Thick wooden encased antique mantel clocks are American designs. Materials and Techniques: Bronze, Glass, Gilt, Hand-Crafted (Credit: 1 stDibs) Wood Bronze and Brass French Louis XV Rococo Style Ormolu Clock Signed H. With antique mantel clocks, using material as your focal point for an appraisal is easy.īelow is a timeline of materials clockmakers used from the 17th century to the 20th century. By scrutinizing the material, you can tell if an item is a dub. You see, materials are a dead giveaway of production time. You must observe three things when appraising an antique mantel clock: the materials used, the style, and the manufacturer. Once you study the fine print, you’ll assess an antique mantel clock like a seasoned collector. But there are a few more hurdles to jump. They’re a rare find, so they cost much money.Īt this point, you should have sufficient knowledge of antique clocks, so identifying one should be a piece of cake. The Ansonia brand is one of the few that made Porcelain frames.

This antique mantel clock design belongs to two centuries – mid 19th century and early 20th century. Ansonia Crystal Face and Pendulum Clock Made by Ansonia Clock of New York (Credit: 1stDibs) Experienced collectors can tell a brand by looking at the design, and now you would too. Long before manufacturers started leaving signatures on their products, they had unique styles. Terry’s former partner Seth Thomas also joined the trend creating the common “Black Mantel Clock.” $4337.38 Malachite Inlaid Black Marble Plinth-Form Mantel Clock (Credit: 1stdibs) Types of Antique Mantel ClocksĪ quick way to identify antique mantel clocks is by understanding the different types. Before long, more clockmakers were replicating the timepiece with personal twists. Terry’s design revolutionized the production of antique mantel clocks in America. He got his wish because antique mantel clocks became popular in the U.S. Terry wanted the average man to access the mantelpiece so, he used cheaper materials. Simon Willard made weight-driven antique mantel clocks between the 1840s-1901.īecause Willards used expensive materials, the antique mantel clocks remained exclusive until Terry overtook with his mass-produced timepieces. The antique mantel clock made its way to the United States of America by the 19th century.Īlthough the most popular name amongst the American style is Eli Terry, the Willard brothers were the first clockmakers to replicate the timepiece. It is important you know that the original French empire-style timepiece was an elaborate art décor housing the clock. Historians trace the origin of the antique mantel clock to 18th century France during the Napoleon Era.Īristocrats needed a timepiece that wasn’t as imposing as the Grandfather’s Clock so, the clockmakers made the antique mantel clock. Others call it a “ Mantle Clock” or “Mantelpiece.” Some people call it a Cherub Clock because its French casing typically had bronzed celestial figures. The antique mantel clock is so-called because it sits on the fireplace mantel.

The History of the Antique Mantel Clock Mantel clock (around 1800) by Julien Béliard, Paris, maître horloger recorded on the rue Saint-Benôit and rue Pavée in 1777, still active in 1817, or Julien-Antoine Béliard, maître horloger in 1786, recorded on the rue de Hurepoix, 1787–1806.

The History of the Antique Mantel Clock.

Types of clocks