Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.
The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.
When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.
The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.
Italian Rococo Style Carved Mahogany Table Box
Located in Germantown, MD
A Hand-carved Magogany Table Box / tea caddy chest, Jewelry Chest or Trinket chest stylized with Chippendale Rococo influences. It features intricate floral / leaf carvings on solid ...
Wood, Mahogany
George II period rococo design tea caddy suite made in London 1739 by John Pero
By John Pero
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1739 by John Pero, this stunning suite of George II Period, Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddies and Sugar Caddy, are in the Rococo taste, featuring flat chase...
Sterling Silver
$1,166Sale Price|20% Off
Enamel Tea Caddy Vienna 18th Century with Landscape
Located in Epfach, DE
A very nice enamel tea caddy, Vienna 18th century, paintings with landscape and couples on all sides and on the top and gold ornamentation.
Enamel
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
Rococo Pewter Tea Caddy
Located in Copenhagen, K
Very beautiful Rococo pewter tea caddy with lion on the lid.
Pewter
Very Early Meissen Tea Caddy With Merchant Ship Scenes And Bud Knob, 1763-1774
Located in Vienna, AT
Rectangular porcelain box with rounded shoulders, small round, slightly domed lid with bud handle, colourful painted merchant scenes on the four sides and on the top of the lid, gold...
Porcelain
$485Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.17 in W 6.11 in D 3.94 in
Rectangular Carved Travertine Box in the style of Fratelli Mannelli Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
An essential and elegant box made in Italy that can contain whatever you want, cigarettes, business cards or use as a jewelry box. Dating back to around the 70s, it is made of traver...
Travertine, Metal
English Regency Period Amboyna Wood Tea Caddy
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An English Regency Inlaid Amboyna Tea Caddy with brass mounts. The sarcophagus form with lion handles and scrolled feet. The interior with two compartments for tea with a replaced ...
Brass
Georgian Mahogany 18th Century Tea Caddy, circa 1780
Located in Incline Village, NV
Nice mellow patina on this 18th century English mahogany tea caddy with three interior compartments. Two end sections have incised geometric carved lids. Tapered all around from top ...
Wood
Pear Shaped Meissen Vase with Cover and Vines with Flowers and Fruits
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful early 19th century pear shaped Meissen covered vase with raised fruits, vines and flowers. The vase is finely hand painted with pink ...
Porcelain
18th Century Burr Thornwood Tea Caddy
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A fine example of a burr thorn and crossbanded tea caddy of superb color and patina with the original brass handle and bracket feet, circa 1750.
Wood
English Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Dallas, TX
A lovely bow front tortoiseshell tea caddy inlaid with mother of pearl flowers and topped with a silver badge. English, circa 1870.
Silver
Antique French Tea Caddy with Lock and Key
Located in San Francisco, CA
On offer is a 19th-century French double-compartment tea caddy, likely created during the Napoleon III or late Louis-Philippe periods. In the fashion of the time, it features a disti...
Bronze
19th Century English Penwork Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Penwork Tea Caddy
Wood
Antique English Georgian Tea Caddy with Tea Plant Inlay
Located in Northampton, GB
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Georgian tea caddy with tea plant inlay dating to circa 1790, of octagonal form veneered in harewood and decorated with finely executed marquetry throughout...
Wood, Boxwood, Harewood
$1,400
H 5.25 in W 9.5 in D 5 in
George II Period Mahogany Tea Caddy, England, Circa 1730, Brass Handle
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An 18th Century, George II Period, Mahogany Rectangular Tea Caddy Having Original Brass Swan Neck Handle To Hinged Top, Enclosing Three Interior Divisions And Elegant Canted Corners,...
Mahogany
Georgian Rosewood Tea Caddy with Brass Hinges, England, Circa 1790
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An attractive and well figured, late 18th century Square rosewood tea caddy having boxwood Stringing and key escutcheon with original brass Hinges to...
Rosewood
Antique English Green Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy Georgian Period
Located in Northampton, GB
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Green tortoiseshell tea caddy dating to the Georgian period, circa 1790 during the reign of George III. The exterior is finished in vibrant green tortoiseshell and mounted with silver stringing, a vacant silver initial plaque and matching silver escutcheon. The interior is faced in boxwood and fitted with two tortoiseshell lids, each mounted with turned bone handles. When removed, the lids reveal twin tea storage compartments retaining visible traces of their original lining. The tea caddy remains complete with a working lock and tasselled key and is a rare example of late eighteenth century tortoiseshell tea caddies.
Shell
Sold
H 7.5 in W 13 in D 8.25 in
Theodore Alexander Walnut Claw Foot Tea Caddy Casket Chest Trinket Box 13"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Theodore Alexander walnut tea caddy / trinket box. Carved in French Empire / Rococo style with shields, foliate designs and winged corners over four claw / paw feet. Foliate ...
Walnut
Sold
H 5.91 in W 7.88 in D 2.96 in
Stunning Rococo Pair of Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddies, London, 1768
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1768 by Henry Bailey, this stunning pair of George III period, Antique Sterling Silver Tea Caddies, feature Rococo chasing throughout, vacant cartouches, and ...
Sterling Silver
Antique English Georgian Rococo Sterling Silver Tea Caddy
Located in New York, NY
English Georgian Rococo sterling silver tea caddy, 1766. Bombe with corner leaf-mounted volute scroll supports. Chased scrollwork and flower baskets framed by garlands. Asymmetrical ...
Sterling Silver
18th Century Rococo Brass Tea Caddy
Located in Copenhagen, K
Beautiful two-part brass tea caddy
Brass
18th c. Brass Tea Caddie
Located in Copenhagen, K
18th c. Brass Tea Caddie
Brass, Pewter