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Federal Clocks

FEDERAL STYLE

Following the Revolutionary War, the American republic referenced the Roman Republic in its designs to celebrate its independence and declare itself a powerful new country. Imbued with neoclassical elements like those being promoted by architect Robert Adam in Great Britain, antique Federal-style furniture was the first distinctly American style in its melding of ancient influences, European aesthetics and national pride.

Dating roughly from 1790 to 1830, the style featured angular furniture with saber legs and smooth surfaces that contrasted with the curvy Rococo style that was previously in fashion. Eagles were common ornamental motifs on Federal-period furniture, as were cornucopia, lyres, garlands and scrolls, adding subtle flair to pieces characterized by clean lines, geometric symmetry, balanced shapes and a sense of grandeur.

Instead of sculptural carvings, authentic Federal-style furniture was adorned with inlays and patterned veneers that showcased the rich character of different grains and types of wood. As social life tended to be informal in the young country, furniture was often lightweight, so it could be easily rearranged in a drawing room or bedroom. Pieces like dining tables with drop leaves and sideboards became popular, replacing larger chests of drawers.

The Federal style varied by region: Artisans in Charleston, South Carolina, decorated chairs with carved backs, for instance, while those in Baltimore, Maryland, preferred painted details. Its major proponents included father-and-son cabinetmakers John and Thomas Seymour in Boston, Duncan Phyfe and Charles-Honoré Lannuier in New York and Samuel McIntire in Salem, Massachusetts.

Find antique Federal tables, mirrors, storage cabinets and other Federal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

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Style: Federal
Mahogany Coffin Wall Alarm Clock by Elnathan Taber Roxbury, Massachusetts c1810
Located in Savannah, GA
This rare mahogany Coffin Clock was made by Elnathan Taber of Roxbury, Massachusetts, c. 1810. Features include- Case: arched swan neck pediment with turn...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

William Cummens Federal Mahogany Tall Clock with Moon Phase Dial circa 1820
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional Federal mahogany tall case clock with a delicate fretwork crest, adorned with three ball and spire brass finials, surmounting an arched form glass door, opening to a h...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Metal

Aaron Willard Boston Federal Shelf Clock Arched & Inlaid Pediment/ Mahogany Case
Located in Savannah, GA
This magnificent shelf clock has an arched and inlaid pediment over a painted dial that is signed "Aaron Willard, Boston," fancifully painted within cartouche with laurel wreath and ...
Category

Early 1800s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass, Tin

Aaron Willard Boston Mahogany Shelf Clock w/ Eglomisé Painting & Eagle Finial
Located in Savannah, GA
Popularized at the turn of the 19th century in coastal Massachusetts, these handsome shelf clocks are subsequently referred to as Massachusetts shelf clocks...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

19th Century Tiffany & CO Oak 5 Musical 5 Gong Tall Case Grandfather Clock
By Walter Durfee
Located in Long Branch, NJ
19th Century Tiffany & CO Oak 5 Musical 5 Gong Tall Case Grandfather Clock Dimensions : 104" Tall X 26" Wide X 15.5" Deep This gorgeous grandfather clock was made in the late 19th ...
Category

1890s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Oak

American Walnut Tall Case Clock by Solomon Gorgas
Located in Essex, MA
By Solomon Gorgas. Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania. Works just cleaned and in good working order. With arched bonnet with pinwheel inlay in the scrolls. Glazed door opening to enameled wo...
Category

Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Metal, Brass

Antique Colonial Mfg Co Beige Painted Tall Case Federal Style Grandfather Clock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Colonial Mfg. Co Beige Painted Tall Case Federal Style Grandfather Clock. Item features a working lock and key, includes all parts pictured. Very ...
Category

Early 20th Century Federal Clocks

Materials

Wood

American Federal Grain Painted and Stenciled Tall Clock by Rufus Cole
Located in Essex, MA
A Rare and Complete American Federal Tall Case Clock. Riley Whiting Wooden Works, original. A Rufus Cole Grain-Painted and Stenciled Case. S...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Pine

Antique Seth Thomas Rosewood Office Calendar No 2 No 3 Clock Case Federal
Located in Dayton, OH
An exception and rare federal style case for a Seth Thomas calendar clock model No 2 or No 3. Manufactured in the last quarter of the 19th c...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Glass, Rosewood

