Ormolu Clocks
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Material: Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and very high quality French 19th century Louis XV st. ormolu clock. The clock is raised by most elegant scroll acanthus leaves centering a beautiful foliate reserve. ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu Bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Louis XV. st. ormolu, patinated bronze and Rouge Griotte marble clock. The clock is raised b...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Empire Bronze and Ormolu Cartel Clock by Bailly, Paris
Located in Essex, MA
A wall clock with gilt bronze ribbon bow joining a gilt bronze ribbon attached to the clock case with patinated bronze back section and laurel leaf mounted surrounding a circular glass hinged cover opening to an enamelled dial signed Bailly a Paris. An eagle with spread wings at the base seated on a plinth. All finely cast. The laurel leaves signify victory and the eagle represents strength and power. Bailly is considered on of the finest French clock makers...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
French 19th Century Napoleon III Period Marble, Ormolu and Bronze Garniture Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French 19th century Napoleon III period black Belgian marble, ormolu and patinated bronze garniture set. The three pi...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French 18th Century Louis XV Period Tortoiseshell and Ormolu Boulle Cartel Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A large and important French 18th century Louis XV period Tortoiseshell and ormolu Boulle cartel clock signed Le Faucheur, A Paris. The clock is ra...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Large Empire Period Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Large Empire period gilt bronze mantel clock
French, early 19th Century
Measures: Height 52cm, width 28cm, depth 17.5cm
This superb Empi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Ormolu Cartel Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive and high quality French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu cartel clock. The clock is raised on its original wall mounting stand with a lovely foliate bottom finial ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XV Rococo Style Ormolu & Porcelain Mantle Clock
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine and most attractive 19th century French Louis XV Rococo Style ormolu and porcelain mantle clock, modelled as an urn with floral finial and goat head masks to the sides, o...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Large 19th Century Louis XVI Style Bronze Ormolu Mantel Clock Guibal Paris
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A fine and large Louis XVI style French mantel clock, from the end of the Napoleon III period, 1870-1880. The clock is bronze casted and has a fire-gilded finish, the dial is enamele...
Category
1870s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Brass, Bronze, Enamel
English Regency Bronze Arcadian "Genre" Mantel Clock of Boy Feeding Chickens
Located in London, GB
Unusual Antique English Regency bronze "genre" mantel clock genre clock . In the " Arcadian" genre manner made popular in France by Marie Antoinette and then later by the Empress Josephine. I have had the French Empire model of this clock and this is an English version of that model. The subject is of a boy feeding chickens grain out of his hat. Set upon an oval base with toupe feet and an applied ormolu mount of chicken feeding. The clock dial and movement housed within a chicken coup decorated with applied mounts to each side of flowers in a pot...
Category
1820s English Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Clock Signed by Denière
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu clock signed by Denière. The clock is raised by elegant topie shaped feet below beautiful block rosettes. At the center is a richl...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 18th Century Louis XVI Period Carrara Marble and Ormolu Garniture Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and high quality French 18th century Louis XVI period white Carrara marble and ormolu garniture clock set signed by Jean-Simon Bourdier. The clock is raised by elegant mot...
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Louis XVI Architectural Gilt Bronze and Malachite Clock
Located in London, GB
Louis XVI architectural gilt bronze and malachite clock
French, late 18th century
Measures: Height 53cm, width 35.5cm, depth 11cm
Crafted from ormolu and a later malachite venee...
Category
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
Rococo Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock with Sèvres Style Porcelain Plaques
Located in London, GB
Rococo style gilt bronze mantel clock with Sèvres style porcelain plaques
French, late 19th Century
Measures: Height 45cm, width 32cm, depth 15cm
This fine mantel clock is a cha...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Marble and Ormolu Portique Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu Portique clock, signed "Tiffany'. Raised by a marble base with ormolu topie shaped supports. Above are two columns decorated by finely chased floral ormolu mounts. The columns are flanked by two fluted tapering ormolu design elements. The enamel dial has a foliate garland at the center and ormolu pendulum. At the top crown is an ormolu floral basket with two lovebirds...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Ormolu and Porcelain Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive late 19th century French gilded ormolu and cobalt blue porcelain urn clock set, the clock having seated putti holding garl...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
English Regency Fusee Mantel Clock in Ormolu and White Marble by Finer and Nowla
Located in London, GB
English Regency ormolu and white marble drum mantel clock. Typical drum shaped clock, set on four elaborate ormolu toupee feet. The white marble has an applied ormolu mount of flower...
Category
1820s English Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Silvered Bronze Clock Set Depicting Hebe & Jupiter's Eagle by Charpentier & Co
Located in London, GB
In classical mythology, Hebe, the personification of youth, is also cupbearer to the gods. She is the daughter of Juno and Jupiter (represented here by his eagle). Seated between his wings, she is holding the oinochoe (wine pitcher) in one arm while with her free hand she gracefully offers him divine nectar known as ambrosia, a drink which reinforced the Olympians' immortality.
