Classical Greek Clocks
CLASSICAL GREEK STYLE
There is rare surviving furniture from ancient Greece, yet this classical style has informed design for centuries. Interiors of houses in antiquity were minimal, with much of a room’s color coming from frescoes on the walls and mosaics on the floors. Classical Greek furniture was sparing but finely crafted and influenced by Egyptian furniture design through Mediterranean trade.
Furnishings of the period were usually made from local wood like cypress, cedar, oak and willow from ancient Greece’s plentiful forests, although some pieces were carved from marble, such as a 300–200 B.C. throne with lion legs and a curved back now at the Getty Villa. Comfort and clean lines characterized designs during the Classical era, the symmetry and thoughtful proportions reflecting the architecture of Greek temples.
Some pieces of ancient Greek furniture were simple, rectangular platforms like the klinē, a multipurpose ancestor of today’s couches or daybeds that held cushions stuffed with wool, dry grass or down. These structures were used for both sleeping and dining, which wealthy Greeks did while reclining. At night, oil lamps illuminated rooms that frequently surrounded a garden courtyard.
Most of what scholars have learned about Greek furniture design owes to its representations in art like vases and stelae. The portable diphros stool, with its backless design and four turned legs, was one of the more common types of seating in daily Greek life — it appears as such for the gods on the Parthenon frieze. Stools without backs have been found in early Roman tombs, while benches were also common Greek seating furniture created for use in theaters. In houses of the Hellenistic period, benches seemingly functioned as tables, too.
Some designs evolved through adaptations by the Romans, including the klismos chair. After prominent archaeological excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum, the klismos chair — with its four saber legs and the elegant curves that define its back — was a source of inspiration for aesthetics in eras ranging from 18th-century neoclassicism to 20th-century Art Deco.
Find a collection of Classical Greek decorative objects, wall decorations and building and garden elements on 1stDibs.
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Style: Classical Greek
19th Century French Pink Marble and Ormolu Clock Set
Located in London, GB
19th Century French pink marble and ormolu clock set
French, Late 19th Century
Clock: Height 46cm, width 23cm, depth 18cm
Candelabra: Height 44.5cm, width 22cm, depth 20cm
This unusual three-piece clock garniture combines stunning pink marble with ormolu classicised decoration. Featuring ornate pierced gilt brass hands, the porcelain dial of the mantel clock is framed with a floral motif that complements the tones of the marble. The clock is covered with elegant gilt-bronze classical decoration: surmounting the dial is an ormolu torch and laurel...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Clocks
Materials
Marble, Brass, Ormolu
Magnificent French 19th Century Mantel Clock, Victor Paillard, Paris
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A magnificent 19th century bronze mantel clock depicting allegorical figures representing Geography and literature. The white enamel clock face, Roman numerals, an eight day duration...
Category
19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze, Enamel and Lapis Lazuli Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This Grecian style mantel clock was crafted at the end of the 19th century and retailed by the acclaimed Maison Marnyhac, which was based on the Rue de la Paix in Paris.
Founded ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Clocks
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Bronze, Enamel
19th Century Classical Bronze Clock / Sculpture, by Aug. Moreau
Located in Brighton, Sussex
Bronze sculpture with brown patina including a clock and signed Auguste Moreau. It features a woman wearing a flowing dress who is standing on a globe. The title printed on a small p...
Category
19th Century French Antique Classical Greek Clocks
Materials
Bronze
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Classical Greek clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Classical Greek clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with bronze, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Classical Greek clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original clocks, popular names associated with this style include Hooker Furniture, Maison Marnyhac, Auguste Moreau, and Victor Paillard. 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 clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $795 and tops out at $108,640 while the average work can sell for $10,618.