Empire Wall 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.
to
2
8
8
198
174
149
48
40
38
33
13
13
10
9
9
8
6
5
4
3
2
6
5
3
3
3
5
2
7
3
2
2
1
Height
to
Width
to
8
8
8
Style: Empire
EARLY 19th CENTURY GOLDEN WALL CLOCK WITH MUSIC BOX
Located in Firenze, FI
Splendid wall clock set in an elegant opening wooden case, with carved frame and golden tablet. The internal finishes of the clock are also in golden tablet and brass. The decoration...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Brass
Antique French Empire Victorian Bronze Ormolu Walnut Vatican Wall Clock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Victorian Bronze Ormolu Walnut Vatican Wall Clock. Item features a glass dome front and bronze ormolu. Has not been tested. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurement...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Musical Automaton Clock Depicting Napoleon I
Located in London, GB
A Musical Automaton Clock
Depicting Napoleon at Fontainebleau
Based on the original work of Horace Vernet "Goodbyes at Fontainebleau," the pai...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Brass
19th century Swedish gilt and eglomise ornate wall clock
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish gilt and églomisé ornate wall clock circa 1840.
Fine quality swedish wall clock of the empire period circa 1840. Beautifully carved, surmounted with doves. 2 si...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Glass, Giltwood
19th Century Swedish Gilded Wall Clock with Dolphins, Signed Ericsson Stockholm
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Fine and decorative Swedish Cartel clock. Very elaborately carved wooden case flanked by two sculptural dolphins. The dial signed P. Ericsson Stoc...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Giltwood
Empire Bronze and Ormolu Cartel Clock by Bailly, Paris
Located in Essex, MA
A wall clock with gilt bronze ribbon bow joining a gilt bronze ribbon attached to the clock case with patinated bronze back section and laurel leaf mounted surrounding a circular glass hinged cover opening to an enamelled dial signed Bailly a Paris. An eagle with spread wings at the base seated on a plinth. All finely cast. The laurel leaves signify victory and the eagle represents strength and power. Bailly is considered on of the finest French clock makers...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
19th century French Empire Period Elm Barometer signed Gabriel
Located in London, GB
Empire Cistern Barometer by Gabriel
Of rectangular form, with the case waisted, veneered in burr elm with mounts in the manner of Percier and Fontaine, of cistern type, with bronze ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19 Century Italian Clock Landscape Painting
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An early/mid-19th century Italian clock painting indistinctly signed on the lower right corner. The oil painting is set in a period Empire gilt frame and d...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Canvas
Related Items
19th-Century Pendulum Wall Clock
Located in Opole, PL
We present you this chain pendulum clock with a gravity winding mechanism with a single weight.
The case bears normal traces of long years of use.
It is intended to be renovated.
...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Brass
Biedermeier Mantel Clock, Early 19th Century
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Biedermeier Mantel Clock, Early 19th Century
A sophisticated Biedermeier mantel clock, crafted in Austria circa 1810–1830. This exceptional piece combines timeless elegance with out...
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Maple
19th Century Gilded Ormolu and Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive late 19th century French gilded ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock. Having three putti mounted to the top each playing musical instruments. The clock having an ei...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Louis XVI Antique French Ormolu and Bronze Cartel Wall Clock
By Samuel Marti
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A large and superb cartel wall clock in the style of Louis XVI by Samuel Marti. It as formed as a round bronze body housing the movement suspended from an ormolu ribbon swag with a b...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Swedish Case Clock
Located in Huntington, NY
A unique Swedish case clock in original blue and salmon color. The year 1837 can faintly be seen above the clock face. Remnants of 18th century color animations are affixed to the in...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Brass, Iron
French Empire Mantel Clock in Ormolu, Patinated Bronze and Marble, Signed Picnot
By Picnot
Located in London, GB
French Empire clock of stunning quality constructed of rouge marble, original fire gilt ormolu and patinated bronze. Set upon four ormolu paw feet to the rouge marble base, rising to...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
H 18.5 in W 11.1 in D 5 in
19th Century Zinc 'Clock Tower' Antique Wall Clock
Located in Cirencester, GB
Sourced in the South of France we love the patina to this large zinc clock.
We have replaced the clock mechanism with a new battery high torque system.
