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Louis XVI Folk Art

LOUIS XVI STYLE

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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Style: Louis XVI
Late 18th Century Swiss Pine Blanket Chest
Located in Albignasego, IT
Late 18th century Swiss stone pine chest H. 88 cm – L. 145 cm – D. 69 cm Beautiful chest in pine wood, built at the end of the eighteenth century. On the front there are three...
Category

1790s Italian Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

Materials

Fir

Louis XVI Style Lion Mask Wall Clock
Located in Warsaw, PL
“A Louis XVI style lion mask wall clock” This fire gilt bronze Louis XVI style lion mask wall clock was one of the most outstanding masterpieces, which was originally made by Edme-J...
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

Materials

Bronze

Shelves for Fruits Plates 19th Century Boulle
Located in Warsaw, PL
Shelves for fruits plates 19th century Boulle, Silver table top.
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

Materials

Bronze

French Painted & Carved Floral Dressing Table, Circa 1790
Located in Hollywood, SC
French hand painted flip top dressing table with floral paintings , ebonized string inlay, foliage border with swags, connecting cross stretchers , and terminating on tampered splay...
Category

1790s French Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

Materials

Paint, Wood

French Faux Painted & Gilt Console Cabinet. Circa 1790
Located in Hollywood, SC
French faux painted and gilt marbleized console with two hinged flanking doors, fleur-de-lee & figural faces, single fitted interior shelf, and terminating on a molded edge base. Lat...
Category

1790s French Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

Materials

Paint, Wood

French Faux Painted Foliage Console. Circa 1790
Located in Hollywood, SC
French faux painted console with two flanking hinged doors, exterior painted floral vases resting on columns with ribbon & butterfly motif, single interior shelf, and terminating on ...
Category

1790s French Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

Materials

Paint, Wood

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Vintage Hand Painted Folk Art Chest Box Floral Birds Traditional Medium Storage
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American Victorian Folk Art Bed with Hand-Painted Cats, circa 1880 Solid Walnut
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The Kitties are here, looking for a young lady to watch over each night. Decorated with walnuts, this amazing Antique Victorian Bed was made usin...
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19th Century American Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

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Green Floral Painted Blanket Chest, Italy, 1810
Located in Albignasego, IT
Large chest, Northern Italy Measures: H 89 cm, L 176 cm, P 65 cm Large chest in fir wood, entirely painted in forest green color. On the front, four framed mirrors are decorate...
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Early 19th Century Italian Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

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Faux Painted Burlwood Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Contemporary Parsons Style faux painted burlwood console. So well executed you think it's genuine burlwood veneer. A truly beautiful piece.
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20th Century American Louis XVI Folk Art

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Faux Painted Burlwood Console
Faux Painted Burlwood Console
H 30 in W 60 in D 16 in
1834 Light Blue Floral Painted Blanket Chest
Located in Albignasego, IT
Tyrolean painted chest dated 1834 Measurements: H. 73m – L. 127cm – D. 56cm Period: 1834 Origin: Tyrol Essence: Fir Painted chest, entirely made of fir wood. On the front there is ...
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1830s Italian Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

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1834 Light Blue Floral Painted Blanket Chest
1834 Light Blue Floral Painted Blanket Chest
H 28.75 in W 50.01 in D 22.05 in
19th Century American Pine Blanket Chest
Located in Doylestown, PA
Antique American solid pine blanket chest, c. mid 19th century. The chest features two faux drawers and a flat, hinged lift top with a large interior cabin. The pine has great patin...
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Mid-19th Century North American Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

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Metal

1782 Green Floral Painted Wardrobe
Located in Albignasego, IT
Green Tyrolean wardrobe dated 1782 H.185 – L.142 (160 at the frames) – P.50 (59 at the frames) Tyrolean painted wardrobe with two doors, entire...
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1780s Austrian Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

Materials

Fir

1782 Green Floral Painted Wardrobe
1782 Green Floral Painted Wardrobe
H 72.84 in W 55.12 in D 21.66 in
Mid 18th Century Floral Painted Blanket Chest
Located in Albignasego, IT
Tyrolean painted chest H. 81 – W. 147 – P. 69 Ancient Tyrolean chest, entirely built in fir wood. The surface has been decorated with a dark brown background color, semi-covering, ...
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Mid-18th Century Austrian Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

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Mid 18th Century Floral Painted Blanket Chest
Mid 18th Century Floral Painted Blanket Chest
H 27.17 in W 57.09 in D 31.89 in
1807 Blue Floral Painted Two Doors Tyrolean Wardrobe
Located in Albignasego, IT
Antique Blue Tyrolean wardrobe dated 1807 Origin: Tyrol (Northern Italy - Alpine Region) Essence: Fir Period: 1807 Measurements: H. 175 cm – L. 109 cm (118 cm at the frames) – D. 47...
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Early 1800s Austrian Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

