Skip to main content

Ormolu Furniture

to
419
4,125
2,183
6,501
8
2
1,857
695
556
396
133
122
117
38
34
25
23
10
9
4
2
1
290
5,448
763
10
407
98
38
104
9
17
18
14
9
4
7
8
3
6,511
357,282
296,749
225,027
149,962
6,049
5,340
320
279
168
6,511
6,511
6,511
80
55
54
33
28
Material: Ormolu
Pair of English Regency Ormolu Chinoiserie Candlesticks
Located in London, GB
A very attractive true pair of antique English Regency ormolu chinoiserie candlesticks. In the form of oriental women holding up a single cand...
Category

Early 19th Century British Regency Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th-Century Transitional St. Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French 19th century Transitional st. tulipwood, exotic wood, ebony, ormolu and Sarrancolin Opera marble cabinet. The h...
Category

19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Marble Pedestal Column
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Vert Antique marble pedestal column. The pedestal is raised by a square ormolu ...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Onyx and Ormolu urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Onyx and Ormolu urns. Each exceptional lidded urn is raised by a solid square Onyx base over an Ormolu bottom su...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Onyx, Ormolu

Ormolu Mounted Chinese Celadon Crackle Porcelain Lamp Marked E.F Caldwell, 1800s
Located in New York, NY
An Incredible and Quite Large 19th Century Ormolu Mounted Chinese Celadon Crackle Porcelain Vase mounted as Lamp, Marked E.F. Caldwell. Presented is an exceptional lamp from the 19th century, masterfully blending Chinese and American artisanship, and distinguished by the signature of E.F. Caldwell. Enhanced with an ormolu mount, this lamp showcases a captivating Chinese celadon crackle porcelain body, elegantly fashioned on the mounts. Adorned with intricate geometric patterns and foliate designs, the ornate ormolu top features a mesmerizing arrangement of filigree and delicate beading. A resplendent finial crowns the lamp, an embellished jewelry-like pierced circular ornament adorned with inner scrolls. Gracefully positioned on a stepped ormolu base, the lamp stands tall atop four foo-dogs, each grasping a ball. Notably, the male foo dog...
Category

1890s American Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XV Style Tulipwood and Ormolu Bibus
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XV st. tulipwood and ormolu mounted Bibus, stamped F.Durand FILS. The Étagère is raised by Fine cabriole legs with beautiful wrap around ormolu s...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Ormolu and Griotte Marble Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble circular center table. The table is raised by a thick triangular Rouge Griotte marble base with mo...
Category

19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Tole Bouillotte Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and tole bouillotte lamps. Each three armed lamp is raised by a beautiful circular pie...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Gilt Bronze 2-Light Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
Gilt Bronze 2-Light Bouillotte Lamp,
with decorated tole shade
Category

20th Century French Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal Présentoire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very decorative French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Baccarat crystal Présentoire. The centerpiece is raised by a solid Baccarat crystal base...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

An Important Rare 18th C. Ormolu Mounted Meissen Porcelain Putti Clock Grouping
Located in New York, NY
An Incredible and Quite Important 18th Century Ormolu Mounted Meissen Porcelain Putti Clock Grouping. The composition is enriched with two putti positione...
Category

18th Century German Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Spanish Mid-19th Century Country Style Dark Oak Trestle Dining/Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome Spanish mid-19th century Country style dark oak trestle dining/center table. The table is raised by most decorative finely scrol...
Category

19th Century Spanish Country Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron, Ormolu

Louis XV Style Bleu Céleste Vase
Located in New Orleans, LA
Drawing from the luxury of Sèvres Porcelain and Louis XV's famed bleu céleste service from Versailles, this elegant French porcelain vase features the trademark shade of blue and medallions revealing scenes of flora and fauna, including pheasants and swans. Adorned with gilt accents on the lip and body of the octagonal vase...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Mid century rococo revival fossil marble bombe commode
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid century rococo revival fossil marble bombe commode circa 1960. Excellent quality commode by A.B rococo mobler. Beautifully bombe shaped marble top commode. Veneered using mahog...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Rococo Revival Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Antique Pair of English Regency Candlesticks in Form of Eagle with Viper
Located in London, GB
Antique pair of English Regency candlesticks in form of eagle with viper in ormolu and patinated bronze. The very well modelled Eagle with...
Category

