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Neoclassical Architectural Elements

NEOCLASSICAL STYLE

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.

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Style: Neoclassical
LATE 18th CENTURY NEOCLASSICAL ORNAMENTAL FRIEZE
Located in Firenze, FI
Elegant ornamental frieze in wrought iron and hand-forged, finely gilded and embellished with floral motifs that enhance its elegance. The base is made of white Carrara marble, carve...
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Carrara Marble, Iron

French Terracotta Lion's Head on Custom Iron Stand
Located in Pembroke, MA
This French terracotta lion's mask was originally an element of a 19th century fountain with water jetting from its mouth. This garden piece is now mounted on a custom iron, making i...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Iron

French Wood Corbels Carved Griffin Dragon Gargoyles Figure Architectural Salvage
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a pair (2) of wood Corbels (shelve supports). Carved griffin - dragon- gargoyles figures . Beautiful architectural salvaged decor. Wood appears to be mahoga...
Category

1940s French Vintage Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Pair of Antique Minton & Co Tile Panels
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A pair of antique glazed Minton tile panels. This pair have a desirable crazing creating a characterful time worn look. With all their elements combined, they make the perfect decora...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Clay

Late 18th century Italian Neo Classical Hand Painted Panel
Located in Buisson, FR
Amazing neoclassical hand painted panel in fresco style. Italy circa 1780 Weathered, small losses. Measurements include the wooden base. H:52,5cm W:39,5cm D:7cm
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Large 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Carved Giltwood Ornament
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful 18th century neoclassical giltwood ornament. Italy circa 1780. Weathered,small losses and old repairs. Measurements include the wooden base. H:67cm W:45cm D:9cm
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Iron Corbels Set, 19th-20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Set of three iron corbels used in some outstanding residence, decorated with scrolls, lines and other elements that could link the pieces with neoclassici...
Category

20th Century European Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Iron

18th Century Italian Neoclassical Carved Wooden Altar
Located in Buisson, FR
Wonderful neoclassical carved wooden altar with beautiful gilded angels. Italy, circa 1760-1780. Weathered, small losses and old repairs.
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Pair of Continental Gesso and Wood Pilaster Columns
Located in London, GB
Pair of Continental gesso and wood pilaster columns Continental, 20th century Height 245cm, width 55cm, depth 30cm This elegant pair of pilasters...
Category

20th Century European Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Gesso, Wood

Early 19th Century English Regency Egyptian Style Fireplace in Statuary Marble
Located in London, GB
A magnificent and rare English Regency Neoclassical Egyptian style statuary marble fireplace carved to the highest quality, of the type popularised by Thomas Hope 17691831, in his highly influential Household Furniture and Interior Decoration (1807) with term jambs of Antinous Osiris...
Category

Early 19th Century British Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Stone, Marble, Statuary Marble

Pair Large 18th Century French Neoclassical Carved Oak Ornaments
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful pair 18th century neoclassical carved oak ornaments. France circa 1780. Weathered, small losses and old repairs. Measurements are individual and include the wooden base.
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Oak

Window or Door Fittings, Wrought Iron, 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Element of iron formed by several pieces strongly united to each other that has simple decoration based on rings and other details and serves to close a door or window. This type of ...
Category

18th Century European Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Wrought Iron

Unusual Late 18th Century Dutch Polychrome Tile Picture of a Clock
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A rare Dutch polychrome tile picture, painted in blue, green, yellow and manganese, depicting a mantel clock with two cupids. The tiles with authentic hand-painted black numbers F1-F...
Category

Late 18th Century Dutch Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Faience

Architectural Model of a Cistern
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An interesting mid 19th century architectural model of a cistern sculpted in limestone, possibly Bath stone, carved into an elongated oval form. Beautifully weathered and of good scale, this carved limestone sculpture...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Limestone

Antique Fireplace Mantel with a Wedgwood Central Table
Located in London, GB
A late 18th century, early 19th century neoclassical chimneypiece in white statuary marble, centred with a Wedgwood ' Bacchanal' tablet, with 3/4 round fluted Ionic columns fronting the jambs. The Wedgwood tablet depicts a central group of three drunken bacchic cherubs, flanked by single cherub figures and cherub groups taking cover...
Category

Early 19th Century British Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Marble, Statuary Marble

19th Century Neoclassical English Mantelpiece with Carved Eagle to Center
Located in London, GB
A Neoclassical English pine fireplace. The frieze with well carved eagle centrepiece, juxtaposed by stop flutes and panels. Vitruvian scrolls running beneath. The jambs with tapered ...
Category

