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Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

NAPOLEON III STYLE

Under Napoleon III’s rule, Paris underwent a great rebuilding overseen by Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann, which created grand avenues and lavish landmarks like the Paris Opera. Antique Napoleon III–style furniture was flamboyant and eclectic. It was also known as Second Empire style since it followed and referenced the Empire style of his uncle Napoleon I.

Developing from 1852–70, Napoleon III furniture was plush and ornate, matching the fashion for masked balls and socializing in salons. It borrowed freely from earlier French styles including Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI as well as aesthetics from around the world, from antiquity to Asian art. As writer Gustave Claudin remarked in 1867, the country’s architects worked in “a style which one would be tempted to call neo-Greco-Gothico-Pompadour-Pompeian.”

Napoleon III chairs were completely covered with velvet and lined with tassels; pouf footstools invited people to put up their feet. Sofas were upholstered with tapestries, and beds were adorned with gilt bronze and theatrical canopies. The addition of conservatories to homes led to new indoor-outdoor furniture, while the spirit of hygiene promoted by Baron Haussmann inspired bright, floral motifs.

Although the most ostentatious designs were for the elite, as seen in the Napoleon III apartments preserved in the Louvre, where red velvet, gilding and chandeliers create a cacophony of luxury, these trends influenced homes across classes as manufacturing made design increasingly accessible. Papier-mâché furniture allowed for elaborate shapes that would have been difficult to carve in wood. The malleable material was painted with chinoiserie patterns and decorative designs. It was mass-produced by factories such as Jennens and Bettridge with varnishing and mother-of-pearl inlays creating an effect reminiscent of Asian lacquer. (Surfaces that had been “japanned” — a specialty of Jennens and Bettridge — were intended to resemble lacquer work that was created in East Asia.)

Find a collection of antique Napoleon III decorative objects, tables, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Napoleon III
Very Large 19th Century Clock Garniture
By Napoléon III
Located in London, GB
A wonderful garniture in marble and ormolu, the central clock face engraved in ormolu and surrounded by enameled numerals. The clock is adorned by two amorous ormolu figures of an an...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Bell Clock, Mechanism Signed by Huy Angers.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
18th century bell clock, mechanism signed by Huy Angers. Bell clock signed by Balthazar, Paris, 1745, mechanism signed by Huy Angers, 18th century in brass and enamel plate. H: 51cm...
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18th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

Trims - Raingo Frères - Bronze And Onyx - France - XIXth
Located in CANNES, FR
Trim in gilded bronze and white onyx, Raingo brothers in Parismoulded and carved with grooves and scrolls. Including: a pendulum and a pair of candlesticks "to the musician puttis" ...
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Onyx, Bronze

Attributed to L.Messagé (1842-1901) and F.Linke, "Source Allegory" Clock
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Attributed to Leon Messagé (1842-1901) and François Linke (1855-1946) Gilt bronze clock surmounted by an allegory of the Source. With rocaille decoration, resting on four cambered l...
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1890s French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Enamel

French Napoleon III Bronze Bacchus Putti Clock, 1870s
By Claire Jeanne Roberte Collinet
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
French Napoleon III bronze Bacchus putti clock, France, 1870s Height: 7.4"(18.8cm), Width: 6.1"(15.5cm), Depth : 3.3"(8.4cm). In perfect working order. Ver...
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1870s French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Amazing Napoleon III Empire Clock 19th Century H: 58cm
Located in Madrid, ES
Amazing Napoleon III Empire Clock 19th Century mahogany and mahogany veneer porch with gilt and chiseled bronze ornamentation. White enamel dial signed FONTAINE in Avranches, Roman n...
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

AMAZING GARNITURE SÉVRES 19th Century Napoleon III
Located in Madrid, ES
GARNITURE SÉVRES 19th Century Napoleon III French, composed of a clock and a pair of seven-light candelabra, in cobalt blue Sévres style pocella. C...
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Rosewood and Satinwood Portico Clock
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Antique and elegant French clock, with bronze details and fine inlaid wood, perfectly working. Perfect in a studio room. It's the typical clock of European noble houses...
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

