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.
French Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze & Cut-Glass Table Lamps, Circa 1900
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of French 19th-20th century Louis XV style gilt bronze and cut-glass three-light Girandoles table lamps. (Electrified), Paris, circa 1900. Height: 33 inches (84 cm). ...
Bronze
19th Century Pair of French Candle Lamps Bronze Gilded
Located in Berlin, DE
19th century pair of French candle lamps bronze Richly carved body, solid bronze gilded. Each 4-flame arms. Extremely decorative and high quality workmanship, 19th century.
Bronze
Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Lamp By Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This Louis XV style gilt bronze lamp by Gherardo Degli Albizzi resumes the great taste of Rococò period decoration. As this, vegetal motifs are all over this piece and it features gr...
Bronze
$1,447 / item
H 24.41 in Dm 7.88 in
Louis XV Style Gilt and Chiseled Bronze Candlestick By Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This little Louis XV style gilt bronze candlestick by Gherardo Degli Albizzi would be ideal to be placed on a bedside table. It resume the great taste of Rococo period decoration. A...
Bronze
$1,371 / item
H 12.6 in Dm 9.85 in
Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Two-Lights Bouillotte by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This Louis XV style gilt bronze lamp resume the taste of Rococo period decoration. As this, vegetal motifs are all-over this piece and it features great elegance and opulence in the ...
Bronze, Tôle
19th Century Louis XV Style Rococo Gilt Bronze Figural Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French gilded bronze figural lamp featuring a standing classically draped lady with a cupid in her arms who further holds aloft a cornucopia containing the socket; the whole restin...
Bronze
$1,122 / set
H 16.54 in W 8.27 in D 4.73 in
Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces By Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
A fine set of French Louis XV style gilt bronze sconces By Gherardo Degli Albizzi Beautifully cast in the traditional manner with all the sumptu...
Bronze
$1,200 / set
H 7.75 in W 5.5 in D 2.75 in
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilded Bronze Candelabra
Located in Hudson, NY
This lovely small pair of two-light candelabra are made in gilded bronze and were made in France around the turn of the century. Cast as a satyr holding up sinuous candle arms termin...
Marble, Bronze
$14,750 / set
H 32 in W 12 in D 10.75 in
Pair of 19th Century Gilt-Bronze & Faience Porcelain Table Lamp Candelabras
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of French 19th-20th century Louis XV style gilt bronze and Faience porcelain three-light candelabra table lamps. The ovoid porcelain urn hand decorated in floral burgundy...
Bronze, Ormolu
Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Two-Lights Lamp By Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This Louis XV style gilt bronze lamp by Gherardo Degli Albizzi resumes the taste of Rococò period decoration. As this, vegetal motifs are all-over this piece and it features great e...
Bronze
Pair Antique French 19th Century Gilt Bronze Louis XV Style Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of antique French 19th century Louis XV style five light gilt bronze candelabra Beautiful antique French five light gilt bronze hand chiselled pair of Louis XV style can...
Bronze
French Gilt-Bronze Neoclassical Bouillotte Lamp with Tole Shade
Located in Pembroke, MA
Very nice quality, French, Louis XVI style gilt bronze Bouillotte lamp with green painted tole shade, (19th century). The lamp features nicely chiseled acanthus leaves, garlands, cen...
Ormolu, Bronze, Tôle
$4,295 / set
H 26.5 in W 9 in D 9 in
Pair of 19th Century French Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Candelabras
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 19th century French Louis XV style gilt bronze candelabras. Outstanding finely detailed pair of antique French Napoleon ...
Bronze
$1,484 / set
H 15 in W 4.5 in D 4 in
Antique Pair of French Doré Bronze Neoclassical Ormolu Gilt Candlesticks Lamps
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An Exceptionally Fine Pair French Ormolu and patinated Bronze early Victorian Single Light Candlesticks of tall slender form and fairly standard proportions, now converted to a Stunn...
Bronze, Ormolu
$4,500 / set
H 22 in W 13 in D 5.75 in
Pair of Bohemian Emerald Green Crystal and Glass Floral Table Lamps, Circa 1900
By Bohemia
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of Bohemian emerald green glass table lamps with flanking gilt spheres, inverted bobeches with hanging crystal prisms, bulbous centered floral co...
Crystal, Gold Leaf
Louis XV Silvered Bronze Candlestick Lamps with Tole Shades
Located in Hudson, NY
Beautiful pair of Louis XV silver bronze candlestick. The sticks themselves retaining the original Bobeche were created in the mid 18th century. Electrified at some point in the mid 20th century. No expense was spared at the time as the sockets were also made to be silvered brass so that they would match with the current candlesticks. The custom made shades are created out of heavy gauge brass and we're handmade specifically for these fixtures. Stick alone 10.75in. H. X 5.75in. W. These can be viewed currently at The Berkshire Galleries of Great Barrington.
Silver, Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 84 in W 33 in D 23 in
American Candlesick in Copper Finish Metal, Floral Filigri Work, Zaer LTD EEUU
Located in Valladolid, ES
Zaer LTD International EEUU amazing candlestick in copper finish metal with a beautiful floral filigree work, openining with different doors, above it also opens. Midcentury. It,s a...
Crystal, Copper
19th Century Ormolu and Cobalt Glass Miracle Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Essex, MA
Late 19th century adjustable ormolu and cobalt glass miracle Bouillotte lamp of fire gilt bronze. Two arms with foliate styling.
Ormolu
Exquisite Early 19th Century Louis XV Bronze and Rock Crystal Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite chandelier is from another time. It is a Louis XV bronze and rock crystal nine-candlelight chandelier from the early 19th century...
Rock Crystal, Bronze