Materials

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19th Century Louis XVI Style Classical Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive 19th century French gilded ormolu, rouge marble and bronze mantel clock. Having two classical reclining bronze nude male figure...
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Late 19th Century Quebec Paint Decorated Plant Stand, circa 1890
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Quebec paint decorated plant stand or bucket bench, circa 1890, pine slat construction with three shelves, fluted backsplash and apron, and deli...
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Previously Available Items
1778 Blue Floral Painted Wardrobe
Located in Albignasego, IT
Blue painted Tyrolean wardrobe dated 1778 H. 164cm – L. 108 cm (126 cm at the frames) – D. 50 cm (60 at the frames) Beautiful Tyrolean wardrobe with two doors with notches, dat...
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1770s Italian Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

Materials

Fir

1778 Blue Floral Painted Wardrobe
1778 Blue Floral Painted Wardrobe
H 63.78 in W 41.34 in D 19.69 in
1814 Green Floral Painted Cabinet
Located in Albignasego, IT
Green Painted Wardrobe dated 1814 Measures: H. 160 – L. 104 (120 on the frames) – P. 40 (48 on the frames) Tyrolean painted wardrobe with two doors, entirely painted in dark gr...
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1810s Austrian Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

Materials

Fir

1814 Green Floral Painted Cabinet
1814 Green Floral Painted Cabinet
H 63 in W 40.95 in D 15.75 in
18th Century Louis XVI Hand-Carved Age-Old Pine Sicilian Frieze
Located in Catania, Sicilia
An antique frieze used like ornament over the door. It's in original conditions. with normal signs of use and age.
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18th Century Italian Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

Materials

Pine

Danish Mangle Board Dated 1794
Located in Kastrup, DK
Danish mangle board (clothing and bedding press) dated 1794. Hand carved in oak with sculptural stylized horse handle. Richly decorated top section featu...
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Late 18th Century Danish Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

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Danish Mangle Board Dated 1794
Danish Mangle Board Dated 1794
H 5.52 in W 26.78 in D 5.12 in
Italian Green and White Lacquered Chest of Drawers, Late 18th Century
Located in Prato, IT
Italy, Tuscany, late 18th century Green and white lacquered, faux marble top Painted fillet with beautiful leaves Dimensions: W 123 x D 62 x H 95 cm.
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Late 18th Century Italian Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

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Poplar

Whimsical Papier Mâché Bust of Monkey
Located in Houston, TX
Whimsical papier mâché bust of a monkey attired in an 18th century style waistcoat and powdered wig. Hand-crafted by Parisian artist.
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Late 20th Century French Louis XVI Folk Art

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Paper

Marie Antoinette Hand- Embroidered Monogram, Framed
Located in Houston, TX
Marie Antoinette hand- embroidered monogram on silk.
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Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

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Silk

French 19th Century Narrow Louis XVI Marble-Top Console Table
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
French 19th century narrow Louis XVI marble-top console table
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Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Folk Art

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Marble

18th Century Louis XVI, French Flower Wall Half Relief, Gilded Wood Decor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique hand carved Louis XVI flower arrangement made of wood, painted and gilded in an oval shape, half relief. The French wall décor is in good ...
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Early 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Late 19th Century Louis XVI Roulette Games Flip Top Card or Games Table
Located in Stamford, CT
A 19th century Louis XVI Roulette Games / flip-top card or gaming table. This fully extended, 79.5 inch, roulette table can entertain many as it sits on sleek tapering reeded legs wi...
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Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Folk Art

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Mahogany

French Giltwood Mirror
Located in Houston, TX
Giltwood French mirror with a beveled glass. Egg and dart design on the sides with a wreath at the crest. Foliate draping adorns the top.
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Early 1900s French Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

Materials

Wood

French Giltwood Mirror
French Giltwood Mirror
H 69 in W 30 in D 1.5 in
18th Century French Copper Bed Warmer with Punched Detail of Horse
Located in Carmel, CA
Copper pan is hand-hammered and hand tooled. On the center of the pan is a tethered horse with saddle. The tooling around the recessed edge is of continuous diamond shapes each with ...
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Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Folk Art

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Copper

Louis Xvi folk art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Louis XVI folk art for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage folk art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, paint and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XVI folk art made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,340 and tops out at $28,000 while the average work can sell for $11,403.

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