Ormolu Clocks
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807
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556
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810
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52
34
18
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1
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65
724
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5,783
4,095
1,688
1,594
1,073
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Material: Ormolu
Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France
Located in New York, NY
Clock Mantle Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Empire French 19th Century France. A French mantel clock in gilt bronze. Neoclassical symbols such Cup...
Category
Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Louis XV Style Mantel Clock
Located in Belmont, MA
Unique French 19th century mantel clock.
This exquisite mantel clock has a Sevres porcelain dial plate and other Sevres porcelain decorations.
The movement with spring suspension. ...
Category
1890s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Gilded Ormolu and Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive late 19th century French gilded ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock. Having three putti mounted to the top each playing musical instruments. The clock having an ei...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Louis XVI Style Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu and bronze Louis XVI style mantel (fireplace) clock, have cloven hoofed putti supporting the clock, with Bacchus influenced deco...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Ormolu Cartel Wall Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu wall clock, having Rococo influences to the scroll foliate decoration and cherubs above the eight day striking movement, circa 1880.
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Classical 19th Century French Enamel Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th century French Louis XVI style gilded ormolu mantel clock. Having a broken arch pediment with a twin handled urn to the centre. The inset champlevé enam...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
French White Marble and Ormolu Pillar Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
French ormolu and white marble pillar clock with ormolu mounts surmounted by an ornate finial with and standing on four gilded bun feet.
The four pillars have fine ormolu mounts and are decorated with ornate chain swags.
Enamel dial with Arabic numerals and finely cut original gilded hands.
Eight day French striking movement with outside countwheel and starburst pendulum, circa 1870
An exceptionally fine French pillar clock...
Category
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Sevres Style Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An unusual and very good quality 19th century French Sèvres style porcelain and gilded ormolu mantel clock. Having a domed top with a painte...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Large 19th Century Raingo Fres, Paris Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality French 19th Century gilded ormolu and patinated bronze clock garniture, having a pair of seven branch flower like candelabra, being supported by putti, raised on circular plinth bases with scrolling decoration.
The clock having bronze patinated mother and three children, one sculpting, one painting and the other reading. Mounted on this beautiful gilded ormolu base with flowers, shells and foliage.
The eight day duration clock chimes on the hour and half hour and is signed; Raingo Fres...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Enameled Gilt Bronze Carriage Clock
Located in London, GB
The contrast between rich blue enamel, in light and dark hues, and bright gilt bronze gives this carriage clock a sumptuous, luxurious feel. With a t...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
Renaissance Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Renaissance style gilt bronze and enamel mantel clock
French, late 19th century
Measures: Height 53cm, width 28cm, depth 23cm
This exquisite mantel clock is crafted in the idios...
Category
Late 19th Century French Renaissance Revival Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel
Antique French Gilt Bronze and Cut Glass Clock Set
Located in London, GB
This beautiful three-piece clock set is designed in a French neoclassical style, popular in 19th century decorative arts. The set has been crafted from clear, cut glass and fine gilt...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Sevres Style Gilded Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful French 19th century gilded ormolu mantel clock, having a putti mounted to the top holding garlands of flowers, draping down the case, Rams heads and urns of flowers. The ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Sèvres Style Porcelain Mounted Ormolu Three-Piece Clock Set by H. Picard
By Henri Picard
Located in London, GB
Comprising a central clock and a pair of flanking candelabra, the clock with central circular dial signed 'PICARD / A GENEVE', surrounded by three ormolu cherubs and two porcelain pl...
Category
19th Century Swiss Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Style Mantel Clock, circa 1820
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and stylish early 19th Century gilded ormolu and green marble mantle clock, having two classical maidens either side feeding Rams, an Eagle above the circular white...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French, Louis XVI Style Enamel Clock Set, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French Louis XVI style Champleve enamel clock set. The clock having a classical scene of a cherub handing flowers to ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
19th Century Turquoise Sèvres Style Jeweled Porcelain and Ormolu Clock Set
Located in New York, NY
A high quality gilt bronze and Turquoise Sèvres style jeweled Porcelain clock set. The clock surmounted by a covered urn and flanked by lion masks on each side, en suite with a pair of painted turquoise porcelain vases...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Sevres Porcelain and Ormolu Four Glass Antique French Clock Set
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A rare and beautiful antique French clock garniture, in excellent original condition. Ormolu (fine gilded bronze) is mounted with exquisitely painted Sèvres style porcelain. Porcelai...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Ormolu and White Marble Louis XVI Clock
By Samuel Marti
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A beautiful classical clock made in the style of Louis XVI by Samuel Marti. Stunning ormolu (finely gilded bronze) mounted on a marble base. It is decorated with an inset laurel swag...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Mantle Chariot Clock François Linke
Located in Newark, England
Dragon Drawn Chariot
From our Clock collection, we are thrilled to introduce this French Mantle Clock attributed to Francois Linke. The Clock in the rococo style cast as a winged Cherub wearing a billowing robe riding in a gilt chariot being pulled by a writhing Dragon outstretched climbing up with its left arm pointing towards the sky. The Chariot beautifully executed with a French Royal crest...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Antique French Ormolu and Marble Portico Clock Set
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A beautiful original antique French portico clock by Vincenti. It is made of white marble mounted with ormolu (finely gilded bronze). The movement is held aloft on two marble pillars...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Pair French Cloisonne Champlevé Alabaster Ormolu Gilt Bronze Vase Urns
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An Exceptionally Stylish Pair of French Bronze Dore and Champleve Cloisonne twin handle Vases of outstanding quality and compact size. Third quarter of the Nineteenth Century.
