What is a tall case clock?

This is a tall narrow floor-standing pendulum clock, with a pendulum held inside the tower or the waist of the case. These might feature elaborate carvings ornamentation of the hood, mainly prized for their decorative and antique value.

Why are grandfather clocks 6 feet tall?

Most historians believe that early grandfather clocks were 6 feet tall because the long case was required to hold a pendulum of adequate length to power their movement. Some clocks are even larger, though this is likely to give them a more substantial, decorative look. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of grandfather clocks.

Painted Tall Clock

18th Century Swedish Clock

Antique Floor Clock

English Longcase 19th Century Grandfather Clock

Brass Clock Face

Metal Clock Hands

George III Grandfather Clocks

Casement Clocks

Carved Walnut Clock

Category

Antique 19th Century French Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Tall 19th century chinoiserie clock

$4,375

French tall clock circa 1850

Located in Sleepy Hollow, NY

exposes the beautiful original paint underneath. Other than the re-paint, this tall clock is all original

Category

Antique 19th Century French Clocks

Materials

Enamel

French tall clock circa 1850

$2,450

18th Century French Regence Tall Case Clock

Located in Corona Del Mar, CA

Magnificent painted and parcel gilt tall case clock features rocaille carved hood with glazed door

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Clocks

18th Century French Regence Tall Case Clock

$14,500

Painted And Decorated Gustavian Floor Clock

Located in Bedford, NY

TALL FLOOR CLOCK PAINTED IN WOOD COLOR WITH GILT AND BLACK DECORATIONS- ORIGINAL CLOCK FACE WITH

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Clocks

Materials

Birch, Paint

Painted And Decorated Gustavian Floor Clock

$4,900

Swedish Blue Painted Mora Clock

Located in Savannah, GA

Pale blue/grey painted Swedish tall case (Mora) clock with gilded detailing, front cabinet opening

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Clocks

Materials

Metal

Swedish Blue Painted Mora Clock

$3,500

18th Century Antique Swedish Painted Tall Case Mora Clock

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

18th Century Antique Swedish Painted Tall Case Mora Clock Lovely carved shaped bonnet top, graceful

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Grandfather Clocks and Longcas...

Materials

Wood, Paint

18th Century Antique Swedish Painted Tall Case Mora Clock

$8,950

Paint and Parcel Gilt Mora Clock

Located in San Francisco, CA

Paint and parcel gilt tall case clock, called a Mora clock in reference to the Swedish city of Mora

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Clocks

Materials

Metal

Paint and Parcel Gilt Mora Clock

$9,000

18th-19th Century Dutch Painted Tall Case Clock with Gliding

Located in Atlanta, GA

18th-19th century Dutch painted tall case clock with gliding.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Glass, Wood

18th-19th Century Dutch Painted Tall Case Clock with Gliding

$5,250

Swedish Tall Case Clock from Fryksdale in Original Decorative Paint

Located in Sheffield, MA

Beautifully carved and painted tall case clock from Fryksdalen, Värmland, Sweden. Just below the

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Grandfather Clocks and Longcas...

Materials

Wood

Swedish Tall Case Clock from Fryksdale in Original Decorative Paint

$8,200

Federal Inlaid Mahogany Tall Clock, Attributed to Jacob Taylor, NY/NJ circa 1810

Located in Providence, RI

While this clock is unsigned, it is readily attributable to Taylor as several of this grouping of

Category

Antique 19th Century American Federal Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Federal Inlaid Mahogany Tall Clock, Attributed to Jacob Taylor, NY/NJ circa 1810

$40,000

Swedish Tall Case Clock with Calendar

Located in Great Barrington, MA

Mora clock in a beautifully carved tall case, Sweden, circa 1820. The clock itself is quite

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Grandfather Clocks and Longcas...

Materials

Glass, Bentwood

Swedish Tall Case Clock with Calendar

$11,500

Swedish Tall Case Clock from Fryksdal

Located in Great Barrington, MA

Mora clock, circa 1820, in a case from Fryksdalen in Värmland, northwest of Stockholm, bordering on

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Grandfather Clocks and Longcas...

