Louis Philippe Rose Where To Buy
Antique 19th Century French Rococo Busts
Carrara Marble, Siena Marble
People Also Browsed
Antique 19th Century French Wall Mirrors
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
20th Century Italian Animal Sculptures
Rock Crystal, Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Tea Sets
Silver
Antique 16th Century English Elizabethan Pitchers
Silver
Mid-20th Century English Neoclassical Porcelain
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Vases
Silver
Late 20th Century European Decorative Bowls
Jade, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Russian Belle Époque Decorative Boxes
Jade
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Garniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Revival Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century English Porcelain
Porcelain
Antique 1870s French Barware
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Empire Wine Coolers
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Carriage Clocks and Travel Clocks
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Dry Bars
Glass, Wood
A Close Look at rococo Furniture
Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.
The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.
When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.
The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.
Finding the Right busts for You
The presence of vintage and antique bust sculptures can add a necessary decorative layer to any interior. And just because a statue looks classical doesn't mean it has to be conventional.
A touch of whimsy, a dose of drama — a single bust can alter a room. And when placed in just the right spot, these statues can almost feel alive.
“They give humanity in a way that a more abstract sculpture can’t give,” says Los Angeles designer Timothy Corrigan, who loves pieces that beg to be touched. For a welcoming entry hall project in California, Corrigan selected an antique Persian rug and a bust that invites you to touch it. A collection of sculptures in wood, marble and brass complement the star of the show.
For Consort cofounder and creative director Mat Sanders, a bust doesn’t have to be pretty. “I most enjoy busts that are a little busted,” Sanders jokes — but choose something with a soul you can live with, as “sculpture representative of the human form carries with it an energy you will add to the space.”
The antique and vintage bust sculptures for sale on 1stDibs include Art Deco busts, mid-century modern busts and more.