19th Century British Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Pine

Pair of 20th Century French Alabaster Elements
Located in Atlanta, GA
This pair of 20th-century French alabaster elements features intricately designed vases, each with a classical shape and elegant detailing. The vases are crafted from alabaster, show...
Category

20th Century French Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Alabaster

English Hand-Painted Fireplace Mantel in the Neoclassical Style
Located in London, GB
A rare and highly decorative chimney piece in the manner of George Brookshaw The frame carved part gilded and polychrome decorated, with the inverted breakfront top shelf having a...
Category

19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood, Paint

French Pair of Massive Painted Columns
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Simply incredible pair of very tall French architectural columns, in the Ionic order. These Neoclassical wonders are crafted of wood and plaster, thickly painted white, the column’s ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Plaster, Wood

Superb George III Neoclassical Fireplace Mantel of the Roman Doric Order
Located in London, GB
In white statuary and Spanish Brocatelle marbles; The design attributed to Sir William Chambers (1723-1796), architect to the King, circa 1765-1770. The tiered shelf with egg and dart, (symbolic of good and evil) moulding, above the frieze, which is centered with a rectangular tablet, superbly sculpted with a Bucranium mask of an ox skull. This has horns and a jeweled decoration adorns the skull above the eyes, the horns are draped with bunched, knotted ribbons, which hold swags of tied bell flowers, the other end of which are secured and fall from circular, flower decorated paterae. This is flanked by Brocatelle panels and recessed, statuary end blockings. The jambs with pilaster Brocatelle uprights, flanked by statuary out grounds with scrolling volutes decorated with sprigs of foliage. The opening with moulded edge, the whole raised on foot blocks. The Doric Order...
Category

Mid-18th Century British Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Marble, Statuary Marble

19th Century Statuary and Antico Verde Marble Fireplace
Located in London, GB
A 19th century statuary and Antico Verde marble fireplace in an earlier neoclassical style. With a tiered and moulded shelf above the double Gre...
Category

19th Century British Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Marble

Neo-Classical Antique Fireplace Mantel in Statuary, Siena and Jasper Marbles
Located in London, GB
A neoclassical chimneypiece of statuary, veneered Siena and inlaid Jasper & Rosso Antico marbles, circa 1800 The plain rectangular shelf above the Siena frieze which is centered w...
Category

Early 1800s British Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Marble, Siena Marble, Statuary Marble

19th Century Monumental Italian Giltwood Urn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 19th century monumental Neoclassical style Italian gilt wood urn, detailed with acanthus leaves, scrolled arms and beading.
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Giltwood

Antique Corinthian Capital, Glazed Ceramic, Canada/U.S., Late 19th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Antique Architectural Corinthian Capital - glazed cast ceramic composition - Canada or United States - late 19th century. Good antiq...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Hand Carved Wood Panels from a Monastery
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A pair of hand carved wood panels with intertwining designs covering the whole front and back with a framed look to each . Two well crafted piec...
Category

Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Pair of Antique Italian circa 1790 Carved and Gilt Neoclassical Panels
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Notable pair of decorative over-door panels dating from the height of the neoclassical period in all original very good condition. One with a Christies 1967 label on verso. A label i...
Category

Late 18th Century European Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Enormous Decorative Architectural Finial
Located in Houston, TX
Enormous decorative architectural finial in early white paint, circa 1840-1880 (Look at last picture for idea of scale). Note: Regional differenc...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood, Paint

Sink Plaquette with Relief of a Roman Adonis in Loincloth Posing as Le Penseur
Located in Doornspijk, NL
This plain and austere plaquette shows us a muscular Roman young man wearing just a loincloth. Squatting on the ground he sits, in the typical position of the Le Penseur artwork by R...
Category

Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Zinc

Pair of Bamboo Split Reed Ionic Columns
Located in Redding, CT
Pair of Bamboo Split Reed Ionic Columns. Amazing architectural accent pieces. Perfect for a shop or to make a poolside cabana look cool. The ideas are endless. Hollow inside but stur...
Category

1970s Vintage Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Reed, Bamboo

Italian Neoclassical Marble Ribbon & Swag Architectural Cornice Finial, C. 1770
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian Neoclassical carved marble architectural cornice finial with circular ball, ringed urn plinth, and resting on a bulbous base with flanking ribbon & swag motif. Finial was one...
Category

1770s Italian Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Marble

Antique Molded Cement Decorative Brick Panels, Pair
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pair of antique molded cement architectural decoration are embellished in high relief with urns filled with fruit. One side is slanted on each and bot...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Cement

