Before we all pulled our iPhones out of our back pocket to check the time, time was held by clocks, and some were the pinnacle of opulence. When it comes to antique clocks, there’s a world of rare and exquisite timepieces highly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs alike. From elaborate French mantel clocks to Tiffany & Co. tall-case clocks that stand as monuments of design, these are some the most rare and expensive antique clocks out there.
1. 19th Century Chinese Enameled Jeweled Bronze Automation Clock
Sold for: $160,000
This monumental 19th-century French automaton clock, made for the Chinese market, is decked out with 24kt gold plating, colorful jewels, and intricate mechanical artistry. Measuring 38 inches tall and 60 pounds, it features a white porcelain dial with black Roman numerals and mesmerizing automaton elements: spinning beaded cones, rotating flowers, and ducks bobbing in three waterfalls. With a marked chain-driven movement and included key, it remains fully functional, increasing its value.
2. Palatial French Figural Bronze Clock Set
Sold for: $80,000
This ornate French clock is a bronze set complete with candle holders. The set features intricate scrolling throughout and is accentuated by bold black cherub-like figures. Imagine finding this at an estate sale!
3. Chinese Gilt Bronze Clock Music Automation
Sold for: $47,500
This Chinese gilt bronze automaton clock stands 33.75 inches tall and features a fusee movement with bell music that plays hourly. Its elaborate automaton display includes eight immortals rotating around the crown, foreign figures spinning on the lower section, and flowing waterfalls and rivers.
4. French Art Deco Bronze, Onyx, and Crystal Mantel Clock
Sold for: $37,500
This French Art Deco mantel clock features bronze accents, onyx elements, and crystal panels, embodying the refined craftsmanship of the Art Deco era.
5. Asa Munger Stovepipe Shelf Clock
Sold for: $34,000
This stunning, early 19th-century timepiece was crafted in Auburn, New York. The grained mahogany case has a warm, original patina, while the stenciled and painted stovepipe metal pillars feature gold leaf designs of fruit compotes and foliage. The clock is decorated with carved capitals, circular rosettes, a crest, and pineapple finials, adding to its elegance.
6. Philadelphia Chippendale Carved Mahogany Tall Case Clock
Sold for: $32,000
This 18th-century tall case clock showcases exquisite Rococo carvings, a gilt and silvered dial with sweep seconds, moon phase, and date aperture, and a fluted-waisted case with carved flourishes. Originally owned by Captain John Green Sr., commander of the Empress of China — the first American ship to trade with China — it maintains a rich, seemingly original surface with minor restorations.
7. Monumental French Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Sold for: $31,000
This monumental 19th-century French Napoleon III gilt bronze mantel clock features cherub motifs and intricate detailing with opulent gilding. Previously part of an Old Westbury, New York collection, this elaborate timepiece is a stunning example of the lavish craftsmanship during the Napoleon III era.
8. Art Deco Mother of Pearl Clock by Linzeler Marchak
Sold for: $30,000
This black enameled gold case timepiece features mother-of-pearl inlaid panels, a gilt brass movement, and a floral inlaid face with Chinese character markers. The case is topped with a carved agate button and rests on a scroll base.
9. Bronze French Clock Garniture Set
Sold for: $28,000
This elegant clock and candelabra set features a clock movement in marble, supported by 5 cherubs among vines and grapes, raised on a marble base. The candelabra, with 2 cherubs and a tree with a dove (it doesn’t get much more ethereal), also rests on a marble base with bronze bun feet.
10. French Animated Locomotive Industrial Clock
Sold for: $25,000
This French Animated Locomotive Industrial Clock features a bronze case in the form of a steam locomotive on a black marble base with rails. It includes a stick thermometer on the front of the funnel, a 3-inch paper dial compass, and an aneroid barometer with a 2.5-inch silvered dial mounted in the boiler.
11. Tiffany & Co. Grandfather Tall Case Clock
Sold for: $23,750
You know the drill: If Tiffany & Co. has its name on something it’s going to be expensive. This tall case clock is no exception. At 99 inches tall, this colossal clock includes the pendulum, tubes, and weights.
There’s more where this came from:
Vintage collectors will love 10 Vintage Paperweights That Are Tiny Works of Art, 10 Expensive Vintage Watches Collectors Love, and 13 Valuable Stamps From Around the World. And if you have a vintage clock that you’re hoping to sell, make sure to read 9 Smart Moves To Make Before Selling Your Antiques.
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