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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock type · Domestic

Empire Clocks

Partially verified

French mantel clocks from the Napoleonic era, typically in gilt bronze with classical or allegorical figures.

Movement & mechanism

  • High-quality French round-plate movements
  • Silk-thread suspension for the pendulum
  • Count-wheel striking on a bell

Identification

  • Strictly classical or architectural forms
  • Gilt bronze (ormolu) of exceptional quality
  • Depiction of mythological or historical scenes

Terminology

  • Empire style
  • Ormolu
  • Silk suspension

Known variations

  • Figural and architectural variants

Collecting notes

Condition and originality are paramount. For technical clocks like regulators or atmospheric clocks, the completeness of the original mechanism is more important than case condition. For decorative clocks (Boulle, Empire), the quality of the case craft is central.

Diagram

escape wheelpallets and leveroscillator
Schematic: escapement arrangement. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

Sources & references

  1. Britten, F. J., Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers
  2. Loomes, B., The Early Clockmakers of Great Britain
  3. Roberts, D., British Skeleton Clocks
  4. Museum catalogue records

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.