The clock-making company Raingo Frères built some of the most remarkable timepieces of the 19th century. Best known for its ornate mantel clocks, the company also masterfully crafted other works, such as candelabras and sculptures. Modeled on Renaissance, Byzantine and Empire styles, the company’s gilded garniture is some of the most recognizable artistic work of the 19th century. It displays the elaborate majesty prevalent in aristocratic and royal homes of the period.
Belgian watchmaker and metalworker Zacharie Raingo was the son of a watchmaker, and he took up the trade in his youth. He lived and worked in Belgium until 1813, when he relocated to Paris. During his time in Belgium, Raingo was inspired by Antide Janvier and developed his own planetary pendulum. In 1810, he patented an astronomical clock, a rotating spherical mechanism designed to emulate the behavior of celestial bodies.
In 1823, he founded Raingo Frères with his four sons, Adolphe, Charles, Denis and Dorsant. Established as both an industrial and commercial venture, the company quickly gained notoriety for its bronze work in addition to its fame as a clockmaker. It created works for an array of nobility and royalty, like the Duke of Chartres, King George V of England and Emperor Napoleon III of France, whose collection is now at the Louvre museum in Paris.
The company exhibited its works in the 1867, 1878 and 1889 World’s Fairs in Paris, winning numerous prizes, including a gold medal in 1889. Many museums and private collections boast works by Raingo Frères, including the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris and the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels.
On 1stDibs, find incredible wall clocks, mantel clocks, vases and more by Raingo Frères.
French Louis XVI Style Mid-19th Century Ormolu Marble Clock, Signed Frères
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period ormolu and Griotte de Campan Rouge marble clock, signed ...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Clock by Roque, Paris
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most impressive French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu clock by Roque, Paris. The clock is raised by elegant circular mottled feet with fine wrap around foliate band...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Rouge Griotte Marble and Ormolu Clock
By Zacharie Raingo
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent French 19th century Louis XVI st. Rouge Griotte marble and ormolu clock by Raingo Frères, Paris. At the base are stunning ormolu mounts of rosettes and scrolled foliate...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Marble and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu, black Belgian and white Carrara marble clock, signed Vaillant à Paris. The clock is raised by a black Belgian marble base with fine ormolu topie feet and striking fitted ormolu plaques...
Belgian Black Marble, Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French Early 19th Century Louis XVI St. Marble And Ormolu Clock By Raingo Frères
By Raingo Frères
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular and very important French early 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu clock by Raingo Frères. The clock is raised by elegant topie shaped feet with fine wrap around berried laurel bands below the white Carrara marble base with rounded sides decorated with richly chased pierced intertwined berried laurel and blooming flower bands, and a finely detailed central plaque depicting charming cherubs playing musical instruments. Above are two exquisite patinated bronze maidens sitting on a mottled support with lovely foliate designs each draped in wonderfully executed garments and holding a wreath and flowers with a charming winged cherub extending his arms up. At the center is the elegant enameled dial with Arabic hour numerals amidst lovely floral garlands and numbers indicating the date at the border with delicate pierced ormolu hands with a remarkable pieced foliate design at the back. Above is the lightly curved fluted top crown with a stunning array of richly chased branches and blooming flowers in a superb satin and burnished finish. All original gilt and patina throughout. Raingo Fréres, established in 1813 in Paris, specialized in the high precision clock...
Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Clock Signed by Denière
By Jean-François Denière
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu clock signed by Denière. The clock is raised by elegant topie shaped feet below beautiful block rosettes. At the center is a richl...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Rococo Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu Louis XVI style mantel clock, having wonderful scrolling foliate decoration in the Rococo style, garlands of flowers draped eith...
Ormolu
Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Alabaster Mantel Clock, Late 19th Century
Located in Astoria, NY
Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Alabaster Portico Mantel Clock, late 19th century, the circular enamel dial, with strike on bell movement, surmounted by an urn and supported by four flute...
Alabaster, Enamel, Ormolu
Antique French Ormolu and White Marble Louis XVI Clock
By Samuel Marti
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A beautiful classical clock made in the style of Louis XVI by Samuel Marti. Stunning ormolu (finely gilded bronze) mounted on a marble base. It is decorated with an inset laurel swag...
Marble, Ormolu
Large French, Louis XVI Period Marble and Ormolu Portico Clock
By Gavelle l'ainé à Paris
Located in Montreal, QC
A Louis XVI ormolu and marble portico clock, the enameled dial with Roman numerals, and subsidiary calendar and minute chapter rings, signed Gavelle L'Aine (1753-1802) The barrel-shaped case surmounted by a gilt bronze figure of a Guerrier, in martial attitude, flanked by chained black marble pillars...
Marble
Large Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mantel Clock, 19th Century
By Henri Voisin
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A Fine quality French 19th century gilded ormolu and white marble mantel clock in the Louis XVI style. Having a two handled urn to the top with flowers and garlands draping down to t...
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Gilt Bronze Sèvres Porcelain Mantel Clock / Raingo Frères & Sèvres Paris
By Raingo Frères
Located in Tarry Town, NY
An exceptional early 19th-century French mantel clock by Raingo Frères, in collaboration with Sèvres, one of France’s most celebrated porcelain manufacturers. Created in Paris circa ...
Gold, Bronze
