Ormolu Furniture
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Material: 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
French Marquetry Slant Top Ladies Writing Desk, Circa 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
French marquetry ladies slant top three-drawer writing desk with floral motif inlay, flanking step back interior drawers, leather writing surface, carved scalloped skirt, original or...
Category
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Gold, Ormolu
French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Commode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French 19th-20th century Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted satinwood and tulipwood Bois Satiné and Bois de Bout floral Marquetry two-drawer commode of bombé serpentine form, ...
Category
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$14,850 Sale Price
25% Off
French Neoclassical Style Enamel, Onyx, and Gilt Bronze Pedestal Clock
Located in London, GB
French neoclassical style enamel, onyx, and gilt bronze pedestal clock
French, late 19th century
Measures: Height 125cm, width 36cm, depth 30cm
This beautiful pedestal clock has...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Onyx, Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel
English 19th century Gilt Metal and Velvet box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An outstanding English 19th century Gilt Metal and Velvet box. This wonderfully decorative box is raised by a flat base decorated with swaging foliate garlands leading to the body di...
Category
19th Century British Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th century Louis XV st. Kingwood, Tulipwood, and Ormolu side table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and high quality French 19th century Louis XV st. Kingwood, Tulipwood, and Ormolu side table. This wonderful kidney shaped freestanding side table is raised on four finel...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and very high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Baccarat crystal Marie Antoinette chandelier. The six arm chandelier is centered by a solid Baccarat cr...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Vintage Pair Regency Revival Brass Gallery Occasional Side End Tables 20th C
Located in London, GB
This is a handsome Vintage pair of Regency revival occasional tables.
Masterfully created in gorgeous flame mahogany with brass galleries and elegant ormolu feet.
They would be p...
Category
1980s English Regency Revival Vintage Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
20th Century Large Hanging Frosted Glass and Ormolu Lantern
Located in Southall, GB
An impressive 20th century large hanging frosted glass and ormolu lantern. Each panel is etched with star burst and bowed panels. Excellent for home use.
Category
20th Century French Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$2,737 Sale Price
20% Off
An Extremely Rare Pair of English Regency Period Chandeliers of Unusual Design
Located in Steyning, West sussex
An extremely rare pair of English Regency period eight-light cut glass and ormolu-mounted chandelierS of the finest quality the shaft centred by a tapered slice and diamond cut stem piece surmounted by a drop hung ormolu palm tree spray, this supporting tapered slice and diamond cut stem piece the shaft terminating with ormolu leaf decorated pan, the main drop hung double ring decorated with flower heads anthemion and issuing eight six-sided candle arms with drop hung van dyke edged drip pans supporting bullet shaped hurricane shades the main ring also supporting a basket of double pointed faceted spangles these supported by a finely chased leaf ormolu ring and lapidary cut finial. The chandelier richly draped with double pointed Regency spangles and finely chased ormolu four-way drop of a unique design. English circa 1805 Height 60in (152.4cm) Width 43in (109.2cm) For similar examples please see Martin Mortimer, The English glass chandelier, plate 70 the chandelier now at 1 Royal Crescent...
Category
19th Century British Regency Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Antique French Empire Period Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
These fine and large French candelabra date from the Empire period of the 19th century and beautifully contrast the different finishes of gilt ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique English 41 Light Ballroom Crystal Chandelier 1920s
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful English Ballroom crystal chandelier with forty-one lights arranged over in three tiers, circa 1920 in date.
This ma...
Category
1920s English Vintage Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Art Deco gilt bronze and onyx figure of a dancer by Lorenzl
Located in London, GB
Art Deco gilt bronze and onyx figure of a dancer by Lorenzl
Austrian, c. 1925
Height 31cm, width 17cm, depth 20cm
Josef Lorenzl (1892-1950), a renowned Austrian sculptor and cerami...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Onyx, Ormolu
Antique French Louis XVI Mahogany and Ormolu Longcase Clock, circa 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Louis XVI Mahogany and ormolu longcase clock, circa 1890.
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Large Second Empire Gilt Bronze and Marquetry Display Cabinet
Located in London, GB
Large second Empire gilt bronze and marquetry display cabinet
French, late 19th Century
Measures: Height 271cm, width 235cm, depth 52cm
...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Pair French Bronze Ormolu Ewers Vases Manner of Claude Michel Clodion
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Fine and Imposing Identical Pair French Heavy Gauge Ormolu & Bronze Renaissance revival style ovoid form Ewers of medium proportions and of outstanding quality, in the manner of Clau...
Category
19th Century French Grand Tour Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique French Ormolu & Cut Crystal Wine Cooler Ice Bucket 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fine antique French ormolu and cut crystal wine cooler/ ice bucket Circa 1900 in date.
It features an ormolu rim with a pair of ring handles decorated with leaf fluting ab...
Category
Early 20th Century French Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
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
Franco-Italian 19th Century Neoclassical Style Gilt-Bronze & Pietra Dura Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very fine Franco-Italian 19th century neoclassical Revival style gilt-bronze and Pietra Dura (or Pietra-Dure) occasional side-table Gueridon. The circular gilt-bronze frame raised ...