A French 19th Century Clock Garniture
Located in London, GB
A French 19th Century gilt bronze clock garniture. The clock has two cherubs, holding the clock, on a white marble and Ormolu mounted ba...
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu Clock
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
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Empire Table Clock Napoleon III, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
EMPIRE TABLE CLOCK Napoleon III 19th Century In gilt bronze, relief and pierced decoration with plant elements, topped by a cup. Enamel di...
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Important French Table Clock, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Important table clock 19th century French, in marble and relieved bronze and golden enameled dial, Roman numerals in black, eight days of autonomy, plays for hours and half hour...
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Gold, Bronze

Gantry Clock French 19th Century Napoleon III
Located in Madrid, ES
Gantry clock French 19th century Napoleon III, in mahogany wood with inlays. Eight-day autonomy mechanism, strikes hours and half hours, white enamel dial with black Roman nume...
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Blue Opaline Clock and Its Base, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Blue opaline clock and its base, X19th century Blue opaline, white and gold enamelled clock with its blue opaline stand, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Clock - H: 27 cm, W: 18 ...
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19th Century European Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Opaline Glass

Chiseled Bronze 'Ufficialina' Clock, Napoleon III
Located in Firenze, FI
Elegant officers' clock in chiseled bronze with swinging handle, mechanism that works with a great chime, key to wind the alarm and button to stop it. Typical French manufacture, se...
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Important Garniture French, Late 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Garniture French, late 19th century in gilded bronze and red marble, composed of: clock and two five-light candelabra. Watch with enamel dial with Arabic numerals. Clock machine...
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Clock and Pair of Candlesticks, French 19th Century Napoleon III
Located in Madrid, ES
CLOCK AND PAIR OF CANDLESTICKS French 19th Century Napoleon III, in relief and gilt bronze, allegory to music, with painted porcelain plaques, by Sévres. Enamelled dial with b...
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Gilded & Champleve Clock Garniture
Located in Newark, England
Fine French late 19th century three-piece clock garniture comprising of a pair of candle sticks and clock in a matching set. The garniture boldly cast with rococo influence in the Lo...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Metal, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

Gilt Bronze Clock, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Gilt bronze clock, with its gilt wood base on a blackened wood sicle, signed by Pellegrin in Marseille, 19th century, Napoleon III period Measures: H: 49 cm, W: 36 cm, D: 17 cm SM0...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Clock in Gilt and Patinated Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Clock in gilt and patinated bronze, period Napoleon III, 19th century. Good working condition Measures: H: 38 cm, W: 28 cm, D: 8 cm.
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Clock on the Desk, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period
Located in Warsaw, PL
Patriotic French 19th century ormolu bronze eagle standing on a globe malachite mantel clock. The eagle is a symbol of power as well as a recognizable sign of the Empire style. The d...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Bronze

Mantel Clock 19th Century Napoleon III Period
Located in Warsaw, PL
The eight-days going movement. It strikes the hour and half and hour on it’s bell. The clock comes complete with its pendulum, key and bell. The clock is in excellent and perfect wo...
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Bronze

Mantel Clock 19th Century Napoleon III Period
Located in Warsaw, PL
Mantel clock 19th century Napoleon III period.
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Bronze

19th Сentury Napoleon III Period Clock
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A 19th century Napoleon III period clock in Griotte marble and Regula. Measures: H: 43 cm, W: 25 cm, D: 17 cm.
Category

1870s European Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Griotte Marble

19th Century Napoleon III Fireplace Boulle Clock Pendule
Located in Berlin, DE
Monumental boulle clock Napoleon III, circa 1850-70 fireplace clock salon clock pendule fireplace clock. Wooden housing in boulle technique Shieldpade lined with brass, side windows...
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Pendulum Clock / Mantel Clock, Boulle Style Paris, circa 1870
Located in Berlin, DE
French pendulum clock / mantel clock, Boulle style Paris, circa 1870. Paris, circa 1880 The waisted case, veneered with red tortoiseshell and...
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Clock Napoléon III Original Label on the Back, 1867
By Napoléon III
Located in Milano, IT
French watch Napoléon III Original label on the back 1867 Important French watch III with original label of the retailer beautiful back of the watch. The ...
Category

