Ormolu Furniture
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Material: Ormolu
Large 19 Century French Rococo or Neoclassical Revival Style Vitrine
By David Roentgen
Located in Dallas, TX
Stunning 19th century French Empire, neoclassical/Rococo Revival style Marquetry vitrine or display cabinet, of large proportions!!
A real statement piece!
Made of a fabulous variety of veneers, including kingwood, satinwood, tulipwood, harewood and walnut with quality classical ormolu mounts.
It has ebonized pillars in the Empire style, with walnut and exotic hardwood friezes in the Rococo style.
Double glass doors to middle section and single glass doors on either side.
The glass on the doors are framed in ormolu banding.
Floral Marquetry panels on front and parquetry on the sides.
The front central section is a pullout / pull-out drawers with gorgeous walnut frieze panel and original carved walnut knobs.
Scrolling pelmet on the top in 3 sections banded in ormolu beading.
Scrolling base with cabriolet feet and ormolu mounts on base.
Various ormolu mounts, floral mounts, mounts of Baachus and mounts of neoclassical female figures.
In 3 sections. with 2 side cabinets and large central section with 3 section pelmet, stunning piece!!!
The quality ormolu mounts are marked with the letter “R” and what appears to be “FR 678”.
We were originally of the belief that this piece might have been made at the very end of the 19th century, but having regard to the quality of workmanship throughout this piece we are of the opinion that it was most likely made in the third quarter of the 19th century, circa 1870 and by an obviously top quality Parisienne maker with a surname beginning with “R”.
It is definitely in the style of David Roentgen who was known for his Rococo/neoclassical styles.
David Roentgen, (born Aug. 11, 1743-died Feb. 12, 1807, Wiesbaden, Duchy of Nassau), cabinetmaker to Queen Marie-Antoinette of France; under his direction the family workshop at Neuwied (near Cologne), founded by his father, Abraham Roentgen, became perhaps the most-successful firm of furniture production in the 18th century.
After succeeding his father as head of the Neuwied workshop in 1772, Roentgen strove to broaden their clientele, an ambition that brought him first to Hamburg and ultimately to Paris (1774), where in 1779 he was spectacularly successful in selling his finest furniture to King Louis XVI of France for £3,300 to £4,000, an unprecedented sum for the time.
Appointed cabinetmaker to the queen, Roentgen was granted admission (1780) as maître-ébéniste (master cabinetmaker) to the trade corporation of Paris cabinetmakers, making it possible for him to keep in Paris a stock of the furniture manufactured at Neuwied. Thus he was able to compete with such great cabinetmakers as Jean-Henri Riesener and Adam Weisweiler, reputedly his former pupil at Neuwied. After his first visit to St. Petersburg, Empress Catherine II the Great bought huge quantities of his furniture; King Frederick William II of Prussia was also his client. When in 1795 the French Revolutionary armies threatened to cross the Rhine, Roentgen evacuated his establishment and moved his stock farther inland. Unfortunately, he lost everything in his Parisian salon and in his Neuwied workshop, both of which were sacked by Republican troops. He was crushed, despite his appointment as court furnisher to the king of Prussia. Although he never succeeded in starting production again, former apprentices of his whom he helped to establish in the German cities of Berlin (David Hacker...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Rococo Revival Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
A French 19th Century Louis XV Style Kingwood Parquetry Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Fine French 19th Century Louis XV Style Kingwood and Tulipwood Parquetry and Figural Ormolu Mounted Ladies Writing Desk with Figures of Ram-Heads. The lockplate by Thomas Elsley Lt...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Two Vernis Martin and Gilt Bronze Mounted Display Cabinets by Linke
Located in London, GB
These elegant display cabinets (or vitrines) were crafted in the late 19th century by the leading ébéniste (cabinetmaker) of the period, François Linke (French, 1855-1946). Linke was...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Belle Époque Period Ormolu Picture Frames
By Christofle
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and extremely high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI St. Belle Époque period ormolu picture frames signed and stamped Christofle. Each free standing picture frame displays beautiful intricately detailed swaging fabric garlands at the base with lovely richly chased blooming flowers tied at the center with a charming ribbon and draped over knobs at each side. Elegant laurel branches center a fine rosette at each side set on a hammered background with wrap around reeded bands and delicate beaded borders. The striking pierced top crown displays exceptional richly chased berried laurel branches tied with a ribbon all in a superb satin and burnished finish.
