Gilt Clocks

Antique French portico clock is crafted in Empire style during the reign of Napoleon in the 19th century. The Empire style gives the antique clock...

Ormolu bronze mantel clock flanked by a troubadour and musical instruments, signed 'Ferdinand Berthoud a Paris'. The end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century was a crucial time in which new technological advances helped to make watches more accurate and more portable. During the 1790s, the production of gilded bronze increased considerably as working conditions improved. The freedom of trade initiated by the French Revolution allowed many casters to develop large factories. The new factory environment gave them a chance to execute all stages of bronze work including drawing, casting, gilding, assembly, and trade of art objects. While the bronzers took creative liberty in creating all kinds of clocks in contrast to the noble and rigorous structure carried by the movement of neoclassicism. Under the reign of Empire, the case designs started gradually to develop away from a proportionate and strict classicism towards a baroque style and revival style. The rediscovery of medieval civilization was one of the intellectual curiosities of the beginning of the 19th century, with much input from the Ancien Régime and its institutions, rites and the medieval churches in which family ceremonies occurred. This early nineteenth-century figural mantel clock is surmounted by a medieval musician. To be more precise, it is a french troubadour. Troubadours were known for composing and performing lyric poetry for the nobility back during medieval times. The clock is featuring a chiselled bronze troubadour, dressed in medieval fashion while holding a flute, playing a tune from sheet music called "Du Troubadour" that is resting on top of the rectangular clock case. In addition to that, the clock features a gilt bronze lute or vielle resting on a small stool on the opposite side of the clock’s case. The white enamel dial features the inscription Berthoud and is underlined by a bronze entourage chiselled with palmette motif, plus encompassed by c-scrolls and wreaths. The original hands are in blued steel and encircled by Roman numerals indicating hour next to Arabic numerals indicating minutes. The small details that adorn the hexagonal plinth are reliefs, depicting two water fountains or basins on both sides with a lyre in between. The sculpted image of a lyre raised above the background features also foliage garlands tied on top with ribbons. The clock rests on seven spinning feet. The clock was made in the well-known workshop of the Berthoud’s family that was recognized for their excellent work by the King. Berthoud Clockmakers History. Ferdinand Berthoud was a horologist and author of extensive treatises on timekeeping as well as a Swiss clockmaker serving the king of France, that produced many marine clocks, including a weight-driven version that inspired the first American sea-going clock. He was born in Plancemont, Switzerland, the son of an architect and judiciary. In 1741 he began a three-year apprenticeship as a clockmaker under his brother, Jean-Henri. He made his first marine chronometer in 1754 (sent for trial in 1761) and in 1764 was appointed a member of the Royal Society, London and Horloger Mécanicien de Sa Majesté et de la Marine ayant l'inspection de la construction des Horloges Marines. In 1769, Ferdinand Berthoud sent for his nephew Pierre-Louis Berthoud (1754–1813), commonly known as Louis Berthoud, a talented young watchmaker and clockmaker, inviting him to come to Paris from Couvet, Switzerland, to pursue his apprenticeship. Louis helped Ferdinand manufacture and repair the sea clocks...

A miniature travel clock designed by R. Vachet Paris. Exceptional and very rare miniature travel-carriage clock, made in Paris France at the atelier of R. Vachet. This fabulous litt...

This nineteenth-century gilded bronze clock exemplifies the grandeur of the Empire style, featuring a rectangular base with four legs, each intricately carved with subtle patterns. A...

Table clock made of gilded bronze with a powerful base, enhanced with legs decorated with vegetal and architectural motifs of classicist inspiration and a series of details on the fr...

A very fine and palatial French 19th century Regence style figural ormolu-mounted kingwood and tulipwood floral marquetry long-case regulator, after a Model by Charles Cressent (Fren...

A highly unusual timepiece made by Jaeger LeCoultre in 1968. The case made of solid resin that has been hand knapped to give the impression of the ripples on the surface of the seam ...

Large 19th century French bronze figural chariot clock with 5 inches porcelain dial and fancy pierced gilt hands with brass spring driven movement. The c...