Category
19th Century Italian Neoclassical Revival Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$19,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of French 19th Century Belle Époque Period Alabaster and Ormolu Urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and extremely high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period Alabaster and ormolu urns. Each urn is raised by a beautiful fluted Alabaster b...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, 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
Large Antique French Ormolu Mounted Porcelain Vase
Located in London, GB
Large antique French ormolu mounted porcelain vase
French, Late 19th century
Height 138cm, width 59cm, depth 46cm
This exceptional 19th-century porcelain vase, in a rare white colou...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Belle Époque Tea Table with Removable Tray by François Linke
Located in London, GB
An Exquisite Table à Thé
By François Linke
Index no.555
A rare and documented example from the renowned Parisian atelier of Linke, this oval two-tier table is constructed using kin...
Category
Early 20th Century French Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Large Ormolu-Mounted and Silvered-Bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble Centerpiece
Located in New York, NY
An Exquisite Ormolu-Mounted and Silvered-Bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble Centerpiece.
A mask in the front and reverse, flanked by female terms suspending fruiting swags.
Origin:...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, 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
Large Pair of French Restauration Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Candelabra, Horses
Located in New York, NY
A large and fine pair of French restauration ormolu and patinated bronze four-light candelabra, with Marly Horses, after Guillaume Coustou, circa 1820.
Very fine, elegant and chic...
Category
Early 19th Century French Restauration Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Moissonnier Reversible Games or Card Table, France, 20th Century
By Moissonnier
Located in Skanninge, SE
A wonderful card or games table by the French firm Moissonnier.
Fully stamped with manufacturer mark, see images.
The top is reversible, with a red leather top and also a black pai...
Category
Early 2000s French Louis XV Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Bronze, Ormolu and Marble Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A remarkable pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. patinated bronze, ormolu, and Rouge Griotte marble lamps. Each lamp is raised by elegant ormolu ball feet below the square pati...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Renaissance St. Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. patinated bronze and ormolu lamps. Each lamp is raised by an elegant stepped and mottled base with handsome paw feet and a socl...
Category
19th Century French Renaissance Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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 Pair French Ormolu Mounted Pink Sevres Lidded Vases, 19th C
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique pair of French Sevres porcelain and ormolu mounted lidded vases, Circa 1860 in date.
With domed lids and fluted bodies, they are superbly decorated wi...
Category
1860s French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Exceptional French Tiffany & Co Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock with Marble Base
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional French gilt bronze mantel clock marketed by Tiffany & Co, with classical cast gilt figures of a boy and girl reading on each side of the clock, a central raised panel ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French Gilt Bronze and Pink Porcelain Jewellery Box by Tahan
By Tahan Paris
Located in London, GB
French gilt bronze and pink porcelain jewellery box by Tahan.
French, late 19th Century
Measures: height 13cm, width 18cm, depth 13cm.
This fine jewellery casket by the French m...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Russian Neoclassic Mahogany Secretaire Chest
Located in Queens, NY
Russian Neoclassical (Early 19th Century) ormolu, & white marble mounted ebonized & mahogany secrétaire commode with top drawer desk and upper section.
Category
19th Century Russian Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Sèvres Style Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This Sèvres style clock is an elegant piece of late 19th century design, which will make a wonderful addition to a mantelpiece. It has been beautifully cast in bronze and gilded (orm...
Category
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Turn of the Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany and Ormolu Dining Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful French turn of the century Louis XVI St. Mahogany and ormolu dining table. The table is raised by six elegant square tapered fluted legs and one central square tapered le...
Category
20th Century French Louis XVI Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Large Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze and Malachite Fireplace
Located in London, GB
Large Neoclassical style gilt bronze and malachite fireplace
French, 20th century
Measures: Height 124cm, width 218cm, depth 58cm
Crafted from the timeless combination of malachite ...
Category
20th Century French Empire Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze
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
Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Inlaid Bookcase
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Very Large and Impressive Gilt-Bronze Mounted and Marquetry Inlaid Bookcase.
Signed to the lock on the central door ‘Les Fils Chambon’.
This very fine marquetry bookcase has a...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Louis XV Style Bureau Plate, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century Louis XV style bureau plat, having an inset leather top, gilded ormolu mounts, three frieze drawers to one side, d...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
1950s Arturo Pani Ormolu Steel Side Tables Mexico City
By Arturo Pani
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration a pair of side tables. Attributed to Arturo Pani. Ormolu Steel-Bronze Side Tables, Mexico City circa the 1950s.
Unmarked
23.75 in diameter x 17.75 height
Sup...
Category
1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Steel, Ormolu, Gold Leaf
A Very Fine Quality 19th Century French Pair of Candlesticks
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Very Fine French 19th Century Pair of Candlesticks
In ormolu, very finely chiseled and decorated with knotted garlands, branches of leafy flowers, spokes of hearts, leaves of water...
