Louis Xvi Crown And Scepter
Antique 1860s German Louis XVI Animal Sculptures
Porcelain
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Antique Mid-18th Century Baroque Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Mirror, Giltwood
Early 20th Century American American Classical Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
20th Century French Floor Lamps
Crystal
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
20th Century American Art Nouveau Glass
Glass
Antique 1890s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
20th Century French Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Enamel, Gold
Early 20th Century French Vitrines
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Other Vases
Glass
Antique Late 17th Century British William and Mary Cabinets
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Russian Neoclassical Vases
Porcelain
20th Century French Art Deco Carriage Clocks and Travel Clocks
Jade, Quartz, Gold
Antique 19th Century French Louis XIV Linen Presses
Bronze
Antique Early 1800s English George III Wine Coolers
Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s French Floor Lamps
Rock Crystal, Amethyst, Bronze
Recent Sales
Antique 1890s Italian Louis XVI Wall Mirrors
Mirror, Giltwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
A Close Look at louis-xvi Furniture
Reflecting the final era of royal opulence before the upheaval of the French Revolution, antique Louis XVI furniture features more angular shapes than the Rococo curves of the Louis XV style, harkening back to the imposing grandeur of Louis XIV.
Dating between 1750 and 1800, an era that overlapped with the last king of France whose reign was cut short by the guillotine, Louis XVI furniture, known as the goût grec, is emblematic of the neoclassical revision that French furniture underwent during the second half of the 18th century.
Authentic Louis XVI furniture characteristics include clean lines and carved details such as scrolls and acanthus flourishes that were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. This was informed by a burgeoning interest in antiquity in the 18th century, owing to new archaeological excavations at sites including Pompeii and Herculaneum. It largely eclipsed the more East Asian–influenced ornamentation of Louis XV for something more geometric and symmetrical.
The Louis XVI style was defined by what was being created for the palatial rooms at Versailles and Fontainebleau, particularly for the queen, with cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener being a favorite of Marie-Antoinette’s for his luxurious pieces accented with gilded bronze and marquetry. Furniture maker Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené was also a major designer of the period, with his pieces for the royal residences adorned with giltwood and neoclassical touches like tapered columns for chair legs and laurel leaf carvings. Cabinetmaker Adam Weisweiler occasionally incorporated into his furniture porcelain panels produced by Sèvres, a popular manufacturer of European ceramics that served the crown with serveware, vases and other decorative objects.
Find a collection of antique Louis XVI seating, tables, cabinets and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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