The style of 18th-century French furniture was guided by the court. When Louis XV, who reigned from 1715–74, focused royal life on the smaller salons of Versailles rather than its grand chambers, it transformed the aesthetics away from the imposing and angular furniture that characterized the style of Louis XIV. A broader focus on comfort and more delicate forms define antique Louis XV furniture, with nature-inspired carvings, wood inlays, curved cabriole legs, asymmetrical shapes and rounded oval seat backs. The furnishings changed throughout the king’s life, as he ascended to the throne as a child and then grew to establish his own tastes.
Pieces like the bergère, an upholstered armchair with a wide cushion that fit the flowing dresses in fashion at the time, reflected this more informal court. Introduced at the start of Louis XV’s reign, bergère chairs in this style were deeper and broader than other chairs of the period.
Louis XV tapestries and carpets tended to be floral and colorful, and design elements were borrowed from Asia. Dutch-born cabinetmaker Bernard van Risenburgh brought lacquer techniques influenced by Japan and China into his luxuriously made furniture. Along with its fine details, the furniture of the era also featured new innovations including mechanical devices. Jean François Oeben, a royal cabinetmaker, created such intricate pieces as a mechanical table for Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s mistress. It involved a sliding top and a writing surface that extended from its marquetry panels.
During the later years of Louis XV’s reign, there was a shift from the ostentatious rocaille style, part of the exuberantly decorative Rococo movement in Europe for which designers such as Nicolas Pineau and Juste-Aurèle Meissonier are known. The style under Louis XVI would return to boxier forms, but with a neoclassical touch inspired by the ancient world.
Find antique Louis XV bedroom furniture, seating, tables and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Louis XV Vari-Color Gold & Enamel Snuff Box - France - Late 18th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Exceptional Louis XV vari-color gold and black enamel snuff box - featuring a bouquet of flowers with two attending butterflies to the top (all in yellow, white, rose and green gold)...
Gold, Enamel
Duke and Duchess of Windsor Gold Snuff Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
This important Louis XV gold snuff box is from the prestigious collection of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The engine-turned gold box or...
Gold
Louis XV Mother-of-pearl Snuffbox
By Louis Robin
Located in New Orleans, LA
This Louis XV-period gold-mounted snuff box features lustrous panels of inlaid mother-of-pearl. The whimsical box takes the form of a barrel and features hinged lids on both ends. Di...
Gold
18th Century Porcelain Snuff Box by Hochst, Germany circa 1740
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An 18th century porcelain snuff or trinket posx, hand painted with a gilt bronze rim and hinge. Made in Germany by Hochst porcelain with a gold pinwheel hallmark dating this to 1740...
Porcelain
Chantilly Kakiemon Circular Soft Paste Snuff Box, circa 1745
By Chantilly
Located in Spencertown, NY
Chantilly circular Kakiemon decorated snuff box with gilt metal mounts. Circa 1745
Metal
Carved Boxwood Tobacco Box – Louis XV Period, 18th Century, Architectural Scene
Located in Bilzen, BE
"Carved Boxwood Tobacco Box – Louis XV Period, 18th Century, Architectural Scene " 18th-Century French Carved Boxwood Tobacco Box – Louis XV Period, Religious Architectural Scene Ori...
Wood
French 1750 Antique Double Compartment Pocket Snuff Flask Carved In Coquille Nut
Located in Miami, FL
Pocket snuff flask carved from coquille nut. Amazing small pocket snuff bottle, carved from a large coquille nut. This antique piece was created in the shape of a spinning top with two secret compartments which can be unscrewed to open. Made in the continental Europe and most probably French or Portuguese provenance from the 18th century, circa 1780. Extensively decorated with organic and floral motifs with a beautiful image of a nut on the upper part. Curiously due to the shape of this piece, it could be played as a spinning tool on a table. This adds a particular interest for the multiple use with which the carving was conceived. Weight: 42.60 Grams. Measurements: Diameter of 40 mm and a height of 89 mm (1.57 x 3.5 Inches). Hallmarks: No marks, gorgeous deep antique patina. Coquille Nut The coquille nut emanates from swampy areas on the eastern side of South America, from a palm known as the “attalea funiefera”. Brazilians call it “Piassabe”. The nuts were introduced into Western Europe in the mid-16th century, and used for small carved objects until the end of the 19th century. Coquille nut is a fruit of a Brazilian palm...
Chestnut, Fruitwood
Louis XV Gold-Mounted Lacquer Snuff Box with Miniatures, France, 1760s
Located in Spencertown, NY
The cover and base inset with gouache miniatures of the front and back of a chateau, signed Andre inv. with tortoiseshell lined interior maker's mark JG cross between, Paris, 1762-1768.
Gold
Mid-19th Century Limoges Enamel Flask
By Limoges
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Small flask in Limoges enamel and silver mounts with its original stopper. All of its surfaces are decorated with figures set in a gallant landscape. On the body, a couple of young l...
Silver, Enamel
A French Palais Royal Mother-of-Pearl Perfume Caddy, 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A French Palais Royal Mother-of-Pearl Perfume Caddy, 19th Century Description: Features iridescent mother-of-pearl shells housed within a fire-gilded brass frame. Produced in Paris ...
Bronze
$206Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.97 in W 1.97 in D 1.97 in
Snuff Box/Snuff Box Amboyna Burl Mother of Pearl and Ebony Inlay-Period 19th
Located in CRÉTEIL, FR
Elegant little snuff box or pocket snuffbox, made of Ambony burl with mother of pearl and ebony inlay. Period : 19th century Dimensions : Height : 5cm x Length : 11cm x Width : ...
