Large Glass and Gilt Bronze Hanging Hall Lantern
Located in London, GB
This hall lantern has been exquisitely crafted from glass and gilt bronze (ormolu). The piece will look wonderful placed in a grand entrance hall, living or dining room. The light it...
Ormolu, Bronze
pair of French 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality pair of French 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu sconces. Each two arm sconce is centered by a beautiful foliate bottom finial where the...
Bronze, Ormolu
A French 19th century Neo-Classical st Belle Époque period Ormolu chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very attractive and most elegant French 19th century Neo-Classical st. Belle Époque period Ormolu and enameled Bronze chandelier. This impressive six light chandelier is centered b...
Bronze, Ormolu
Imposing French 19th Century Display Cabinet
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very imposing French 19th Century Walnut, ormolu mounted vitrine / display cabinet. Having an arched egg and dart molded glazed door, opening to reveal a glass shelf and mirror bac...
Ormolu
A French 19th century Neo-Classical st. Ormolu jardiniere/planter
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A highly detailed and most beautiful French 19th century Neo-Classical st. Ormolu jardiniere/planter. This exquisite rectangular planter is raised by a Coeur-de-Rai designed base. Th...
Ormolu
A French 19th century Louis XVI st. clock signed Le Merle Charpentier Bronzier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. Rouge Griotte marble and ormolu mounted clock signed Le Merle Charpentier Bronzier, Paris Rue Charlot. The clock is raised b...
Griotte Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Gilt Bronze-Mounted Mahogany Side Table
By Jean-Henri Riesener
Located in London, GB
The beautiful neoclassical style designs of Jean-Henri Riesener (1735-1806), perhaps the most celebrated cabinetmaker of all time, are the inspiration for this wonderful antique side...
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Set of French 19th Century Grand Tour Period Busts and Pedestals
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and most decorative set of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Grand Tour period Walnut, marble, faux painted marble, and ormolu busts and pedestals...
Marble, Ormolu
French Turn of the Century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Crystal centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French Turn of the Century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Crystal centerpiece. This stunning oval cut Crystal centerpiece is supported by double berried laurel Ormolu bands whic...
Crystal, Ormolu
French 19th Century Transitional St. Kingwood And Ormolu Cartonnier Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and very unique French 19th century Transitional st. Kingwood and ormolu cartonnier cabinet. The one door seven drawer cabinet is rais...
Ormolu
True Pair Of Italian 19th Century Neoclassical St. Marble & Ormolu Wall Plaques
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant and high quality true pair of Italian 19th century Neo-Classical st. Rosso Antico marble and ormolu wall plaques. Each striking plaque is framed within a circular mottled ormolu border with a fine seashell reserve at the top flanked by beautiful foliate movements. At the center are the handsome Roman soldier and the elegant maiden set on their original Rosso Antico marble backgrounds...
Marble, Ormolu
true pair of 19th century Louis XV st. Porcelain and Ormolu candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A delightful and high quality true pair of Continental 19th century Louis XV st. Porcelain and Ormolu candlesticks of Hermes and Circe. Each stunning candlestick is raised by a pierc...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Mahogany, Ormolu and Marble Buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. mahogany, ormolu and marble buffet attributed to Linke. The demi lune shaped buffet is raised by fine circular tapered legs with wrap around ormolu sabots and decorative ormolu top caps. Above the frieze is a delicate ormolu band and three doors. Each door is decorated with richly chased ormolu swaging floral garlands and recessed panels framed in an ormolu band. Above is a wonderful ormolu plaque of cherubs playing outside...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair Ormolu Mounted Meissen Porcelain Filigree Vases w/ Floral Bouquet, 1750's
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Louis XV period Meissen porcelain vases, formed in openwork lattice and mounted with original gilt bronze ormolu. Each vase rises from a pierced rocaille ormolu base into a...
Ormolu
$2,800Sale Price / item|24% Off
Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Marble Candelabra, 2
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Red Veined Marble Five Branch Candelabra, late 19th century, each of vase shape with Bacchus masque head and floral swag mounts, on wood plinths...
Marble, Ormolu
Nice Pair of 19th Century French Gilt Bronze Mounted Chinese Canton Lamps
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Nice Pair of Late 19th Century French Gilt Bronze Mounted Chinese Canton Porcelain Lamps Painted interior scenes with people at leisure, each separated by floral designs with butt...
Bronze, Ormolu
pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Sévres Porcelain and Ormolu lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Sévres Porcelain and Ormolu lamps. Each stunning vases mounted into a lamp is raised by a circular Ormolu suppo...
Ormolu
pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu cassolette candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu cassolette candlesticks. Each stunning candlestick is raised on a circular Ormolu base below stepped foli...
Ormolu
pair of French 19th century Bronze and Ormolu candelabras, signed Barbedienne
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A high quality and large scale pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. Rouge Griotte Marble, patinated Bronze and Ormolu candelabras, signed F. Barbedienne. Each nine arm candel...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Pair of French Louis Revival 3 Branch Ormolu Wall Lights 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A superb pair of antique Louis revival ormolu three branch wall lights, circa 1920 in date. They each feature three spiral-twist arms on oak leaf decorated back-plates with large ri...