The three-piece clock garniture centred around the large silvered bronze figural group after the original by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, supported on a gilt-bronze mounted onyx clock base, denoting the hours in Roman numerals, the central clock flanked by a pair of silvered and gilt bronze female figures in neoclassical garb, their amphoras issuing five scrolling candleholders...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Onyx, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Belle Époque Period Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period ormolu clock signed by Raingo Frères. The clock is raised by lovely mottled feet with a floral desig...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Clock Signed Cheuret À Marseilles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely decorative and large scale French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu clock signed Cheuret à Marseilles. The clock is raised on topie feet below a straight frieze with pro...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Neoclassical Style Malachite and Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
French Neoclassical style malachite and gilt bronze mantel clock
French, late 19th Century
Measures: height 42cm, width 22cm, depth 11cm
This fine clock...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
French Mid 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu Portico Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French mid 19th century Empire st. ormolu portico clock. The clock raised on a rectangular base with finely chased borders and satin and burnish finish interlocking circ...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Large 18th Century Louis XVI Ormolu Female Mask Wall Clock, "Juhel à Paris"
Located in Berlin, DE
18th Century Louis XVI Gilt Bronze Female Mask Wall Clock, sign. "Juhel à Paris"
The ormolu cartouche-shaped case surmounted by a twin-handled neoclas...
Category
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality mid-19th century French Louis XIV st. ormolu clock. The clock is raised by four tapered fluted legs decorated with acanthus leaves. The scalloped shaped c...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Annular Signed Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most spectacular and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble, ormolu and patinated bronze annular clock, signed MARTI, circa 1840. Raised by a...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. White Carrara Marble and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French early 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu mounted clock. Raised on ormolu supports the rectangular marble base with beaded trim and Clodion...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Marble and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu clock, signed Samuel Marti. The clock is raised by six beautiful circular ormolu feet with fine fluted...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French Early 18th Century Louis XV Period Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A superb French early 18th century Louis XV period ormolu clock, signed Gaudrons du Roy, Paris. The clock is raised on an ormolu base with luxuriant scrolled movements. Below the fac...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Rococo Style Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th Century French gilded ormolu Rococo influenced mantel clock, having wonderful scrolling foliate decoration, the clock face having enamel Roman numerals, an e...
Category
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Rouge Griotte Marble and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent French 19th century Louis XVI st. Rouge Griotte marble and ormolu clock by Raingo Frères, Paris. At the base are stunning ormolu mounts of rosettes and scrolled foliate...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Cartel Wall Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful, classical Empire influenced 19th century gilded ormolu Cartel wall clock, having ribbon and scrolling foliate decoration. The white enamel clock face set in a Lyre with ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Early 18th Century Louis XV Period Tortoise Shell and Ormolu Cartel Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular and extremely high quality French early 18th century Louis XV period tortoise shell and ormolu mounted Cartel clock. The impressive clock rests on its original wall mou...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Mid 19th-Century Gilt-Bronze Carriage Clock
Located in Greenlawn, NY
Lee & Son, Belfast – Retailer
The very heavy gilt-bronze case has a bollard handle, a glass viewing panel above, is stamped 1522 and has a pinned back door with the release on th...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Tortoiseshell / Ormolu Westminster Chiming Mantle Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and fine quality late 19th Century English bracket / mantel clock. Veneered in red Tortoiseshell and having wonderful gilded ormolu mounts and mouldings. Having fla...
Category
Late 19th Century English Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Clock Signed F. Barbedienne
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very elegant and richly chased 19th century French Louis XVI st. ormolu clock signed F. Barbedienne. The clock is raised by five toupee shaped feet. At the frieze are two rosettes encompassing a Rinceau design below the berried laurel band. Above is the original beveled curved glass door and enameled dial. The pediment is decorated with acanthus leaves. At the top is the urn of prosperity with a finial draped by a laurel leaf garland...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century, Louis XVI Style Clock Garniture
Located in Brighton, Sussex
French 19th century Louis XVI style white marble and gilded ormolu clock garniture, having a two handled urn finial above a white enamel clock face, an eight day duration clock that ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Large Baroque Style Austrian Ormolu Mounted Musical Clock
Located in London, GB
Large Baroque style Austrian ormolu mounted musical clock
Austrian, early 19th Century
Total height: 211cm
Clock: Height 135cm, width 86cm, depth 52
Stand: Height 76cm, width 81c...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Baroque Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 18th Century Louis XVI Period Ormolu and Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and high quality French 18th century Louis XVI period ormolu, Gris St. Anne and white Carrara marble clock, signed 'Mailland, a Paris'. The clock is raised by six mottled ...
