The search for a French antique clock is one that many collectors spend a great deal of time on. A French antique clock comes in many different types and in many different price ranges. There are four primary classifications for a French antique clock: bracket, carriage, cartel, and long case (grandfather clock). Although there are several classifications within each of these just mentioned, these are the most prominent.
A French antique clock that is in the bracket category is classified that way primarily because of the short pendulums. A bracket French antique clock usually stands on a wall bracket so it is actually sitting on something, but it looks like it is hung from the wall. Not all bracket French antique clocks actually sit on a bracket. One of the most prominent types of bracket clocks is a mantel clock. The mantel French antique clock is in the bracket category because it has a short pendulum. However, it does not sit on a wall bracket, instead, it usually sits on a mantel or table. The width of all mantel clocks is larger than the height and they are usually rectangle shaped.
The carriage category for a French antique clock is characterized as having a handle on the top of it. Carriage clocks were primarily used for travel, hence the handle on top, and they are usually the least expensive type of French antique clock. The cartel category for a French antique clock is the simplest to describe. It is simply a wall clock and although they were primarily made of bronze, every once in a while, you can find a cartel French antique clock made of another metal.
My favorite type of French antique clock is the long case clock. Most of us know this type of French antique clock as a grandfather clock. They are floor clocks that usually stood taller than most men. The long case on a French antique clock of this style was not created because of the aesthetics of the clock. Instead, the grandfather clock had a long case because it was necessary for the weight driven movement to keep accurate time. The long length of the pendulum requires the clock to be tall enough to accommodate the full height and swing of the pendulum. A long case French antique clock that measures 6 feet 3 inches or less is actually called a grandmother clock. The grandmother clocks are also usually spring driven while grandfather clocks are usually weight driven.
There is also a granddaughter classification for the French antique clock. These clocks are usually less than 5 feet 2 inches tall.