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Neoclassical St. Ormolu Three-Arm Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive large scale pair of French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu sconces. Each three arm sconce is centered by charming finely detailed oak leaves and acorns below the ...
Ormolu
French 19th century Ormolu, Marble and Porcelain clock, by F. Pelissier
By F. Pelissier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu, white Carrara marble and Saxe Porcelain clock signed by 'F. Pelissier, France. The clock is raised on an ova...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Kingwood, Tulipwood, Ormolu and Leather Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most exquisite and very high-quality French 19th century Louis XV style kingwood, tulipwood, ormolu, and leather desk. The desk is raised by elegant slender cabriole legs with fine...
Ormolu
19th Century Gueridon with Satyr Heads
Located in Paris, FR
Oval gueridon featuring a marble top. The purple brocatelle marble originates from Spain and is ringed by a gilt bronze rim decorated with intertwined foliage on a dark blue background. Satyr heads...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and large scale French 19th century Louis XV st. Ormolu chandelier. This eighteen arm eighteen light chandelier is centered by a berried foliate pendant below a spray of a...
Ormolu
Florentine 19th century Ormolu and Pietra Dura marble side table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and rare scaled Florentine 19th century Ormolu and Pietra Dura marble side table. This wonderfully decorative table is raised by a richly chased Ormolu base with handsome ...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant most decorative French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu centerpiece. This stunning centerpiece is raised on a socle shaped pedestal with berried laurel vines, acanthus le...
Ormolu
A Pair Of English Regency Ormolu and Cut Glass Candelabra, attributed to Blades
By John Blades
Located in Long Island City, NY
Indulge in the timeless elegance of these exquisite English Regency Candelabra, a stunning testament to the craftsmanship of the era. Crafted circa 1820 and attributed to the esteeme...
Ormolu
French 19th century Belle Epoque Period Kingwood and Ormolu center table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A truly magnificent French 19th century Belle Epoque Period Louis XV st. Kingwood, Tulipwood and Ormolu center table, in the manner of Francois Linke. This exceptional table is raise...
Ormolu
19th Century French Belle Epoch Tiered Dessert Table
Located in Forney, TX
A lovely and important French Belle Epoch period two-tier dessert table from legendary American businessman, T. Boone Pickens Preston Hollow, North Dallas home. Hand-crafted from ric...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$20,886 / set
Pair of French Mahogany and Ormolu Bedside Cabinets
Located in London, GB
Pair of French mahogany and ormolu bedside cabinets French, 20th century Height 85cm, width 40cm, depth 40cm Designed in the Louis XVI style, the...
Bronze, Ormolu
$4,250 / set
Pair of French Bronze Bookends
Located in Dallas, TX
Wonderful pair of French gilt bronze bookends each depicting a seated young centaur playing a horn. Having nicely detailed casting and lustrous finish. Absolutely darling and worth...
Ormolu
French 19th century Belle Epoque period Onyx, Cloisonné and Ormolu centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and most elegant French 19th century Belle Epoque period Onyx, Cloisonné and Ormolu centerpiece planter. This beautiful centerpiece is raised by three Ormolu 'C' scrolled acanthus leaf legs supported on hoof feet. Atop each leg is an Ormolu wing cherub dressed...
Onyx, Ormolu
19th Century French Side Table or Jardinière
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality late 19th century French kingwood side table/ jardinière. Having a removable lid to reveal the zinc lined jardinière, a gilded ormolu gallery, Sevres style porcelain p...
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Statues
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An outstanding pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu statues. Each statue is raised by an elegant mottled base with fine rounded borders. The beautiful maidens above are e...
Ormolu
Set of Four Late 19th / Early 20th Century Gilt Bronze and Crystal Sconces
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Set of Four Late 19th / Early 20th Century Gilt Bronze and Crystal Four Light Sconces Multi-faceted and shaped crystals, three exterior lights and one downward facing interior lig...
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
A French 19th century Belle Époque period Louis XVI st. marble side table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and most decorative French 19th century Belle Époque period Louis XVI st. Mahogany, Ormolu, and Brèche D'Alep marble side table, attributed to Francois Linke. This impress...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair Of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Bouillotte Candelabra Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very attractive pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu Bouillotte candelabra lamps. Each lamp is raised on a circular Ormolu base with finely chased acanthus leaves below...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany And Ormolu Dessert Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and most striking French 19th century Louis XVI st. Mahogany and Ormolu dessert console. The demi lune shaped console is raised on four tapered Mahogany legs with wrap aro...
Ormolu
French Charles X Crystal and Ormolu Mantel Clock Signed Lepine et Cie a Paris
By Lepine
Located in London, GB
French Charles X crystal and ormolu mantel clock signed Lepine et Cie a Paris. This is a fabulous and very unusual mantel clock from circa 1820. ...
