As opposed to the styles that would follow from the other 18th-century French kings, Louis XV and Louis XVI, antique Louis XIV furniture is rigid and imposing. It expresses opulence — even its armchairs, with their upright backs, straight legs and lavish ornamentation, look like thrones. Authentic Louis XIV sofas, a then newly emerging iteration of seating, are fully upholstered and often feature decoratively carved frames of walnut, chestnut or oak.
When French King Louis XIV established his royal court at Versailles in 1682, he transformed what was once a hunting lodge into a palace that declared his wealth and power through its design. Until his death in 1715, he reigned with a spirit of excess and absolute political dominance. The “Sun King,” as he called himself, believed that France revolved around him as planets do the sun. Louis XIV adopted the sun as his emblem, decorating the grounds with symbols of the sun and Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. As he stated, “There is nothing that indicates more clearly the magnificence of great princes than their superb palaces and their precious furniture.” He was a child when he became king in 1643, only shaping his style after he became absolute monarch in 1661.
Reflecting trends in French Baroque art, Louis XIV furniture characteristics included exuberant decoration. There were gilded bronze details including shells, suns, grotesques, lions and classical references like acanthus leaves. The years of growth in the country’s manufacturing, such as the tapestries and cabinets made at Gobelins, led to design innovations. The commode replaced the chest as a storage device, with drawers and a surface that could double as a desk.
The materials were luxurious, such as the popular tortoiseshell veneer technique that leading cabinetmaker Pierre Golle used in his designs. André-Charles Boulle, who became royal cabinetmaker in 1672, was a masterful artist of marquetry, using inlays of ebony, exotic woods and mother-of-pearl.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIV bedroom furniture, chairs, tables and other pieces on 1stDibs.
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Walnut Miniature Commode Jewelry Box
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a vanity or tabletop with this charming antique miniature commode jewelry box, crafted in France, circa 1920. Modeled in the Louis XIV taste, the petite chest features a gra...
Walnut
Small walnut briar chest with iron reinforcements with double locks
Located in Milano, IT
The chest presented here consists of interlocking solid wood base, but the structure is strengthened by two iron bands running across its four faces at the back, top, bottom, and fro...
Wrought Iron
Watch Box for Nine Watches in Briar with Leather Detail
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Elm briar and striped mahogany for your collectable watches. Leather handles. Briar box for nine watches.
Leather, Wood
Antique Jewelry Box Art Deco Period
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful antique Art Deco period jewelry box, styled by Jacques Kreisler, circa early-20th Century, New York, New York. Box is an aubergine ...
Metal
Walnut and Metal Small Chest, 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Small rectangular ark with a flat lid, with a lock of golden metal worked (crown on two facing lions, located on a garland of great size, and all around a symmetrical composition wit...
Metal
$1,500
H 4.73 in W 3.75 in D 1.97 in
Mid-20th Century Tin Charity Container by Alfred Zaltsman, Jerusalem
Located in New York, NY
The front of the box is inscribed with Hebrew and German: "Rabbi Meir Baal Ha' Ness charity collecting funds for Shomrei Ha' Chomot Kolel" and decorated with two images; Hatam Sofer ...
Metal
Iron Strong Box Treasure Chest
Located in Ferndale, MI
Iron strong box treasure chest, nicely crafted case and mechanism. Original key included . Possibly stage coach item .
Steel, Wrought Iron, Iron
Il Bauletto Jewelry Box in Briar and Mahogany
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Jewelry box in briar and mahogany, matte finish, ultra suede lining. 24-karat gold plated brass accessories. With removable tray and necklace bar.
Suede, Mahogany
$5,900
H 29 in W 28.5 in D 19 in
Circa 1650 Sheet Iron Money Chest from Southern Germany with Wooden Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
In 15th and 16th century Europe, the works of blacksmiths from southern Germany were known far and wide. Demand for products by these skilled metal workers spread as far as the Scandinavian countries. Perhaps one of the most intriguing items that was produced by these workshops was the iron money...
Iron
$1,800Sale Price|30% Off
H 5.12 in W 7.01 in D 4.45 in
Victorian Decorative Brass Bound Burr Walnut Domed Tea Caddy Chest With Key
Located in Reading, Berkshire
An Exquisite 19th Century Victorian Decorative Brass Bound Burr Walnut Domed Tea Caddy Chest Features Two Caddy Compartments Which Feature Domed Wooden Lids & Each Has A Circula...
Brass
Bijoux Jewelry Chest in Briar and Mahogany
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Jewelry chest in briar and mahogany, matte finish, ultrasuede lining, 24 karats gold plated brass accessories. With necklace bars, lockable doors and 6 drawers. Adjustable mirror on ...
Suede, Mahogany
$913Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.89 in W 5.71 in D 5.91 in
Jewelry Boxes or Wooden Box with Key, Restauration Period 19th, France
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Charming jewelry box or case. The box has a compartment for rings and 3 compartments for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, stones. Very interesting opening mechanism with pusher syst...
Wood
19th Century Louis Philippe Miniature Commode
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century Louis Philippe miniature sample commode made of solid walnut with French polish finish. Three dovetailed drawers with turned knobs and one hidden top drawer. The top k...
Marble
$1,803
H 10.24 in W 22.45 in D 9.45 in
19th Century Italian Renaissance Walnut Carved Miniature Blanket Chest or Coffer
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare and fine quality 19th century Italian Renaissance walnut carved miniature blanket chest or coffer. Fine carving in walnut wood on the fron...
Wood
Sold
H 12 in W 32 in D 23 in
Monumental Louis XIV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Boulle Marquetry Casket Box
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A Monumental Louis XIV style French gilt-bronze mounted wood boulle marquetry casket box, circa 1895 Known in French as a carré de toilette, this casket has canted corners with lavi...
Bronze, Brass
Sold
H 9.45 in W 15.36 in D 9.06 in
Antique Louis XIV Kingwood and Gilt Bronze Strongbox Coffre Fort, 17th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a magnificent, unusual and rare antique Louis XIV kingwood, satinwood banded and gilt bronze mounted strongbox dating from the late 17th century. This splendid large stron...
Bronze
Sold
H 5.91 in W 14.18 in D 9.85 in
Louis XIV Style Jewelry Boulle Marquetry Box, France, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Gorgeous and big dimension gorgeous Louis XIV style model rectangular jewelry box, blackened wood veneer with Boulle style Marquetry in all sides , brass inlays on blackened wood wit...
Brass, Bronze
Louis XIV Jewelry Decorative Marquetry Box, France, 1860
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful jewelry decorative box Louis XIV style Boulle Marquetry in all facades, this large box, in doucine. Marquetry all faces in brass on blackened wood background, many ingot mo...
Brass, Bronze
Tyrolean Shaped and Painted 4-Drawer Box, 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
The box with original painted and decoration having brass finials and a larger wooden finial that is the locking mechanism for all of the drawers, the ochre colored paint further decorated with scrolls, foliage, and shells, raised on small brass feet, likely from far Northern Italy (Provincia autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige).