Pair of French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and most impressive pair of French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu candelabras. Each seven arm candelabra is raised by a triangular base with three delicate tapered flut...
Ormolu
French 18th Century Louis XVI Period Rosewood Quarter Veneered Vitrine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fine French 18th century Louis XVI period Rosewood, ormolu, and Coquillier de Bilbao marble cabinet vitrine. The two door one drawer vitrine is raised by elegant cabriole legs with...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of Large Sèvres Style Gilt Porcelain Mounted Vases
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
Pair of large Sèvres style gilt porcelain mounted vases. French, Late 19th century. Height 97cm, diameter 26cm. These beautiful vases are a p...
Brass, Ormolu
$11,751 / set
Pair of French Silvered and Gilt Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
Pair of French silvered and gilt bronze candelabra French, Late 19th Century Height 64cm, width 37cm, depth 37cm Crafted in the 19th century, this pair of French candelabra exudes ...
Bronze, Ormolu
A pair of Continental 19th century Louis XVI st. etched Crystal and Ormolu vases
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and finely detailed pair of Continental 19th century Louis XVI st. etched Crystal and Ormolu vases. Each vase is raised by a triangular mottled Ormolu base with squared en...
Crystal, Ormolu
Italian 19th century Neo-Classical st. marble, Ormolu, and bronze statue
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and finely detailed Italian 19th century Neo-Classical st. black Belgian marble, Ormolu, and patinated Bronze statue of Ajax the Great. This wonderful bust of Ajax the Gre...
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Large French 19th Century Bronze Cherub Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive 19th century French gilded ormolu and bronze mantel clock, having a pair of bronze putti entwined around the eight day duration chiming clock with four scrolling fo...
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th century Louis XVI st. Fleur de Pêcher marble and Ormolu console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive and most elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. Fleur de Pêcher marble and Ormolu console. This impressive wall mounted console is supported on a mottled marble base...
Marble, Ormolu
Very Large Antique French Louis XIV Ormolu Gilt Bronze Gold Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Very Large Antique French Louis XIV Ormolu Gilt Bronze Gold Chandelier French, 19th Century Height 250cm, diameter 160cm A truly remarkable example of 19th century French craftsma...
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Marble Lidded Urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and white Carrara marble lidded urns. Each urn is raised by a circular white Carrara marble base with an elegant lightly c...
Carrara 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
Superb Antique French Ormolu Rococo Clock - Leon Message and Jollet et Cie
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A large and exceptional antique French ormolu clock, designed in the style of the sculptor Léon Messagé and bearing the foundry mark of Jollet et Cie. Executed in finely gilded bronz...
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful true pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu lamps. Each lamp is raised by a most decorative pierced scrolled base with a central cabochon. Above are charming ch...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and unique French 19th century Empire st. mahogany and ormolu mirror. The mirror is raised by a straight base with a fine mottled design. The original central mirror pl...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Crystal and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century neo-classical st. crystal and ormolu chandelier. At the base of the chandelier are eight descending circular ormolu bands of impressive hanging crystal...
Crystal, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Marble and Ormolu Two-Arm Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and most elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu two arm candelabras. Each candelabra is raised by fine topie shaped feet below t...
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Black Marble Ormolu Mounted Caldwell Lamps, 1800s
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of Black Marble Ormolu Mounted Caldwell Lamps made in the late 1800s. An awe-inspiring pair of lamps that harken back to the refined crafts...
Marble, 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
$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 Louis XVI St. Mahogany and Ormolu Buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century Louis XVI st. mahogany and finely chased ormolu buffet, most likely by Mercier Freres, Paris. The buffet is raised on six bun feet with acanthus leaf w...
Marble, Ormolu
Enamel Coffer with Mythological Scenes Signed Klein in Paris, 19th Century
By A. Klein
Located in Paris, FR
Small, rectangular, enamel coffer decorated with mythological scenes that are framed with spiraling lines of ormolu and attached with flowers at the corners. The Rape of Proserpina by the god Pluto adorns the lid. The front and back of the box are decorated with images of Diana being woken by her nymphs and the Rape of Europa. The sides have images of Mercury educating Cupid and a bath scene...
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
Gilt Bronze 2-Light Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
Gilt Bronze 2-Light Bouillotte Lamp,
with decorated tole shade
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Marble Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A superb pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and marble lamps. Raised on ormolu bun feet below a rectangular sienna marble base with chased ormolu trim. Above each is a ...
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Marble Candelabra Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period ormolu and white Carrara marble candelabra lamps. Each three arm lamp is raised by a square white Carrara...
Carrara Marble, 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
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
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Crystal and Ormolu Vases
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. crystal and ormolu vases. Each circular tapered shaped crystal vase displays beautiful thick cut crystal with diamond shaped de...
