How does a longcase clock work?

A longcase clock works with the help of a pendulum, which is usually hidden away in the body of the clock. As the pendulum swings, it creates kinetic energy that then turns the gears to move the hands on the face. You'll find a variety of longcase clocks on 1stDibs.

Georgian Longcase Clocks

Welsh Clock

John Taylor Clock

Georgian Mahogany Fret Mirror

Tide Clock

Japanese Pillar Clock

Rolling Ball Clock

William Underwood

Thomas Tompion

Category

Antique 18th Century English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Cl...

Materials

Wood

Georgian Longcase Clock with Red Chinoiserie Decoration

H 98 in W 21 in D 10.5 in

Fine Georgian Longcase Clock by Collier, Eccles

Located in Whaley Bridge, GB

Sn4734 fine quality Georgian, mahogany, moon phase grandfather clock, having original enamelled

Category

Antique 1780s English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Fine Georgian Longcase Clock by Collier, Eccles

H 94.1 in W 22.05 in D 10.63 in

Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock By John Ross, London

Located in Norwich, GB

Georgian longcase clock by John Ross, London Finely figured flame mahogany case with stepped

Category

Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock By John Ross, London

H 91 in W 21 in D 12 in

Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock by John Taylor, London

Located in Norwich, GB

Georgian Longcase clock by John Taylor, London Finely figured flame mahogany case with

Category

Antique 1780s English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock by John Taylor, London

H 87 in W 20.5 in D 9.5 in

Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock by Mummery, Dover

By Mummery

Located in Norwich, GB

Mahogany Longcase clock by Mummery, Dover. Late Georgian longcase clock in a finely figured

Category

Antique 1830s English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock by Mummery, Dover

H 90 in W 20.5 in D 10 in

18th century mahogany longcase clock John Purden of London

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Late 18th century mahogany longcase clock John Purden London circa 1790. Georgian longcase clock

Category

Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longca...

Materials

Metal

18th century mahogany longcase clock John Purden of London

H 87.25 in W 19.75 in D 10 in

George I Longcase Clock by William Holloway, London

Located in Norwich, GB

George I longcase clock by William Holloway, London Georgian longcase clock in a finely

Category

Antique 1720s British Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

George I Longcase Clock by William Holloway, London

H 87 in W 19 in D 10 in

Lord Nelson Commemorative Georgian Mahogany Longcase Grandfather Clock

Located in Dorking, GB

This Georgian Mahogany longcase clock was made in the Georgian period of about 1815. It is a

Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longc...

Materials

Brass

Lord Nelson Commemorative Georgian Mahogany Longcase Grandfather Clock

H 91 in W 22 in D 10 in

Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock by Thomas Morgan, Edinburgh

By Thomas W. Morgan

Located in Norwich, GB

Mahogany longcase by Thomas Morgan, Edinburgh Fine mahogany case standing on bracket feet with

Category

Antique 19th Century British Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Cl...

Materials

Mahogany

Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock by Thomas Morgan, Edinburgh

H 86 in W 19 in D 10 in

Georgian Mahogany Striking Longcase Clock George III

Located in Lincoln, GB

Step into the elegance of the Georgian era with this exquisite mahogany striking longcase clock, a

Category

Antique 19th Century Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Georgian Mahogany Striking Longcase Clock George III

H 84.26 in W 19.3 in D 9.85 in

Small Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock by John Paine, Brentford

Located in Norwich, GB

Georgian mahogany Longcase clock by John Paine, Brentford A slim finely figured flame mahogany

Category

Antique 1770s English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Small Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock by John Paine, Brentford

H 78 in W 16 in D 9 in

Georgian Single Handed Longcase Clock by John Baker, Sevenoaks

Located in Norwich, GB

Oak longcase clock by John Baker of Sevenoaks. Slim oak case standing on a raised plinth with

Category

Antique 1730s English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Oak

Georgian Single Handed Longcase Clock by John Baker, Sevenoaks

H 82 in W 18 in D 12 in

Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock by Stephen Mears, Hempnall

Located in Norwich, GB

Georgian mahogany longcase clock by Stephen Mears, Hempnall Finely figured mahogany case

Category

Antique 1780s English Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock by Stephen Mears, Hempnall

H 87 in W 19.5 in D 10 in

Georgian Oak and Mahogany Longcase Clock by Thomas Crawshaw, Rotherham

Located in Norwich, GB

Georgian Oak and Mahogany Longcase clock. The case is made from the finest English oak and

Category

Antique 1790s English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Oak

Georgian Oak and Mahogany Longcase Clock by Thomas Crawshaw, Rotherham

H 85.5 in W 19 in D 9 in

Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock with Rocking Ship Automation, Jos. Kent, London

Located in Norwich, GB

Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock with Rocking Ship Automation, Joseph Kent, London. Fine flame

Category

Antique 1810s English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Georgian Mahogany Longcase Clock with Rocking Ship Automation, Jos. Kent, London

H 89 in W 20.5 in D 10 in

Georgian Oak and Mahogany Longcase Clock by John Scott, Edinburgh

Located in Whaley Bridge, GB

Stunning Georgian, oak and mahogany, longcase clock, having swan neck pediment with brass

Category

Antique Early 1800s Scottish George III Grandfather Clocks and Longcase ...

