French Clocks

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...

Unique French-Style Mantel Clock With Candelabras, Early 20th Century A unique French-style set with a mantel clock and two four-arm bras...

An impressive French 19th century Neoclassical Lyre-form clock with jeweled pendulum. Amazing quality white and yellow marble 19th century French Lyre-Form clock mounted all over with gilt bronze...

One of the most unusual and spectacular Art Deco pieces we have ever offered, this large Art Deco clock is composed of fer forgé or wrought iron a...

For your consideration is this very visually appealing Art Deco clock. Originates from France and dates to the 1930's this clock ticks all the boxes ( pun intended ) that admirers of...

This is a quality antique desk clock and barometer set having a quality oak case with ornate brass mounts. The two faces divided by a thermometer. 8...

An art deco mechanical box clock designed by Van Cleef & Arpels. This is an extremely rare multifunctional desk piece, created in Paris France during t...

Imposing 19th century French Napoleon III Gilt Bronze striking Mantel clock. Flanked by two sitting cherubs and another two cherubs on top, this is another example of a fine French m...

Antique Rococo Louis XV style ormolu and patinated bronze clock set by Denière et Fils French, c. 1870 Clock: Height 59cm, width 52cm, depth 23cm Candelabra: Height 71cm, width 33...

Add some intrigue to your home or office with this handsome wall clock in black saddle leather. Featuring brass hardware and contrast stitching quintessential to the refined style of...

A gilt bronze and griotte marble French Empire clock depicting Apollo Greek God of Music Art Literature and Sciences. The clock shows a a gilt bronze winged figure of Apollo leaning against a griotte marble altar pedestal decorated with gilt bronze garlands. At the center of the pedestal is the clock’s dial and movement. Sitting on top of the pedestal is a standing harp, a mallet and a scroll. The whole is supported by a griotte marble base with a gilt bronze frieze showing a number of frolicking and dancing cupids playing music, drinking wine waving laurel wreaths, carrying a standard and even crowning a bust of Athena. The base sits on two owl feet...

This antique clock set is a luxurious masterpiece, perfect for adding elegance to hotel lobbies, grand living rooms, spacious hallways, and museums. ...

A Regence Style Gilt-Bronze and Boulle Marquetry Inlaid Grand Cartel de Applique, In the Manner of André-Charles Boulle. The eight-day twin-train movement, striking on a bell. The dial with a porcelain cartouche inscribed ‘Thuret a Paris’. The movement stamped Etienne Maxant and ‘12775: 8.1 EM’. This impressive and large cartel clock has a circular, arabesque chased, brass dial with Roman numerals on enamelled cartouches, with engraved Arabic seconds and polished steel hands. The dial sits within a waisted case, with large acanthus mounted gilt-bronze volutes...

This spectacular clock set is based on the works of the esteemed Neoclassical artist James Pradier (French, 1790-1852), whose sculptures can be found in nearly all of Paris's major m...

The clock features a cartouche shaped case housing an hour and half-hour striking movement with a round white enamel dial, indicating the Roman numeral hours and the Arabic five-minute intervals by means of two pierced patinated bronze hands...

"L''Amour jardinier" is a gilt bronze table clocks with a garden angel and garden decors. The garden angel is on a scale and catches a butterfly. The m...

Circa 1890 Large Pair 19thC French Copper Riveted Clock Tower Hands in original paint. Hand made custom wall / or stand plate with a tightening bolt to secure the hands in the desi...

Very beautiful fireplace clock in marble, patinated and gilded bronze representing the Virgin Mary sitting on a rock holding the infant Jesus in her arms, with at their side st John ...

19th Century French Provincial Morbier Tall Case Clock, Vignaud Bonnet, having a circular dial with Roman numerals and a pressed brass pendulum, the case with painted floral decorati...

A 19th century French Napoleon III wall clock with "oeil de boeuf" shaped glass paned door, ebonized wood frame and clock surround with mother-of-pearl inlay decoration. Paper face w...

An Elegant Mantle Clock In the Louis XV Manner The clock and its plinth executed in gilt bronze in a dynamic rococo style, rising from scrolling foliage, the dial in the shape of a ...

This fantastic porcelain clock garniture contains three vases, one of which has been mounted with a ormolu clock dial with jewels surrounding it. The vases are decorated in the style of the Sèvres Porcelain manufacturers, with cartouches to the front and back. The panels on the front depict ladies and putti in a landscape, while the reverse sides depict riverbanks. The vases are set on ormolu bases with canted angles, and feature twin ormolu handles which take the form of masks. The central vase is surmounted by an ormolu putti...

A magnificent ebonized wood and gilt bronze mid-19th century clock signed Raingo Freres, France, circa 1850. The origins of the company Raingo Frères lie with Zacharie Joseph Rain...

19th century French, Charles X bronze, brass and sienna marble table clock from the Empire period. Signed Ravrio Bronzier, ca 1820 France.

A large scale French Empire figurative allegorical clock showing “Psyche Crowning Amor”. Psyche stands to the right of the domed clock plinth, holding her ...

A fine French 19th-20th century Régence style gilt bronze mounted kingwood and tulipwood parquetry regulator longcase clock, after the 18th century model by Julien Le Roy (French, 16...

French Napoleon III ormolu and porcelain sided mantel clock in four glass form. The clock has fine jewelled porcelain panels on three sides including the full size dial. The porcelai...