This...
Category
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze, Ormolu
French three piece garniture set, signed by the Lemerle-Charpentier foundry
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely detailed and high quality French 19th century Regence st. Ormolu three piece garniture set, signed by the Lemerle-Charpentier foundry. This monumental garniture set cons...
Category
19th Century French Regency Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Goliath Four Glass Clock
By Samuel Marti
Located in Amersham, GB
This exceptionally rare table regulator of oversized proportions is deceptive in scale, from the movement and escapement to the pendulum every aspect o...
Category
1880s French Late Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Brass, Enamel, Ormolu
Antique French Chinoiserie Gold Bronze & Turquoise Porcelain Garniture Clock Set
Located in New Orleans, LA
Wonderful Antique French Chinoiserie Style Gold Bronze & Turquoise Glazed Porcelain 3 Piece Garniture Clock Set, Circa 1890's-1900.
Clock: 16 inches in height x 11 inches in width x ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Attributed to L.Messagé (1842-1901) and F.Linke, "Source Allegory" Clock
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Attributed to Leon Messagé (1842-1901) and François Linke (1855-1946)
Gilt bronze clock surmounted by an allegory of the Source.
With rocaille decoration, resting on four cambered l...
Category
1890s French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Enamel
Antique French Ormolu and White Marble Clock - Cherubs
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A beautiful original antique French clock modelled in the Louis XVI style as two charming cherubs carrying the clock on laurel wreaths. The pendulum with applied musical motifs, swin...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Beautiful French enamel and ormolu annular dial clock
Located in HAARLEM, NL
The beautiful contrast from the gilding and enamel is very attractive.
The striking 8-day movement with balance escapement with hour and minute indication on two silver rings.
Al...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Onyx, Enamel, Ormolu
Nice empire Charle X mantel clock by Gillion a Paris
By Gillion a Paris
Located in HAARLEM, NL
A nice empire Charles X mantel clock circa 1830. The lovely subject the bookcase with books and scientific bronzes on top is fitting very nice on your desk or your library, the ormol...
Category
19th Century French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Charles X Gilt and Silver Clock
Located in Dallas, TX
An impressive Charles X gilt and silver clock in the gothic taste, France. Circa 1825
Category
Early 19th Century French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
A Louis XVI Ormolu Figural Cartel Clock
Located in Kittery Point, ME
A Louis XVI Ormolu Figural Cartel Clock, the circular white enamel dial signed "Baudoin A Paris" within a cartouche-shaped case surmounted by an urn and flanked by two female bust fi...
Category
Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Antique French Clock by Achille Brocot
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A stunning original antique French clock by the renown maker Achille Brocot. It features exquisite Sèvres Style porcelain with pompadour rose pink ground. Beautifully modelled in the...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
An Exceptional Ormolu Desk Compendium
Located in Amersham, GB
A very fine desk compendium, comprising an eight day timepiece, barometer and thermometer, in a gilded twin oval case, mounted on a rouge marble base with a rotating circular carryin...
Category
1880s French Late Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Enamel, Ormolu
18th Century French Marble & Gilt Bronze Clock, Claude Charles François Filon
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 18th Century French mantle clock, crafted from gilt bronze and marble, was made by one of the leading Parisian clockmakers of ...
Category
18th Century French Other Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
18th Century French Louis XVI Marble & Gilt Bronze Portico Clock C. Bertrand
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A monumental 18th Century Portico clock signed by Charles Bertrand. It is of the classical style of Louis XVI, made of white marble mounted with ormolu decoration. The movement is he...
