The decadence of the Baroque style, in which ornate furnishings were layered against paneled walls, painted ceilings, stately chandeliers and, above all, gilding, expressed the power of the church and monarchy through design that celebrated excess. And its influence was omnipresent — antique Baroque furniture was created in the first design style that truly had a global impact.
Theatrical and lavish, Baroque was prevalent across Europe from the 17th to mid-18th century and spread around the world through colonialism, including in Asia, Africa and the Americas. While Baroque originated in Italy and achieved some of its most fantastic forms in the late-period Roman Baroque, it was adapted to meet the tastes and materials in each region. French Baroque furniture informed Louis XIV style and added drama to Versailles. In Spain, the Baroque movement influenced the elaborate Churrigueresque style in which architecture was dripping with ornamental details. In South German Baroque, furniture was made with bold geometric patterns.
Compared to Renaissance furniture, which was more subdued in its proportions, Baroque furniture was extravagant in all aspects, from its shape to its materials.
Allegorical and mythical figures were often sculpted in the wood, along with motifs like scrolling floral forms and acanthus leaves that gave the impression of tangles of dense foliage. Novel techniques and materials such as marquetry, gesso and lacquer — which were used with exotic woods and were employed by cabinetmakers such as André-Charles Boulle, Gerrit Jensen and James Moore — reflected the growth of international trade. Baroque furniture characteristics include a range of decorative elements — a single furnishing could feature everything from carved gilded wood to gilt bronze, lending chairs, mirrors, console tables and other pieces a sense of motion.
Find a collection of authentic antique Baroque tables, lighting, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Two 17th Century French Iron Choir Screen Fragments, Mounted on Custom Bases
Located in Stamford, CT
17th French iron fragments of a choir screen, the larger with ivy leaves topped by an arch with a bell flower, the other with two lovely heart shapes top and bottom, with groups of s...
Iron
Hand-Carved Italian Stone Cherub Corbels, A Pair
Located in Bradenton, FL
18th Century Italian figural carved stone corbels featuring cherubs, or putti heads, with delicately rendered wings, volutes, and scrolling acanthus motifs. Heavy stone is hand-carve...
Stone
Two Pairs of Italian Baroque Push Pull Bronze Door Handles
Located in London, GB
Two pairs of Italian Baroque style push and pull bronze door handles with elaborate design and original patina. They are most likely made in the late 19th century but almost identica...
Bronze
Antique Venetian Solid Bronze Servant Bell with Red Velvet and Bronze Bell Pull
Located in Doha, QA
'"QUI ME TANGIT VOCEM MEAM AUDI"- He who touches me hears my voice. (In tranlsation from Latin). So it says on the Bell. An absolutely unique Venetian Servant Bell with a Velvet go...
Gold, Bronze
Unique 17th Century Baroque Dutch Fireplace
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
Large and amazing Baroque Dutch mantelpiece from the 17th century. Very well decorated limewood frieze displays an array of beautiful water plants, sup...
Marble, Iron
Baroque Antique Architectural Beveled White Marble Tabletop, 1800s, Italy
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Antique Italian beveled marble serpentine tabletop. Salvaged from a giltwood swan motif console table with matching mirror. Created in the 19th century, this marble top is in a serpe...
Marble
17th Century Spanish Upper Niche Altarpiece Carved Wood
Located in Madrid, ES
Upper part of an altar niche, from the Spanish Baroque period, in the shape of a shell, which in turn would have been part of a Baroque altarpiece, characterized by profuse and exube...
Giltwood
$41,600Sale Price|20% Off
Striking 18th Century Italian Baroque Fireplace Mantel in Statuary Marble
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
A monumental, 18th century, Italian Baroque fireplace mantel in statuary marble. The frieze, with a beautifully decorated central cartouche, is supported by solid panelled demilune j...
Statuary Marble
Antique 17th Century Carved Carrara Marble Pilaster Capital
Located in PARIS, FR
Presenting a striking 17th-century pilaster capital, beautifully hand-carved from solid white Carrara marble. This exceptional architectural element features classic motifs of the Io...
Carrara Marble
Late 18th Century Large Original Painted Architectural Fragment from Portugal
Located in Round Top, TX
Late 18th century large architectural fragment from Portugal, retaining its original painted finish. The curved form is especially decorative, with original gold gilt flourishes set ...
Plaster, Wood, Paint
$1,750Sale Price|30% Off
Eighteenth Century Baroque Style Architectural Element from a Portuguese Church
Located in Winnetka, IL
An Eighteenth Century Baroque Architectural Wood Element from a Portuguese Church. Two parts.
Hardwood
$42,500 / set
Pair of Italian Baroque Painted Carved Columns
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian Baroque style (19th Century) painted black swirl columns with gilt trim and floral and scroll design (PRICED AS Pair).