A Fine & important French bronze statue 8 day clock garniture in the Orientalist style, circa 1880. The 8 day clock with a time and strike mechanism, sounding the hours and half hours on a pleasant mellow sounding bell. The clock is house in a lavish bronze case heightened with silver gilt, to the top is an engraved 'Minaret' shaped finial and below a gallery of silvered and gilt bronze leaves. The white enamel clock dial having black Arabic numerals, the center of the dial with a bas relief of palm trees and figures below the sun and a fort to the background. The front of the clock is shaped like a Mihrab (a niche in a mosque), to the base is another bas relief an East Indian scene with gilded bronze figures holding muskets and spears, with an elephant and tiger...

A Very Large and Rare German Ormolu Mounted Meissen Porcelain Three Piece Clock & Candelabra Garniture Set. This impressive set consists of three pieces: a center clock and two candelabras, each adorned with the most intricate and delicate details that have been executed to perfection. Each three armed candelabra is remarkably elaborate with foliate arms that are embellished with gilt-covered beautifully twisted branches and curling leaves on an ornate botanically-inspired base. Embraced by the arms of the candelabras are two 18th Century Meissen Porcelain figures of musical lovers, dressed in brightly detailed traditional clothes. The round clock face, with roman numerals, a white base, and ornate hands is surrounded by a flourish of gorgeous gilt foliage, exuding an air of elegance and refinement. Perched atop the clock is a stunning Meissen Porcelain figurine of a beautiful woman posed in mid-movement, her dress aflutter, and baring her leg as she gazes up at her left hand which is holding a bunch of grapes, while also grasping a wine goblet in her lowered right hand, representing the festivities of the moment. Surrounding the clock and extending down both sides the gilt foliate leads the eye to two cherubs each admiring tiny vases of exquisitely detailed flowers. Below the cherubs, on either side, are four white ceramic pillars...

A beautiful Atmos Clock By Jaeger LeCoultre numbered 120482, with a square dial with gilded Arabic numerals and battens and smoked tip hands. Unusually this clock still has it’s orig...

A stylish Jaeger-LeCoultre skeleton timepiece with a gilded 16 jewel inline or ‘baguette’ movement suspended behind glass. The case of gilded brass has a brushed finish, with the bat...

Wonderful imperial antique french gilt bronze garniture with clock and a pair of candelabras very finely hand worked with nice floral design and beautiful angels, very decorative for...

This splendid Empire gilt bronze French mantel clock, signed on the dial by bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire and watchmaker Louis Moinet, features an exquisitely detailed scene of Ve...

This three-piece set—composed of a clock and a pair of flanking candelabra—is a truly unique and delightful piece of decorative art. The clock is modelled in the image of an 18th century sedan chair – that is, a covered chair sat in by a member of the social elite, which was carried on poles by two people. This chair-shaped clock case is crafted from gilt bronze (ormolu) and decorated with festoons and a flower finial. At its centre, there is a circular white enamel dial, which features Arabic Numbers, colorful swag paintings, and the manufacturer’s name, 'Fd Gervais / Ft du Bronzes / A Paris'. The lower part of the case is glazed, allowing one to see the clock’s sun-burst pendulum. Like a sedan chair, the clock case is carried by two patinated bronze putti...

This large clock set, which is comprised of a mantel clock and pair of flanking candelabra, is designed in the style of Sèvres Porcelain manufactory goods. In the manner of Sèvres Po...

A Very Unusual and Quite Rare 19th Century French brown and green Patinated Bronze & Ormolu Mounted Rouge Marble Clock Garniture. This three-piece garniture set, comprising a centra...

This exceptional mantel clock, executed in the highly sought-after Empire style, presents a captivating tableau dedicated to the theme of music. Signed "Caillouet à Paris," a clockma...

Pendulum clock "Regulateur de parquet" after Jean-Henri Riesener Napoleon III, Paris, circa 1850-1880. Balthazar, Paris. This fine quality late...

This large and impressive gilt bronze mantel clock is by the French Michel-François Piolaine. The clock body is raised by an architecturally formed, plinth-shaped base, set to the fr...

