spandrel panels. The clock having an unsul feature of a winged Old Father Time, holding his scythe he rocks backwards & forwards in unison with the pendulum. The dial with black Roman numerals and having a seconds dial and also a calendar dial, the clock is signed to the center "Rich Bridgwater" (a prosperous historic coastal town & port in the Somerset area of the Southwest of England). The trunk of the case with carved 'ropetwist' pilasters, the door & base inlaid with satinwood stringing, the clock is raised on bracket feet. The clock has an eight day mechanism & strikes the hours on a mellow sounding bell, the clock chime can be silenced by not winding the chime arbor, original pendulum & weights, winding key is present. The clock is in excellent antique condition & has just been professionally cleaned and overhauled by a professional clocksmith, it keeps very good time, this elegant antique tall case clock...

Category

1820s English Antique Qing Clocks

Materials

Mahogany, Satinwood

19th Century Musical Picture Clock

$13,500

H 36.5 in W 44 in D 8 in

19th Century Musical Picture Clock

Located in Tarzana, CA

A large well-detailed musical picture clock. The oil painting on canvas depicts a village scene in Europe with manor home, mountains at sunset in...

Category

1850s European Antique Qing Clocks

Materials

Canvas, Giltwood

Glasgow School Patinated Brass Clock with Mother-Of-Pearl Inlaid Square Details

$1,502

H 6 in W 7 in D 3 in

Glasgow School Patinated Brass Clock with Mother-Of-Pearl Inlaid Square Details

Located in London, GB

An Arts and Crafts Glasgow School Patinated Brass Clock with Mother-Of-Pearl Inlaid Square Details and whiplash handles to the sides.

Category

Early 20th Century Qing Clocks

Materials

Metal

French 19th Century Napoleon III Mother of Pearl Inlay Wall Clock

$950

H 24.5 in W 20 in D 5.5 in

French 19th Century Napoleon III Mother of Pearl Inlay Wall Clock

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

This 19th century clock is stunning with its diamond-shaped, rippling clock frame of ebony-painted wood. Mother-of-pearl floral and foliate designs are inlaid in the stained mahogany...

Category

19th Century French Antique Qing Clocks

Materials

Brass

French Gilt Bronze Mounted Marine Themed Automaton Mantel Clock

$24,534

H 35.44 in W 27.56 in D 13 in

French Gilt Bronze Mounted Marine Themed Automaton Mantel Clock

Located in London, GB

French gilt bronze mounted marine themed automaton mantel clock French, circa 1850 Measures: With glass dome and base height 90 cm, width 70 cm, depth 33 cm Clock without dome and...

Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Qing Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

German Mahogany and Ormolu Figural Bracket Clock. W. & H. Sch., Circa 1890

$7,500

H 16.5 in W 11 in D 9.5 in

German Mahogany and Ormolu Figural Bracket Clock. W. & H. Sch., Circa 1890

By Winterhalder and Hofmeier

Located in Charleston, SC

German mahogany and ormolu bracket clock with gilt bronze pineapple finials, flanking figural floral corner mounts, arched floral side screens, hinged astragal shaped glass door with...

Category

1890s German Antique Qing Clocks

Materials

Brass, Ormolu, Steel

Elliott of London Caddy Top Mahogany Bracket Clock

$2,200

H 15.5 in W 9 in D 6 in

Elliott of London Caddy Top Mahogany Bracket Clock

By James Jones Elliott

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Elegant English bracket clock with mahogany case. Well made and chimes on every quarter hour with either Westminster or Whittington and also a silent feature. Elliott of London...

Category

Mid-20th Century English Qing Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Outstanding quality antique Victorian mahogany bracket clock

$4,334

H 19.69 in W 11.82 in D 6.3 in

Outstanding quality antique Victorian mahogany bracket clock

Located in Ipswich, GB

Outstanding quality antique Victorian mahogany bracket clock, having a quality antique Victorian mahogany bracket clock with a ogee top with beautiful scroll and leaf carving detail...

Category

19th Century British Antique Qing Clocks

Materials

Brass

Qing clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Qing clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 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, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Qing clocks made in a specific country, there are Asia, China, and East Asia 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 $22,000 and tops out at $28,500 while the average work can sell for $25,250.