Christofle is a renowned manufacturer of fine silver founded in Paris by Charles Christofle in 1830. Artists and designers such as the famous Parisian Silversmith Antoine Perrin (AP), Man Ray, Jean Cocteau, Gio Ponti, Andrée Putman and Richard Hutton...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Rococo Ormolu Mantel Clock Set by Samuel Marti
Located in Miami, FL
A very large and fine antique French clock set, circa 1880. It is of Rococo design boldly modeled in gilt bronze. Waisted keyhole shape with acanthus leaf shoulders, 'C' scroll feet standing on its original integral base. The top adorned with a putti and a musical instrument. To the sides are sound frets. The large dial is porcelain.
The design is attributed to by the highly inventive and influential rococo goldsmith and architect Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier (1695-1750). Born in Turin, Meissonnier emigrated to France to work in the royal Gobelins factory in 1724 and in 1726 succeeded Jean II Bérain as architect and draughtsman to the Chambre et Cabinet du Roi. His designs for candelabra and other objects appear in the Dousieme livre des Oeuvres de J. A. Messonnier, Livre de Chandeliers de Sculpture en Argent published by Gabriel Huquier in the 1740s. A similar candelabrum in the Munich Residenz is illustrated in Ottomeyer and Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen (Munich 1986).
The French movement is of high quality and is by Samuel Marti...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu, Bronze
A French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu fire screen
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu fire screen. This attractive three panel fire screen is supported on four Ormolu topie shaped feet. Each panel is edged ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique German Art Nouveau Jewelry Memory Pin Brooch Ormolu with Stone, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This lovely stylish sentimental brooch was made to keep a photo of loved ones. Made in Germany, circa 1900. The brooch has a picture inside. It has a blue stone and also has a hangin...
Category
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Large Ormolu Mounted Sèvres Style Porcelain Vases
Located in London, GB
A pair of large ormolu mounted Sèvres style porcelain vases.
French, late 19th century.
Measures: height 130cm, width 45cm, dept...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Empire Johnson Hartig Libertine Yellow Modern Toile Chaise
Located in Houston, TX
A period 19th Century American Empire chaise newly upholstered in Schumacher Johnson Hartig Libertine Yellow Modern Toile Chaise. This heavy yellow and wh...
Category
19th Century American American Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Set of 3 Ormolu Wall Lights Appliques 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fine set of three antique twin branch ormolu wall lights with urn shaped finials, leaf-sheathed scroll branches and fasces backplates dating from Circa 1900.
Add an elegan...
Category
20th Century Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Large Antique 19th Century Russian Ormolu Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Large antique 19th century Russian ormolu chandelier
Russian, Late 19th Century
Height 133cm, diameter 124cm
This grand chandelier, crafted in Russia during the late 19th century, ...
Category
Late 19th Century Russian Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Louis XVI Style Pink Porcelain Mantel Clock, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French 19th Century Louis XVI style gilded ormolu and 'Severs' style pink porcelain mantel clock. In the form of a vase with an inset clock face, an eight day dur...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Napoleon III Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Grandfather Clock Circa 1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Napoleon III ormolu mounted mahogany grandfather clock Circa 1885-1890. This is a beautiful clock, with wonderful exotic wood inlays and ormolu finishings. It is in th...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
A Napoleon III Parquetry Pedestal Desk By Guillaume Grohé
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Important Napoleon III Gilt-Bronze Mounted Parquetry Pedestal Desk, By Guillaume Grohé. France, Circa 1860.
Stamped to the top edge of one door 'GROHE FRERES...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Antique Ormolu Mounted and Mahogany Corner Cabinets by Grohé Frères
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique ormolu mounted and mahogany corner cabinets by Grohé Frères
French, c. 1860
Height 102cm, width 89cm, depth 47cm
This stunning pair of ormolu and mahogany corner cab...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Empire Revival Ormolu Mounted Desk, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an exquisite French Empire Revival pedestal desk, circa 1880 in date.
This desk has been beautifully crafted from flame mahogany. The top has a striking gold tooled black leather inset writing surface which has a decorative geometric inlaid satinwood and ebony border around it.
It features beautifully cast gilded Ormolu mounts including angels, pharaonic herms above paw feet and swan escutcheons. It is further enhanced with male masks wearing nemes headress's on the sides, making it an incredibly imposing and impressive item of furniture.