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Early 19th Century Marble and Ormolu Quarter Strike Clock with Sundial
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very high quality and unique French early 19th century white Carrara marble and ormolu quarter strike clock with sundial, signed Robert et Courvoisier. The clock is raised on an ebonized fruitwood support with ball feet. The rectangular white Carrara marble base above is decorated with finely chased ormolu mounts of cherubs and mythological scenes, topped with wonderfully chased lions perched at each corner. The white Carrara marble sundial is raised on an ebonized fruitwood panel, framed with a chased ormolu border. Above is the large enamel clock within a twisted rope ormolu designed border. The impressive top crown has a white Carrara marble base and semiprecious stone globe clutched by an open winged ormolu eagle. With a very intricate movement, including a crown wheel escapement and machinery striking on the back panel. A remarkable double chime at every quarter with three chimes at the 3rd quarter. Louis Courvoisier (1758é1832) A Swiss clock...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Napoleon III Period Boulle Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking high quality French 19th century Napoleon III period ormolu, tortoiseshell, and brass inlaid Boulle clock. The clock is raised by handsome ormolu paw feet with acanthus le...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and white Carrara marble clock. The clock is raised by fine circular ormolu supports below the demi lune shaped white Carrara marb...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Fine American Gilt Bronze Standing Clock by Edward F. Caldwell & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Antique chased Ormolu clock case ornamented with hand pierced all over foliate pattern scrollwork, achieved through repousse and engraving, enclosing a pocket watch-style clock beari...
Category
Early 20th Century Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Mid 19th Century Louis XVI St. Clock in Ormolu Signed ‘Beurdeley À Paris’
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most spectacular and sensational quality French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. clock in ormolu signed ‘BEURDELEY À PARIS’. The large scaled clock is raised by bun supports decorate...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze and Malachite Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Neoclassical style gilt bronze and malachite mantel clock
French, late 19th Century
Measures: Height 47cm, width 19cm, depth 19cm
This wonderful Louis XVI style mantel clock is designed in malachite and gilt bronze—with the malachite being a later veneer. The clock takes after a famous original 1775 model by Brécourt, known as 'Vase pendule...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
French 19th Century Neoclassical Empire Style Ormolu and Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular mid 19th century French Neo-Classical Empire st. ormolu and marble clock. The clock is raised on a rectangular Vert Maurin marble base with ormolu supports. Centered at...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Early 19th Century Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive French early 19th century ormolu and white Carrara marble clock. The clock is raised by elegant scrolled foliate supports with dolphin heads. The rectangular white Carr...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Ormolu and Marble Garniture Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and most decorative French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble three piece garniture set signed Japy Frères. The impressive clock, which Japy Frères won a gold metal for this clock in 1855, at the center is raised by a rectangular Rouge Griotte marble base with fine bun feet and a striking wrap around Coeur de Rai and pierced palmettes bands at the mottled border. The white enameled clock face displays pierced hands and Roman hour numerals set within the mottled ormolu bezel with intricately detailed beaded and foliate designs with two charming and most unique butterflies. A beautiful maiden is seated above draped in a wonderfully executed flowing garment while breastfeeding a charming winged cherub with an anchor, a quiver, and an ewer at their side. The pair of urns are displayed at each side and are each raised by elegant square bases with a bottom ormolu band and an exceptional wrap around mottled band. Above the square Rouge Griotte pedestal...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Marble, Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Clock
By Jean A. Rennes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble, ormolu and patinated bronze clock, signed Jean, A Rennes. The clock is raised by four fine topie s...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French Neoclassical Style Sevres Bisque Clock Signed Guyon a Lyon
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French neo-classical st. Sèvres Bisque clock signed Guyon a Lyon ( Jean Baptiste Guyon). The clock is raised by ormolu supports below th...
Category
19th Century French Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Louis XVI Style Bronze Ormolu Mantel Clock Garniture
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A very fine Louis XVI style figural mantel clock with matching flanking candelabra. The clock is bronze casted and has an ormolu f...
Category
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Antique French Empire Patinated and Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique French Empire patinated and gilt bronze mantel clock
French, early 19th century
Measures: Height 55cm, width 43cm, depth 13cm
This fine Empire period mantel clock is wro...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French 18th Century Louis XVI Period Ormolu and Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely elegant and very high-quality French 18th century Louis XVI period ormolu, Bleu Turquin and white Carrara marble clock signed by Jean-Baptiste Dutertre. The clock is rai...
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Mid 18th Century Louis XV Period Tall Case Clock, circa 1740
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational French Louis XV period, circa 1740, tall case clock with an extremely rare mechanism movement signed Jean Charost. The original case in kingwood, ebony and rosewood ven...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Sèvres Porcelain and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent French 19th century Louis XVI st. Sèvres porcelain and ormolu clock. The clock is raised by fine topie shaped feet below the ormolu base which is decorated with elegant...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Marble and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu, black Belgian and white Carrara marble clock, signed Vaillant à Paris. The clock is raised by a black Belgian marble base with fine ormolu topie feet and striking fitted ormolu plaques...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Grandfather Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular and extremely high quality French mid-19th century Louis XV st. kingwood, tulipwood, and ormolu grandfather clock. The clock is raised by a fine scalloped shaped kingwo...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ormolu Signed Garniture Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French mid 19th century Louis XV st. ormolu clock and candelabra garniture set, signed Barrand & Vignon Horlogerie, Paris. The clock is raised by an elegant scrolled Rocai...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Edward F. Caldwell, An Extremely Fine and Rare Ormolu-Mounted Malachite Clock
Located in New York, NY
Edward F. Caldwell and Co., An extremely fine and rare American ormolu-mounted malachite clock with the prince of wales's feathers, circa early 20th century
The shape, design, and...
Category
Early 20th Century American Ormolu Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Bronze, 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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