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Aesthetic Movement Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

AESTHETIC MOVEMENT

In 1880, polymath designer William Morris declared: “If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” His words encapsulated the Aesthetic Movement, which prized beauty above all and blurred the lines between fine art and the decorative arts, particularly through lavishly crafted furniture pieces.

The Aesthetic Movement, whose major proponents included author Oscar Wilde, flourished from the 1860s to the 1880s and was mostly popular in England and the United States. Design expositions like the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, as well as the publishing of how-to books for interior design, helped disseminate Aesthetic Movement bedroom furniture, serveware, coffee tables and other items, especially to the middle class.

The establishment of new art museums, art clubs and a rising passion for collecting at the time contributed to a growing appreciation for art. Morris’s founding of Morris & Co. in 1862 and the commercializing of this “cult of beauty” by the Liberty store in London, starting in the late 19th century, further disseminated the idea of a domestic space that was thoughtfully and floridly designed.

Leading Aesthetic Movement furniture designers included E.W. Godwin, who drew on Japanese influences and whose work reflected a wider enthusiasm for imported East Asian art. British designer Christopher Dresser created textiles, ceramics and more that were also inspired by Japanese decorative art but were representative of additional diverse design sources that ranged from Egypt to Mexico.

The Aesthetic Movement’s eclecticism resulted in dazzling interiors. Japanese fans were positioned on Renaissance-inspired cabinets with brass hardware, while mantels made of rich walnut or finely carved ebonized wood and adorned with painted Minton tiles mingled with cast-iron chairs against a backdrop of floral wallpaper. In 1881, in New York City, stenciled checkerboard motifs and painted floral murals could be found under an opalescent glass chandelier in a luxurious dressing room designed by German émigré cabinetmaker-decorator George Alfred Schastey. Amid the rise of the industrial age, the style’s promotion of art in everyday life would inform the Arts and Crafts Movement and Art Nouveau.

Find a collection of antique Aesthetic Movement seating, tables, decorative objects and other furniture and antiques on 1stDibs.

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Style: Aesthetic Movement
Lewis F Day, Howell, James & Sons Aesthetic Movement Ebonised & Polychrome Clock
By Howell James & Co., Lewis Foreman Day
Located in London, GB
Lewis Foreman Day, for Howell, James and Sons. An Aesthetic Movement ebonized and polychrome painted mantle clock with a carved floret to the centre of the arched and turned gallery flanked by turned finials, with a dentil moulding below, and criss cross lattice work to the upper sides, the lower sides with hand painted Aesthetic flowers in planters...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

Lewis F Day, Howell, James & Sons Aesthetic Movement Ebonised & Polychrome Clock
Lewis F Day, Howell, James & Sons Aesthetic Movement Ebonised & Polychrome Clock

Lewis F Day, Howell, James & Sons Aesthetic Movement Ebonised & Polychrome Clock

Aesthetic Movement Carriage Clock, France, 19th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
Fine aesthetic movement clock in cloisonné enamel and gilded bronze, decorated with polychromed birds and flowers, and geometric gilded ornaments on a ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Aesthetic Movement Carriage Clock, France, 19th Century
Aesthetic Movement Carriage Clock, France, 19th Century

Aesthetic Movement Carriage Clock, France, 19th Century

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C. 1910 James Rankin Junior Adam Style Eight-Day Mantle Clock with Faux Marble
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Early 20th Century Scottish Aesthetic Movement Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

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C. 1910 James Rankin Junior Adam Style Eight-Day Mantle Clock with Faux Marble

C. 1910 James Rankin Junior Adam Style Eight-Day Mantle Clock with Faux Marble

H 13.5 in W 15 in D 6 in
Aesthetic Movement Ebonised Mantel Clock Attributed to Lewis Foreman Day
Located in London, GB
A magnificent Aesthetic Movement mantel clock, with an ebonised mahogany case and an exquisitely painted dial. The case embodies the style of the Aesthetic Movement, with an arched a...
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1870s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

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Aesthetic Movement Ebonised Mantel Clock Attributed to Lewis Foreman Day
Aesthetic Movement Ebonised Mantel Clock Attributed to Lewis Foreman Day

Aesthetic Movement Ebonised Mantel Clock Attributed to Lewis Foreman Day

H 19.1 in W 10.44 in D 7.29 in
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Carriage clock with case. 19th century
Carriage clock with case. 19th century

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H 5.32 in W 3.94 in D 3.35 in
Jaeger LeCoultre Vintage Brass Table Clock, 8 Day Movement
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Materials

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Previously Available Items
Lewis. F. Day, Attributed an Aesthetic Movement Ebonized and Enamel Mantle Clock
By Howell & James Ltd, Lewis Foreman Day
Located in London, GB
Lewis. F. Day, attributed, an Aesthetic movement ebonised and enamel mantle or bracket clock. Possibly retailed by Howell & James of Regent St. A French striking 8 day movement wit...
Category

1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Enamel

Lewis. F. Day, Attributed an Aesthetic Movement Ebonized and Enamel Mantle Clock
Lewis. F. Day, Attributed an Aesthetic Movement Ebonized and Enamel Mantle Clock

Lewis. F. Day, Attributed an Aesthetic Movement Ebonized and Enamel Mantle Clock

H 17.5 in W 12.5 in D 10 in

Aesthetic Movement table clocks and desk clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Aesthetic Movement table clocks and desk 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 table clocks and desk 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 Aesthetic Movement table clocks and desk clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, England, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original table clocks and desk clocks, popular names associated with this style include Howell James & Co., Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Lewis Foreman Day. 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 table clocks and desk clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,846 and tops out at $6,302 while the average work can sell for $5,500.

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