18th Century Pennsylvania Carved Pine Over Mantle Panel
Located in Nantucket, MA
Large 18th Century Colonial Pennsylvania carved pine over-mantle panel, a hand-carved pine single board frieze with deep bas relief acanthus leaf scrolls against a scoop carved back...
Category

Late 18th Century American Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Pine

Turn of the Century Gentlemen's Club Tall Locker
Located in North Miami, FL
This very heavy iron and bronze detailed tall locker with black Belgian marble base is all original. Interior details include a heavy turning handle door w...
Category

1920s American Vintage Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Bronze, Iron

Large Three Arm Neoclassical Cast Brass or Bronze Wall Sconce, circa 1920/1930s
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular cast brass, or bronze, three arm wall appliqué, probably from a bank, public building, or other commercial building. The sconce is in exception...
Category

Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Brass

Pair Antique Arched Architectural Niches
Located in Dallas, TX
Perfect for displaying a statue, vase or objet d'art, this PAIR of Antique Arched Architectural Niches can transform a plain wall or a stairwell into...
Category

Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Hardwood

Mural Glass Mosaic in Flower Design, Neoclassical Style
By Alexander's Collection, Alexander Anisimov
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Mural Glass Mosaic in Flower Design, Neoclassical Style The legendary Alexander's Collection, a brand that initially made the name in the Asian markets, is now taking a breakthrough...
Category

2010s Chinese Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Gold Plate

Neoclassical English Statuary Marble Fireplace Mantel with Siena Inlay
Located in London, GB
A very fine period neoclassical English Statuary marble fireplace with Siena inlay. The carved jambs with classical urn surmounted by ribbons and drapery, with Siena marble ingrounds...
Category

Mid-18th Century British Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Statuary Marble

Late 18th Century Irish Neoclassical Statuary and Jasper Marble Fireplace
Located in London, GB
A late 18th century Irish neoclassical statuary marble chimneypiece veneered with book-matched Jasper of exceptional quality, the central tablet ...
Category

Late 18th Century Irish Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Statuary Marble, Marble

A Neoclassical English Statuary and Siena Marble Mantel Piece
Located in London, GB
A 19th century English statuary and Sienna marble fireplace in the neoclassical style. The finely carved jambs with Athenian foliage and urns surmounted by carved end blockings. The ...
Category

19th Century British Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Siena Marble, Statuary Marble

Pair of 19th Century Italian Giltwood Appliques
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nicely carved. In great condition for their age. In the form of capitols.
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Giltwood

Neoclassical Pine Fireplace with Carved Urn
Located in London, GB
An English neoclassical pine fireplace. The centre blocking with carved urn and drapery, flanked by oval paterae and fluting. The tapering legs with tied ri...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Pine

Late 18th Century Statuary and Siena Fireplace of Neoclassical Design
Located in London, GB
A late 18th century statuary and Siena fireplace of late 18th century neoclassical design, the frieze with a statuary marble tablet decorated a classical...
Category

Late 18th Century British Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Marble, Siena Marble, Statuary Marble

Neoclassical Style Antique Fireplace Mantel
Located in London, GB
The breakfront, moulded shelf above the frieze which is centred with a tablet carved with tazza shaped, lidded urn in statuary on sienna marble. This is flanked by bands of flutes; t...
Category

Mid-18th Century British Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Marble, Siena Marble, Statuary Marble

18th Century Antique Fireplace Mantle in Statuary and Siena Marbles
Located in London, GB
A statuary and Siena marble chimney piece late 18th century; circa 1795. With moulded shelf with rounded corners above the frieze which is centred with a tablet of a reclining godde...
Category

1790s British Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Marble, Siena Marble, Statuary Marble

Late 18th Century Style Fireplace in Statuary and Siena Marbles
Located in London, GB
A good late 18th century style neoclassical fireplace in Statuary and Siena marbles with a centre tablet depicting the antique fairy tale of Cupid and Ps...
Category

Late 18th Century British Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Marble, Siena Marble, Statuary Marble

Impressive Brass & Steel Neo-Classical Firegrate
Located in London, GB
A large and impressive brass and steel firebasket in the Georgian style. The gunmetal legs with engraving throughout, featuring Athenian leaf and drapery, surmounted by engraved urn ...
Category

18th Century English Antique Neoclassical Architectural Elements

Materials

Brass

Neoclassical architectural elements for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical architectural elements for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage architectural elements created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, wall decorations, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Neoclassical architectural elements made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States 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 architectural elements differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $100 and tops out at $121,422 while the average work can sell for $3,902.

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