Geometric desk clock designed by Jacques Chaumet. This is an extremely rare desk clock, created during the art-deco period in Paris France by the jewelry house of Chaumet, back in t...

An early Louis XV green stained horn and gilt bronze-mounted bracket clock, the clock second quarter of 18th century, the dial inscribed 'Causard Her du Roy a l...

A simple yet elegant relatively rare malachite cased clock topped by a gilt bronze bust of a young Napoleon in uniform after the marble original work by Jean Antoine Houdon.

Antique Gothic Revival porcelain clock by Dagoty & Honoré French, c. 1830 Measures: Height 51cm, width 25.5cm, depth 17cm This beautiful Gothic Revival style porcelain clock was made by the prestigious French firm Dagoty and Honoré, founded by the esteemed porcelain makers Pierre-Louis Dagoty and Edouard Honoré...

A mantel clock in the Louis XV manner. Constructed in white Carrara marble and gilt bronze; the rectangular form base having bowed ends, rises from gilt toupie feet and has opposed gilt sphinxes and gilt bronze foliate mounts to the facia; the two train clock...

A Very Fine French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Plum-Mahogany and Ormolu Mounted Tall-Case Regulator attributed to Revollon. The Roman numeral dial signed: Revollon - M. Lion, with h...

A very impressive fine quality late 19th Century French gilded ormolu and Champleve enamel mantle clock. Having a seated cherub above the clock face, and a...

Box single Luxwatch black covered with black grained cowhide leather. With jewelry parts in solid brass, with hand polished nickel plated. With bottom feet in hand-polished and ni...

A superb and substantial ormolu clock from a design by the 18th century bronze founder Robert Osmond and made by the famous Compagnie des Bronze of Bruss...

Introducing "Patience," a captivating Early Art Deco figural clock garniture set, made by the a renowned sculptor of the Art Deco era, Suzanne Bizard. Exquisite clock features a be...

Gilt bronze clock in the Louis XVI style representing a nymph and two cherubs. The nymph, undressed and resting on a cushion, is nursing one of the cherubs while the second one calls...

Mid 19th C, France, a highly decorative antique mantel clock enclosed under a glass dome. The clock is made of alabaster, a material often used in neoclassical and empire-style cloc...

Luxury vintage stirrup desk / table clock Maquet Paris - Nice 8 Jours, France, 1940s Clock with Equestrian / Polo / Racing horse Motifs in the style of Hermes (exactly the same model but with hermes marks...

This impressive long case clock is a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship and horological ingenuity of the 18th century. Executed in the Louis XV style, it showcases a harmonious...

ATO is a prestigious watchmaking brand founded by Léon Hatot (1883–1953). He studied at the National School of Watchmaking in Besançon from 1895 to 1898. Between 1918 and 1919, a fac...

Mid 19th Century French silvered bronze and rouge marble three piece decorative clock garniture set . The clock features a classical figured woman with draping garments and flanked by two matching urns...

Very Large Important and Rare Napoleon III Period Ormolu And Patinated Bronze Sculptural rotary 3-piece clock set ("Pendule A Cercles Tournants") compr...

A Tiffany & Co. neoclassical gilt bronze wall clock "Day & Night" by Louis Valentin Elias Robert (French, 1821-1874) Retailed by Tiffany & Co....

A 19th century French Horloge de Parquet or tall case clock from Brittany. Elegant solid cherry case in two parts, with book matched panels and a ch...

A 19th century Louis XV style French walnut horloge de parquet, or tall case clock, in two parts. The body has a paneled door crafted from a single plank and carved with a rosette de...

Box luxury nine watch in black finish for 9 watches. Covered with black cowhide leather sheathing, box with details and finishings in polished nickel-plated brass. Upholstery and ...

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...

A fine large and impressive 19th century gilt bronze mantle clock, surmounted by a Sevres porcelain hand painted plaque finial, above a dome shaped structure, with a dome shaped beve...

Suitcase luxury watch blue covered with blue cowhide leather sheathing, box with details and finishings in polished nickel-plated brass. Upholstery and ...

Clock with crystal made with pure crystal glass sanded paste with led diodes inside. With color change system. Base in polished stainless steel mirror...

Suitcase luxury watch black covered with black cowhide leather sheathing, box with details and finishings in polished nickel-plated brass. Upholstery and ...

A beautiful and high quality Art Deco clock set featuring two elephants standing beside the clock. The case is formed of stunning specimen marbles i...

A large French Louis XV style gilt bronze cartel clock. After the model by Jacques Caffièri. The cartouche-shaped case representing sunrise an...

Antique Directoire style verre églomisé glass barometer, 19th century. Barometer is not functional it is purely decorative.

Antique Late 18th Century Louis XVI Gilt Gold Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock French, Late 18th Century Height 57cm, width 40cm, depth 12cm A wonderful example of late 18th century ...

French Empire Patinated and Gilt Bronze Verde Antico Marble Figural Clock, circa 1830, the clock surmounted with seated figures of Apollo and Diana, each holding a torch, the clock w...

A rare and whimsical French gilt bronze mantel clock dating to the late 19th century, featuring a strikingly detailed rhinoceros figure with dark patina supporting a porcelain floral...

Black marble clock, topped with a spelter horse with a brown bronze-style patina, signed Emile Loiseau Some chips on the marble and on the keyhole on th...