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Empire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

EMPIRE STYLE

From 1804–15, Napoléon I reigned as the emperor of France, bringing the country into a new era of opulence after the fall of the monarchy and the tumultuous years of the French Revolution. He declared, “We must have very solid things, made to last 100 years.” Empire-style furniture followed suit, with imposing pieces constructed from mahogany and adorned with gilded ornaments. Expanding on the neoclassicism popularized in the previous century — such as in ​​Louis XVI style — Empire style borrowed from the great civilizations of antiquity, from Egypt to Greece and Rome, to connect this nascent empire to the power of the past.

Napoléon I believed the production of fine furniture would reflect the stature of the republic, with his official architects Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine leading the way with their work on his residences.

Luxurious materials, symmetrical shapes and bold colors characterize antique Empire-style bedroom furniture, armchairs, cabinets and other structures, with frequent motifs including mythological creatures, geometric designs, acanthus leaves, eagles, bees (the imperial emblem) and swans, a favorite of Empress Joséphine.

Flat surfaces, like marble tabletops, were accented with decadent details, such as the bronze furniture mounts made by sculptor Pierre-Philippe Thomire for the French palaces. Martin-Guillaume Biennais, who worked as the imperial goldsmith, crafted intricate luxury objects that mixed wood, fine metal, mother-of-pearl and ivory. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.

The style became popular abroad, influencing the American Empire style. Stately pieces carved with sprigs of olives by cabinetmaker Pierre-Antoine Bellange were acquired by American President James Monroe for the White House in 1817.

Find a collection of antique Empire tables, lighting, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Empire
French Empire Period Marble and Ormolu Clock, Early 19th Century
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Early 19th century French Empire period marble and ormolu clock. French Carrara marble Portico clock with extensive ormolu fretwork mounted on two finely decorated marble columns ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

French Empire Period Marble and Ormolu Clock, Early 19th Century
French Empire Period Marble and Ormolu Clock, Early 19th Century

French Empire Period Marble and Ormolu Clock, Early 19th Century

19th Century (Early) French Clock Marble & Ormolu
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century (Early) French Clock Marble & Ormolu Unique clock purchased in France. Gorgeous Marble. impeccable condition. See Detailed Pics.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19th Century (Early) French Clock Marble & Ormolu
19th Century (Early) French Clock Marble & Ormolu

19th Century (Early) French Clock Marble & Ormolu

Large French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Figural Mantel Clock of Exceptional Quali
Located in Benington, Herts
A large and impressive French Empire period gilt bronze mantel clock of exceptional quality and colour. French (possibly retailed in Italy) - Circa 1820. The finely chased and original gilt bronze case depicting Orpheus playing his lyre with an eight-day bell striking movement, outside countwheel, backplate initialled and numbered 'A C D 1516’. The dial with Roman numerals and inscribed Riccardo Pacinoti of Lavourne. It is a French movement (silk suspension) striking the hour and half hour. The case in the form of an oblong pillar cast with anthemium and cornucopia beneath a draped urn and a laurel wreath, flanked by the figure of Orpheus playing his lyre, the stepped plinth cast with wonderfully detailed underworld scenes, on leaf scroll feet. In excellent condition the clock case has been cleaned with the movement completely overhauled and serviced to the highest standard by a specialist restorer. In general 19th century French bronze clocks...
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1820s French Antique Empire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Large French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Figural Mantel Clock of Exceptional Quali
Large French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Figural Mantel Clock of Exceptional Quali

Large French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Figural Mantel Clock of Exceptional Quali

19th Century French Empire Dore Bronze Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century French Empire doré bronze clock, France, 1880s.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Empire Dore Bronze Clock
19th Century French Empire Dore Bronze Clock

