American Federal Birch and Birdseye Maple Tall Case Clock, Wingate, ca 1820
By Frederick Wingate
Located in Essex, MA
American Tall Case or Longcase Clock by Frederick Wingate, Augusta, ME 1818. This very well-proportioned clock is made of indigenous wood, birch, Birdseye maple and pine secondary w...
Birch, Birdseye Maple, Pine
Phillip Avenell of Farnham English Tall Clock with Japanned Case circa 1770
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of an English tall clock with japanned case by clockmaker Phillip Avenell of Farnum (d. 1783). Avenell was part of the renowned and prolific Avenell ( also seen spelle...
Metal, Brass
English George III 18th Century Japanned Tall Case Clock with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English George III period Chinoiserie parcel gilt and japanned tall case clock from the 18th century, with black paint and arched brass dial. Created in England during the reign o...
Brass
18th Cent. Chinoiserie Tall Case Clock with Faux Tortoiseshell and British Ship
Located in Richmond, VA
Incredible 18th century chinoiserie tall case clock with faux tortoiseshell and scenes included figures, ho-ho birds, and a British ship. Remarkable lacquer work. Clock is signed Tho...
Oak, Lacquer
French Mid 18th Century Louis XV Period Tall Case Clock, circa 1740
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational French Louis XV period, circa 1740, tall case clock with an extremely rare mechanism movement signed Jean Charost. The original case in kingwood, ebony and rosewood ven...
Ormolu
English Chestnut and Mahogany Tall Case Clock. John Coates, London, Circa 1750
By John Coates
Located in Charleston, SC
English Chestnut and Mahogany tall case clock with broken arch pediment, floral rosettes, original brass urn finials, dolphin and figural ormolu face, original arched hood with glass...
Brass
Swedish Black Lacquered and Gilt Chinoiserie Tall Case Clock, Lanner, Circa 1775
By Josua Lanner
Located in Charleston, SC
Swedish black lacquered and gilt Chinoiserie tall case clock with arched decorative floral hood, flanking finials, turned bulbous columns, ormolu and steel engraved face, figural flo...
Ormolu, Steel
Fine English Renaissance Revival Mahogany Chiming Tall Case Clock. Circa 1890, R
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fine English Renaissance Revival Mahogany Chiming Tall Case Clock. Circa 1890, Russells Ltd. The three-train movement with an arched brass plate, mounted with allover cut-out and ra...
Wood
Scottish Mahogany Swan Neck Satinwood Patera Inlaid Tall Case Clock, Circa 1780
By Charles Campbell
Located in Charleston, SC
Scottish mahogany eight day tall case clock with three sphere brass finials, a swan neck satinwood inlay patera pediment, intricately carved fretwork, over an arched door with flanki...
Brass, Steel
18th Century Elegant French Louis XIV Hand Carved Tall Case Clock with Rooster
Located in Lisse, NL
This French clock is the original one to this tall case antique and it has been completely checked and cleaned up.
Brass, Bronze
French Louis XV Style Bronze Ormolu Mounted Tall Case Clock Manner of Zwiener
By Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 92 1/2 in W: 24 in D: 17 in This magnificent French Louis XV style tall case clock represents the pinnacle of turn of the century horological artistry, executed in ...
Bronze, Ormolu
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut Tall Case Clock from Lyon
Located in Dallas, TX
Towering at an impressive 9 feet, this monumental Louis XV antique longcase clock was crafted in Lyon, France, circa 1760. Fashioned from richly grained walnut, the piece is construc...
Walnut
Thomas Pringle Mahogany Case 8-Day Tall Clock, Dalkeith, Scotland, circa 1830’s
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of an 8-day tall clock in mahogany case made by Thomas Pringle, Scottish clockmaker, active 1830-1836. This beautiful tall case clock features a swan’s neck split pedi...
Brass
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English Mahogany Tall Case Clock Signed by Maker M. Richardson, London, C. 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
English Mahogany tall case clock with brass finials, arched bonnet with brass fluted columns, gilt ormolu and chased polished steel face, flanking reeded quarter columns, and termina...
