Ormolu Furniture
to
413
3,982
2,195
6,366
9
3
1,787
672
535
389
135
135
124
35
33
24
23
14
8
3
1
1
291
5,315
760
12
407
99
35
106
9
18
16
21
13
4
9
5
3
6,378
356,000
294,520
231,124
148,465
5,916
5,220
318
274
153
6,378
6,377
6,378
82
51
49
30
27
Material: Ormolu
19th Century French Pair Of Ormolu Bronze Fireplace Chenets, c.1840
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th Century French beautifully cast pair of gilt bronze fireplace chenets. These chenets are adorned in themes of leisure, music, art...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Large French Neoclassical Ormolu, Glass and Marble Pedestals
Located in London, GB
Pair of large French Neoclassical ormolu, glass and marble pedestals
French, 20th century
Height 112.5cm, width 36cm, depth 36cm
These exceptional pieces are a pair of large Fre...
Category
20th Century French Neoclassical Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of Brackets with Lanterns
Located in Atlanta, GA
Superb pair of gilt bronze brackets and lanterns with beveled glass. Four lights each.
Category
Early 20th Century French Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$61,500 / set
French 19th century Louis XVI/XV st. Ormolu cartel clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most important and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI/XV st. Ormolu cartel clock, signed F. Barbedienne and E. Becker 98'. This impressive cartel clock with its original gi...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Gilt Painted Wooden Pedestals
Located in London, GB
Constructed in walnut, dressed with gold gilt bronze mounts, polychrome gold paintwork and Marseilles Rose marble; of bombe form, rising from gilt bronze sabot shod swept legs, the h...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Charles X Style Ormolu and Malachite Mantel Clock with Horse and Jockey
Located in London, GB
Charles X Style ormolu and malachite mantel clock with horse and jockey
French, 19th Century
Height 56cm, width 34cm, depth 14cm.
This exceptional piece is a fine ormolu-mounted and malachite mantel clock, with a movement made and stamped by Leroy and Pailly, dating to c.1840. Made in the Charles X style, this work exhibits the timeless combination of gilt-bronze and malachite to great effect, mounting the fine 19th century movement within a later malachite addition, surmounted in turn by a superb statue of horse and jockey. Further gilt elements decorate the case and the base. Exemplifying some of the best in antique clock making, and finished with a rare and impressive equestrian sculpture, it is the perfect collector's piece for those with a love of either horses, antique timepieces...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Charles X Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
Exquisite French Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Parquetry Marble-Top Commode C. 1870
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite French Ormolu-mounted mahogany parquetry marble-top commode C. 1870.
A very nice quality commode with french bronze mounts, and exquisite quality parquetry throughout...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Mid-19th Century Louis XVI Style Tulipwood, Kingwood and Charmwood Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant and high quality French mid-19th century Louis XVI style tulipwood, kingwood and charmwood two drawer writing desk with two pull outs. The desk is raised by slender sq...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
True Pair Of French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Celadon And Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant true pair of French 19th century Neo-Classical st. Celadon Porcelain and Ormolu lamps. Each Celadon colored Porcelain lamp is raised on topie shaped feet below the squ...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Large Sevres style porcelain garniture, C19th
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive, fine quality late 19th Century French Sevres style porcelain garniture, comprising of a pair of lidded vases, each with wonderful gilded pierced ormolu mounts and ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique German Casket Trinket Box Ormolu Glass Satin City Souvenir, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous glass trinket box with some ormolu adornments. The hinged top featuring a City view of a Church or Castle. No restoration has been carried out on this charming little trin...