Materials

Oak

Georgian Oak and Mahogany Longcase Clock by John Scott, Edinburgh

H 99.22 in W 13 in D 8.86 in

18th century oak longcase clock by James Draycot

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

18th century oak longcase clock by james draycot wells, circa 1790. Excellent quality golden oak

Category

Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longca...

Materials

Brass, Steel

18th century oak longcase clock by James Draycot

H 92 in W 19.25 in D 10.25 in

18th Century Longcase Clock by Charles Rowbotham of Leicester

Located in Brussels, Brussels

Robotham of the city of Leicester Very beautiful English clock The clock has its original mechanism

Category

Antique 18th Century British Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Cl...

Materials

Oak

18th Century Longcase Clock by Charles Rowbotham of Leicester

H 88.19 in W 18.51 in D 9.45 in

Early 19th Century Longcase Clock Dial Face on Custom Stand

Located in Mckinney, TX

floral details. Once affixed to a longcase clock, the original calendar movement of the clock is still

Category

Antique 1830s English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Iron

Early 19th Century Longcase Clock Dial Face on Custom Stand

H 14.5 in W 12.125 in D 4.5 in

18th Century Mahogany Longcase Clock by John Wood of Grantham

Located in Martlesham, GB

18th century mahogany longcase clock by John Wood of Grantham (known to be working from 1753-1797

Category

Antique 1770s English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century Mahogany Longcase Clock by John Wood of Grantham

H 94 in W 21 in D 10 in

Small Georgian Longcase Domestic Regulator by John Byard, London

Located in Norwich, GB

A very fine small Georgian longcase domestic regulator. Twelve inch silvered dial signed ‘John

Category

Antique 1790s English George III Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Small Georgian Longcase Domestic Regulator by John Byard, London

H 79 in W 21 in D 10 in

George III Longcase Clock by Robert Wood, circa 1795, London

By ROBERT WOOD OF LONDON (c.1790-1825)

Located in Whaley Bridge, GB

Fine quality Georgian grandfather clock, having arched, silvered dial signed by Robert Wood, London

Category

Antique 1790s English George III Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

George III Longcase Clock by Robert Wood, circa 1795, London

H 90.56 in W 21.07 in D 10.04 in

Fine Inlaid George III Longcase Clock with Automaton Movement, circa 1780

Located in Essex, MA

Exquisitely inlaid Georgian period 18th century longcase or grandfather clock. Original boxwood

Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Grandfather Clocks and Long...

Materials

Boxwood, Mahogany, Satinwood

Fine Inlaid George III Longcase Clock with Automaton Movement, circa 1780

H 97 in W 19 in D 11 in

18th Century Georgian Mahogany Tall Case Clock, Signed Ralph Sherratt Tilley

Located in Milford, NH

A Georgian Chippendale mahogany tall case clock, probably 18th century English, with carved swan

Category

Antique 18th Century English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Cl...

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century Georgian Mahogany Tall Case Clock, Signed Ralph Sherratt Tilley

H 93.5 in W 21.5 in D 10 in

Georgian Walnut Tall Case Clock by Thomas Smith of Norwich

Located in Greenwich, CT

Fine 8 day tall case clock by Thomas Smith of Norwich, the three original giltwood urn finials over

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Grandfather Clocks and Longca...

Materials

Brass

Georgian Walnut Tall Case Clock by Thomas Smith of Norwich

H 96 in W 19.25 in D 10.5 in

Late 18th Century English Oak "Grandmother" Clock

By Robert Wells 1

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

English clock, a "Grandmother" size, c.1770-80. With single weight driving time & strike. 30 hour

Category

Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longca...