Materials

Wood

Swedish Tall Case Clock from Fryksdal

$6,600

18th Century Swedish Rococo Chinoiserie Tall Clock

Located in Houston, TX

Swedish Rococo tall clock with chinoiserie decorated case in gilt on paint. Clock works by Daniel

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Rococo Grandfather Clocks and Longcase ...

Materials

Brass

18th Century Swedish Rococo Chinoiserie Tall Clock

$14,750

Swedish Tall Case Clock, circa 1810

Located in San Francisco, CA

A neoclassical painted and silver gilt tall case clock with original black dial with urn finial

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Grandfather Clocks and Long...

Materials

Wood

Swedish Tall Case Clock, circa 1810

$12,500

French Light Painted Louis XVI Style Tall Case Clock from the Late 19th Century

Located in Atlanta, GA

A French Louis XVI style late 19th century painted wood tall case clock with original gilded and

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Brass, Enamel

French Light Painted Louis XVI Style Tall Case Clock from the Late 19th Century

$4,235

Swedish Tall Case Clock by Olof Trÿgg

Located in Great Barrington, MA

Neoclassical tall case clock, circa 1760, with dial signed by Swedish clock maker Olof Trÿgg

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Neoclassical Grandfather Clocks and Lon...

Materials

Brass

Swedish Tall Case Clock by Olof Trÿgg

$2,900

18th Century Swedish Baroque Tall Case Mora Clock

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Antique Swedish Baroque tall case mora clock, with very graceful serpentine shape and detailed

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Grandfather Clocks and Longcas...

Materials

Wood, Paint

18th Century Swedish Baroque Tall Case Mora Clock

$8,950

19th Century Swedish Floor Clock

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Rare original robin's egg blue-painted swedish tall case clock. Hand carved wood face with

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Clocks

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Floor Clock

$4,900

Antique Bornholm Tall Case Clock in the Gustavian Style, circa 1840

Located in BOSTON, MA

Antique Bornholm tall case clock with original weight driven and pendulum regulated works. The

Category

Antique 1840s Danish Empire Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Pine

Antique Bornholm Tall Case Clock in the Gustavian Style, circa 1840

$3,980

19th century Gustavian style Swedish clock

Located in Water Mill, NY

White painted Swedish Gustavian style tall clock, 19th century, with newer face

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Clocks

19th century Gustavian style Swedish clock

$5,600

Late 18th Century Period Swedish Baroque Painted Shaped Moro Clock

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A Swedish 18th century period baroque painted Moro tall clock round white face with black numbers

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Grandfather Clocks and Longcas...

Materials

Pine

Late 18th Century Period Swedish Baroque Painted Shaped Moro Clock

$8,850

Painted Wood Tall and Narrow Swedish Style Clock Cupboard with half-Columns

Located in Atlanta, GA

This tall and narrow Swedish style painted clock cupboard from the late 19th century features a

Category

Antique 19th Century European Cupboards

Materials

Brass

Painted Wood Tall and Narrow Swedish Style Clock Cupboard with half-Columns

$2,365

Swedish Painted and Gilt Tall Case Clock

Located in San Francisco, CA

A classic Swedish tall case clock from the area around Mora. We think the gilding is refreshed or

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Clocks

Materials

Wood, Glass

Swedish Painted and Gilt Tall Case Clock

$8,885

19th Century Swedish Painted Tall Case Clock

Located in Stamford, CT

Swedish Gustavian style painted tall case clock in working condition, circa 19th century. The case

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Grandfather Clocks and Longcase C...

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Painted Tall Case Clock

$2,100

18th Century French Tall Case Clock

Located in New Orleans, LA

18th century hand-carved and hand-painted walnut long case clock. The 18th century concave face is

Category

Antique 1760s French Louis XIV Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Iron

18th Century French Tall Case Clock

$6,500

Swedish Tall Case Clock from Småland

Located in Great Barrington, MA

Tall case clock, Sweden, circa 1830, from the province of Småland. The case has a simple crown

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Grandfather Clocks and Longcas...

Materials

Glass, Wood

Swedish Tall Case Clock from Småland

$5,800

Faux Marble Painted and Ribbed Early 19th Gustavian Swedish Tall Case Clock

Located in Antwerp, BE

Very elegant and unusual painted Swedish tall case clock. Gustavian style carved ribbing and faux

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Grandfather Clocks and Long...