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Zinc
19th Century Sevres Style Gilded Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful French 19th century gilded ormolu mantel clock, having a putti mounted to the top holding garlands of flowers, draping down the case, Rams heads and urns of flowers. The ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Swedish Tall Case Clock with Painted Case
Located in Milford, NH
Wonderful polychrome 19th century Swedish tall case clock with central urn with swags, Roman numeral dial, brass works and waist door with circular window. Very good overall conditio...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Brass
19th Century Musical Picture Clock
Located in Los Angeles, 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 Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Canvas, Giltwood
19th Century Victorian Antique Ornate Brass Desk Clock
Located in Suffolk, GB
19th century Victorian antique ornate brass desk clock having an exquisite ornate brass and enamel dial with original hands, eight day French movement in a very pretty ornate brass c...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Brass
Amazing Napoleon III Clock Empire French 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Amazing Napoleon III Clock Empire French 19th Century
50cm x 26cm x 15cm
good condition
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Previously Available Items
19th century Swedish gilt and eglomise ornate wall clock
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish gilt and églomisé ornate wall clock circa 1840.
Fine quality Swedish wall clock of the empire period circa 1840. Beautifully carved, surmounted with doves. 2 si...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Giltwood
19th Century Empire Period Tole Cartel Clock
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century Empire Period tole cartel clock with central engine turned and enameled dial, the brass knop finial with hanging ring above an octagonal body with raised concav...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Sheet Metal
19th Century Swedish Gilt and Églomisé Ornate Wall Clock
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish gilt and églomisé ornate wall clock circa 1840.
Fine quality swedish wall clock of the Empire period circa 1840. Beautifully...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Giltwood
19th Century Empire Clock Gold T Kluge Stockholm with Sphinxes on Each Side
Located in DE
A beautiful 19th century Empire clock gilded with sphinxes sitting on each side. Signed with T Kluge Stockholm at the back.
Black and white...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Wood
H 31.11 in W 21.66 in D 4.34 in
French Empire Tole and Parcel-Gilt Wall Clock, circa 1810-1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
Of circular form and made to resemble a pocket watch, with gilt decoration on a tole body, the works having been serviced and in fine condition.
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Metal
Vienna Laterndluhr Regulator Clock
Located in New Orleans, LA
This rare Vienna regulator clock, or Laterndluhr, beautifully demonstrates the precision and superiority of Viennese craftsmanship. The elegant ...
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Enamel
French Empire Tole Wall Clock, 19th Century
Located in Doylestown, PA
A decorative French Empire period wall clock in tole with brass details and porcelain face, circa 1810.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Brass, Tin
Unusual Swedish Early 19th Century Empire Wall Cartel Clock by Cederlund
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An unusual Swedish Empire giltwood striking wall clock from the early 19th century. The white painted Arabic dial signed by the clockmaker ‘Jon. Ce...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Wood
H 34.65 in W 19.1 in D 3.15 in
Late 19th Century Swedish Gilt Wall Clock by Rob Engstrom, Stockholm
By Robert Engstrom
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fine quality Swedish wall clock in the empire taste, circa 1895.
Movement stamped b & w, which is by German Company Berger & Wurker. Clock by Rob Engstrom...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Giltwood
19th Century Swedish Gilt and Eglomise Ornate Wall Clock
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fine quality Swedish wall clock in the empire taste, circa 1840.
Beautifully carved, surmounted with doves. Two silhouette eglomise glass panels ( 1 of which has a break.)
Craquelu...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Giltwood
German Mahogany Eglomise Banjo Clock. Circa 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
German mahogany eglomise banjo clock with brass eagle finial, signed paper numerical dial, tapered throat, and terminating on a rectangular plinth with gad...
Category
1880s German Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
American Mahogany and Églomisé Banjo Clock, New Haven, CT, Circa 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
American mahogany banjo clock with a perched eagle finial, steel engraved dial under glass, centered decorative gilt reversed painted glass, lower hinged door with a reverse painting...
Category
1880s American Antique Empire Wall Clocks
Empire wall clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire wall clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage wall clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire wall clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Scandinavia 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 wall clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $950 and tops out at $44,751 while the average work can sell for $10,752.