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
18th Century French Gilt Bronze & Marble Clock By Rouvière A Paris c.1780
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Crafted in France during the late 18th century, around 1790-1800, the "Venus Et Amour" mantel clock epitomizes the elegance of the Louis XVI style. Carved from pristine white marble ...
Category
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Gilt Bronze Clock, Raingo Freres, Paris c.1850
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antiques 19th Century French Rococo-style gilt-bronze mantle clock crafted by Raingo Frères. The clock boasts intricate decoration throughout, with birds resting on floral foliage ad...
Category
1850s French Other Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Regency Style Gilt Bronze Clock, Thuret A Paris
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A Monumental 19th Century Regency Style Gilt-Bronze Inlaid Grand Cartel de Applique, In the Manner of André-Charles Boulle. This impressive and large cartel clock has a circular, ara...
Category
19th Century French Other Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Ormolu Bronze Garniture, G. J. Levy, Paris c.1870
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th Century French garniture, cast bronze in ormolu, a striking ensemble featuring a pair of seven-light candelabras and a mantel clock. The clock is adorned with foliage an...
Category
1870s French Other Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
18thC Louis XVI French Gilt Bronze & Marble Clock By Rouvière A Paris c.1785
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
An exquisite 18th Century Louis XVI mantel clock crafted in ormolu and marble, adorned with intricate detailing. Housed within a meticulously carved marble case, the clock features a...
Category
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Ormolu Mounted Sevres Style Porcelain Mantle Clock c.1870
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV style mantel clock, a captivating piece fashioned from Sevres style porcelain and adorned with ormolu accents. Atop the clock rests a striking 'b...
Category
1870s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
19th Century French Ormolu Mantel Clock, circa 1840
Located in Greven, DE
19th Century French mantel clock
France (Limoges)
Ormolu
around 1840
Dimensions: H x W x D: 37 x 22 x 10 cm
Description:
The bronze, cast in relief and then fire-gilded, stands on...
Category
1830s French Charles X Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique French Gilt Bronze and Lapis Lazuli Mantel Clock after Falconet
Located in London, GB
French sculptor Etienne-Maurice Falconet (1716-1791) is the inspiration for this beautiful, sumptuous mantel clock. His clock, crafted in the late 18th Century and now on display at the Louvre Museum, caused such a stir when it was exhibited over 100 years later, at the Great Exhibition in Paris in 1900 that one reviewer claimed that it "attracted so much admiration from the crowds gathered around that the pressure was sufficient at times to endanger its safety."
As well as this famed 'Three Graces...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Ormolu, Bronze
French 19th century Empire st. Gris st. Anne, Carrara marble, and Ormolu clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Gris st. Anne, white Carrara marble, and Ormolu clock. This beautiful clock is supported on a circular white Carrara marble...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th century Louis XVI st. marble and Ormolu clock, signed Derniere
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and finely decorated French 19th century Louis XVI st. Gris St. Anne marble and Ormolu clock, signed Derniere. This exquisite and high quality clock is raised on an imp...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Early Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Antique French Clock - Japy Fils Fully Working
By Japy
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A fine and early clock by Japy Fils. It is beautifully made in ormolu (finely gilded bronze doré) and mounted with exquisite Sèvres style porcelain with a blue celeste ground. The pa...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
English Regency Neo Classical mantel clock of Aristaeus
Located in London, GB
A fine English Regency mantel clock.
To one side is the figure of Aristaeus, leaning against the clock housing. Aristaeus, the son of the Gods Apollo and Cyrene, and was the God and ...
Category
1810s English Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Cherubs & Rooster Mantel Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century Louis XV style gilt bronze and white marble figural mantel clock. The finely chased ormolu body, with its original two-tone mercury gilt, centered with a circular enameled porcelain clock face with Roman and Arabic numeral dials and inscribed 'A. Thomas - Fabt de Bronze - 56, Rue de Turenne - Paris', surmounted with a pair of playful seated cherubs amidst clouds and wreaths, the case crowned with a figure of a Gallic Rooster (Coq Gaulois...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Antique French Ormolu Clock - Lions Rampant - overhauled and tested
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A beautiful antique French clock. Its is finely modelled in ormolu (finely gilded bronze) and features two lions to each side of an urn to the top. To each side of the dial are exqui...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Neo-Classical Period Marble, Ormolu, & Bronze Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and finely detailed French 19th century Neo-Classical period Alabaster, Ormolu, Sainte-Anne Grand Dessin marble, and patinated Bronze annu...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Garniture Set, By Jacques Gudin
By Jacques-Gérôme Gudin
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful French 19th century Louis XVI st. Rouge Griotte marble, Ormolu, and patinated Bronze three piece garniture set, by Jacques Gudin, Paris, circa 1820. The elegant set inclu...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Burr Walnut Bracket Clock by Lenzkirch
By Lenzkirch
Located in Amersham, GB
A quarter striking bracket clock in a fine figured burr walnut case with ormolu mounts and sound frets backed in sage green silk. A gilded dial with silvered chapter ring, roman nume...
