Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
LOUIS XVI STYLE
Reflecting the final era of royal opulence before the upheaval of the French Revolution, antique Louis XVI furniture features more angular shapes than the Rococo curves of the Louis XV style, harkening back to the imposing grandeur of Louis XIV.
Dating between 1750 and 1800, an era that overlapped with the last king of France whose reign was cut short by the guillotine, Louis XVI furniture, known as the goût grec, is emblematic of the neoclassical revision that French furniture underwent during the second half of the 18th century.
Authentic Louis XVI furniture characteristics include clean lines and carved details such as scrolls and acanthus flourishes that were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. This was informed by a burgeoning interest in antiquity in the 18th century, owing to new archaeological excavations at sites including Pompeii and Herculaneum. It largely eclipsed the more East Asian–influenced ornamentation of Louis XV for something more geometric and symmetrical.
The Louis XVI style was defined by what was being created for the palatial rooms at Versailles and Fontainebleau, particularly for the queen, with cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener being a favorite of Marie-Antoinette’s for his luxurious pieces accented with gilded bronze and marquetry. Furniture maker Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené was also a major designer of the period, with his pieces for the royal residences adorned with giltwood and neoclassical touches like tapered columns for chair legs and laurel leaf carvings. Cabinetmaker Adam Weisweiler occasionally incorporated into his furniture porcelain panels produced by Sèvres, a popular manufacturer of European ceramics that served the crown with serveware, vases and other decorative objects.
Find a collection of antique Louis XVI seating, tables, cabinets and other furniture on 1stDibs.
to
39
182
26
148
8
4
1
1
1
182
95
82
80
72
52
39
26
17
16
13
12
9
6
2
1
1
179
117
90
81
67
182
127
181
174
4
1
Height
to
Width
to
182
182
182
5
4
4
4
3
Style: Louis XVI
Item Ships From: Europe
Italian imperial Louis XVI watch triptych 1970s
Located in Cantù, IT
Italian imperial Louis XVI watch triptych 1970s
Category
20th Century Italian Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Italian bronze and wood battery operated French stylus clock 1990s
Located in Cantù, IT
Italian bronze and wood battery operated French stylus clock 1990s
Category
20th Century Italian Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Wood
19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Bronze Clock with Sèvres Porcelain
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A fine quality Louis XVI style bronze ormolu mantel clock. The case is made of gilt brass and bronze ormolu casted ornaments, Roman numerals in white enameled cartouches. On top of t...
Category
1880s French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze, 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 Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Period Bronze Ormolu Mantel Clock with Candelabras
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A finely bronze fire-gilded ormolu mantel clock set with matching candelabras. Rich ornate with typical Louis XVI mounts, floral garlands, scr...
Category
1770s French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu, Enamel
G. Denière, "Pendule à cage", France, circa 1860
Located in PARIS, FR
Large and rare Louis XVI style cage clock in chiseled and gilded bronze, rectangular in shape, highlighted with friezes of water leaves and pearls, with glass panels decorated with t...
Category
1860s French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
$45,731 / item
French 19th Century Louis XVI Gilded Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock
Located in Vilnius, LT
Antique 19th century French Louis XVI style gilded bronze and white marble mantel clock.
The circular case is decorated with a floral elements and surmounted by the figures of Venus...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Fine Ormolu and Marble Cherub Clock Set by H Luppens Paris
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A large and magnificent clock set by the renown bronze founder H Luppens of Brussels. Classically modelled in the Louis XVI style, the clock features three ormolu cherubs toiling to ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Louis Xv1 Style Striking Figural Ormolu-Mounted White Marble Clock
Located in London, GB
A wonderful French Louis XV1 style striking figural ormolu-mounted white marble clock.
The beautifully cast figures of Venus and Cupid are springi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
20th century French Louis XVI Marble and Gilded Bronze Mantel Clock, 1940s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Louis XVI-style clock in marble and gilt bronze. Refined details include a delicate dial, decorative birds, and floral ornaments. Perfect for a classic interior or a collection. Acce...
