Louis Xvi Dog Bed
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames
Velvet
2010s Italian Louis XVI Canapes
Upholstery, Lacquer
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Children's Furniture
Walnut
20th Century French Louis XVI Stools
Silk, Wood
20th Century French Louis XVI Magazine Racks and Stands
Cane, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Andirons
Bronze, Ormolu
People Also Browsed
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Beds and Bed Frames
Upholstery, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Beds and Bed Frames
Brass, Iron
Antique 19th Century French Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Musical Instruments
Wood, Giltwood
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Ormolu
20th Century French Floor Lamps
Crystal
2010s British Louis XV Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
20th Century Scottish Victorian Children's Furniture
Rattan
2010s English Louis XVI Sofas
Wood
Vintage 1920s French Napoleon III Armchairs
Wood
Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Beds and Bed Frames
Upholstery, Mahogany
Late 20th Century Country Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Linen
Antique 17th Century Italian Baroque Bookcases
Spruce
21st Century and Contemporary English Chippendale Beds and Bed Frames
Wood, Paint, Gesso
Vintage 1950s British Baroque Beds and Bed Frames
Velvet, Oak
Vintage 1950s English Renaissance Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
Recent Sales
20th Century Italian Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
20th Century French Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
Vintage 1940s French Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames
20th Century French Louis XVI Daybeds
Velvet
20th Century French Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames
Wood, Fabric
Antique Late 18th Century Louis XVI Sofas
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Ottomans and Poufs
Giltwood, Silk, Damask
21st Century and Contemporary French Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames
Fruitwood, Silk
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Armchairs
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.
Read More
What Is Ormolu, and Why Are We Talking about It?
This golden material glamorized neoclassical furnishings and transformed upper-crust sitting rooms from France to Philadelphia in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
How to Spot Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI Chairs
A field guide for anyone who wants to brush up on their knowledge of French antiques