Ormolu
Pair of Empire-Style Neoclassical Gilt and Patinated Bronze Stands
Located in London, GB
A pair of Empire-style Neoclassical gilt and patinated bronze stands French, 20th Century 42cm high x 31cm wide x 31 cm depth Made from patinated bronze and gilt bronze in the French Empire style, with Neoclassical influences, these excellent stands were made in France in the 20th century. Placed upon four small gilt feet...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French Jewelled White Marble and Gilt Bronze Mounted Table Lamps
Located in London, GB
A fine pair of Ormolu-Mounted marble lamps In the Louis XVI style Each lamp of exquisite proportion, the ovoid marble bodies with a Grecian wave ormolu...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of gilt bronze urns raised on a marble plinth with ormolu mounts.
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of gilt bronze urns raised on a marble plinth with ormolu mounts (CW5595). The quality is superb, chasing is 10 on 10. France, circa 1870. Dimensions: Height 15 1/2", the base i...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Russian 19th Century Neoclassical Ormolu and Crystal Six-Light Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning Russian 19th century Neo-Classical ormolu and crystal six light chandelier. The chandelier is centered by a beautiful bottom circular tier with a richly chased pierced, sc...
Crystal, Ormolu
Set of Four French 19th Century Restauration Period Ormolu Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A complete set of four French 19th century Restauration period ormolu sconces. Each three arm sconce displays a circular backplate with a handsome richly chased lion's head. The cent...
Ormolu
pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu sconces, stamped Caldwell & Co.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu sconces, stamped E.F. Caldwell & Co. Each exquisite three arm sconce is centered by a lovely bottom folia...
Ormolu
French 18th Century Directoire Period Mahogany and Marble Tilt Top Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most attractive French 18th century Directoire period mahogany and Brèche marble tilt top side table. The table is raised by three elegantly scrolled legs with their original caste...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu And Marble Cabinet Signed Befort Jeune
By Befort Jeune
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and very high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Kingwood, ormolu, and Coquillier de Bilbao marble cabinet signed by Befort Jeune circa 1865. The two door cabinet is raised by fine topie shaped legs with lovely beaded ormolu sabots with their original casters and wrap around foliate top caps. Above each leg are beautiful block rosettes below a most decorative mirrored gadroon ormolu band extending along the base and centered by a beautiful pierced foliate ormolu reserve. At the center are two doors decorated with remarkable finely detailed oval ormolu plaques with beautiful maidens playing with charming cherubs set...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Crouch Mahogany Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome French 19th century Empire st. crouch mahogany, ormolu, and Coquillier de Bilbao marble center table. The circular table is raised by three elegant square tapered leg...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century 1st Empire Period Mahogany, Ormolu, and Giltwood Vitrine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and very high quality French 19th century 1st Empire period flamed mahogany, ormolu, and giltwood vitrine cabinet. The vitrine is raised by impressive giltwood ball feet b...
Ormolu
Pair Of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Candelabras Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite pair of 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu candelabras, attributed to F. Barbedienne. Each candelabra is raised on a circular finely chased ormolu base with acanthus leaf...
Bronze, Ormolu
pair of French 19th Renaissance st. Ormolu, patinated Bronze and Marble ewers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most unique pair of French 19th Renaissance st. Ormolu, patinated Bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble ewers. Each stunning urn is raised by a square Rouge Griotte Marble b...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Large Antique Carved Gilt Wood Marble Top Center Table
Located in Tarzana, CA
A stunning 19th century continental Rococo style oval hand carved giltwood and marble top center table with a single drawer. This large table is raised on four elegant cabriole legs ...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Renaissance Style Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A remarkable pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. patinated bronze and ormolu lamps. Each lamp is raised by an elegant circular base with three fine seashell shaped supports a...
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu And Patinated Bronze Barometer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive French 19th century Louis XIV st. Ormolu and patinated Bronze barometer, after Torricelli. The circular patinated bronze face has the eight enameled plaques depicti...
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Bronze, Ormolu, and Marble Cocktail Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An outstanding and extremely decorative French 19th century Neo-Classical st. patinated bronze, ormolu, faux painted marble, and Sarrancolin marble cocktail/coffee table. The circula...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19thC French Walnut & Ormolu Mounted Open Bookcase
Located in Altrincham, GB
19thC French Walnut & Ormolu Mounted Open Bookcase - of waterfall form with graduated shaped shelves raised on bracket feet - 22"w x 17"d x 53"h
Ormolu
Antique French Ormolu and Blue Enameled Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
This is a jewel of a box. The blue enamel is vibrant. The work is wonderful. Treat yourself to a treasure!
Enamel, Ormolu
Large Pair of Rose Medallion 19th Century Vases or Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of 19th century Chinese rose medallion / Cantonese vases / lamps. Each having classical Chinese scenes of people in gardens and on verandas...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu and Crystal Plafonnier Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and most unique French 19th century Louis XV st. ormolu and crystal Plafonnier chandelier. The Plafonnier is centered by a finely detailed ormolu floral reserve from where...
Crystal, Ormolu
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.