1820s English Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Bronze, 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...
Category

20th Century French Empire Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

20th Century French Louis XV Walnut Kingwood Satinwood Inlaid Ormolu Side Table
Located in Germantown, MD
Absolutely gorgeous 20th Century French Louis XV two-drawer Walnut and Satinwood Inlaid Ormolu mounted Side Table. Very fine satinwood inlay works. Measures 19.5" in width, 12" in d...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Mahogany Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. Mahogany, Tulipwood, Charmwood, and ormolu desk. The five drawer desk is raised by slender square tapered legs with fine...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French Late 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany and Ormolu Dining Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and unique French late 19th century Louis XVI st. mahogany and ormolu dining table, after a model by Adam Weisweiler. The table is raised by elegant circular tapered l...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu and Glass Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most unique French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu and glass side table. The low circular table is raised by striking and extremely...
Category

19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Pair Of French 19th Century Belle Époque Period Ormolu And Marble Lidded Urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and very high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period ormolu and Vert Campan marble lidded urns. Each urn is raised by a square Vert Campan m...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19th Century Small Pair of French Chiseled Gilded Bronze Candlesticks
Located in IT
19th century, small pair of French chiseled gilded bronze candlesticks The elegant and refined pair of bronze candlesticks finely chiselled and gilded was made in France circa mid...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Pair of Russian Cut Blue Glass and Gilt Bronze Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of Russian cut blue glass and gilt bronze vases Russian, 20th century Measures: Height 38cm, width 20cm, depth 13cm Each vase in this pair of Russian neoclassical vases has...
Category

20th Century Russian Neoclassical Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Sèvres Porcelain and Ormolu planters
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Sèvres Porcelain and Ormolu Jardinière planters. This striking pair of square planters are raised by scrolled Or...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Large Neoclassical Style Marble and Gilt Bronze Circular Movement Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Large neoclassical style marble and gilt bronze circular movement mantel clock French, late 19th century Measures: Height 82cm, width 26cm, depth 26cm Crafted from the finest of materials, including beautiful white marble, gilt bronze, and patinated bronze, this unusually large mantel clock is a superb piece of neoclassical design. The clock features a white marble vase-shaped case, which houses its circular movement. The vase is set above a plinth form base, which is inset with gilt bronze relief panels...
Category

Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu, Bronze

An Empire Style Table de Salon, with Tiger's Eye Gemstone Top
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Table de Salon, with Tiger's Eye Gemstone Top. The rectangular top is veneered in Tiger's Eye gemstone in radiating geometric patterns. ...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Pair of French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning pair of French 19th century Louis XV st. ormolu and Baccarat crystal chandeliers. Each twelve arm chandelier is centered by a beautiful and most uniquely shaped hand blown...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

Set of Eight French 19th Century Neoclassical Ormolu Two Arm Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and high quality complete set of eight French 19th century Neo-Classical ormolu two arm sconces, attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire. Each sconce is centered by an elega...
Category

19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century French Mantel Clock, by 'Monbro Aine, Paris'
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality, large French 19th century gilded ormolu and white marble mantel clock, signed; 'Monbro Aine, Paris'. Having an urn of grapes with semi...
Category

1860s French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Turn of the Century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Honey Onyx coffee table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and most decorative French Turn of the Century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Honey Onyx coffee table, attributed to Mason Bagues. This beautiful rectangular coffee table is rai...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Onyx, Ormolu

Antique Cobalt Blue Sevres Porcelain Ormolu Table Lamp, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a stunning large antique French Sevres cobalt blue hand painted porcelain and ormolu-mounted vase circa 1880 in date, later converted into a lamp. The vase shaped porcelai...
Category