Ebony, Burl
Italian Gold-Mounted Micromosaic Snuff Box
Located in New York, NY
Italian micro mosaic plaque mounted within snuff box, depicting white and brown hound seated on grass. Circle of Giacomo Raffaelli (1753-1836). R...
Glass
English 18th Century Gold-Mounted Agate Snuff-Box
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Agate box or snuff-box in of circular form with gently bombé sides, the gold mounted lid is chased with scrollwork. Probably Georges II period. Unmarked gold...
Agate, Gold
Mother of Pearl and Lace Fan Gilt Wood Display
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a delicate mother of pearl sticks and Lace fan enclosed in a fan shaped gilt wood & glass display. The border of the box is adorned by golden beading....
Wood
Exceptional French 18K Gold-Mounted Opal Matrix Snuff Box, circa 1800
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
An exceptional French 18-karat gold-mounted opal matrix snuff box, circa 1800, formerly in the distinguished Hartman Collection. Of elegant rectangular form with chamfered corners, ...
Opal, Gold
Large Mother of Pearl Inlayed Box with Turbo Shell
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Fabulous Inlayed mother of pearl large box with a mother of pearl polished turbo shell.
Mother-of-Pearl
Maitland Smith Mother Of Pearl Box
By Maitland Smith, Karl Springer, Casa Bique, Robert Marcius
Located in Houston, TX
Maitland Smith Mother Of Pearl Box. Offered is a very large decorative box of tessellated mother of pearl in the geometric Art Deco styl...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy With Inlaid Mother Of Pearl
Located in Dallas, TX
Tortoiseshell tea caddy with inlaid mother of pearl from England. Metal lined under two lids. Excellent condition, circa 1860.
Tortoise Shell, Mother-of-Pearl
$2,916Sale Price|35% Off
H 14.4 in W 17.75 in D 10.9 in
18th Century Louis XV Painted Silver Leaf Display Case Tabernacolo, circa 1770
Located in Encinitas, CA
An elegantly detailed, late 18th century Louis XV period wooden display case, golden yellow lacquer with silver leaf accents. As a reliquary or tabernacolo, the box may have been used to display or store religious artifacts...
Silver Leaf
19th Century French Louis XV Style Bronze Box.
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century French Louis XV Style Bronze Box. This stunning antique French bronze box with a hinged lid, decorated with cupids surrounded with Sèvres-style porcelain floral and figurative plaques...
Bronze
German Mother-of-Pearl Snuff Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
Magnificent layers and inlays of multi-colored mother-of-pearl cover each side of this breathtaking German snuff box. Each incredibly detailed scene is framed by finely engraved yell...
Gold
Antique 18th Century Mennecy Figural Mouse Snuff or Patch Box
By Mennecy Porcelain Manufactory 1
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A rare figural porcelain snuff box in the form of a mouse attributed to Mennecy porcelain. Having a porcelain mounted lid with wonderfully hand-...
Porcelain
Line Vautrin Mother-of-Pearl Powder Compact
By Line Vautrin
Located in New York, NY
Powder compact in silvered bronze with incised mother-of-pearl top. Signed.
Bronze
$689Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.4 in W 2.76 in D 5.71 in
Mid-18th Century Decorative Lacquered Wooden Tobacco Snuff Box Black
Located in Brescia, IT
This fine wood lacquered wood case is painted both on the sides: there is the elegant portrait of a pretty woman on one side and on the other side, a natura...
Fabric, Wood, Lacquer
Antique Karl Griesbaum Singing Bird Box Automaton
By Karl Griesbaum
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Rectangular music box in gilded brass and polychrome enamel. The music box is adorned on the sides with translucent blue enamel panels and medallions depicting representing an alpine...
Enamel, Vermeil
18th Century Box Martin Varnish and Gold Mount Signed Bardin
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Cylindrical box in Martin varnish and gold mount. The box has two compartments with removable lids. Each lid is decorated with a miniature. On one of the lids, a man in Armor is pres...
Gold
Large Gold Candy Box 18th Century
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Large and circular box featuring two shades of gold. The removable lid is embellished with detailed, concentric lines and with a central medallion representing a dove flying over a f...
Gold
Gold, Enamel, Tortoiseshell and Lacquer Box, Louis XV Period
By Julien Alaterre
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Circular box in several shades of gold, enamel, and composite materials. The box features varnish or tortoiseshell powder inlaid with thin bands of pink gold. A yellow gold mounting ...
Gold, Enamel
Louis XV French Gold Snuffbox by Germain Chayé
Located in New Orleans, LA
This luxurious Louis XV-period gold snuffbox was crafted by master French goldsmith Germain Chayé. Formed of 18-karat yellow gold, this exceptional box d...
Gold
Montesquieu Portrait Tortoiseshell Snuff Box
By Jacques Joseph de Gault
Located in New Orleans, LA
An exquisite miniature of French philosopher Charles Montesquieu graces the lid of this tortoiseshell-lined snuff box. The handsome portrait was fash...
Gold, Enamel
Early 18th Century French Marble Tobacco Box
Located in Dallas, TX
This 18th century Boite de Tabac or Tobacco Box has been made from beautiful dark grey and white marble. Marble tobacco containers from France are relatively rare, as most were usual...
Marble
Gold, Enamel, Tortoiseshell and Lacquer Box, Louis XV Period
By Julien Alaterre
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Circular box in several shades of gold, enamel, and composite materials. The box features varnish or tortoiseshell powder inlaid with thin bands of pink gold. A yellow gold mounting ...
Enamel, Gold