Named for their distinctive shape, which resembles the musical instrument known as a lyre, with strings extending upwards from a curved body, lyre form clocks were popular in France during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The first lyre clocks were produced in the mid-18th century by French clockmaker Jean-Andre Lepaute, who was commissioned by King Louis XV to create a clock for the Palace of Versailles. The clock featured a lyre-shaped case and was designed to be mounted on a wall. Its success led to the creation of similar clocks in a variety of sizes and styles.

Lyre clocks became particularly popular during the reign of King Louis XVI, who was known for his love of music and the arts. The clocks were often decorated with ornate details, such as gold leaf, enamel, and painted scenes, and were sometimes topped with figurines or other decorative elements.

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29 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Good 19th century French gilt bronze mantle clock, by Roberts &…

French gilt bronze mantle clock by Roberts & Courvoisier, 19th century

Good 19th century French gilt bronze mantle clock, by Roberts & Courvoisier, set with a white circular enamel dial with Arabic numerals, the rectangular case decorated with classical lyre, garlands and flowers, the whole raised upon paw feet, with loop…

A Restauration gilt-bronze and mahogany clock, French, circa…

Restauration gilt-bronze and mahogany lyre-shaped clock, French, c. 1830

A Restauration gilt-bronze and mahogany clock, French, circa 1830, lyre shaped with applied bronze neoclassical motifs, the dial with a enamel chapter ring with Roman numerals and minute markings, mark of Flechy, Boulevard St Martin N°45, 42 cm high

Ansonia figural mantle clock, in spelter with bronze finish,…

Neoclassical Cavalier Mantle Clock

Ansonia figural mantle clock, in spelter with bronze finish, portraying a cavalier with sword beside a neoclassical style cased clock with twin lyre handles and finial, set above a black painted iron rectangular base, with engraved sterling silver…

Ansonia figural mantle clock, in gilt finish, portraying a…

Gilt Ansonia Figural Mantle Clock with Cavalier and Lyre Handles

Ansonia figural mantle clock, in gilt finish, portraying a cavalier with sword beside a neoclassical style cased clock, with twin lyre handles and finial, set above a black painted iron rectangular base with gilt feet, with pendulum and key, height 55 cm…

An Austro-Hungarian Empire style clock and urn shaped…

Austro-Hungarian Gilt Clock & Candlestick Garniture

An Austro-Hungarian Empire style clock and urn shaped candlestick garniture, the engine turned decoration in burnished gilt bronze, the case supported by a lyre and two columns with stylised cornucopia brackets on an oval platform, and surmounted by a…

A 19th century French ormolu and green marble mantle clock, the…

French Ormolu & Green Marble Mantle Clock

A 19th century French ormolu and green marble mantle clock, the case of lyre form, on a rectangular base surmounted by a sunburst, two chased dial inset with enamel numerals. The movements with silk suspension and countwheel strike silk suspension and…

A 19th century French ormolu and green marble mantle clock, the…

French Ormolu and Marble Mantle Clock, 1815

A 19th century French ormolu and green marble mantle clock, the case of lyre form, on a rectangular base surmounted by a sunburst, two chased dial inset with enamel numerals. The movements with silk suspension and countwheel strike silk suspension and…

A small lyre shaped boudoir clock, verge movement repeat…

Lyre Boudoir Clock with Repeat Striking and Ormolu Mounts

A small lyre shaped boudoir clock, verge movement repeat striking the quarters and hours on two gongs, the engraved brass and ormolu mounted framed with a radial guilloche dial, silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals. Under glass dome on ebonised…

Three ornate brass cased clocks comprising Ansonia bedside…

Ornate Brass Clock Trio: Ansonia, British United, French Mantel

Three ornate brass cased clocks comprising Ansonia bedside clock, British United Clock Co. Birmingham lyre shaped clock, and French mantel clock, 19th century, the tallest 28 cm high

Seth Thomas 'Column and Cornice' 8 day time and strike shelf…

1870 Seth Thomas Lyre Clock

Seth Thomas 'Column and Cornice' 8 day time and strike shelf clock with weight driven lyre movement, circa 1870, 82 cm high

A inlaid rosewood and ormolu portico clock, late 19th century,…

Rosewood and Ormolu Portico Clock, Late 19th Century

A inlaid rosewood and ormolu portico clock, late 19th century, with an enamel dial with Roman numerals and minute markings set within a finely cast Renaissance revival ormolu bezel, between pairs of pillars with stiff leaf capitals and turned bases, and…

Samuel Marti & Co., Paris (1870-1890), mahogany and ormolu…

Marti & Hermle Mantel Clocks

Samuel Marti & Co., Paris (1870-1890), mahogany and ormolu mantel clock, case of lyre shape, gilded dial with Roman numerals, movement stamped 'Medaille de bronze S. Marti et Cie', together with a German Hermle burr walnut mantel clock, with key and…

A French Empire figural mantle clock under glass dome, circa…

French Empire Figural Mantle Clock with Glass Dome

A French Empire figural mantle clock under glass dome, circa 1820 a seated, classically draped youth sitting atop the clock case holding a lyre and scroll, the rectangular case is decorated with wreaths and musical instruments, 49.5 cm high