The desk features seven drawers for maximum storage, it is freestanding with a beautifully panelled back and comes complete with the original working locks and keys.
This desk will soon become the centrepiece of your furniture collection, there is no mistaking the sophisticated quality and design and it is certain to enhance the style and elegance of any living area, bedroom, or reception.
THE BOTANICAL NAME FOR THE MAHOGANY THIS ITEM IS MADE OF IS SWIETENIA MACROPHYLLA AND THIS TYPE OF MAHOGANY IS NOT SUBJECT TO CITES REGULATION.
Condition:
In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, French polished, waxed and releathered in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 76 x width 150 x depth 80
Dimensions in inches:
Height 29.9 x width 59.1 x depth 31.5
Empire style,
is an early 19th century design movement in architecture, furniture, other decorative arts, and the visual arts followed in Europe and America until circa 1830.
The style originated in and takes its name from the rule of Napoleon I in the First French Empire, where it was intended to idealize Napoleon's leadership and the French state. The style corresponds to the Biedermeier style in the German-speaking lands, Federal style in the United States and to the Regency style in Britain. The previous style was called Louis XVI style, in France.
The Empire style was based on aspects of the Roman Empire. It is the second phase of neoclassicism which is also called "Directoire", after a government system.
Furniture typically had symbols and ornaments borrowed from the glorious ancient Greek and Roman empires.
The furniture was made from heavy woods such as mahogany and ebony, imported from the colonies, with dark finishes often with decorative bronze mounts. Marble tops were popular as were Egyptian motifs like sphinxes, griffins, urns and eagles and the Napoleonic symbols, the eagle, the bee, the initials "I" and a large "N."
Gilded bronze (ormolu) details displayed a high level of craftsmanship.
Flame mahogany
Thomas Sheraton - 18th century furniture designer, once characterized mahogany as "best suited to furniture where strength is demanded as well as a wood that works...
Category
1880s French Empire Revival Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Pair of Period Louis XV Tole, Ormolu and Porcelain Flower Wall Sconces.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
French Pair of Period Louis XV Tole, Ormolu and Porcelain Flower Wall Sconces.
Very rare pair of appliques in finely chiseled gilded bronze with...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Commode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French Belle Époque 19th-20th century Louis XV style superb quality ormolu-mounted kingwood bombé commode with a Brêche d'Alep marble top, attributed to François Linke an...
Category
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Three-Piece Louis XV Rococo Style Porcelain and Ormolu Clock Set
Located in London, GB
Three-piece Louis XV Rococo style porcelain and ormolu clock set
French, late 19th century
Clock: Height 82cm, width 62, depth 28cm
Candelabra: Height 76cm, diameter 22cm
Compr...
Category
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Belle Époque Period Ormolu Centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period Ormolu centerpiece. The centerpiece is raised by beautiful scrolled foliate legs with large magnificent scrolled acan...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century French Fire Gilt Bronze Crystal Twelve-Branch Floral Chandelier
Located in Milano, MI
Exceptional fire gilt bronze and crystal chandelier of French origin, a two tier twelve-light hanging fixture dating back to circa 1870 born for candle burning, modified to electric,...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
French Empire Ormolu mantel clock resting on four turned feet supporting an oval base with raised garland and zig-zag rope decoration...
Category
Early 1800s French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Set Four French Doré Bronze Neoclassical Ormolu Candlesticks Lamps 19Ct
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An Exceptionally Fine and quite rare Set of Four (two identical pairs) French Ormolu and patinated Bronze early Victorian Single Light Candlesticks of tall slender form and fairly st...
Category
19th Century French Victorian Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Louis XIV Boulle Marquetry Tortoiseshell Gilt Bronze Inkwell Desk Stand
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and magnificent fine quality antique French gilt bronze ormolu mounted André-Charles Boulle (1642-1732) style marquetry inlaid tortoise-shell sculptural encrier (inkstand).
G...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu, Brass
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...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Metal, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
French 19th-20th Century Louis XVI Style Belle Époque Ormolu-Mounted Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and rare French 19th-20th century Louis XVI style Belle Epoque ormolu-mounted satine, kingwood and burlwood two-door cabinet, the mounts by Ferdinand Barbedienne, fitted with a shaped Breccia Colorata marble top above a Vitruvian scroll frieze, centered by two doors flanked by putti and griffin mounts, the interior with two shelves, on four tapering fluted legs, the backs of the mounts stamped 'FB'. Paris, circa 1890-1900.