Crystal, Ormolu
20th Century French Louis XVI Style Ormolu Cutlery Cabinet, c.1900
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique early 20th Century Louis XVI style French ormolu applied over ebonises and lacquered wood cutlery cabinet. Inside fabric lined and fitted to contain a full canteen of cutlery...
Ormolu
French Mid-19th Century Louis XV Style Kingwood and Ormolu Bureau Plat
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and high quality French mid-19th century Louis XV style kingwood and ormolu bureau plat. The desk is raised by elegant cabriole legs with fine fitted wraparound ormolu sab...
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
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
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Belle Époque Ormolu and Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An outstanding French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period ormolu and crystal chandelier. The chandelier is centered by a magnificent cut crystal bottom dome with lovely an...
Crystal, Ormolu
French 19th century Empire st. Belle Époque period Mahogany, Ormolu side table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most attractive French 19th century Empire st. Belle Époque period Mahogany, Ormolu and Verde Antico marble side table. This beautiful single drawer table is raised by...
Marble, 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 Louis XVI St. Alabastro Fiorito & Ormolu Lidded Urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and large scale pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Alabastro Fiorito and ormolu lidded urns. Each urn is raised by a square base below the circular mottled socle pe...
Marble, Ormolu
Empire 19th Century Ormolu and Painted Bronze Mantel Clock with Young Sailor
Located in Palm Desert, CA
An Empire ormolu and painted bronze mantel clock attributed to Jean-Simon Deverberie. Fitted in an ormolu case shaped as a cotton bale, the round enamel dial features Roman numeral hours and Arabic fifteen-minute graduations, indicated by two pierced gilt bronze hands. Shirtless and barefoot, a young black sailor...
Ormolu, Bronze
Antique Pair of French Bleu Celeste Porcelain Urns 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fine and rare antique pair of French porcelain ormolu mounted twin handled urns in the Sevres manner, dating from Circa 1860. The decorative twin handle vases are super...
Ormolu
Pair of Mid-19th Century Louis XVI Style Marble and Ormolu Mounted Cassolettes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A superb pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu cassolette urns. Each urn is raised by elegant topie shaped ormolu feet below the square white Carr...
Carrara 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 Louis XVI St. Marble, Granite and Ormolu Pedestal Column
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional French 19th century Louis XVI st. Rouge Griotte, Campan Rubané, Brèche de Sicile marble, Granite and ormolu pedestal column. The column is raised by a square Brèche de...
Granite, Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Mantle Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French late 19th century gilded ormolu and champleve enamel mantel (fireplace) clock. Having urns and a cherub above the eight day clock that chimes...
Enamel, Ormolu
Large Empire Bronze and Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in London, by appointment only
France, circa 1820-1830. A large-scale early 19th century bronze and gilt bronze mantel clock, the clocks hunting theme, featuring three different scenes. The bronze Diana...
Bronze, Ormolu
A pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Onyx and Ormolu lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive and most elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Onyx and Ormolu lamps. Each truly stunning lamp is raised by a mottled and stepped Onyx base with a pierced b...
Onyx, Ormolu
French Early 19th Century 1st Empire Period Crystal and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and extremely high quality French early 19th century 1st Empire period crystal and ormolu chandelier, circa 1805. The beautiful ten light chandelier is centered by a beaut...
Crystal, Ormolu
19th Century Mahogany, Marble and Ormolu-Mounted Writing Table
Located in London, GB
A bureau plat in the Louis XVI manner Constructed in mahogany, Carrara marble, and extensively dressed with fine ormolu mounts; of freestanding rectangular form, rising from field...
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Italian 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Ormolu and Scagliola center table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and large scale Italian 19th century Empire st. Flamed Mahogany, Ormolu and Scagliola center table. This very impressive circular table is raised on three squared cabri...
Ormolu
Pair Of French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany And Ormolu Mirrors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very architectural pair of French 19th century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu mirrors. The pair of mirrors display mirror plates flanked by two Mahogany columns. The columns have a...
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 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
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
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
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
French Mid-19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu Candelabra Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A unique and elegant French mid-19th century Louis XV st. ormolu candelabra lamp, with inkwells and adjustable screen. The lamp is raised by a k...
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
pair of French late 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Marble urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fine and high quality pair of French late 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and green marble urns, signed Susse Freres, Paris. Each stunning urn is raised by an Ormolu socle with a...
Marble, 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
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
A Louis XVI Style Cartel Clock and Barometer After Pierre Gouthière
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze and Wedgwood Porcelain Cartel Clock and Companion Barometer, by Maison Millet, Paris, after the model attributed to Pierre Gouthière. The clock dial is...
Enamel, Ormolu
French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Living Room Set Likely By François Linke
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Neo-Classical st. solid Rosewood and ormolu armchairs and matching settee likely by François Linke. The pair of armchairs an...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu And Marble Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and most unique French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, ormolu, and Vert de Patricia marble side table. The table is raised by handsome ormolu paw feet below a fine r...
Marble, 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.