Wonderful clock for the collectors of truly stylish Gothic antiques, by W.H.Tooke, Paris. Finding this unique (Germany made) Gothic table clock again felt like a blessing. The overall design is remarkable, but the combination of the craftsmanship of the bronze components and the hand crafted and hand painted Gothic porcelain plaques is what takes this clock to the next level. Whenever you find a piece that is this good then you can rest assure that there is a maker's mark. This late 1800s work of beauty was made and marked by the prolific Parisian clock...

A Model of Jean Henri Riesener (Received Master in 1768) executed in 1785. (inv. OA 5501 In Louvre Museum). 19th Century. This fine and sumptuous “Regulateur de Pendule” presents a fine amaranth. Of Sycamore oeuil de vermeuil, ebony and buis stringing marquetry. The base and the gaine are decorated with diamond shapes. The hours are inscribed in Roman numerals and the munutes in Arabic. It takes place in a magnificent gilt décor of three winged children playing with garlands on clouds. The regulateur is enriched with a delicate garniture of bronze. The dial and each panel are framed by an elegant frieze of palms and pearls. The top of the gaine is enhanced with a frieze of palms and ovums, foliages and garlands of flowers. Each corner is ornated with fleurons. The front of the gaine is embellished by an Apollo mask (Sun Symbol) and each side with laurel crowns. Under the mask the cartouche is decorated by a stylized vase of flowers. Foliated scrolls, flowers, garlands, cornucopias and musical instruments such as a harp (Apollo Reference) the cherubs are underlined by pearls, scrolls of Acanthus Leaves and garlands dawning out in foliages, framed with ropes until the lions feet. The feet rest on a base ornated with fleurons and foliages with buds of flowers ending in four conical feet with acanthus leaves. With André-Charles Boulle (1642–1732) and Charles Cressent (1685–1768), Riesener was arguably one of the three greatest French ébénistes of the 18th century. Eventually taking over the workshop after Oeben's death in 1763, and marrying his widow some four years later. He is renowned for completing the famous bureau du Roi...

A Period Louis XV Boulle mantle clock The case is inlaid with brass and is further decorated with Rococo scrollwork and gilded bronze mounts. The det...

Gilt bronze clock in the Louis XVI style representing a nymph and two cherubs. The nymph, undressed and resting on a cushion, is nursing one of the cherubs while the second one calls...

Charles X Portico Mantel Clock, dating from the early 19th century. The clock features a rosewood body intricately inlaid with delicate fillets and foliage scrolls. The portico desig...

This sophisticated gilt bronze mantel clock is an elegant piece of mid-19th century design, beautifully cast and gilded and set with two delicate Sèvres style porcelain panels. The clock case's finest feature is the charmingly naturalistic scene at its top, showing a full-length sculpture of a female figure sitting with a basket and two doves. They are displayed on a naturalistic, oval-shaped plinth, which is decorated all around its exterior with painstakingly intricate foliate motifs. Either side of the plinth there are two Sevres style porcelain panels, each of which shows a winged putto. One putto is shown writing, while the other is shown holding a dove. Each is set inside a turquoise blue border decorated with delicate gilt scrolls. In the centre of the plinth sits the clock dial, which is enamelled and contains Roman numerals. It is signed 'Prize Medal 1851 / Miroy Fres Brevetes / Paris' after the clock's maker, Miroy Freres...

This is a superb antique French gilt bronze mantel clock with Bleu Celeste porcelain panels in the Sevres manner, circa 1860 in date. The case crowned with two cherubs holding laurels one holding a mask emblematic of theatre, flanking an oval Bleu Celeste porcelain panel of the playwright Molière . The base decorated with ormolu flowers is raised on turned feet and inset with Sevres plaques decorated with cherubs. The circular dial has Roman and Arabic numerals and the clock has an 8 day striking movement complete with count wheel strike and bell, stamped with Miroy Freres...

This colorful pedestal clock has been crafted from fine red marble and green onyx, and beautifully decorated with gilt bronze (ormolu) and champlevé enamel. While a popular crafts material in ancient times, onyx was largely forgotten about until its rediscovery in the mid-19th century in Algeria by a French marble-worker called Delmonte. Onyx became highly fashionable in France following this discovery, and it was used to create a variety of decorative art objects. The clock features a green onyx cube-shaped case, which is surmounted by a slightly projecting red marble top. This top is fringed with champlevé enamel drapery-like motifs, with gilt bronze drop-finials. The case is mounted on its front with a circular dial, which features a central floral champlevé enamel motif, encircled by black Arabic Numerals. This dial is set within a gilt bronze egg-and-dart and champlevé enamel bezel. The sides of the case are mounted with circular gilt bronze barometers...