Ferdinand Barbedienne (French, 1810-1892) Was a highly important and prolific bronze founder of furniture mounts and more commonly, bronze sculpture including figures, animals, urns, clocks and candelabra. His signature Varied from hand written capitals to stamp in capitals,- Bronzes cast bear...
Category
1890s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Breccia Marble, Ormolu
Louis XVI Style Satinwood Vitrine with Neoclassical Ormolu Mounts
Located in London, GB
Louis XVI style satinwood vitrine with neoclassical ormolu mounts
French, 19th century
Dimensions: Height 180cm, width 177cm, depth 45cm
This ...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Fine Russian Empire Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Console Table, circa 1815
Located in New York, NY
A Fine French Empire Ormolu-Mounted mahogany console table, Circa 1815.
With a white marble top and mirrored glass back. Very high quality and delicate French bronze mounts. Very ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mounted Kingwood Vitrine, Paris, circa 1900
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Louis XVI style Ormolu mounted kingwood Vitrine, Paris, circa 1900, Beautiful quality, with lift top beveled glass top, the case fitted with fo...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Green Marble and Ormolu Lidded Urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. green marble and ormolu lidded urns. Each urn is raised by a triangular base with concave sides and a fine bott...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Ormolu Mounted Amboyna and Mahogany Louis XVI Style Antique Dressing Table
Located in London, GB
Ormolu mounted amboyna and mahogany Louis XVI style antique dressing table
French, late 19th century
Measures: height 91cm, width 70cm, depth 44.5cm
Beautiful crafted from an ar...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th century Louis XVI st. marble and Ormolu clock, signed Derniere
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and finely decorated French 19th century Louis XVI st. Gris St. Anne marble and Ormolu clock, signed Derniere. This exquisite and high quality clock is raised on an imp...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
A Belle Epoque Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Vitrine Cabinet by François Linke
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Belle Epoque Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Vitrine Cabinet by François Linke.
Of large proportions with central arched glazed door flanked to each side by a recessed glazed door....
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Vernis Martin Vitrine Display Cabinet 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a stunning antique French wood and Vernis Martin vitrine cabinet, in the Louis XV manner, Circa 1880 in date, with exquisite hand painted decoration and exquisite ormolu moun...
Category
1880s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Large Gilt Bronze and Malachite Neoclassical Style Candelabra
Located in London, GB
Pair of large gilt bronze and malachite neoclassical style candelabra
French, 20th century
Measures: Height 122cm, diameter 60cm
This large...
Category
20th Century French Neoclassical Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze
Antique French Sèvres-Style Ormolu Mounted Porcelain Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique French Sèvres-style ormolu mounted porcelain mantel clock
French, 19th Century
Height 50cm, diameter 21cm
This superb 19th century porcelain clock pays homage to the disti...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Palatial Early 20th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Vitrine by François Linke
Located in Long Island City, NY
A palatial and superb early 20th century gilt bronze Mounted Louis XVI style Mahogany Vitrine by François Linke
François Linke
The arched top with scrolled corners and centered by a laurel wreath and crossed acanthus branches, above a central large door at top by a lyre on drapery-covered plinth, flanked by scrolling acanthus, with a smaller door to each side hung with floral swags and with central oval plate, the divides cast with a slender flower-filled vase, the interior with adjustable shelves and drawers to the bottom, on shaped foliate-cast plinth and acanthus-capped tapering feet.
Inscribed F. Linke to the top right bronze mount and stamped “C LINKE” on the back of the locks.