Category
Early 1900s German Hollywood Regency Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Belle Époque Period Mahogany, Burl Walnut and Ormolu Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most impressive French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period mahogany, burl walnut and ormolu desk. The desk is raised by most elegant circular tapered legs w...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th century Napoleon III Period Louis XVI st. Ormolu planter
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and finely detailed French 19th century Napoleon III Period Louis XVI st. Ormolu planter. This impressive planter is raised on three slender acanthus leaf decorated 'C'...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French Mid-19th Century Louis XVI Style Decorative Statues
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant and extremely high quality pair of French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu, Wedgwood and marble decorative statues. Raised by rectangular shaped Bleu Turquin marb...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany, Kingwood and Ormolu Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. mahogany, kingwood and ormolu kidney shaped writing desk. The desk is raised by slender circular tapered fluted legs with fine foliate to...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Mahogany and Ormolu Circular Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period mahogany and ormolu circular side table. The solid mahogany table is raised by fine circul...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Mounted Boulle Style Marquetry Cabinet, Winckelsen
Located in Long Island City, NY
A fine napoléon III gilt bronze mounted engraved brass, pewter and tortoiseshell inlaid boulle style marquetry side cabinet
Attributed to Charles-Guilluame Winckelsen - After the model by André-Charles Boulle
Engraved brass, pewter, red and brown tortoiseshell première and contrepartie marquetry, surmounted by a marble top, the central paneled door opening to four drawers, below a bronze medallion of Louis XIV with the motto Ludovicus Magnus...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu, Pewter, Brass
pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Sèvres Porcelain and Ormolu statuettes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A unique and most charming pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Biscuit de Sévres Porcelain and Ormolu statuettes. Each wonderful small scale statue is raised on a ground like b...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Neoclassical Koi Fish Table Lamp in Alabaster and Gilt Bronze Ormolu, 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Large Neoclassical Alabaster Lamp with Ormorlu and Bronze Motifs
Sculptural solid gilt bronze koi fish and alabaster neoclassical design l...
Category
20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Alabaster, Brass, Ormolu, Bronze
Pair of French Louis XVI Style White Carrara Marble and Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu lamps. Each lamp is raised by fine discreet ball feet below a square white Carrara marb...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Ormolu Figural Cartel Clock
Located in London, GB
An ormolu cased Cartel clock by Vincenti & Cie
Constructed in gilt bronze, depicting a well modelled figure of Father Time, carrying his scythe, with a winged cherub surmount, hou...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Pair of Gilt Bronze-Mounted Marquetry Cabinets by Durand
Located in London, GB
Gervais Durand was an exceptional furniture maker of the later 19th century, known especially for his reproductions of 18th Century works, but also responsible for some strikingly or...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Set of Four Antique Ormolu Roundels by Mathurin Moreau
Located in London, GB
Set of four antique ormolu roundels by Mathurin Moreau
French, Late 19th Century
Height 3cm, diameter 44cm
This set of four sculptural panels is crafted by the renowned French met...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Ormolu-Mounted Side Cabinet with Red Marble Top by Vedder of Paris
Located in London, GB
A fine Meuble d'Appui by Vedder of Paris
Constructed from gently patinated mahogany with brass-inlay to the edges, the cabinet of breakfront form resting on decorated toupie feet to the front, the canted corners carrying ormolu scrolled ornament and caryatid herms flanking a central door dressed with a silvered bronze plaque depicting satyrs dancing and playing the flute. The frieze applied with ormolu mounts and brass inlays below a shaped Griotte Rouge marble...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Griotte Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Empire period ormolu and mahogany swans' heads stool
Located in London, GB
Empire period ormolu and mahogany swans' heads stool
French, Early 19th Century
Height 68cm, width 77cm, depth 39cm
This beautiful antique stool is a class...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Armchairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome French mid-19th century Empire style mahogany and ormolu mounted pair of armchairs. The pair are raised by front square tapered legs that have pawed ormolu feet and e...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Tulipwood and Ormolu Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very impressive and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XV st. Tulipwood, Rosewood, ormolu, and Rouge Royale marble center table/desk by Theodore Millet...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Brèche Violette marble and Ormolu urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and very high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Brèche Violette marble and Ormolu lidded urns. Each large scale urn is raised by a square bottom Ormolu fil...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Cobalt Blue Enamel Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and cobalt blue enamel chandelier. The chandelier is centered by a beautifu...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
Large Pair of 19th Century Sevres Style Lidded Vases
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive pair of 19th century French 'Sevres' style gilded ormolu lidded vases, 82cm(32") high. Each having blue ground, classical painted...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$19,159 / set
Pair of Empire/ Charles X Gilt and Patinated Bronze Four-Light Wall Appliques
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Empire/ Charles X Gilt and Patinated Bronze Four-Light Wall Appliques or Sconces
A pair of Empire/ Charles X four-branch ormolu/gilt and patinated bronze wall lights “à la c...