Category
1870s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Gilt Bronze Mounted Porphyry Revolving Dial Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
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...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Porphyry, Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century Large Marble and Ormolu Clock Garniture
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
Elegant antique clock garniture set, crafted from striking pink-veined marble and adorned with ornate gilded bronze details. This exquisite...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair Antique French Sevres Portrait Porcelain Ormolu Wall Sconces Candle Lights
Located in Portland, OR
A fine & large pair of antique French Sevres porcelain ormolu mounted candle wall sconce lights, mounted with portrait miniatures, circa 1880.
The top of each sconce is inset with a Sevres porcelain portrait miniature of Princess Elizabeth the Sister of Louis XVI & Madame De Montesson the wife of Louis Philippe Duke of Orleans...
Category
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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
Pair of Large Sèvres Style Pedestals in Porcelain, Ormolu and Green Onyx
Located in London, GB
Pair of large Sèvres style pedestals in porcelain, ormolu and green onyx
French, late 19th century
Height 87cm, width 40cm, depth 40cm
Thes...
Category
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Onyx, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Clock Signed by Denière
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu clock signed by Denière. The clock is raised by elegant topie shaped feet below beautiful block rosettes. At the center is a richl...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Rococo Style Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
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...
Category
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Outstanding Louis XV-Style Mahogany Bureau Plat
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An outstanding Louis XV-style mahogany bureau plat after a model by Jacques B. Dubois, from the estate of Phyllis McGuire, the shaped leather-inset top...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Mahogany & Ormolu Mounted Side Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th-early 20th century Louis XV style mahogany, tulipwood, parquetry and ormolu mounted oval gueridon side table with a Brêche Violette marble top, attributed to François Linke (1855-1946). The inset oval Brêche Violette marble top with a gilt-bronze surround, above a lozenge parquetry frieze with foliate ormolu mounts, with a drawer to one side, on cabriole legs headed by clasps and joined by an 'X'-shaped stretcher centered by a finial, on scroll sabots. Unsigned. Circa: Paris, 1900.
François Linke (1855-1946) was one of the most celebrated ébénistes of his time. Born in Pankraz, Bohemia, Linke moved to Paris in 1875 and six years later established independent ateliers at 170, rue de Faubourg St. Antoine. As was the practice among contemporaries and noteworthy predecessors, such as Alfred Beurdeley and Henry Dasson, Linke initially produced furniture derived from styles popular during the 18th century ancien régime. By 1900, his worldwide reputation as an individualistic master of high quality furniture was already established. However, with a huge display, placing his extravagant pieces in room settings and winning the Médaille d'Or for his Grand Bureau, Linke's participation in the Paris 1900 exhibition...
Category
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$18,950 Sale Price
41% Off
Sevres Blue Ground Porcelain Two Handle Ovoid Vase
Located in Astoria, NY
Sevres Blue Ground Porcelain Gilt Metal Mounted Two Handle Ovoid Vase, late 19th century, with ram's head mounts, the body painted with a romantic scene titled "Serment D'Aimer Tout...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Metal, Ormolu
A Suite of Four Theodore Deck Ormolu-Mounted Celadon Green Porcelain Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite Suite of Four Theodore Deck Ormolu-Mounted Celadon Green Porcelain Lamps – In the Chinese Taste
This rare suite of four Theodore Deck ormolu-mounted celadon green porcelai...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
$24,500 Sale Price
30% Off
19th Century Gilt Bronze & Malachite Double Eagle Console Table
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent Neoclassical gilt bronze and malachite console table. The regal European antique (likely French) hand-crafted from 19th century and later elements, features a pair of large richly detailed gilded bronze Imperial (Royal) Eagles with spread wings, perched atop architectural columns adorned with finely chiseled and sculpted ormolu embellishments, flanked by dore bronze figural rams head mounts, over gilt brass and stunning malachite plinth...
Category
19th Century Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
1930’s French art glass vase with ormolu mounts
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
1930's French art glass vase with ormolu mounts circa 1930.
Elegant hand blown art glass of reds and whites, profusely decorated with ormolu mounts to the rim, top and base. Decor...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Nouveau 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
$9,450 Sale Price
24% Off
Very Large Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock by Beurdeley
Located in London, GB
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...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Complete Set Of Twelve French 19th Century Neoclassical style Dining Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome and complete set of twelve French 19th century Neoclassical style Mahogany, Giltwood and Ormolu dining chairs. The set of dining chairs consists of ten side chairs an...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Genovese 19th century Louis XV st. Rosewood, Marble and Ormolu commode
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning Genovese 19th century Louis XV st. Rosewood, Marble and Ormolu commode. This most impressive Italian commode is raised by slender cabriole legs with elegant Ormolu foliate...
Category
19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Very Impressive and Palatial Late 19th Century Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Long Island City, NY
A very impressive and palatial late 19th century gilt bronze and crystal twenty four light basket chandelier
The large sunburst corona above a reticulated pierced crown adorned with...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
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.