Linke was born in Pankraz in Bohemia and was celebrated by the French as one of the greatest ébénistes of meubles de style at the turn of the century. He began his apprenticeship with a Bohemian master at the age of thirteen. Four years later, he toured Austria, settling and working in Vienna for two years. Linke arrived in Paris in 1875, and by 1881 he had established his own small workshop at 170 rue du Faubourg St. Antoine. Taking 18th century styles as his starting point and adapting earlier styles to contemporary taste, Linke produced fine quality furniture, steadily expanding his business during the next 20 years. He firmly established his reputation after receiving a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900 for his extraordinary Grand Bureau. He continued to use international fairs as a means of exploring new markets, exhibiting at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, the Liege in Belgium and the 1908 Franco-British exhibition in London. Linke’s highly original designs sprang from the Régence and Rococo styles but were imbued with something quite new – Rococo curves were laden with gilt-bronze sculptural mounts in the tradition of A.-C. Boulle (1642-1732) or Charles Cressent (1685-1758). Stylistically, the new designs still adhered to the Rococo; the novelty, however, was Linke’s fusion of the Rococo with the liveliness and the fluidity of the ‘art nouveau’. The Revue called Linke’s creations entierement nouveau, and continued to say that ‘Linke’s stand...
Category
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Black Belgian marble and Ormolu Urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most decorative pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Black Belgian marble and Ormolu Urns. Each beautiful urn is raised on a squared stepped marble pedestal with ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu
Perfumer Baccarat Perfume Box, Ormolu Mounted, Doré Bronze
By Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
Perfumer Baccarat Perfume Box, Ormolu Mounted, Doré Bronze
Presenting a remarkable fusion of artistry and opulence, the perfumer Baccarat's green op...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century French Egyptian Revival Part Ormolu D'appliques Wall Lights, c 1830
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th century French neoclassical pair of ormolu bronze d'appliques wall lights in an Egyptian revival style. These have been part gilt to enhance the detailed figures, each w...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique French Inlaid Brass Marble Top Coffee Table
Located in London, GB
An absolutely stunning antique French inlaid brass marble top coffee table, dating from around the 1930’s.
This is of outstanding quality, the frame is beautifully made with profuse...
Category
1930s French Louis XV Vintage Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of Directoire Period Neoclassical Athénienne
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A fine and rare pair of early 19th Century French, Directoire period, bronze and ormolu athénienne or stands.
On circular mahogany plinths with ormolu mounts.
Circa 1800.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Monumental Pair of Louis XV Style Ormolu and Crystal Girandoles by Baccarat
By Baccarat
Located in London, GB
A magnificent pair of Louis XV style
Ormolu and crystal girandoles
Probably by Baccarat
Constructed from finely cast and chased ormolu, the imposing floor candelabra—almost 2-me...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
French Pair of Louis XV Walnut Commodes, Side Tables or Night Stands
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Pair of petite French Louis XV commodes, which can also serve as side tables or nightstands. Each with three drawers, all with burled walnut inlay and beautiful pulls and ormolu acce...
Category
20th Century French Louis XV Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Napoleon III Period Boulle Cabinet À Hauteur D’Appui
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and extremely high quality French 19th Century Napoleon III Period ebony, brass and ormolu Cabinet à Hauteur d'Appui, attributed to Befort Jeune. The Boulle cabinet is ...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Bronze Clock with Sèvres Porcelain
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A fine quality Louis XVI style bronze ormolu mantel clock. The case is made of gilt brass and bronze ormolu casted ornaments, Roman numerals in white enameled cartouches. On top of t...
Category
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique French Kingwood Bird's-Eye Maple Jewelry Casket Box Tahan Paris
By Alphonse Tahan 1
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A very elegant large French Kingwood Ormolu mounted casket of very generous proportions and of outstanding Museum quality, firmly attributed to Alphonse Tahan Paris (1830-1880), offi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
18th Century Louis XVI Amboyna Backgammon or Tric Trac Games Table
Located in Essex, MA
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Period Ormolu Mounted Amboyna Wood Tric Trac or Gaming Table, having a removable top with inset leather panel to top and underside surfaces, interior with...
Category
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of 19th Century Monumental Sèvres Style Napoleonic Cobalt Vases
Located in New York, NY
Monumental Pair of Sèvres style Porcelain hand painted cobalt ground Napoleonic vases and cover
The bodies well-painted to show cavalry scenes from t...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Mahogany, Tulipwood and Ormolu Bureau Plat Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and very high quality French 19th century Louis XV st. Mahogany, tulipwood and ormolu bureau plat desk. The three drawer desk is raised by elegant cabriole legs with ha...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Early 19th Century Ormolu Mantel Clock, Atala freeing Chactas, Paris, circa 1810
Located in Greven, DE
Mantel Clock "Atala and Chactas"
Paris
Bronze (fire-gilt and patinated), enamel
Empire around 1810
Dimensions: H x W x D: 40 x 32 x 11 cm
Description:
Very rare and extremely high quality French mantel clock, so-called Pendule Au Bon Sauvage.
