Walter Hatches

Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Neoclassical furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms.

Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.

The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.

Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.

Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.

As you can see from the furniture on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep neoclassicism fresh.

Find antique neoclassical furniture today on 1stDibs.

Vintage vanities trace back to the dressing tables of 18th-century France, where the poudreuse held powders and mirrors for a lady's toilette. The look later split in two: the gilded flourish of Art Deco and Louis XV, and the pared-back simplicity of the mid-century makeup vanity.

Styles to Know

Mid-century makeup vanities with slim tapered legs are seeing strong search interest, though Art Deco vanities with mirrored or lacquered finishes remain a popular choice for more formal bedrooms. A vintage mirror completes the piece if it doesn't already include one, and a vintage table lamp adds flattering light.

How to Choose the Right Vintage Vanity

A vanity works best near a window or another source of natural light, worth keeping in mind when planning where it will sit, and the knee-clearance height is worth checking against the stool you intend to pair with it. Each piece comes from a vetted 1stDibs seller, with era, designer and condition detailed. Backed by the 1stDibs Promise on every order.