Category
1940s French Vintage Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Antique French Clock Set
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A stunning antique French ormolu clock set, circa 1870, mounted with exquisite Sèvres style porcelain with Rose Pompadour pink ground. Pan...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
Important Five Pieces Marble and Gilded Bronze Clock Set, France, Circa 1860
By Henri Picard
Located in PARIS, FR
Marked on the dial Furet
Bon, Hrs du Roy, à Paris
Measures: Clock – Height 98 cm (38 1/2 in.), width 70 cm (27 1/2 in.), depth 25 cm (9 3/4 in.)
Candelabra – Height 116 cm ...
Category
1860s French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Japy Frères Louis XVI Gilt Bronze Antique French Clock
By Japy Frères
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A stunning original antique French gilt bronze clock by the renown maker Japy Frères. Of architectural form, the case finely cast in gilt-bronze with neoclassical ornament, surmounte...
Category
19th Century European Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Sèvres-Style Ormolu Mounted Porcelain Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique French Sèvres-style ormolu mounted porcelain mantel clock
French, 19th Century
Height 50cm, diameter 21cm
This superb 19th century porcelain clock...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$11,429 Sale Price
30% Off
C19th French Louis XVI style Boulle mantel clock. 86cm high
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive 19th Century French Louis XVI style, Boulle mantel clock, having red stained Tortoiseshell veneer to the case, gilded Rococo influenced ormolu mounts, white enamel Roma...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel 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 Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock by Achille Brocot
Delettrez
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A superb, large and early Ormolu clock, mounted with exquisite Sèvres style porcelain with a Bleu Celeste ground and fine overglaze gilt decoration. The richly chased foliate case is...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
"Geniuses of the Arts" Gilded Bronze and Marble Clock Set by G. Fabre, c. 1900
By Samuel Marti, G. Fabre
Located in PARIS, FR
Dial signed G. Fabre, 4 rue des Filles du Calvaire, Paris
Clockwork signed Samuel Marti – Médaille d’Or 1900
A Louis XVI style gilt-bronze and statuary Carrare marble clock set, consisting of a clock and a pair candelabra...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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 Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
A Louis XVI Style Mantel Fine Gilt-Bronze Clock by François Linke
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Very Fine Gilt-Bronze Clock With A White Marble Base by François Linke.
The case signed 'Linke'.
This rare example of a clock by François Linke has a twin train eight-day mov...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Enamel, Ormolu
French Sevres Style Porcelain and Ormolu-Mounted Lyre Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A French Sevres style cobalt blue lyre clock with finely cast ormolu sunburst and floral swagged mounts with jewelled bezel, pretty floral swa...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel 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 Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
$8,096 Sale Price
30% Off
19th Century French Boulle Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French Boulle inlaid mantel clock having wonderful classical brass inlay to the tortoiseshell ground, a gil...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Brass
Antique Neoclassical Louis XVI Gilt Bronze and Malachite Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique Neoclassical Louis XVI gilt bronze and malachite clock
French, late 18th Century
Measures: Height 56cm, width 35cm, depth 12cm
Crafted from gilt bronze and a later malac...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
$11,429 Sale Price
30% Off
Fine Quality 19th Century Sevres Style Clock Garniture
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality 19th century French Sevres style porcelain and gilded ormolu clock garniture. The pair of five branch gilded ormolu candelabra each having Sevres style porcelain urns and pedestals with classical romantic scenes painted on them. The clock having an impressive lidded porcelain urn above with gilded handles either side, scrolling foliate ormolu mounts above the porcelain faced eight day duration clock that chimes...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$30,479 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century French, Louis XVI Style Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century Louis XVI style gilded ormolu clock garniture, the clock having a classical urn finial with garlands, ribbons and foliate decoration. The white ename...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
palatial 3 pieces clock set in bronze with cherub
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible and huge gilded and patinated bronze clock set of three pieces composed of a pair of nine lights candelabra and a clock . The candelabra are supported by a two standing c...
