Neoclassical Building and Garden 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
Period: 18th Century and Earlier
Late 18th Century Neoclassical Chimneypiece Statuary and Siena Marbles
Located in London, GB
A late 18th century neoclassical chimneypiece statuary and Siena marbles. The central tablet is carved a wreath of wheat intersected by diagonally crossed thyrsi, and intertwining iv...
Category
Late 18th Century Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Siena Marble, Statuary Marble
18th Century Neoclassical French Limestone Fireplace Surround
Located in Pasadena, CA
An 18th century French limestone fireplace surround in the Neoclassical style. Of impressive dimensions, the upper section boasting...
Category
18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Limestone
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Pair of American Wrought Iron and Brass Melon Top Andirons, Circa 1780
Located in Hollywood, SC
Pair of American wrought iron and brass melon top andirons with turned centered column, spit hooks, and terminating on stylized penny feet. Note: Centered columns of andirons were ma...
Category
18th Century and Earlier American Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Italian Neoclassical Paint and Parcel Gilt Panels / Roman Goddesses / Muses
Located in Dallas, TX
A group of five (5) wooden panels framed, paint and parcel-gilt, with hand-painted Classical figures, female, goddesses and / or muses with attributes, early 18th century, Italy.
Category
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
Set of Four Italian Brass and Wrought Iron Fire Tools on Bracket, Circa 1780
Located in Hollywood, SC
Set of four Italian brass and wrought iron figural fire tools with decorative hand chasing mounted on a scrolled iron wall bracket, Late 18th centur...
Category
1780s Italian Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass, Iron, Wrought Iron
18th Century French Neoclassical 'Marriage' Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, NL
French neoclassical fireback cast in 1790 for the (usually just) married couple who's names are cast in the fireback.
This product weighs more than 65 kg / 143 lbs. All our products...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
18th Century Bossi Hand-Carved Statuary Marble Fireplace with Scagliola Inlay
By Pietto Bossi
Located in London, GB
This white hand-carved marble chimney-piece with Scagliola inlay and break fronted shelf attributed to Pietro Bossi who is known to have worked in Dublin from 1785-1798.
Not much is known about Pietro Bossi, although much inlay work of the late 18th century is commonly known as`Bossi-work'. An Italian craftsman, Bossi worked in Dublin from 1785-1798 and used colored marble inlay and also a colored paste inlay, known as Scagliola, on a white marble ground.
His designs are in the neoclassical style, a style disseminated by Robert Adam in 1770s. Bossi`s process was a closely guarded secret and was apparently carried out behind closed doors.
Although, there were other craftsmen producing this type of work, the present chimney-piece can be attributed to Bossi because it shares some distinctive decoration with other pieces strongly believed to be by him. The overall style is typical of Bossi.
This unique marble fireplace mantel-piece is believed to originate from a wing of Huntroyde Hall...
Category
Late 18th Century British Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Marble, Siena Marble, Statuary Marble
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Siena Marble, Statuary Marble, Marble
French Painted and Gilt Tole Column with Corithian Capital
Located in Stamford, CT
Rare and unusual French tole peinte decorative column with acanthus leaf capital. The cross hatched column painted green with gilt bosses, topped by a Corinthian capital. The capital and base with brass...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Tôle
A Very Fine 18th C. Irish Georgian Brass Fireplace Register Grate, Circa 1780
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome 18th century Georgian Irish fire grate / register, showing a brass surround engraved with neoclassical motifs, framing an iron basket with a triple bar grate, flanked...
Category
1780s Irish Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass, Iron
Pair of 18th Century Half-Urn Carved Wood Decorations
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of divided urns, once whole, Neoclassical period, of carved wood with distressed, painted finish; each having fluted body and square handles, on round foot and rectangular plinth.
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
Antique Fireplace Mantel of Neoclassical Style
Located in London, GB
An exceptional 18th century Irish neoclassical chimneypiece of statuary marble, inlaid with Pietra Dura specimens of Rosso Antico, Verde and Kilkenny black. Almost certainly from the...
Category
1770s British Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Marble, Statuary Marble
18th Century Georgian Antique Fireplace in the Manner of Robert Adam
Located in London, GB
A late Georgian neoclassical chimneypiece in the manner of Robert Adam carved in white statuary marble with yellow Sienna marble inlay. The ...
Category
Late 18th Century Great Britain (UK) Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Siena Marble, Statuary Marble
18th Century Neoclassical Pine Mantel
Located in New York, NY
A very fine late 18th century neoclassical pine mantel in excellent condition and exquisitely well carved featuring corner blocks carved with rosettes above tapering pilasters carved with pendant bell drops, and running frieze ribbon tied swags beneath a breakfront corniced mantel...
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Pine
19th Century Statuary White Marble and Scagliola Fireplace Mantel
Located in London, GB
An Irish 19th century highly decorative and very well executed fireplace in Italian Statuary white marble with red and black Etruscan style Scagliola inlaid jamb panels and frieze. ...
Category
Late 18th Century Irish Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Statuary Marble
Antique French 'Marriage' Fireback / Backsplash, dated 1797
Located in Amerongen, NL
18th Century French Marriage Fireback, dated 1797.
All our products that weigh 66 kg / 146 lbs or more are shipped as standard door-to-door freight. The prices of freight have incre...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
18th Century Neoclassical Pine Mantel
Located in New York, NY
An exceptionally fine neoclassical pine mantel with a frieze carved in the finest low relief centered with an urn and flanked by foliate arabesques. The corner blocks carved with urn...
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Marble
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Marble, Siena Marble, Statuary Marble
Pair of Continental Neoclassical Carved Wooden Capitals, late 18th century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Expertly carved with urns emitting flames from their tops and draped in fabric swags, excellent as lamp bases
Category
Late 18th Century European Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Walnut
Neoclassical French Antique Carrara Marble Fireplace
Located in Oostvoorne, NL
A beautiful antique fireplace with rich details and a wide profiled top. This full circulation fireplace is made of “Carrara”, a very luxurious type of marble.
A sumptuous scallop (shell) stands out in the center of the fireplace. Placed at 30 degrees from the corners are fully solid consoles...
Category
Early 18th Century European Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Carrara Marble
Antique 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Carrara Marble Urn Vases on Pedestals
Located in Firenze, IT
Pair of Italian (probably Florence) 18th century white Carrara marble campana shaped vases, extremely decorative architectural pieces both for indoor or outdoor use dating back to Ne...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Carrara Marble
Neoclassical building and garden elements for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical building and garden 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 building and garden elements created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, decorative objects, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, iron and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Neoclassical building and garden elements made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original building and garden elements, popular names associated with this style include Brown Jordan, Russell Woodard, Woodard Furniture Co., and Michael Taylor. 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 building and garden elements differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $89 and tops out at $402,592 while the average work can sell for $2,800.
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