Early 1900s Carved Walnut Durfee Case Elliot Movement 5 Tube Grandfather Clock
By Walter Durfee
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a spectacular clock with what I believe is a solid carved walnut Durfee case and and has an Elliot of London movement. The case has some signs of wear and is in it's original...
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Walnut

American Federal Mahogany Tall Case Clock, Silas Hoadley, CT, Circa 1820
By Silas Hoadley
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Federal mahogany one day tall case clock with the original brass ball finials resting on three carved upper capitals, decorative intertwined fret work, arched hood with bras...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

American Mahogany Pillar and Scroll Mantel Clock, Eli Terry, Circa 1825
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Federal mahogany pillar and scroll mantel clock with a broken arch pediment, three urn wood finials, flanking ringed columns, hinged glass d...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

American Federal Style Banjo Clock
Located in Asheville, NC
Gilded wood case Banjo clock with decorative brass cutwork and back painted glass, enameled clock face with Roman numerals, brass pendulum and winder. Surm...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Federal Clocks

Materials

Giltwood

Related Items
Late 18th Century Liege Burled Walnut Tall Case Clock
Located in New Orleans, LA
A stately late 18th century Belgian, Liege, tall case clock case having a period Black Forest clock workings with wooden enameled dial and hand-painted fruit decoration, the original...
Category

Late 18th Century Belgian Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Iron

Swiss Mantel Clock, Barometer, Moon Phase and Perpetual Calendar, 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
19th century mantel clock with moon phase and perpetual calendar Switzerland, England slate, enamel circa 1870 Dimensions: 41 x 37 x 19 cm Description: Slate case with wide base and slightly protruding top plate. On the front we see two mercury thermometers on top, on the left with the temperature display in Celsius, on the right in Fahrenheit. The dial with Roman numerals, Breguet hands and an open Brocot escapement is located centrally between the thermometers. The central seconds hand is also worth mentioning. In the outer dial ring we find two small square pins, one is used to regulate the speed, the other is used to set the time. The dial is signed: "Aubert & Klaftenberger GENEVE". At the bottom left we see the date display, consisting of the central hand for the months and the equatorial time, as well as three decentralized displays for day of the week, moon phase and date. In the short months with 30 or 28 days, the calendar jumps directly to the first of the following month. It also switches the leap year...
Category

1870s Swiss Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Slate

Fine quality antique Edwardian mahogany inlaid long case clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Fine quality antique Edwardian mahogany inlaid long case clock, having a quality mahogany inlaid case, a brass arch dial with Roman numerals, Tempus Fugit inscribed to the top, havin...
Category

Early 20th Century Federal Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Scottish Longcase Clock made by William Spark, Aberdeen, circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
George III grandfather clock with silver-plated dial Scotland (Aberdeen) Mahogany George III around 1820 Dimensions: H x W x D: 222 x 47 x 23 cm Description: Beautiful antique Scottish grandfather...
Category

1820s Scottish Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Early 19th Century Tall Case Clock by James Hogg, circa 1820
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 19th century tall case clock by James Hogg, from village of Gifford near Edinborough, circa 1820, with fine mahogany case, brass fin...
Category

1820s Scottish Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

English Tall Case Clock
Located in Nantucket, MA
English Sun/Moon Oak Tall Case Clock with brass face
Category

18th Century and Earlier English Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Metal

English Tall Case Clock
H 82 in W 22.25 in D 11 in
Art Deco Chrome Carriage Alarm Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Art Deco carriage alarm clock Art Deco chrome plated rectangular carriage clock standing on four bun feet surmounted by a decorative carrying...
Category

1920s British Vintage Federal Clocks

Materials

Chrome

French Restauration Period Eagle Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French restauration period mantle clock having a large patinated bronze eagle with outstretched wings standing on a wreath on top of the clock. The stepped square patinated bronze...
Category

1820s French Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Antique Thomas Farrer Mahogany Grandfather Clock With Brass Finials 19thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Thomas Farrer Mahogany Grandfather Clock with Brass Finials 19thC Measures - 94"H x 19.75"W x 10.5"D
Category

19th Century Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Set of Two Alarm Clocks by PRIM, Czechoslovakia, 1980s
Located in Praha, CZ
Set of two alarm clocks in very good original condition. Made by PRIM in Czechoslovakia in 1980s. Fully functional
Category

1980s Czech Vintage Federal Clocks

Materials

Metal, Steel

Vintage Swiss Mantel Alarm Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Vintage mantel clock resting within a gilded strut frame supphandsorting a circular dial surrounded by rope decoration. Silvered dial with o...
Category