Gold Leaf
Antique Venetian Free-Hanging Iron Dragon Sign Rare Exterior Plaque 1629
Located in Doha, QA
A rare and evocative Venetian iron hanging sign, intricately cut in the form of a stylised dragon within a rectangular frame. This piece is dated 1629, the year of the Venetian Plagu...
Iron
$1,440Sale Price|34% Off
Italian Baroque Style Carved Capital Frieze Architectural Element, circa 1840
Located in Encinitas, CA
19th century Italian Baroque style ornately solid carved capital frieze element with florals & foliage. Arc-shaped old chestnut with highly developed bronze-like patina from agin...
Chestnut
18th Century French Mantelpiece
Located in Vosselaar, BE
This Régence mantelpiece in grey sandstone tics all the boxes of the age of the Baroque. The Régence used the same strong classically inspired lines from the early Baroque but brough...
Sandstone
A Portuguese Polychrome & Giltwood Presentoir, 18th Century
Located in Sheffield, MA
A Portuguese Baroque Polychrome & Giltwood Presentoir 18th Century With elaborate scroll and flower carved canopy and framework Height 30 in. Width 18 in. Depth 10 in. ...
Wrought Iron Grille, Spain, 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Wrought iron grating with ten vertical double-pearl bars decorated with small discs and other simpler verticals (up and down planes, the central tubular and inserted through the vert...
Wrought Iron
Italian 18th century Baroque Period Wood and Giltwood architectural element
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and most attractive Italian early 18th century Baroque Period patinated Wood and Giltwood Conch Shell architectural element. This most decorative carved Giltwood Conch ...
Wood, Giltwood
Pair of 17th Century Italian Carved Fruit Swag Architectural Elements
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 17th century Italian carved fruit swag architectural elements. Stunning large pair of 17th century Italian Baroque carved giltwood fruit swag archit...
Giltwood, Wood
Pair of columns. Wrought iron. Possibly Spanish school, 17th century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of columns. Wrought iron. Possibly Spanish school, 17th century. Pair of architectural supports made of iron with a polygonal central axis, ending in a spherical shape on one ...
Iron
$17,498 / set
Columns. Wrought iron. 17th century
Located in Madrid, ES
Four columns. Iron. 17th century Four iron supports with a polygonal shaft, balustrade shape and upper part with two sections on the sides of the central one ending in volutes and a...
Iron
$6,022
Shaped Oak Fireplace
Located in London, GB
An unusual, shaped oak fireplace. The frieze with carved shell to centre and floral embellishments to ends. Moulded jambs. Photo taken prior to restoration. Measures: Shelf Width: 1...
Oak
Architectural Bolection Fireplace
Located in London, GB
An architectural bolection fireplace of small scale with moulded frieze and jambs. Made in a rustic Italian travertine stone, currently unfilled. E...
Travertine
An Imposing English Bolection Fireplace in Heavily Antiqued Bath Stone & Hearth
Located in London, GB
A large and imposing English moulded bolection fireplace in heavily antiqued Bath stone. Modelled on a chimneypiece originally housed in the Officer's Mes...
Limestone
Italian Fireplace in Veined Brown Marble
Located in London, GB
A good quality Italian fireplace in the Baroque manner in striking brown marble with white veining. The shaped frieze with heavy moulding and breakfront shelf above. A substantial pi...
Marble
Unusual English Baroque Style Fireplace in Italian Carrara Marble
Located in London, GB
An unusual English Baroque style fireplace in Italian Carrara marble. The substantial frieze with a coat of arms featuring griffins and shield, with swirling floral paterae to end bl...
Marble
Italian Statuary Marble Fireplace Mantel in the Baroque Manner
Located in London, GB
An impressive late 19th century Italian Baroque style fireplace in statuary marble. Deeply carved floral swags to frieze and bracketed jambs, scrolled foliage to frieze and outside o...
Statuary Marble
Italian Chimneypiece in Portland Stone
Located in London, GB
A good quality Italian fireplace in the Baroque manner in Portland stone. The shaped frieze with heavy moulding and breakfront shelf above. A substantia...
Limestone
Carved Italian Fireplace in Portland Stone
Located in London, GB
An Italian Baroque style fireplace richly carved from Portland stone. The ogee shaped frieze with carved acanthus leaves, shells and flowers. Similar carving to moulded shelf, and Cl...
Stone
English Bolection Fireplace in Travertine Stone
Located in London, GB
A large and imposing English moulded bolection fireplace in white Travertine stone. Modelled on a chimneypiece originally housed in the Officer's Mess at Chelsea Barracks, London. Ca...
Travertine
Pair of Pilasters, Polychromed Wood, 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of paired pilasters. Carved, polychrome andgilded mother. XVII century. Pair of moldings made of carved, polychrome andgilded wood, composed of p...
Wood