Skip to main content

Federal Wall Clocks

FEDERAL STYLE

Following the Revolutionary War, the American republic referenced the Roman Republic in its designs to celebrate its independence and declare itself a powerful new country. Imbued with neoclassical elements like those being promoted by architect Robert Adam in Great Britain, antique Federal-style furniture was the first distinctly American style in its melding of ancient influences, European aesthetics and national pride.

Dating roughly from 1790 to 1830, the style featured angular furniture with saber legs and smooth surfaces that contrasted with the curvy Rococo style that was previously in fashion. Eagles were common ornamental motifs on Federal-period furniture, as were cornucopia, lyres, garlands and scrolls, adding subtle flair to pieces characterized by clean lines, geometric symmetry, balanced shapes and a sense of grandeur.

Instead of sculptural carvings, authentic Federal-style furniture was adorned with inlays and patterned veneers that showcased the rich character of different grains and types of wood. As social life tended to be informal in the young country, furniture was often lightweight, so it could be easily rearranged in a drawing room or bedroom. Pieces like dining tables with drop leaves and sideboards became popular, replacing larger chests of drawers.

The Federal style varied by region: Artisans in Charleston, South Carolina, decorated chairs with carved backs, for instance, while those in Baltimore, Maryland, preferred painted details. Its major proponents included father-and-son cabinetmakers John and Thomas Seymour in Boston, Duncan Phyfe and Charles-Honoré Lannuier in New York and Samuel McIntire in Salem, Massachusetts.

Find antique Federal tables, mirrors, storage cabinets and other Federal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

4
to
4
4
4
4
213
166
162
48
43
35
35
14
13
10
10
9
9
5
5
5
4
3
3
1
1
Height
to
Width
to
4
2
1
1
1
3
3
1
Style: Federal
Antique American Simon Willard & Son 8 Day Banjo Clock Patent Timepiece 1825
Located in Portland, OR
Rare antique American Simon Willard & Son Mahogany Patent Timepiece or "Banjo" Clock, Boston, Massachusetts, c. 1825. The case made of Cuban mahogany with figured mahogany panels to ...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

New Hampshire Federal Mahogany And Tiger Maple Banjo Clock
Located in Essex, MA
With urn finial over a round clock face with painted iron dial and Roman numerals. Hinged glass bezel. Waisted case with finely figured tiger maple flanked by carved mahogany side a...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Brass, Iron

Antique Seth Thomas Rosewood Office Calendar No 2 No 3 Clock Case Federal
Located in Dayton, OH
An exception and rare federal style case for a Seth Thomas calendar clock model No 2 or No 3. Manufactured in the last quarter of the 19th c...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Glass, Rosewood

American Federal Style Banjo Clock
Located in Asheville, NC
Gilded wood case Banjo clock with decorative brass cutwork and back painted glass, enameled clock face with Roman numerals, brass pendulum and winder. Surm...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Giltwood

Related Items
Aaron Willard Boston Mahogany Shelf Clock w/ Eglomisé Painting & Eagle Finial
By Aaron Willard
Located in Savannah, GA
Popularized at the turn of the 19th century in coastal Massachusetts, these handsome shelf clocks are subsequently referred to as Massachusetts shelf clocks. This decorated example ...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Brass

Vintage American Nautical Clock
Located in New York, NY
Vintage American Nautical clock. Handsome black-faced circular Chelsea naval clock with white enumeration and water-tight glass cover retailed by M. Low of...
Category

20th Century American Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Metal

American Walnut Tall Case Clock by Solomon Gorgas
Located in Essex, MA
By Solomon Gorgas. Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania. Works just cleaned and in good working order. With arched bonnet with pinwheel inlay in the scrolls. Glazed door opening to enameled wo...
Category

Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Metal, Brass

Antique Mahogany 8 Day Painted Face Longcase Clock
Located in Suffolk, GB
Outstanding antique mahogany 8 day painted face longcase clock signed Johnson Knaresboro with a swan-neck pediment with original brass finials. This a stunning piece, very decorative...
Category

1850s English Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Brass

Federal Style Grandmother's Clock with Sailing Ship Motif
Located in Asheville, NC
This fine antique American Federal style grandmother's long case clock features book matched crotch grain mahogany and walnut case with bracket feet, and a chamfered block base. The arch crest pendulum door features satinwood stringing and inlaid fan. The door is flanked by quarter engaged reeded columns. The face box...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Mahogany, Satinwood

A Rare Drocourt No. 14993: Carriage Clock and Calendar
Located in London, GB
A Drocourt No. 14993: Carriage Clock circular enamel dial against a gilt mask, The movement bearing Drocourt’s stamp and number We are pleased to offer this fine and very rare carri...
Category

1870s French Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Antique Victorian Walnut Case Vienna Wall Clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Antique Victorian walnut case Vienna wall clock having a circular porcelain dial with original hands, Roman numerals and original pendulum in a walnut and ebonised case with bobbing ...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Glass, Walnut

Antique Victorian Walnut Case Vienna Wall Clock
Antique Victorian Walnut Case Vienna Wall Clock
Free Shipping
H 33.47 in W 11.82 in D 6.3 in
Handmade Wall Clock 1970s American Craft
Located in San Francisco, CA
Late 1970s one of a kind handmade wall clock, constructed of a radius of earth toned suede on a solid asymmetrical wooden frame. The clock face is ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Copper, Enamel