Category
1820s French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Swedish Neoclassical Ormolu and Etched Glass Mirror Designed by Burchard Precht
By Burchard Precht
Located in Stamford, CT
A Fine Swedish ormolu etched and engraved glass mirror after the model by Burchard Precht.The rectangular plate within a beveled foliate-decorate...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Neoclassical Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Belle Époque Period Statue of Melodie
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period patinated bronze and ormolu statue of Melodie, signed E. Picault. The statue is rai...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Rare Pair of 18th Century Quartz, Ormolu Mounted Vases, circa 1780
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A rare and important pair of late 18th century quartz lidded vases, each with wonderful gilded classical ormolu scrolling foliate mounts and handles, te...
Category
Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Quartz, Ormolu
French 19th Century Renaissance Style Bronze and Ormolu Vide Poche Tazza/Stand
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive French 19th century Renaissance style patinated bronze and ormolu side table or Vide Poche tazza. The tazza is raised by handsome patinated bronze hoof feet with or...
Category
19th Century French Renaissance Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique French Napoleon III Ormolu and Cloisonné Jewel Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Napoleon III ormolu and cloisonné jewel box. Just a little charmer.
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Empire Style Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
Antique French Empire style chest of drawers
French, 19th century
Measures: Height 86cm, width 127cm, depth 57cm
This beautiful ches...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Vernis Martin Cabinet with Ormolu Mounts
Located in London, GB
A Vernis Martin cabinet in the Louis XVI manner
Constructed in mahogany, with extensive ormolu mounts; the square rectangular tapering legs, d...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Five Antique Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces
Located in London, GB
These beautiful gilt bronze (ormolu) wall sconces (lights) are designed in an elegant Rococo style after decorative arts of the Louis XV period (1715-1774). Characteristic of this st...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
$11,632 / set
Serpentine Desk Burr Walnut Ormolu Center Table Satinwood Cabriole Legs 19th C
Located in Cheltenham, GB
Desk Burr Walnut Ormolu Center Table Satinwood Serpentine Cabriole Legs 19th C
A mid 19th century burr walnut rectangular double serpentine center table, the satinwood banded top an...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Bureau Plate by Krieger
Located in Brighton, Sussex
.A fine quality late 19th century Mahogany Louis XVI style bureau plat, having wonderful scrolling foliate gilded rococo style ormolu mounts to the elegant cabriole legs and drawer f...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Early 20th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Chest of Drawers By François Linke
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Early 20th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Louis XV Style Chest of Drawers By François Linke
François Linke
Surmounted by a Brèche d’Alep marble top above a pair of short drawers, a...
Category
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Ormolu-Mounted Fluorspar Vases
Located in New Orleans, LA
These Napoleon III French urns exemplify the elaborate revival styles that dominated the Second Empire. The baluster-form fluorspar vases are adorned b...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Stone, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Marble and Ormolu Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and white Carrara marble candelabras. Each three arm candelabra is raised by a triangular white Carrara marble base wi...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
A Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Mirror
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Large and Very Fine Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Mirror.
This fine 'plum pudding' mahogany mirror has an arched pediment centred by a gilt-bronze basket issuing f...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Vernis Martin Vitrine Display Cabinet 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a stunning antique French louis XV Revival Vernis Martin display cabinet, circa 1880 in date.