Brass, Steel
Isaac Pearson Reading PA Walnut Tall Clock with Rare Jacob Kunsman Case, C 1845
Located in Milford, NH
A splendid Empire walnut veneered tall clock with swan’s neck split pediment crest with bullseye rosettes and three wooden ball & spire finials surmounting an arched front glass ...
Metal
Isaac Pearson Reading PA Walnut Tall Clock with Rare Jacob Kunsman Case, C 1845
Located in Milford, NH
A splendid Empire walnut veneered tall clock with swan’s neck split pediment crest with bullseye rosettes and three wooden ball & spire finials surmounting an arched front glass ...
Metal
$14,950Sale Price|64% Off
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Plum-Mahogany Ormolu Mounted Tall Case Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
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...
Ormolu
Early 19th Century Aaron Willard Jr Tall Case Clock w/ Paul Revere Printed Label
By Aaron Willard, Jr.
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional mahogany tall case clock by well known Boston clockmaker Aaron Willard Jr (1783-1864). This clock features an arched bonnet with fretwork, full corner columns with bra...
Brass, Iron
$84,950Sale Price|37% Off
French 19th C. Louis XVI Style Cherub Tall-Case Clock After Jean-Henri Riesener
By Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th Century Louis XVI style ormolu-mounted amaranth, tulipwood, sycamore and parquetry pedestal Régulateur de Parquet Tall Case Clock, Attributed to Alfred Emmanu...
Bronze
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Tall Case Closk
Located in Mckinney, TX
An exquisite Swedish tall case clock boasting a rounded crown and clean lines, complemented by a dry-scraped finish. The clock retains its original blue-green and alabaster paint wit...
Iron
19th Century French Tall Case Clock by Avenol Pere in Cherry Wood
By Avenol Pere
Located in Winter Park, FL
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 chapeau de gendarme crown. Subtle de...
Brass, Enamel
Antique grandfather clocks and longcase clocks are staples of old-world design sensibilities, and, along with their storied history, these statuesque timepieces can bring a feeling of warmth to living rooms, dining rooms and other areas of your home.
Longcase clocks, which originated in England and were manufactured in the United States beginning in the 1700s, refer to tall clocks with a face and clock works positioned high in the housing while a large swinging pendulum movement is tucked inside the case, which is supported by a carved base called a plinth.
While guests making their way through your foyer (another ideal location for such a furnishing) might typically refer to your longcase clock as a “grandfather clock,” there are actually three varieties of these stylish floor clocks, which include granddaughter clocks (the shortest, generally not one solid piece of wood and around three to five feet tall), grandmother clocks (the slimmer middle ground, between five feet and six feet tall) and grandfather clocks, which are typically between six and seven feet tall.
Sculptural and statement-making, antique grandfather clocks created by the likes of the Seth Thomas Clock Company, the Howard Miller Clock Company, Hermle or other clockmakers are an alluring choice in filling up space in a room, while the shorter longcase clocks are just as useful if you need an element that is comparatively muted or you’re working with limited space.
Each generation of artisan clockmakers, working in various furniture styles over time, contributed its own flourishes to the design of longcase clocks. Antique grandfather clocks in the Georgian style share commonalities with neoclassical design. They were often made in dark woods such as mahogany and feature intricate carving. Mahogany is also common for Victorian-era grandfather clocks, although examples of this style can be found in oak and walnut too. Designers of contemporary grandfather clocks are using a range of materials.
It’s easy to get confused when determining the origins or value of an antique grandfather clock or other vintage longcase clock. While an antique appraiser will be able to tell quickly, searching for a manufacturer’s name engraved on the face and dial of the clock may be an easy way to learn about the history of your clock.
Find a distinctive variety of antique grandfather clocks and longcase clocks on 1stDibs, and browse our collection of unusually beautiful clocks, wall clocks, desk clocks and other vintage clocks too.
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