Paul Frankl Telechron American Moderne Deco Clock, 1928
Located in Sharon, CT
The iconic American Deco Frankl 'Skyscraper' mantel clock. Polished silver over brass with black bakelite base. This rare 'top of line' deco item retains the original bevelled glass ...
Category

1920s American Vintage Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Glass

Antique Solid Elm Octagon Schoolhouse Calendar "Regulator A" Wall Clock
Located in Danville, CA
Antique Solid Elm Octagon Schoolhouse Calendar "Regulator A" Wall Clock MOVEMENT: 8 day wind up mechanism FUNCTION: time with hourly striking and month c...
Category

Early 1900s Japanese Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Brass

American Federal Mahogany Tall Case Clock, Silas Hoadley, CT, Circa 1820
By Silas Hoadley
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Federal mahogany one day tall case clock with the original brass ball finials resting on three carved upper capitals, decorative intertwined fret work, arched hood with bras...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Brass

50"H Seth Thomas Double Dial Office Perpetual Calendar No 5 Regulator Wall Clock
Located in Danville, CA
SETH THOMAS STYLE OFFICE CALENDAR REGULATOR No. 5 WALL CLOCK Here is a beautiful office regulator calendar wall clock. The case is recently made ...
Category

Early 2000s Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Metal, Brass

Previously Available Items
Mid Century Seth Thomas Brookfield Banjo 8 Day Springwound Eagle Wall Clock
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage 1950s Seth Thomas Brookfield Colonial banjo style 8-day spring wound, pendulum, chiming wall clock with eagle finial. “Fabulous re-creation of the circa 1810 Willard Banjo Clock...
Category

1950s Vintage Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Brass

Antique American Waterbury Willard 8 day Églomisé "Aurora" #3 Banjo Clock, 1908
Located in Portland, OR
Antique Waterbury Willard No. 6 "Banjo" Clock, Connecticut, circa 1908, the mahogany case with an 8-inch porcelain Arabic numeral dial. Gilt-rope moldings enclose the reverse-painted...
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage Henry Ford Museum Reproduction of Aaron Willard Mahogany Banjo Clock
By Aaron Willard
Located in Big Flats, NY
A vintage Henry Ford Museum reproduction of and Aaron Willard banjo clock offers mahogany case with figural eagle finial surmounting face signed "Aaron W...
Category

20th Century American Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century American Mahogany and Églomisé Banjo Clock
Located in Savannah, GA
Gilded wood case Banjo clock outlined in relief beaded molding with decorative brass eagle atop. Features include two back painted glass panels depicting "Old Mill Stream...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Brass, Metal

Antique Federal Mahogany Banjo Wall Clock by Waterbury Clock Co, circa 1900
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Federal banjo clock by Waterbury offers mahogany case with reverse painted glass panels, original label as photographed, complete with pendulum and key, circa 1900 Meas...
Category

20th Century American Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Mahogany, Glass

Federal Style Seascape & Patriotic Mahogany Banjo Clock by J. E. Caldwell & Co.
Located in Big Flats, NY
Federal style patriotic banjo wall clock features mahogany case with hand painted glass panels of seascape, central shield and eagle, signed on face J...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

Federal Style Nautical Battle Scene Banjo Wall Clock by Aaron Willard
By Aaron Willard
Located in Big Flats, NY
Federal style nautical banjo wall clock features gilt case with painted glass panels of maritime scene of tall mast ships Constitution and Guerriere i...
Category

20th Century American Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Federal Style Mahogany Banjo Wall Clock "Willard's Patent", Floral Motif
By Aaron Willard
Located in Big Flats, NY
Federal style banjo wall clock features Mahogany gilt decorated case with pierced brass trim, rose floral with urn painted panels, "Willard's Patent",...
Category

20th Century American Federal Wall Clocks

Federal Style Repro Aaron Willard Nautical Banjo Wall Clock by Colonial, 20th C
By Aaron Willard
Located in Big Flats, NY
Federal style reproduction Aaron Willard nautical banjo wall clock by Colonial of Zeeland, MI for The Henry Ford Museum features gilt case with painted g...
Category

20th Century American Federal Wall Clocks

W. Goodwin Late Federal Banjo Clock
By Goodwin
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Manufactured by W. Goodwin in North Attleboro, Mass. Banjo clock finely beaded gilt moulded with exceptional reverse painted églomisé panels. The lower de...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Wall Clocks

W. Goodwin Late Federal Banjo Clock
W. Goodwin Late Federal Banjo Clock
H 35 in W 11.25 in D 4 in
Rare and Important Aaron Willard Massachusetts Federal Shelf Bride's Clock
By Aaron Willard
Located in Essex, MA
Rare Aaron Willard Federal églomisé bride's clock. The attractive shelf clocks of this form were popularized at the turn of the 19th century in coas...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Wood

Banjo Clock, circa 1820, Antique Patent Timepiece
By Aaron Willard, Jr.
Located in valatie, NY
Banjo clock, circa 1820, antique patent timepiece. This well known clock type was patented by Simon Willard in 1802 as the “improved timepiece” but today...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Wall Clocks

Materials

Brass

Federal wall clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Federal wall 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 wall clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, giltwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Federal wall clocks made in a specific country, there are North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original wall clocks, popular names associated with this style include and Seth Thomas Clock Company. 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 $470 and tops out at $2,800 while the average work can sell for $1,635.

Recently Viewed

View All