1860s French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Gilt Bronze, Bronze and Marble Clock Set Garniture
Located in London, by appointment only
A fine 19th century clock garniture, the clock with a finely cast and patinated bronze cherub sitting on a rouge marble column with ormolu mounts, he carries the clock movement in a ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Enamel

Napoléon III Gilt-Bronze Double-Faced Clock. French, c 1870
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A rare Napoléon III gilt bronze double-faced clock. The white enameled dial signed 'Julien Le Roy A PARIS'. This rare Rococo style figural clock h...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Very Fine and Elegant Fire, Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock in the Romantic Taste
Located in Antwerp, BE
A very fine and elegant fire, gilt bronze mantle clock in the romantic taste, the base resting on scroll feet connected with leafy volutes centered by a female mask under a decorated...
Category

1860s French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Gold, Gold Plate, Bronze, Enamel

French Silver Desk Clock by Boin-Taburet, Paris, in Original Case
Located in London, GB
French silver desk timepiece clock very high quality. Napoleon III period. The case of beautifully cast silver with leaf and dart decoration to the base and to the bezel. The waste o...
Category

1890s French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Silver

Napoleon III Period Mantel Clock by Barbedienne
Located in London, GB
This stunning clock expertly showcases the ingenuity of its maker, Ferdinand Barbedienne, and its smart styling in the opulent Napoleon III style will make it an excellent addition t...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century Neoclassical Gilded Bronze and White Marble Mantel Clock Set
Located in Miami, FL
A fine 19th Century French Neoclassical White Marble and Gilded Bronze Mantel Clock Set with its original and exceptional movement. Bears the makers mark, Finot a Versailles. The dial supporting a reclining bronze classical muse on a rectangular white Carrara marble base decorated by a row of gilt bronze beads, the set rests on four feet. The cross in the hand of the bronze muse can be removed (see photos). This 19th Century figurative clock is very decorative, interesting for its technicality of the dial and provenance. The bronze feminine muse and its shape has a perfect patina and is a remarkable conversational piece. The garniture set are a pair of fine neoclassical bronze vases with brown and golden patina that rest on white Carrara marble embellished with gilt bronze figural handles...
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Bronze

19th Century Sevres-Style Garniture
Located in London, GB
A beautiful turquoise Sèvres-style clock garniture, hand-painted on 18th century Sèvres porcelaine blanks but decorated in the 19th century most prob...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Napoleon III Fire-Gilt Fireplace Clock
Located in Berlin, DE
Fire-gilt fireplace clock, Rokokodekor sign. Ansonia New York, 19th century. Bronze-gilt. Four-sided glazed housing on base with reliefed seed beads, leaves and flowers. Approved roof trim. Digits sheet email with Arabic numerals. Brocothemia. Steel filled, formerly mercury pendulum...
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19th Century American Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

MID-19th CENTURY NAPOLEON III LARGE GOLDEN BRASS “OFFICIALINA”
Located in Firenze, FI
Large "officialina" made of golden brass, and equipped with an internal spring mechanism. Its elegant design goes perfectly with its linearity and usefulness. Originally, the “officialine” were alarm clocks used...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Brass

Important Etienne LeNoir Clock 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Important ETIENNE LENOIR Clock 18th century French, 18th century in chiseled and gilded bronze. Mythological decoration representing the triumph of Neptune. Enamel dial with R...
Category

18th Century French Antique Napoleon III Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Napoleon Iii table clocks and desk clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III 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, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III table clocks and desk clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy 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, Ferdinand Barbedienne, Boin-Taburet, and Claude Galle. 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 $1,297 and tops out at $38,834 while the average work can sell for $6,098.

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