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Late 18th Century English Oak "Grandmother" Clock

H 64.5 in W 12.5 in D 8.5 in

Westminster Chiming Grandmother Clock in a Mahogany Case

Located in Montreal, QC

This grandmother clock has a spring-driven, three train, chiming movement, facilitating the

Category

Early 20th Century English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Brass

Westminster Chiming Grandmother Clock in a Mahogany Case

H 67.5 in W 15 in D 9.5 in

19th Century Welsh Country Oak Long Case Clock by Wm Jones of Llanfyllin

Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight

the last few years, we do recommend that a longcase Clock is set up by someone in the know, it is not

Category

Antique 19th Century Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Oak

19th Century Welsh Country Oak Long Case Clock by Wm Jones of Llanfyllin

H 83 in W 18 in D 11 in

18th century inlaid mahogany long case clock by William Underwood

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

18th century inlaid mahogany long case clock by william underwood of london circa 1760. Excellent

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcas...

Materials

Mahogany

18th century inlaid mahogany long case clock by William Underwood

H 92.75 in W 20.75 in D 10 in

20th C English Mahogany and Walnut Grandmother Clock with Le Rose Movement

By John Thompson

Located in Morristown, NJ

20th c., London, a grandmother clock in a wood case with mixed veneers, with scrolled open pediment

Category

Mid-20th Century English Georgian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Metal, Brass

20th C English Mahogany and Walnut Grandmother Clock with Le Rose Movement

H 59 in W 14 in D 9 in

Antique George III Mahogany Inlaid Eight Day Grandfather Clock Antique George I

Located in Suffolk, GB

Antique George III mahogany inlaid eight day grandfather clock with a swan neck pediment original

Category

Antique 19th Century English Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Antique George III Mahogany Inlaid Eight Day Grandfather Clock Antique George I

H 87.01 in W 18.9 in D 9.06 in

Decorative Objects Under $1,000

Antique and Vintage Decorative Objects

Georgian Decorative Objects

18th Century and Earlier Decorative Objects

Wood Decorative Objects

Decorative Objects on Sale

Get Updated with New Arrivals

Save "Georgian Longcase Clocks", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Georgian Longcase Clocks For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of georgian longcase clocks available for sale. The range of distinct georgian longcase clocks — often made from wood, mahogany and oak — can elevate any home. Georgian longcase clocks have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century. There are many kinds of georgian longcase clocks to choose from, but at 1stDibs, Georgian georgian longcase clocks are of considerable interest. There have been many well-made georgian longcase clocks over the years, but those made by Conyers Dunlop, Daniel & Thomas Grignion and Ethan Allen are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much are Georgian Longcase Clocks?

Prices for georgian longcase clocks start at $1,300 and top out at $77,952 with the average selling for $8,900.

Finding the Right grandfather-clocks-longcase-clocks for You

Antique grandfather clocks and longcase clocks are staples of old-world design sensibilities, and, along with their storied history, these statuesque timepieces can bring a feeling of warmth to living rooms, dining rooms and other areas of your home.

Longcase clocks, which originated in England and were manufactured in the United States beginning in the 1700s, refer to tall clocks with a face and clock works positioned high in the housing while a large swinging pendulum movement is tucked inside the case, which is supported by a carved base called a plinth.

While guests making their way through your foyer (another ideal location for such a furnishing) might typically refer to your longcase clock as a “grandfather clock,” there are actually three varieties of these stylish floor clocks, which include granddaughter clocks (the shortest, generally not one solid piece of wood and around three to five feet tall), grandmother clocks (the slimmer middle ground, between five feet and six feet tall) and grandfather clocks, which are typically between six and seven feet tall.

Sculptural and statement-making, antique grandfather clocks created by the likes of the Seth Thomas Clock Company, the Howard Miller Clock Company, Hermle or other clockmakers are an alluring choice in filling up space in a room, while the shorter longcase clocks are just as useful if you need an element that is comparatively muted or you’re working with limited space.

Each generation of artisan clockmakers, working in various furniture styles over time, contributed its own flourishes to the design of longcase clocks. Antique grandfather clocks in the Georgian style share commonalities with neoclassical design. They were often made in dark woods such as mahogany and feature intricate carving. Mahogany is also common for Victorian-era grandfather clocks, although examples of this style can be found in oak and walnut too. Designers of contemporary grandfather clocks are using a range of materials.

It’s easy to get confused when determining the origins or value of an antique grandfather clock or other vintage longcase clock. While an antique appraiser will be able to tell quickly, searching for a manufacturer’s name engraved on the face and dial of the clock may be an easy way to learn about the history of your clock.

Find a distinctive variety of antique grandfather clocks and longcase clocks on 1stDibs, and browse our collection of unusually beautiful clocks, wall clocks, desk clocks and other vintage clocks too.

Questions About Georgian Longcase Clocks

How does a longcase clock work?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
A longcase clock works with the help of a pendulum, which is usually hidden away in the body of the clock. As the pendulum swings, it creates kinetic energy that then turns the gears to move the hands on the face. You'll find a variety of longcase clocks on 1stDibs.