Category
1890s French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
$99,000 / set
19th Century Marble and Ormolu Lyre Clock in the Louis XVI Style
Located in London, GB
A French Clock Garniture
in the Louis XVI Manner
The clock and its accompanying candelabra constructed in gilt bronze mounted Italian Carrara marble; the timepiece with stepped elli...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Large Louis XVI Style Gilded Clock Garniture
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive gilded ormolu Louis XVI style clock garniture, the clock and candelabra being supported by winged cherubs, scrolling swags and foliage and classical mask...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$78,925 / set
19th Century French White Marble and Gilt Bronze Clock in the Louis XVI Style
Located in London, GB
An Impressive Marble and Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
In the Louis XVI Manner
Constructed from a marble platform with a bronze group above; all confidentl...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Gilded Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock
Located in Vilnius, LT
Antique 19th century French gilded bronze and white marble mantel clock of the period Louis XVI.
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Enamel, Bronze
Louis XVI Style Mantel Clock by Ernest Royer
Located in London, GB
This fine neoclassical style mantel clock will make a sumptuous addition to a grand room, or could be given as a unique gift to a loved one. The clock is the work of Ernest Royer, an...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
$11,429 Sale Price
30% Off
French Louis XV Ormolu Clock of Hannibal and Scipio Signed Amant
Located in London, GB
Are antique French Louis XV ormolu mantel clock of Hannibal and Scipio signed Amant. This rare and unusual clock, in extremely fine condition an...
Category
1770s French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XVI Style "Astronomy" Mantel Clock, circa 1845
By Perrelet
Located in Greven, DE
French mantel clock "Astronomy"
Paris
Bronze, marble
Mid 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 38 x 55 x 16 cm
Description:
A Louis XVI-style figural mantel clock mounted on a two-t...
Category
1840s French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Rare 19th Century Sevres Style Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very fine quality French late 19th century Sevres style and gilded ormolu clock garniture. Having a pair of four branch candelabra, each with ram's head and female mask mounts, dra...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$38,099 / set
Antique French Louis XV Style Bronze Pendulum Mantel Clock with Flowery Decor
Located in Lisse, NL
Good size and wonderful quality, heavy bronze clock.
This late 19th century work of time telling art is in very good condition and the design is both elegant and stylish. We have cl...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Marble Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This neoclassical style French mantel clock is crafted from patinated and gilt bronze in addition to flecked black and grey marble. The clock body is formed from a lopsidedly mounted...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
$9,049 Sale Price
30% Off
Clock set 3 pieces marble and bronze with cherub
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Magnificent clock set three pieces executed by Prosper Roufoel working 26 place Vendome a Paris, one of the most pretigious place in paris where is the great jewwelers and the ritz ...
Category
1880s French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
$27,000 Sale Price / set
22% Off
Magnificent 19th Century clock in bronze with cupids pulling a chariot by rams
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine antiques french gilt bronze and marble base clock representing cupids pulling a chariot by rams.
the top of the clock is crowned by a cupid ...
Category
1880s French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Pink Porcelain Clock by Japy Fréres in the Louis XVI Manner
By Japy Frères
Located in London, GB
A table clock in the Louis XVI Manner
By Japy Frères
The finely chased ormolu case is dressed with pink 'Sèvres' style hand decorated polychrome panels to the face and sides, dep...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Louis XVI Style Pink Porcelain Mantel Clock, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French 19th Century Louis XVI style gilded ormolu and 'Severs' style pink porcelain mantel clock. In the form of a vase with an inset clock face, an eight day dur...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Classical Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive 19th century classical French Louis XVI style mantel clock, having gilded ormolu figures of a naked maiden looking in a mirror with two cherubs to her side, above a...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
$5,225 Sale Price
20% Off
Clock set three pieces in sevres style and bronze
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very nice high-end clock set three pieces in sevres style and bronze,this clock set have a plus ,the dial is in sevres ,original condition and never touch, the quality of the depic...