Category
1890s German Late Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Brass, Steel, Ormolu
Ormolu and Champleve Enamel Antique French Clock by Le Roy & Fils
By Vincenti et Cie, Le Roy
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A magnificent Renaissance style clock by the renown Parisian clockmaking firm of Le Roy &Fils. Beautifully modelled in finely gilded bronze and finely decorated with exquisite polychrome champlevé enamel. The case is formed with an arched swan neck pediment surmounted by a turret with elaborate finial.
To the sides are charming figures of cherubs clutching the baluster turned pillars. A third cherub is seated above the dial. The dial is also gilded bronze with champlevé enamel and is complete with original finely blued steel hands. The clock is decorated in the round with a frosted glass rear door. Please note that this type of clock does not have a glazed bezel to cover the dial.
The French movement is of high quality and is by Vincenti et Cie. It is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. Pendulum is original. It runs for 8 days and strikes the hours and halves on a bell. We have a video of the clock, please ask and we will send you a link.
Condition of the case is excellent, the original gilding is particularly good with only minor wear where the clock has been handled and some light marks and discolouration. The rear most bun feet are missing however the clock sits very well without them. Rear frosted glass has some marks. Enamel is very good.
Established by Basile Charles Le Roy in 1785, the firm of Le Roy et Fils became a well-established and renowned clockmaker. Basile had been Napoleon's master clockmaker, and along with his son Charles-Louis, he worked for Princess Pauline and the Duke de Bourbon as well. Examples of the firm's work are included in all of the major world collections. The firm was located at the Palais Royale from 1785, the year of its founding, through the death of Charles-Louis at Versailles in 1865. A shop was opened in London, in 1854 at 296 Regent Street under the name of Le Roy and Son. The name was later changed to Le Roy and Fils...
Category
19th Century French Renaissance Revival Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
Louis XV Cartel D'applique
Located in Amersham, GB
This beautiful small cartel clock dates from the late 1760’s. This rare survivor is in excellent original condition, the large circular eight day movement strikes the hours on a bell...
Category
1760s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Brass, Enamel, Steel, Ormolu
A Louis XVI Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze and Marble Clock Garniture
By Jollet & Cie
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Louis XVI Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze and Marble Clock Garniture, Comprising a 'Pendule à Cercles Tournants' Modelled with the Three Graces and a Pair of Cherub Four-Light Cand...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Ormolu and Green Marble Mantel Clock, Maple & Co, Paris
By Samuel Marti
Located in Norwich, GB
Ormolu And Green Marble Mantel Clock, Maple & Co Ltd, Paris
Ormolu and Verde marble mantel clock depicting a beautifully cast maiden studying her ...
Category
1880s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Ormolu and Porcelain Panel Mantel Clock, A.B.Savory, Cornhill
By Jean-Baptiste Delettrez
Located in Norwich, GB
Ormolu and Porcelain Panel Mantel Clock
Ormolu figural mantel clock with beautifully cast maiden in flowing robes holding a bunch of grapes towards a cherub. Fine quality chased orm...
Category
1860s French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Grand Figural Cartel Clock, After a Design by Gilles-Marie Oppenord
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Important and Extremely Rare Grand Figural Cartel Clock, After a Design by Gilles-Marie Oppenord.
Of grand proportions and of exceptional quality this rare cartel clock is after...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Ormolu Clocks for Sale on 1stDibs
Antique ormolu clocks and other 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 — older French ormolu clocks are especially coveted today — ormolu is still widely loved by contemporary designers and collectors.
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.
If you're looking to bring a touch of this 19th-century pizzazz to your desk, an antique ormolu desk clock is a decorative touch that blends ornament and functionality. The clamor for desk clocks arose as the Industrial Revolution transitioned labor from outdoors to indoors, and allowed for the mass production of clock parts in factories. Naturally, elaborate designs soon followed and clocks could be found made by artisans and luxury houses like Cartier. Indeed, an ormolu clock is an object to be admired in your home as much as it is a necessary functional element. (This is part of the reason clocks make such superb collectibles!)
Today, antiques collectors and interior designers seek out the finest in antique ormolu clocks and 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 desk clocks, wall clocks, mantel clocks and other furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
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