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Federal Clocks

FEDERAL STYLE

Following the Revolutionary War, the American republic referenced the Roman Republic in its designs to celebrate its independence and declare itself a powerful new country. Imbued with neoclassical elements like those being promoted by architect Robert Adam in Great Britain, antique Federal-style furniture was the first distinctly American style in its melding of ancient influences, European aesthetics and national pride.

Dating roughly from 1790 to 1830, the style featured angular furniture with saber legs and smooth surfaces that contrasted with the curvy Rococo style that was previously in fashion. Eagles were common ornamental motifs on Federal-period furniture, as were cornucopia, lyres, garlands and scrolls, adding subtle flair to pieces characterized by clean lines, geometric symmetry, balanced shapes and a sense of grandeur.

Instead of sculptural carvings, authentic Federal-style furniture was adorned with inlays and patterned veneers that showcased the rich character of different grains and types of wood. As social life tended to be informal in the young country, furniture was often lightweight, so it could be easily rearranged in a drawing room or bedroom. Pieces like dining tables with drop leaves and sideboards became popular, replacing larger chests of drawers.

The Federal style varied by region: Artisans in Charleston, South Carolina, decorated chairs with carved backs, for instance, while those in Baltimore, Maryland, preferred painted details. Its major proponents included father-and-son cabinetmakers John and Thomas Seymour in Boston, Duncan Phyfe and Charles-Honoré Lannuier in New York and Samuel McIntire in Salem, Massachusetts.

Find antique Federal tables, mirrors, storage cabinets and other Federal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

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Style: Federal
Antique American Simon Willard & Son 8 Day Banjo Clock Patent Timepiece 1825
Located in Portland, OR
Rare antique American Simon Willard & Son Mahogany Patent Timepiece or "Banjo" Clock, Boston, Massachusetts, c. 1825. The case made of Cuban mahogany with figured mahogany panels to ...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Mahogany

Aaron Willard Boston Mahogany Shelf Clock w/ Eglomisé Painting & Eagle Finial
By Aaron Willard
Located in Savannah, GA
Popularized at the turn of the 19th century in coastal Massachusetts, these handsome shelf clocks are subsequently referred to as Massachusetts shelf clocks. This decorated example ...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

New Hampshire Federal Mahogany And Tiger Maple Banjo Clock
Located in Essex, MA
With urn finial over a round clock face with painted iron dial and Roman numerals. Hinged glass bezel. Waisted case with finely figured tiger maple flanked by carved mahogany side a...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass, Iron

19th Century Tiffany & CO Oak 5 Musical 5 Gong Tall Case Grandfather Clock
By Walter Durfee
Located in Long Branch, NJ
19th Century Tiffany & CO Oak 5 Musical 5 Gong Tall Case Grandfather Clock Dimensions : 104" Tall X 26" Wide X 15.5" Deep This gorgeous grandfather clock was made in the late 19th ...
Category

1890s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Oak

American Walnut Tall Case Clock by Solomon Gorgas
Located in Essex, MA
By Solomon Gorgas. Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania. Works just cleaned and in good working order. With arched bonnet with pinwheel inlay in the scrolls. Glazed door opening to enameled wo...
Category

Late 18th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Metal, Brass

Antique Colonial Mfg Co Beige Painted Tall Case Federal Style Grandfather Clock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Colonial Mfg. Co Beige Painted Tall Case Federal Style Grandfather Clock. Item features a working lock and key, includes all parts pictured. Very ...
Category

Early 20th Century Federal Clocks

Materials

Wood

American Federal Grain Painted and Stenciled Tall Clock by Rufus Cole
Located in Essex, MA
A Rare and Complete American Federal Tall Case Clock. Riley Whiting Wooden Works, original. A Rufus Cole Grain-Painted and Stenciled Case. S...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Pine

Antique Seth Thomas Rosewood Office Calendar No 2 No 3 Clock Case Federal
Located in Dayton, OH
An exception and rare federal style case for a Seth Thomas calendar clock model No 2 or No 3. Manufactured in the last quarter of the 19th c...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Glass, Rosewood

American Federal Mahogany Tall Case Clock, Silas Hoadley, CT, Circa 1820
By Silas Hoadley
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Federal mahogany one day tall case clock with the original brass ball finials resting on three carved upper capitals, decorative intertwined fret work, arched hood with bras...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

Early 1900s Carved Walnut Durfee Case Elliot Movement 5 Tube Grandfather Clock
By Walter Durfee
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a spectacular clock with what I believe is a solid carved walnut Durfee case and and has an Elliot of London movement. The case has some signs of wear and is in it's original...
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Walnut

American Mahogany Pillar and Scroll Mantel Clock, Eli Terry, Circa 1825
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Federal mahogany pillar and scroll mantel clock with a broken arch pediment, three urn wood finials, flanking ringed columns, hinged glass d...
Category

1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Brass

American Federal Style Banjo Clock
Located in Asheville, NC
Gilded wood case Banjo clock with decorative brass cutwork and back painted glass, enameled clock face with Roman numerals, brass pendulum and winder. Surm...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Federal Clocks

Materials

Giltwood

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Antique Thomas Farrer Mahogany Grandfather Clock with Brass Finials 19thC Measures - 94"H x 19.75"W x 10.5"D
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19th Century Antique Federal Clocks