Category
1890s French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Large Louis XVI Style Clock Set
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th century French gilded ormolu clock garniture, having a pair of five branch scrolling foliate candelabra either side. The white enameled clock face with ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$10,886 / set
French Louis XVI Style Clock Garniture
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very pleasing French gilded ormolu and white marble clock garniture in the Louis XVI style. The clock having a cherub holding a chicken, the white enamel clock face with an eight d...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
$6,803 / set
Japy Freres Antique French Louis XVI Gilt Bronze Clock
By Japy Frères
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A beautiful original gilt bronze antique French clock in the neoclassical style of Louis XVI by the renown maker Japy Frères. Architecturally designed and profusely decorated with ac...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Louis XVI Style Mantel Clock of a Lion Signed Festeau Le Jeune
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The clock is signed by the Clockmaker Festeau Le Jeune. The case after a design of François Vion in form of a lion supporting a cylindrical case draped with ribbon tied laurel swags ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
$21,378 Sale Price
25% Off
Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze and White Marble Clock By François Linke, circa 1890
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Louis XVI style gilt bronze and white marble clock depicting Diana and Cupid, by François Linke.
French, circa 1890.
Signe...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Unusually Large 18th Century Louis XVI Ormolu and Marble Obelisk Mantel Clock
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The movement is contained in an unusually large (67 cm!) white marble obelisk which is surmounted by an armillary sphere finial. The front with a panel chased with nymphs supporting ...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, Oppenheim
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
An exquisite antique French ormolu clock mounted with Sevres style porcelain. Made in finely gilded bronze, sculptured as a large gadrooned and handled urn, draped with acanthus garl...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century French Gilt Bronze and Sevres Porcelain Garniture De Cheminée
By Henry Dasson
Located in London, GB
An important Garniture de Cheminée in the manner of Henry Dasson
Constructed in well cast and chased gilt bronze, with 'Sevres' type 'jewelled...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Gilt Bronze and Pink Sevres Style Porcelain Antique Clock Set
Located in London, GB
This exquisite pink porcelain clock set is made in the Louis XVI style and comprises of two vases flanking a central clock. The porcelain clock dial is delicately painted and bears a...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
$9,049 Sale Price / set
30% Off
Clock Set in Marble and Bronze by F.Gervais
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Truly unique clock set in pink marble and bronze decorative piece of art
the clock is modelled in the image of an 18 century sedan chair that is covered ...
Category
1870s French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Rococo Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu Louis XVI style mantel clock, having wonderful scrolling foliate decoration in the Rococo style, garlands of flowers draped eith...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
A-E Beurdeley, « The Coronation of Science » Clock, France, circa 1880
Located in PARIS, FR
Signed on the dial A. Beurdeley Paris
Mechanism signed J LEFEBVRE FILS PARIS
Rare Louis XVI style clock in mercury-gilded and patinated chiseled bronze and white marble. In the form of an arched pediment, it is decorated with four Cupids, two carrying a garland of flowers highlighting the dial, and two others symbolizing the coronation of Science. The molded base in white marble, with a double recess, is decorated with a ribboned torus, a frieze of ribboned oak leaves and interlacing, and rests on six flattened ball feet.
Related work :
In 1774, the bronze-caster Robert Osmond (1711-1789) designed a first model known as “architectural drawing” illustrating The Coronation of Science. Also called The Children of France, it is decorated with a putti crowning a young girl drawing with a compass and delivered to Versailles by Lépine, clockmaker to the King since 1762, for the apartment of Madame Royale in the Princes’ Wing, on December 28, 1778. (see photo attached)
This clock is described in the inventory of Versailles clocks...
Category
1870s French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
A late Louis XVI marble and ormolu portico clock
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A late Louis XVI marble and ormolu portico clock, comprising a central drum-shaped clock with a sunburst pendulum, surmounted by the gilded figure of Athena wearing armour with a plu...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Marble, 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 Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
$13,607 / set
Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mounted Malachite Column Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Louis XVI style ormolu mounted malachite column mantel clock.
French, late 19th century.
Measures: height 52cm, width 23cm, depth 20cm.