The cabinet feature a shaped top with impressive ornate ormolu mounts, the body is serpentine shaped with a glazed ormolu mounted door that features a fantastic Vernis Martin hand painted panel of a courting couple, with the two side panels depicting country scenes.
The interior is lined with the rich original pink fabric which beautifully complements the cabinet.
Complete with original working lock and key.
It is very rare to find such an exquisite cabinet and it is sure to attract a lot of attention from your guests.
Condition:
In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 170 x Width 85 x Depth 43
Dimensions in inches:
Height 5 foot, 7 inches x Width 2 foot, 9 inches x Depth 1 foot, 5 inches
Vernis Martin
is a lustrous lacquer substitute widely used in the 18th century to decorate furniture and such personal articles as brisé fans...
Category
1880s French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French Ebony and Ormolu Vitrines, circa 1870
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of 19th century French ebonized display cabinets, having classical gilded ormolu mounts. Adjustable glass shelves and mirror backs within, raised on plinth bases ...
Category
19th Century European Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$20,528 / set
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu And Patinated Bronze Centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely decorated French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and patinated Bronze centerpiece. This wonderful centerpiece is raised by a triangular Ormolu base with co...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Louis XVI style writing table, circa 1890
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French Mahogany bureau plat in the style of Louis XVI.
Having an inset leather top, a frieze drawer, gilded ormolu mounts and raised on elegant ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Marquetry Center Table, François Linke Attr.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine French 19th century Louis XVI Style Ormolu-Mounted Kingwood and Bois Citronnier Marquetry center table or writing table, attributed to François Linke (1855-1946), after t...
Category
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$38,950 Sale Price
39% Off
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Mahogany, Ormolu and Marble Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. mahogany, ormolu and Sarrancolin marble side table. The circular table is raised by slender circular tapered fluted legs with lovely ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Large Pair of Early 19th Century Gilded Ormolu Candelabra
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and fine quality pair of early 19th century gilded ormolu 13 branch candelabra, each with wonderful scrolling foliate decoration, supported by three classical maide...
Category
Early 19th Century French Classical Greek Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Early 19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French early 19th century 1st Empire period ormolu and Baccarat crystal chandelier, circa 1805. The eight arm chandelier is centered by a striki...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Pair Of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu And Onyx Lamps
By Henri Picard
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and finely decorated pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Onyx lamps, signed Henri Picard. This wonderful pair is raised by a square pedestal with recesse...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Onyx, Ormolu
Large Pair of Empire Style Patinated Bronze Sculptures
Located in London, GB
The pair of figures, one male and one female, are cast in patinated bronze, and are styled as Egyptian figures in the Empire style of Napoleon I. The sculptures are set upon square-f...
Category
20th Century French Egyptian Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze
Gilt Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Clock Garniture
Located in London, GB
Gilt bronze and Sèvres style porcelain clock garniture
French, 19th century
Measures: Clock height 46cm, width 29cm, depth 24c...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
True Pair Of French 19th Century Napoleon III Period Ormolu & Bronze Andirons
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite and monumental true pair of French 19th century Napoleon III Period Renaissance st. Ormolu and patinated Bronze andirons, stamped by F. Barbedienne. Each andiron has an ...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th century Empire st. flamed Mahogany, Ormolu and Verde Marble cabinets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most impressive pair of French 19th century Empire st. flamed Mahogany, Ormolu, and Verde Antico Marble cabinets. Each four drawer two door cabinet is raised by two fr...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Frame
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu frame. The elegant frame is decorated with wonderful wave like designs all framed within a beaded outer band. Above is the char...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French Early 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany Bonheurs Du Jours
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent pair of French early 19th century Louis XVI St. Bonheurs du Jours, which literally means, the joy of the day. A type of writing desk introduced in Paris by renowned int...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, 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.