19th Century French Empire Dore Bronze Clock

Empire Mantel Clock by H.Robert-Horloger De La Reine, Paris, circa 1820
Located in Madrid, ES
An Empire Mantel Clock by H.Robert-Horloger De La Reine, Paris, date circa 1820-1830 A superb Empire gilt and patinated bronze mantel clock of eight day duration signed on the white enamel dial H.Robert-Horloger a la Reine . The dial with Roman numerals and gilded steel Breguet style hands for the hours and minutes. The movement with anchor escapement, silk thread suspension, striking on a single bell, with outside count wheel. The extremely fine case featuring the standing figure of Urania, Muse of Astronomy holding a pen in her left hand which points to a star-studded globe adorned with the signs of the zodiac around its circumference, the globe set on the back of four putti upon a plinth, containing the dial with a serpent-wrapped Paris, date circa 1820-30 Height 73 cm, width 50cm, depth 22 cm. In addition to the above prestigious locations, clocks of this model can be found at Warsaw Castle and in the Bayerischen Nationalmuseum, Munich. The Parisian clockmaker Bailly (d. after 1818) was one of the finest of his day and as such earned the title of Horloger de LL. MM. II. Et RR (Clockmaker to Their Imperial and Royal Majesties). Working from rue de Richelieu he was with Lepaute one of the main suppliers to the Garde-Meuble. Bailly, who retired in 1818 had the responsibility of maintaining the clocks at Compiègne and the Trianons and is known to have used cases by the leading Parisian bronziers including Pierre-Philippe Thomire and Claude Galle as well as Ferdinand Schwerdfeger who supplied him with a case for a regulator surmounted by a star-studded and zodiac banded globe...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Empire Mantel Clock by H.Robert-Horloger De La Reine, Paris, circa 1820
Empire Mantel Clock by H.Robert-Horloger De La Reine, Paris, circa 1820

Empire Mantel Clock by H.Robert-Horloger De La Reine, Paris, circa 1820

Empire Pendulum Clock the Spinner, Signed Rossel in Rouen
By Rossel in Rouen
Located in Paris, FR
French Empire pendulum clock finely crafted of gilt bronze, featuring a young spinner wearing a classical dress, seating on the dial near a lyre ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Empire Pendulum Clock the Spinner, Signed Rossel in Rouen
Empire Pendulum Clock the Spinner, Signed Rossel in Rouen

Empire Pendulum Clock the Spinner, Signed Rossel in Rouen

French Early 19th Century Empire Period Mantel Clock Signed Ledure
By Pierre-Victor Ledure
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Very fine early 19th century Empire period mantel clock of patinated bronze. It is signed by one of the best Parisian bronzers Pierre Victor Ledure and h...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Early 19th Century Empire Period Mantel Clock Signed Ledure
French Early 19th Century Empire Period Mantel Clock Signed Ledure

French Early 19th Century Empire Period Mantel Clock Signed Ledure

19th Century French Empire Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century finely chased and cast dore bronze mantle clock. Porcelain dial in excellent condition. Signed "Millet." Original pendulum. Don't have original key, but can have one made.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century French Empire Clock
19th Century French Empire Clock

19th Century French Empire Clock

Elegant 19th Century Bronze Clock Empire
Located in Madrid, ES
Elegant 19th century bronze clock. 19th Century French clock in gilded bronze. The machinery works and has its pendulum and key. Difficult ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Elegant 19th Century Bronze Clock Empire
Elegant 19th Century Bronze Clock Empire

Elegant 19th Century Bronze Clock Empire

Patinated and Fire-Gilt Clock in the Form of a Vase c. 1800
Located in 263-0031, JP
A French patinated and fire-gilt clock in the form of a vase, Empire Era, 1800-1815. The silk-thread mechanism is in good working condition with key and pendulum.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Patinated and Fire-Gilt Clock in the Form of a Vase c. 1800
Patinated and Fire-Gilt Clock in the Form of a Vase c. 1800

Patinated and Fire-Gilt Clock in the Form of a Vase c. 1800

French 19th century Empire st. Gris st. Anne, Carrara marble, and Ormolu clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Gris st. Anne, white Carrara marble, and Ormolu clock. This beautiful clock is supported on a circular white Carrara marble...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th century Empire st. Gris st. Anne, Carrara marble, and Ormolu clock
French 19th century Empire st. Gris st. Anne, Carrara marble, and Ormolu clock

French 19th century Empire st. Gris st. Anne, Carrara marble, and Ormolu clock

Important Pendulum in Gilded Bronze and Onyx, 19th Century
By France"
Located in Madrid, ES
Important pendulum in gilded bronze and onyx from the nineteenth century. The enamel dial. Made for the russian market. Large: 60 x 55 x 18 cm.. With pendulum and key 6550 euros.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Important Pendulum in Gilded Bronze and Onyx, 19th Century
Important Pendulum in Gilded Bronze and Onyx, 19th Century

Important Pendulum in Gilded Bronze and Onyx, 19th Century

Empire table clocks and desk clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire table clocks and desk clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-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, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire table clocks and desk clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Austria 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 Europa Antiques, Breguet a Paris, Coduri of Lyon, France, and Bradley & Hubbard. 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 $445 and tops out at $102,428 while the average work can sell for $7,116.

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