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...

This magnificent five-piece clock set is designed in the style of 18th century porcelain produced by the famous Sèvres Manufactory in France. The set is comprised of a mantel clock, a pair of flanking vases—which double-up as candelabra—and two candlesticks. The five items are crafted from ‘bleu Sèvres’ (navy) colored porcelain, which has been finely parcel gilt, jewelled and painted, and mounted in gilt bronze (ormolu). The mantel clock is composed of a circular porcelain dial, with a central painting of cherubs in flight, encircled by black Roman Numerals within white medallions. This is set within a gilt bronze bezel, crowned by a porcelain lidded urn, fitted with gilt bronze satyr head handles, draped with flower swags, and topped by a gilt bronze grape cluster finial. The clock case is supported on four porcelain columns, which are surmounted by a gilt bronze pinecone-tipped staff, draped with tasselled fabrics. A gilt bronze sculpture of a dancing Maenad (also called a Bacchante)—a female follower of the classical god of wine and ecstasy, Dionysus (or Bacchus). The woman plays the tambourine and is accompanied by a putto. The clock is placed on a shaped gilt bronze base, with two projecting scrolled wings, decorated with gilt bronze acanthus leaves and porcelain patera. The base is mounted with porcelain paintings of classical trophies, and putti within a gilt bronze cartouche frame. It is set on two gilt bronze feet, which are decorated with pointed porcelain covers and gilt bronze rosettes. Depending on personal preference, the vases that accompany the clock can be left as they are or made to serve as candelabra. When vases, they are topped by porcelain domed lids, with gilt bronze grape finials. To turn the items into candelabra, these lids are replaced by gilt bronze covers. Each cover is fitted with six gilt bronze branches—five of which are scrolling and decorated with acanthus leaves, and one extends upwards in a straight line. These terminate in wide drip-pans and urn-shaped capitals. The porcelain vase bodies feature fine paintings of couples courting in garden settings, and they are fitted with gilt bronze cherub head...

This beautiful antique clock, crafted in the refined Louis XVI style is of traditional form, but is notable for its intricate and extensive dec...

French mantel clock "Astronomy" Paris Bronze, marble Mid 19th century Dimensions: H x W x D: 38 x 55 x 16 cm Description: A Louis XVI-style figural mantel clock mounted on a two-t...

Antique English column clock with chime. Long-stemmed case inlaid with fine woods in plant and bird motifs. Three beautiful metal pinnacles decorate the cymatium. Original glazing. ...

This beautiful neoclassical style mantel clock, created from porphyry mounted with silvered and gilt bronze, is formed in the shape of a vase. The movement of the clock is of the cer...

Odysseus and Theseus French Empire Mantel Clock André Antoine Ravrio Circa 1800 This monumental Empire mantel clock by André Antoine Ravrio, whose case is crafted entirely of gilded...

A Napoleon III Gilt and Silvered Bronze, Onyx and Champlevé Enamel Figural Three-Piece Clock Garniture. By Eugène Cornu for the Société des Marbres Onyx d'Algerie, the figure cast fr...

Desk world timer clock designed by Arthur Imhof. Fabulous and highly attractive desk-table clock, created in Switzerland by the clocks makers house of Imhof, back in the 1960. Thi...

A rare and superb antique French Gothic cartel clock. It is designed architecturally with twin spires and a soaring roof of tracery. Perched above is a mythical flying creature, deli...

Very large Louis XV style gilt bronze mantel clock by Beurdeley French, circa 1880 Measures: Height 102cm, width 48cm, depth 29cm This very large mantel clock...