1880s French Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Neoclassical Style Circular Movement Mantel Clock by Leroy & Cie
Located in London, GB
Neoclassical style circular movement mantel clock by Leroy & Cie French, circa 1880 Measures: Height 72cm, width 25cm, depth 25cm This superb mantel clock, crafted from white marble, gilt bronze, and patinated bronze—takes the shape of an Amphora vase form case above a cylindrical stem and a circular foot, the stem and foot ornamented with classicising gilt bronze mounts. The foot of the vase sits on an architecturally formed plinth, which is decorated with inset gilt bronze relief panels...
Category

Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu, Bronze

French 19th Century Louis XV St. Kingwood, Tulipwood, Ormolu and Marble Chest
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful French 19th century Louis XV st. kingwood, tulipwood, ormolu and marble two drawer commode. The chest is raised by elegant lightly curved legs with foliate ormolu sabots ...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Set of 4 Louis XVI French Dore Bronze Wall Appliqués/Sconces, 18th Century Paris
Located in New York, NY
A very unusual and quite rare set of four antique French Louis XVI period, three-light wall lights/appliqués, (sconces). Each having a Hercules mask to initialize each arm, with an o...
Category

Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Pair Of French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ormolu Candlestick Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and impressive pair of French 19th century Louis XV st. Ormolu candlestick lamps. Each lamp is supported by a three sided base with pierced Rocaille scrolling designs. The...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

A Pair of Louis XVI Style Lacquer Commodes
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Fine Pair of Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Petites Commodes Incorporating Exceptional Eighteenth Century Chinese Lacquer Panels. Stamped on the lock ‘Duvivier, Paris, 77 F St Antoine’. Each commode has a a shaped white marble top above a frieze with two short and one long drawer. Below is a cupboard door with a gilt-bronze framed lacquer panel flanked by two open shelves with gilt-bronze galleries. The commodes are raised on square section tapering legs with gilt-bronze caps. The commodes incorporate exceptional 18th century lacquer panels. The panels are of wonderful quality and unusual in that they incorporate amongst traditional oriental landscape and Palace scenes, figures in Western costume...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

pair of French 19th century Neo-Greek st. Bronze, Ormolu and Marble tables/lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A rare and most unique pair of French 19th century Neo-Greek st. Patinated Bronze, Ormolu and Arabescato marble side tables/floor lamps. Each impressive side table/floor lamp is rais...
Category

19th Century French Greek Revival Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Pair Empire Period North European Ormolu, Cut-Glass, & Tôle-Peinte Cachepots
Located in New York, NY
An extremely rare and unusual Pair Of North European Ormolu, Cut-Glass, and Tôle-Peinte Potted Hyacinths/Cachepots, Possibly Baltic, Circa 1815-1825. Each Modeled As A Tôle-Peinte Sp...
Category

Early 19th Century Baltic Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu, Tin

Fine French Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Marquetry Side-Table by François Linke
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine French Louis XV Transitional Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted, Marquetry and Æil de Vermeil Parquetry single-drawer side-table by François Linke (1855-1946). The rectangular top...
Category

Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Louis XV Style Side Cabinet in the Manner of J-E Zwiener
Located in London, GB
A Fine Louis XVth Style Meuble a Hauteur D'Appui In the Manner of J-E. Zwiener Constructed in Bois Violette, with well executed floral inlays, and having extensive gilt bronze moun...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Commode French 19th Century of Napoleon III Period
Located in Warsaw, PL
A sensational French 19th century Napoleon III period ebony, brass, ormolu, semi precious stone and marble cabinet. The cabinet is raised by mottled topie shaped feet with a fine wra...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Stone, Bronze, Ormolu

Antique French Clear Cut Glass and Ormolu Twelve-Light Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Antique French clear cut glass and ormolu twelve-light chandelier French, c. 1880 Height 115cm, diameter 75cm This eye-catching chandelier was crafted in France in the late 19th ce...
Category

Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

A Napoleon III pentagonal ormolu hanging lantern
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Napoleon III pentagonal ormolu hanging lantern, the five shaped glass plates set within ornate frames comprising swags, urns and acanthus leaves, retaining traces of the original g...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