Fine & rare antique 19th century French gilt bronze & alabaster…

19th Century French Gilt Bronze Lyre Clock

Fine & rare antique 19th century French gilt bronze & alabaster lyre form mantle clock, (has key and pendulum) 32 cm high, 16 cm wide

A fine Louis XV style ormolu mantle clock, 19th century, with…

Louis XV Style Ormolu Mantle Clock by Japy Freres

A fine Louis XV style ormolu mantle clock, 19th century, with maker's mark for Japy Freres, key and pendulum, a waisted clock upon an integral shaped base, cast and pierced in the rocaille manner with a profusion of flowers, trophies, scrolling leafy…

A walnut and ormolu portico clock, 19th century, with maker's…

Walnut & Ormolu Portico Clock by Japy Freres (19th Century)

A walnut and ormolu portico clock, 19th century, with maker's mark for Japy Freres, of typical form with an inlaid pediment, four columns with stiff leaf and engine turned capitals and bases supporting an enamel dial with Roman numerals within an…

A French Empire ormolu mounted ebonised lyre clock by Debou,…

French Empire Lyre Clock by Debou, Paris - 19th Century

A French Empire ormolu mounted ebonised lyre clock by Debou, Paris, 19th century, 52 cm high

A gilt bronze and marble mounted lyre wall clock, 19th century,…

Gilt Bronze Lyre Wall Clock with Marble Mounts

A gilt bronze and marble mounted lyre wall clock, 19th century, 33 cm high

A fine Restauration ormolu clock, circa 1815-1830, an elegant…

Restauration Ormolu Clock with Orpheus and Lion

A fine Restauration ormolu clock, circa 1815-1830, an elegant silk suspension clock with an engine turned dial with Arabic numerals set within a plinth and surmounted by the figure of Orpheus playing his lyre, a soothed lion at his side, bas relief…

A Napoleon III marquetry portico clock, circa 1850-70, dial…

Napoleon III Marquetry Portico Clock

A Napoleon III marquetry portico clock, circa 1850-70, dial marked Millot à Valenciennes, an engine turned steel dial with Roman numerals enclosed by a cast gilt floral bezel and supported between pairs of columns with engine turned and stiff leave…

A 19th century French pink marble, gilt bronze and paste lyre…

French Pink Marble Lyre Clock, Gerval 1889

A 19th century French pink marble, gilt bronze and paste lyre mantel clock, signed and dated Gerval, 1889; 52 cm high

A good early 19th century French Empire period bronze ormolu…

French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock with Cherub and Lion

A good early 19th century French Empire period bronze ormolu mantel clock, figured with a half lion, half cornucopia, a cherub playing a lyre sits upon his back, the cased movement held within the stylised tail, Roman numerals frame the decorative stiff…

1870s French alabaster Lyre form clock & Garnitures. Japy…

French Alabaster Lyre Clock & Garnitures with Ormolu Decoration

1870s French alabaster Lyre form clock & Garnitures. Japy Freres movement with floral garland enamel dial surrounded by rhinestones (glass missing). All pieces with ormolu & champleve decoration. Running, unserviced. Height 46 cm

A French alabaster portico clock, late 19th century, with…

French Empire Alabaster Portico Clock

A French alabaster portico clock, late 19th century, with Empire styling and gilt details, the clock with an extended cornice, dentil decoration above Corinthian columns supporting a gilded dial, and lyre and rose pendulum, upon a plinth base with…

Antique 19th century French lyre shaped bronze and marble clock,…

French Lyre Bronze & Marble Clock, 19th Century

Antique 19th century French lyre shaped bronze and marble clock, the dial set with white stones, enamelled porcelain dial, movement marked Vincentt Medaile 1855, 31.5 cm high (no key)

A neoclassical gilt bronze and marble clock garniture, circa…

Neoclassical Gilt Bronze and Marble Clock Garniture

A neoclassical gilt bronze and marble clock garniture, circa 1880/90; with the dial marked Caron, the painted enamel dial with Roman numerals set within a gilt bronze drum head raised on a swagged and shaped plinth base, flanked by a seated bucolic maiden…

An impressive c.1800 French 'Lyre' ormolu and marble mantel…

French Lyre Mantel Clock with Ormolu and Marble

An impressive c.1800 French 'Lyre' ormolu and marble mantel clock, the tall clock with main Lyre form body framing the circular porcelain ormolu cased dial, Roman numerals with seconds dial to the exterior and day of the month to the interior, surmounted…

A gilt metal mounted marble five piece clock garniture 20th…

Gilt Metal Marble Clock Garniture with Candelabra and Candlesticks

A gilt metal mounted marble five piece clock garniture 20th century central lyre shaped clock paired with matching three branch candelabra and two coordinating columnar candlesticks, the clock, 36 cm high

A French spelter clock garniture with Moreau sculpture, 19th…

French Spelter Clock Garniture with Moreau Sculpture

A French spelter clock garniture with Moreau sculpture, 19th century; dial by Henri May; and cartouche of Moreau attached, a drum head with an enamel dial, Arabic numerals and a fine gilt surround, embellished with flower garlands and a cartouche crest…