Depicted are scenes from the love story "Atala or the love of two savages in the desert" written by Francois René Vicomte de Chateaubriand in 1801. At the beginning of the 19th century, this was probably the most famous love story in Europe, but today it has been forgotten.
The story, set in present-day Louisiana (USA), is roughly rewritten about the forbidden love between Chactas, a young Indian, and Atala, the beautiful daughter of a Spaniard.
Chactas is captured in a battle between two Indian tribes, chained to a palm tree and is to be sacrificed. Atala wants to save his life and convert him to Christianity. She unties him from the palm tree at night and they flee together into the wilderness of North America. Their love for each other grows stronger and stronger and they have prospects for a future together.
The story takes a tragic turn when Atala, who must remain a virgin due to a vow made by her mother, can no longer withstand the conflict of her feelings and commits suicide.
The main group of characters thus shows Chacta's liberation through Atala. Atala is leaning against a pile of logs. The animal fur thrown over the logs and the weapons leaning against the stack on the right give the impression of a night camp.
The bronze is of rarely beautiful quality, finely chiselled and makes the scene appear very lively. The contrast of fire-gilded and patinated bronze adds tension to the composition.
In the base we see the Entombment as the end of the tragic love story. This bronze work is also very detailed, the interplay of bright and matt gilding makes the flat relief appear much deeper than it is.
The depiction of the mantel clock presented here shows that the exotic was only known from stories and that the bronzier had his own ideas about the appearance of this distant world. The Indian, for example, has very European facial features and his skin was not black in reality, of course. The palm tree was also certainly not found in the North American wilderness.
The heart of the clock is a French pendulum movement, integrated into the wooden pile, with an eight-day power reserve and a lock plate striking a bell on the half and full hour. The pendulum is suspended on a thread, typical of the period. The classically shaped hands, so-called Breguet hands, are also typical of the time.
The enamelled dial has black Roman hour numerals, Arabic quarter hours and bears the signature: Le Roy hr. de Madame A PARIS.
Interesting facts:
The period from 1795 to about 1815 saw the creation of probably the most spectacular group of bronzes: The "Au bon Sauvage" pendulums - depictions of the "Noble Savage".
Today's viewers react to these objects with both fascination and irritation. Enthusiastic on the one hand about the obvious quality of the detailed bronzes and the allure of the exotic, on the other hand distanced and cautious because of the possible discrimination that is suspected behind them. The ambivalence of this feeling motivates the search for the conditions of origin of these pendulums.
Europeans found their new ideal of the natural man primarily in fictional and realistic travelogues about the Indians of North America...
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Antique Ormolu Clocks, Lamps and Other Furniture and Decorative Objects for Sale
Antique ormolu furniture and decorative objects can be incorporated into a variety of spaces, and while demand for the material and/or technique was at its peak in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries, ormolu is still widely loved by designers and collectors today.
What is ormolu?
Ormolu is a brilliant form of decorative trickery. To the untrained eye, ormolu clocks, jewelry boxes and other ormolu furniture and decor look like they're made of solid gold. But those in the know recognize ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — as having been essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
“Most commonly, ormolu refers to a bronze object that has been covered with gold, typically 18 karat or 24 karat,” explains Jamie Sinai, director of the antiques specialist Mayfair Gallery, in London. “For that reason, ormolu is sometimes called gilt bronze or, in French, bronze doré. Strictly speaking, however, the term ormolu also denotes the technique of applying gold to a metal.”
“The word comes from the French or moulu, which translates as ‘ground or powdered gold’ — the form the gold takes before it is applied to a metal surface.”
From the court of King Louis XVI to that of Napoleon I, the French elite snapped up furniture mounted with ormolu, as well as sconces, candelabra and table lamps made from the material. “As the French reputation for supreme art, architecture and furniture developed, the craze for ormolu spread across Europe,” adds Sinai.
Today, antiques collectors and interior designers continue to prize ormolu for its extraordinary craftsmanship and history-infused glamour.
“This wondrous material was highly sought after in France as the ultimate luxury. It magically resembled solid gold and sparkled under candlelight,” says Sinai.
Find antique ormolu furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
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