An Interesting Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Cartonnier / Dresser
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Interesting Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Cartonnier / Dresser The tall cabinet with an upper section containing nine deep tooled leather veneer drawers, above two long d...
Category

Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Pair Of Louis XVI Style Three-Light Vase Candelabra
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Pair Of Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze And Royal Blue Sèvres-Style Porcelain Three-Light Vase Candelabra. Each baluster-form vase applied with a fruiting swag, flanked by twin entwin...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Electrified Ormolu Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu candelabra lamps. Each eleven arm lamp is raised by an elegant circular base with a beautiful spiral fluted design and ...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Cave a Liqueur with Chinoiserie Inlay Late 19th Century
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Heading : Cave a Liqueur with chinoiserie lacquer Date : Late 19th century Period : Third Republic Origin : France Decoration : Cover with chinoiserie scene with classic fence patter...
Category

Late 19th Century French Chinoiserie Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th century Louis XVI st. Onyx and Ormolu urn/centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A high quality and most elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. Onyx and Ormolu urn/centerpiece. This beautiful urn is raised by a square Onyx block supported by four Ormolu maiden...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Onyx, Ormolu

Pair Of French 19th Century NeoClassical St. Mahogany, Ormolu & Marble Pedestals
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and most decorative pair of French 19th century Neo-Classical st. Mahogany, Ormolu and Vert Campan marble pedestal tables. These two tiered stunning single drawer tables a...
Category

19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Transitional Style Mahogany and Ormolu Commode
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational French 19th century transitional st. mahogany, ormolu, and Sarrancolin marble commode. The three drawer chest is raised by handsome cabriole legs with elegant, high qua...
Category

19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Pair Of French 19th Century Grand Tour Period Bronze, Ormolu, And Marble Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome pair of French 19th century Renaissance st. Grand Tour Period patinated Bronze, Ormolu and black Belgian marble lamps possibly by F. Barbedienne. Each lamp is raised on an...
Category

19th Century French Grand Tour Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

pair of French Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Tole Bouillotte lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming pair of French Turn of the Century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Tole Bouillotte lamps. Each most elegant unelectrified candelabra lamp is raised by an Ormolu saucer adorned by...
Category

20th Century French Louis XVI Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Metal, Ormolu

Antique Ladies Hand Wall or Desk Letter Clip Erhard & Sohne Ormolu, German 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous ladies hand wall or desk letter / paper clip. Made of Ormolu, by Erhard & Sohne, Germany. Beautiful color and patina. This was made by Erhard & Sohne in the early 1890s-19...
Category

1890s German Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

True Pair Of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Belle Époque Period Busts
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and high quality true pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period patinated bronze, ormolu, Rouge Griotte, and black Belgian marble busts attributed to F...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Marble and Ormolu Pedestal
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Fleur de Pêcher marble and Ormolu pedestal. This exquisitely decorative pedestal is raised on a square marble base with Or...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Glass centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Glass centerpiece. This attention grabbing centerpiece is raised by a lattice cut circular Glass pedestal sup...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany Buffet, Signed Haentges Freres
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and very high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period Mahogany, ormolu and Sarrancolin marble buffet, signed ‘Haentges Frères...
Category

19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Pair of Large Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Fluorspar Candelabra
Located in London, GB
Pair of large Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted fluorspar candelabra French, 19th Century Measures: Height 61cm, width 35cm, depth 34cm Cra...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

A Fine Mahogany And Gilt-Bronze Second Empire Canapé
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Fine Mahogany And Gilt-Bronze Second Empire Canapé in the Manner of Jacob-Desmalter, having armrests headed by finely cast caryatid herms. French, Circa 1880.
Category

19th Century French Empire Revival Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Restauration Gilt Bronze Mounted Crystal Lyre Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Restauration gilt bronze mounted crystal lyre mantel clock French, circa 1820 Measures: Height 67cm, width 23cm, depth 14cm This superb mantel c...
Category

Early 19th Century French Restauration Antique Ormolu Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu, Bronze

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.

Recently Viewed

View All