Faux Marble Painted and Ribbed Early 19th Gustavian Swedish Tall Case Clock

$1,781

Tall Case Clock by Sven Nilsson Morin

By Sven Nilsson Morin

Located in Great Barrington, MA

Swedish tall case clock in original paint by the artist and carver Sven Nilsson Morin, circa 1810

Category

Antique Early 18th Century Swedish Rococo Grandfather Clocks and Longcas...

Materials

Pine

Tall Case Clock by Sven Nilsson Morin

$7,800

Mid-18th Century English Chinoiserie Decorated Tall Case Clock

Located in Kilmarnock, VA

An elegant and imposing mid-18th century. English tall case clock, having second hand and day of

Category

Antique 1760s English Chinoiserie Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Wood

Mid-18th Century English Chinoiserie Decorated Tall Case Clock

$9,800

Antique Swedish Tall Blue Painted Clock Cabinet Early 19th Century

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Antique Swedish tall blue painted clock cabinet early 19th century. Top section has two storage

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Paint

Antique Swedish Tall Blue Painted Clock Cabinet Early 19th Century

$12,500

Decorative Objects Under $1,000

Antique and Vintage Decorative Objects

19th Century Decorative Objects

Wood Decorative Objects

European Decorative Objects

Decorative Objects on Sale

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Painted Tall Clock For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal painted tall clock for your home. Each painted tall clock for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, glass and metal. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer painted tall clock, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. Each painted tall clock bearing Neoclassical, Louis XV or Rococo hallmarks is very popular. You’ll likely find more than one painted tall clock that is appealing in its simplicity, but John Collier, Joshua Allsop and Josua Lanner produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a Painted Tall Clock?

The average selling price for a painted tall clock at 1stDibs is $6,380, while they’re typically $2,000 on the low end and $58,000 for the highest priced.

Finding the Right Clocks for You

A sophisticated clock design, whether it’s a desk clock, mantel clock or large wall clock for your living room, is a decorative 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. Given the versatility of these treasured fixtures — they’ve long been made in a range of shapes, sizes and styles — a clock can prove integral to your own particular interior decor.

Antique and vintage clocks can whisk us back to the 18th and 19th centuries. When most people think of antique clocks, they imagine an Art Deco Bakelite tabletop clock or wall clock, named for the revolutionary synthetic plastic, Bakelite, of which they’re made, or a stately antique grandfather clock. But the art of clock-making goes way back, transcending continents and encompassing an entire range of design styles and technologies. In short, there are many kinds of clocks depending on your needs.

A variety of wall clocks can be found on 1stDibs. A large antique hand-carved walnut wall clock is best suited to a big room and a flat background given what will likely be outwardly sculptural features, while Georgian grandfather clocks, or longcase clocks, will help welcome rainswept guests into your entryway or foyer. An interactive cuckoo clock, large or small, is guaranteed to bring outsize personality to your living room or dining room. For conversation pieces of a similar breed, mid-century modern enthusiasts go for the curious Ball clock, the first of more than 150 clock models conceived in the studio of legendary architect and designer George Nelson.

Minimalist contemporary clocks and books pair nicely on a shelf, but an eye-catching vintage mantel clock can add balance to your home library while drawing attention to your art and design books and other decorative objects. Ormolu clocks dating from the Louis XVI period, designed in the neoclassical style, are often profusely ornate, featuring architectural flourishes and rich naturalistic details. Rococo-style mantel clocks of Meissen porcelain or porcelain originating from manufacturers in cities such as Limoges, France, during the 18th and 19th centuries, exude an air of imperial elegance on your shelves or side tables and can help give your desk a 19th-century upgrade.

On 1stDibs, find a range of extraordinary antique and vintage clocks today.

Questions About Painted Tall Clock

What is a tall case clock?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021
This is a tall narrow floor-standing pendulum clock, with a pendulum held inside the tower or the waist of the case. These might feature elaborate carvings ornamentation of the hood, mainly prized for their decorative and antique value.
Why are grandfather clocks 6 feet tall?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Most historians believe that early grandfather clocks were 6 feet tall because the long case was required to hold a pendulum of adequate length to power their movement. Some clocks are even larger, though this is likely to give them a more substantial, decorative look. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of grandfather clocks.