With the cir...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
$11,429 Sale Price
30% Off
Japy Freres Louis XVI Antique French Gilt Bronze Clock Set
By Japy Frères
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A beautiful, classically designed antique French gilt bronze clock set by Japy Frères. It features oval panels to the sides showing Fortun...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire by Ferdinand Berthoud À Paris
Located in Warsaw, PL
Ormolu bronze mantel clock flanked by a troubadour and musical instruments, signed 'Ferdinand Berthoud a Paris'.
The end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century was a crucial time in which new technological advances helped to make watches more accurate and more portable. During the 1790s, the production of gilded bronze increased considerably as working conditions improved. The freedom of trade initiated by the French Revolution allowed many casters to develop large factories. The new factory environment gave them a chance to execute all stages of bronze work including drawing, casting, gilding, assembly, and trade of art objects. While the bronzers took creative liberty in creating all kinds of clocks in contrast to the noble and rigorous structure carried by the movement of neoclassicism. Under the reign of Empire, the case designs started gradually to develop away from a proportionate and strict classicism towards a baroque style and revival style. The rediscovery of medieval civilization was one of the intellectual curiosities of the beginning of the 19th century, with much input from the Ancien Régime and its institutions, rites and the medieval churches in which family ceremonies occurred.
This early nineteenth-century figural mantel clock is surmounted by a medieval musician. To be more precise, it is a french troubadour. Troubadours were known for composing and performing lyric poetry for the nobility back during medieval times. The clock is featuring a chiselled bronze troubadour, dressed in medieval fashion while holding a flute, playing a tune from sheet music called "Du Troubadour" that is resting on top of the rectangular clock case. In addition to that, the clock features a gilt bronze lute or vielle resting on a small stool on the opposite side of the clock’s case. The white enamel dial features the inscription Berthoud and is underlined by a bronze entourage chiselled with palmette motif, plus encompassed by c-scrolls and wreaths. The original hands are in blued steel and encircled by Roman numerals indicating hour next to Arabic numerals indicating minutes.
The small details that adorn the hexagonal plinth are reliefs, depicting two water fountains or basins on both sides with a lyre in between. The sculpted image of a lyre raised above the background features also foliage garlands tied on top with ribbons. The clock rests on seven spinning feet.
The clock was made in the well-known workshop of the Berthoud’s family that was recognized for their excellent work by the King.
Berthoud Clockmakers History.
Ferdinand Berthoud was a horologist and author of extensive treatises on timekeeping as well as a Swiss clockmaker serving the king of France, that produced many marine clocks, including a weight-driven version that inspired the first American sea-going clock. He was born in Plancemont, Switzerland, the son of an architect and judiciary. In 1741 he began a three-year apprenticeship as a clockmaker under his brother, Jean-Henri. He made his first marine chronometer in 1754 (sent for trial in 1761) and in 1764 was appointed a member of the Royal Society, London and Horloger Mécanicien de Sa Majesté et de la Marine ayant l'inspection de la construction des Horloges Marines. In 1769, Ferdinand Berthoud sent for his nephew Pierre-Louis Berthoud (1754–1813), commonly known as Louis Berthoud, a talented young watchmaker and clockmaker, inviting him to come to Paris from Couvet, Switzerland, to pursue his apprenticeship. Louis helped Ferdinand manufacture and repair the sea clocks...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Mantel Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Louis Xvi mantel clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Louis XVI mantel clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage mantel clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, ormolu and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XVI mantel clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Belgium pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original mantel clocks, popular names associated with this style include François Linke, Maison Deniere, Raingo Frères, and Japy Frères. 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 mantel clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $782 and tops out at $527,473 while the average work can sell for $10,220.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
French Regulator Clock
Garniture Cheminee
Marble And Slate Mantel Clocks
Samuel Marti Bronze Clock
Sienna Marble Clock
Tiffany Marble Clock
Vintage Bird Clock
Westminster Antique Clocks
1855 Clocks
Ansonia Brass
Antique Ansonia Mantel Clock
Antique Clock Gongs
Antique Clock Sound
Antique Figurine Clock
Antique French Clock Makers
Antique Smiths Clocks
Antique Spanish Clocks
Antique Statue Clocks