Antiqued Mirror Folding Screen

The style of 18th-century French furniture was guided by the court. When Louis XV, who reigned from 1715–74, focused royal life on the smaller salons of Versailles rather than its grand chambers, it transformed the aesthetics away from the imposing and angular furniture that characterized the style of Louis XIV. A broader focus on comfort and more delicate forms define antique Louis XV furniture, with nature-inspired carvings, wood inlays, curved cabriole legs, asymmetrical shapes and rounded oval seat backs. The furnishings changed throughout the king’s life, as he ascended to the throne as a child and then grew to establish his own tastes.

Pieces like the bergère, an upholstered armchair with a wide cushion that fit the flowing dresses in fashion at the time, reflected this more informal court. Introduced at the start of Louis XV’s reign, bergère chairs in this style were deeper and broader than other chairs of the period.

Louis XV tapestries and carpets tended to be floral and colorful, and design elements were borrowed from Asia. Dutch-born cabinetmaker Bernard van Risenburgh brought lacquer techniques influenced by Japan and China into his luxuriously made furniture. Along with its fine details, the furniture of the era also featured new innovations including mechanical devices. Jean François Oeben, a royal cabinetmaker, created such intricate pieces as a mechanical table for Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s mistress. It involved a sliding top and a writing surface that extended from its marquetry panels.

During the later years of Louis XV’s reign, there was a shift from the ostentatious rocaille style, part of the exuberantly decorative Rococo movement in Europe for which designers such as Nicolas Pineau and Juste-Aurèle Meissonier are known. The style under Louis XVI would return to boxier forms, but with a neoclassical touch inspired by the ancient world.

Find antique Louis XV bedroom furniture, seating, tables and decorative objects on 1stDibs.

Bringing antique and vintage floor mirrors and full-length mirrors into your home is a no-brainer. The right mirror in the bedroom, bathroom and by the door in your home’s entryway — for last-minute accessorizing, of course — can make all the difference.

However, knowing where to strategically place your mirror can help illuminate your interior design choices and add a glamorous accent to any room.

A large beveled floor mirror can add depth to a space — particularly if you’re working with small rooms. It can echo the contour lines of wall paneling and make a bedroom appear larger than it is. Both floor mirrors and full-length mirrors create a window-like effect, reflecting light and brightening the room. Hanging a large mirror opposite a window will flood a room with natural light and engender a feeling of spaciousness.

Consider the placement of a mirror in the room: Displaying vases, boxes and other decorative objects in front of a mirror reflects these items, drawing attention to a prized collection and emphasizing their visual qualities for dramatic effect.

A large antique wall mirror or celebrated iconic design such as Paul Evans’s Patchwork mirror or the flashy, sensuous Ultrafragola mirror created by Ettore Sottsass can be positioned as the focal point in a living room or dining room.

When your mirror isn’t the star of the show, it can be used to enhance a focal point. Hang abstract art — a grouping of paintings or drawings, perhaps — on the wall opposite the mirror to establish narrative character in a space and create an intriguing color pattern.

It is important to consider the size, shape and frame of a mirror. Most full-length mirrors have a traditional rectangular shape, but postmodern mirrors may offer more variety. For a mirror that makes a bold statement, Art Deco mirrors typically feature geometrically pronounced frames that stand out in a room.

Add light to your interiors while providing an artistic accent to any room. Browse the selection of antique and vintage floor mirrors and full-length mirrors on 1stDibs today.