This wonderful clock set displays many of the characteristics of the 18th century Rococo style. These include gracefulness, asymmetry, and the use of curved forms. The set, which includes a mantel clock and pair of vases, is crafted from gilt metal and is mounted with decorative porcelain plaques. The mantel clock features a gilt metal rectangular case with a break arch top. This is crowned by an urn, featuring a gilt metal stem and a pinky-red floral porcelain body, which is covered by a gilt metal lid and finial. The case is also topped by a gilt metal wreath...

A very fine and important palatial Louis XV style 19th-20th century figural gilt bronze white marble mantel clock with figures of cherubs, the enamel dial with Arabic numerals and fo...

This beautiful gilt bronze (ormolu) clock set was crafted, circa 1870 in France. The set is designed in a rich Rococo style, after decorative art of the Louis XV period (1715-1774). ...

This clock set was designed in France in the late 19th century in a fanciful ‘Oriental’ style. The set is comprised of a mantel clock and a pair of candelabra, all of which have been...

Good size and wonderful quality, heavy bronze clock. This late 19th century work of time telling art is in very good condition and the design is both elegant and stylish. We have cl...

Large cherub-themed gilt bronze clock garniture by Popon French, late 19th Century Clock: Height 68cm, width 63cm, depth 26cm Candelabra: Height 89cm, ...

French Régence style gilt bronze clock garniture French, late 19th century Clock: Height 60cm, width 36cm, depth 20cm Candelabra: Height 67cm, width 25cm, depth 25cm This wonde...

A very good quality 19th Century French gilded ormolu Rococo influenced mantel clock, having wonderful scrolling foliate decoration, the clock face having enamel Roman numerals, an e...

A grand longcase clock produced in Italy in the 1970s in a rococo Louis XV style with dore bronze ormolu mountings and wood inlay decorating a black-lacquered wood case. The Germa...

This beautiful mantel clock has been designed in an 18th century Rococo style, which was popularised by the Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory. The clock has been expertly cast in bronze a...

The case of this Louis XV period mantel clock is attributed to Jean Joseph de Saint-Germain (Paris, 1719-1791). Decorated with a scrolled leaf motif throughout, the fine case is surmounted by an Asian figure in costume, holding a parasol and sitting on a throne. The clock itself was created by Nicolas Charles du...

Let me say that I feel this is the most amazing clock I have seen in over 30 years. The clock case is signed Barbedienne Paris. The clock works are signed with a medallion from Japy ...

This vintage decorative garniture set is beautifully designed with its original gold gilt over wonderful sculpted bronze embellishments. Also, the gilt bronze clock body & the matchi...

Very large antique Louis XV style mantel clock by Beurdeley and Raingo Frères French, Late 19th Century Height 98cm, width 49cm, depth 24cm This magnificent Louis XV style mantel cl...

This exquisite 19th-century gilt bronze and porcelain clock is a stunning example of French decorative arts. The clock features a charming cherub figure, complete with expressive fac...

A fine French 19th-20th century Régence style gilt bronze mounted tulipwood parquetry regulator longcase clock, after the 18th century model by Julien Le Roy (French, 1686-1759) and ...

Magnificent Napoleon III period fireplace set in very finely chiseled gilded bronze and Sèvres porcelain painted with animated scenes. Composed of a large clock with neo-classical d...

Marks to movement: ELR, 1903, R73 to underside of lid. Origin: French Date: circa 1900 Dimension: 17 1/2 x 12 x 6 1/2 inches.

This superb gorge cased carriage clock is beautifully gilded, with a crisp white enamel dial and a roman chapter ring and outer arabic minutes. The eight day two train movement is regulated by a slivered English lever platform escapement, striking on a blued steel gong, with hour repeat button. The case is numbered 10135 throughout, this coupled with the maker’s mark showing the dates of awards on the front plate, means we can date the clock to between 1878 and 1889. The front and back plates are both marked with Jacot stamps. The front with the medal stamp listing the exposition awards Jacot had won. Bronzes in 1855 and 1862, and silver medals in 1867 and 1878. This stamp did not change until 1889 when Jacot junior won the companies first gold medal. The back plate shows the parrot trademark stamp with the initials HJ which came into use in 1878. The back of the dial is also signed by the enameller and numbered with the serial number. This is a very thoroughly marked and numbered clock in excellent condition. Henri Jacot...