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French Provincial Walnut Tall Case Clock, 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
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French Restauration Period Eagle Clock
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Antique Mahogany 8 Day Painted Face Longcase Clock
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Federal Style Grandmother's Clock with Sailing Ship Motif
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19th Century Musical Picture Clock
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1850s European Antique Federal Clocks

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19th Century Musical Picture Clock
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Early 19th C. American Pillar & Scroll Clock in Mahogany with Eglomise Landscape
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Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

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American Federal Mahogany Tall Case Clock, Silas Hoadley, CT, Circa 1820
By Silas Hoadley
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Federal mahogany one day tall case clock with the original brass ball finials resting on three carved upper capitals, decorative intertwined fret work, arched hood with bras...
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1820s American Antique Federal Clocks

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Brass

Vesuvius: 3-foot Sabele and Maple Linear Clock
Located in Asheville, NC
Vesuvius is a Linear Clock featuring a radiant length of Sapele with grains that look like waves rolling along a shoreline. Linear Clocks are an invention of Linear Clockworks; thes...
Category

2010s American Federal Clocks

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Vintage Colonial Zeeland Grandfather Weight Driven Clock
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Decorative piece. We were only able to make it work for a few minutes. It will chime with a beautiful Westminster chime melody if the hands are moved manually. Possibly, after servic...
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1950s American Vintage Federal Clocks

Materials

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Antique Seth Thomas Rosewood Office Calendar No 2 No 3 Clock Case Federal
Located in Dayton, OH
An exception and rare federal style case for a Seth Thomas calendar clock model No 2 or No 3. Manufactured in the last quarter of the 19th c...
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Late 19th Century Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Glass, Rosewood

19th Century French Comtoise Grandfather Clock
By Méchineau
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century Country French comtoise, or grandfather clock, with polychrome painted pine case and embossed brass pendulum. Original seven day Morbier...
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Materials

Brass, Enamel

Previously Available Items
Bailey Banks & Biddle Mahogany Federal Style Case Tall Case Grandfather Clock
Located in Long Branch, NJ
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Rare Old American Stennes Fed, Sty, Inlaid Mahog, Automaton 8day Longcase Clock
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Mid-20th Century American Federal Clocks

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Antique Mahogany Grandfather Longcase Clock
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Mahogany grandfather longcase clock Additional information: Materials: Mahogany Color: Brown Period: 19th century Styles: Federal Item type: Vintage, antique or pre-...
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Mid Century Seth Thomas Brookfield Banjo 8 Day Springwound Eagle Wall Clock
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage 1950s Seth Thomas Brookfield Colonial banjo style 8-day spring wound, pendulum, chiming wall clock with eagle finial. “Fabulous re-creation of the circa 1810 Willard Banjo Clock...
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Federal Curly Maple and Mahogany Banded Tall Case Clock PA, Circa 1810
Located in Hallowell, US
Distinctive federal curly maple tall case clock with mahogany banding, Pennsylvania, circa 1810. IN a remarkable state of preservation and with slender 'french' feet and original urn...
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Maple

Antique Federal Style Carved Oak Tall Case Clock by Ithaca, 20th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Federal style tall case clock by Ithaca offers oak case with hood having broken arch top having central eagle with flanking ball & spire finials, column with glass door ov...
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Diminutive Timothy Chandler Federal Cherry Case Tall Clock Concord NH circa 1800
Located in Milford, NH
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Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

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American Cherry Rocking Ship Tall Case or Grandfather Clock
Located in Essex, MA
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Aaron Willard Mahogany Tall Case Clock with Moon Phase Dial 1793
By Aaron Willard
Located in Milford, NH
A fine mahogany tall case clock with wonderful proportions by Aaron Willard (1757-1844), with a reticulated carved crest with three ball and spire finial...
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1790s American Antique Federal Clocks

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Federal Mahogany and Rosewood Tall Case Clock circa 1805
Located in Hallowell, US
Roxbury type federal type tall case clock from North Shore, Massachusetts, ca 1805-1810. Mahogany with rosewood crossbanding finial blocks veneered in rosewood. Vetted, clean clock...
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Long Case Dwarf Wood Clock
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a long case Dwarf wood clock. Its bonnet is decorated with a swan neck pediment at the top and an a bronze urn shaped finial. Below the finial, ther...
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19th Century American Antique Federal Clocks

Materials

Wood

Long Case Dwarf Wood Clock
Long Case Dwarf Wood Clock
H 54 in W 12 in D 8.5 in
1930s Seth Thomas Kingsbury Pillar Scroll Electric Mantel Clock Reverse Painted
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique circa 1930s Seth Thomas Kingsbury mahogany electric mantel or shelf clock. A special order as the majority of these clocks are winding. Features a pillar and scroll...
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1930s Vintage Federal Clocks

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Glass, Mahogany, Paint

Federal clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Federal clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, 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 wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Federal clocks made in a specific country, there are North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original clocks, popular names associated with this style include Eli Terry & Sons, Elmer O. Stennes, Seth Thomas Clock Company, and Silas Hoadley. 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 $470 and tops out at $18,500 while the average work can sell for $6,800.

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