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.
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
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
$1,287 / item
Column base. Stone. 17th century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Column base. Stone. 17th century. Price per unit, three available. They are missing Column bases made of carved stone, each consisting of a square section with smooth moldings (plint...
Stone
$20,596Sale Price / set|20% Off
2 Antiques Baroque Doors Lacquered Yellow and Gilded, Mirror Updoor, 1700 Italy
Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)
2 ancient original Baroque doors hand-lacquered yellow and gilded with leaf, an important door with a chopped mirror, built at the beginning of the 18th century by an Italian artist,...
Wood
$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
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
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
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
$1,750Sale 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
Ancient Temple in Lacquered Wood from the End of the 1800s
Located in Cesena, FC
Beautiful rare temple dating back to around the second half of the 1800th century in the middle of the Baroque style made of finely carved and gilded wood. Rich sculpted decoration, carving with volute curls. The perforated and gilded dome is of great value. Beautiful old patina. The structure has 8 columns...
Wood, Lacquer
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
Large Plaster Architectural Ionic Capital Element, Austria, 1880
Located in Almelo, NL
Decorative large cast plaster capital of Iconic order, Austria, 1870-1880. The capital is formed by two volutes on the flanks connected with decorative...
Plaster
Antique Hand-Carved & Painted Wooden Mounted Architectural or Nautical Fragment
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique hand-carved and polychrome painted architectural or nautical fragment shows no sign of where is may have originated from, but is quite early dating between approximately...
Oak
Pair of Italian 17th Century Baroque Period Marble Architectural Elements
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent pair of Italian 17th century Baroque period white Carrara marble architectural elements. Each unique wall sculpture displays a finely carved white Carrara winged cherub...
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
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
$7,750 / set
Carved Wood Bases
Located in New York, NY
Substantial pair of 18th century Italian gilded bases with ornate carved detailing.
Wood
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
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
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
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
Baroque Wrought Iron Columns, 17th Century, Four Supports, Spain
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
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
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
$5,992
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
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
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
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. ...
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