1970s Swiss Vintage Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

Vintage Swiss Mantel Alarm Clock
Vintage Swiss Mantel Alarm Clock
H 6.5 in W 5.5 in D 4 in
Swedish Fryksdahl Grandfather Clock with Raised Base, circa 1820s
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Fryksdahl grandfather clock, raised on feet, from the 19th century. This antique Fryksdahl clock from Sweden features a beautifully raised and carved crest, the neck and un...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Glass, Wood

Previously Available Items
New Hampshire Federal Mahogany And Tiger Maple Banjo Clock
Located in Essex, MA
With urn finial over a round clock face with painted iron dial and Roman numerals. Hinged glass bezel. Waisted case with finely figured tiger maple flanked by carved mahogany side a...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass, Iron

Antique American Simon Willard & Son 8 Day Banjo Clock Patent Timepiece 1825
Located in Portland, OR
Rare antique American Simon Willard & Son Mahogany Patent Timepiece or "Banjo" Clock, Boston, Massachusetts, c. 1825. The case made of Cuban mahogany with figured mahogany panels to ...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Bailey Banks & Biddle Mahogany Federal Style Case Tall Case Grandfather Clock
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Bailey Banks & Biddle Mahogany Federal Style Case Tall Case Grandfather Clock Dimensions : 97" Tall X 28" Wide X 18" Deep This grandfather clock was made in the 1900-1910 era and w...
Category

1910s American Vintage Federal Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Rare Old American Stennes Fed, Sty, Inlaid Mahog, Automaton 8day Longcase Clock
By Elmer O. Stennes
Located in Charleston, SC
One of the most highly collected midcentury longcase clocks, this fabulous Federal Style 8-day inlaid honey-colored, fiddle-grain, highly figured mahogany Clock with a wonderfully ha...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

Antique Mahogany Grandfather Longcase Clock
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Mahogany grandfather longcase clock Additional information: Materials: Mahogany Color: Brown Period: 19th century Styles: Federal Item type: Vintage, antique or pre-...
Category

19th Century Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Mid Century Seth Thomas Brookfield Banjo 8 Day Springwound Eagle Wall Clock
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage 1950s Seth Thomas Brookfield Colonial banjo style 8-day spring wound, pendulum, chiming wall clock with eagle finial. “Fabulous re-creation of the circa 1810 Willard Banjo Clock...
Category

1950s Vintage Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

Federal Curly Maple and Mahogany Banded Tall Case Clock PA, Circa 1810
Located in Hallowell, US
Distinctive federal curly maple tall case clock with mahogany banding, Pennsylvania, circa 1810. IN a remarkable state of preservation and with slender 'french' feet and original urn...
Category

Early 1800s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Maple

Antique Federal Style Carved Oak Tall Case Clock by Ithaca, 20th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Federal style tall case clock by Ithaca offers oak case with hood having broken arch top having central eagle with flanking ball & spire finials, column with glass door ov...
Category

20th Century American Federal Clocks

Materials

Oak

Diminutive Timothy Chandler Federal Cherry Case Tall Clock Concord NH circa 1800
Located in Milford, NH
A fine New Hampshire Federal cherry tall case clock with 8-day weight-driven brass works by Timothy Chandler, active clockmaker in Concord, NH f...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Metal, Brass

American Cherry Rocking Ship Tall Case or Grandfather Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Connecticut Federal cherry tall case clock, ca. 1800, the fretwork bonnet enclosing an eight day English works with rocking ship, the face inscr...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Cherry

Aaron Willard Mahogany Tall Case Clock with Moon Phase Dial 1793
Located in Milford, NH
A fine mahogany tall case clock with wonderful proportions by Aaron Willard (1757-1844), with a reticulated carved crest with three ball and spire finial...
Category

1790s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

Federal Mahogany and Rosewood Tall Case Clock circa 1805
Located in Hallowell, US
Roxbury type federal type tall case clock from North Shore, Massachusetts, ca 1805-1810. Mahogany with rosewood crossbanding finial blocks veneered in rosewood. Vetted, clean clock...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Cherry, Mahogany

Federal clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Federal clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Federal clocks made in a specific country, there are North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original clocks, popular names associated with this style include Eli Terry & Sons, Elmer O. Stennes, Seth Thomas Clock Company, and Silas Hoadley. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $470 and tops out at $18,500 while the average work can sell for $6,800.

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