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.
$38,950Sale Price / set|48% Off
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Empire Ormolu Clock Garniture, Raingo Frers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and palatial French 19th century Louis XIV style Empire figural ormolu three-piece clock and candelabra garniture suite, comprising of a gilt-bronze clock and a pair of t...
Bronze
Pair Of French 17th Century Louis XIV Period Ormolu And Rock Crystal Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and extremely high quality pair of French 17th century Louis XIV period ormolu and rock crystal candelabras, circa 1680. Each eight arm girandole is raised by a circula...
Rock Crystal, Ormolu
Pair 19th Century French Gilt Bronze Candelabra After André Charles Boulle
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique (19th century) French gilt bronze 8-light candelabra after the original 14th century model by André Charles Boulle (1642-1732) measuring 24.5 inches tall, 16 inches w...
Bronze
French Ormolu Candelabra Pair by Henry Dasson
By Henry Dasson
Located in Newark, England
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Provenance Private Estate Vienna, Austria supplied by Galleria Camiciotti, Florence, Italy A pair of French ormolu candelabra by Henry Dasson, dated 1880. ...
Metal, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair 19th Century French Cherub candelabra
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of French 19th Century gilded ormolu, patinated bronze and white marble, three branch candelabra. Each with a playful cherub holding the lights, mounted on white ...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Antique French Louis XIV Gilt Bronze Figural Cherub Candelabra Chandelier c1880
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Louis XIV style hanging candelabra (chandelier) offers gilt cast bronze construction with center column having cherub, grape form drop finial...
Bronze
Pair Huge 19th Century Philippe Mourey Ormolu Putti Candelabras, 1870s, France
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
Impressive pair of 6-light French Empire torchères with winged putti made by Philippe Mourey (Paris 1840-1910) in 1870s. Each modeled, fine detailed or...
Griotte Marble, Metal, Ormolu
Pair of 19th Century French Louis XIV St. Ormolu Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very fine pair of 19th century French Louis XIV st. ormolu five arm candelabras. Each candelabra is raised on a square base with canted corners flanked by scrolling acanthus leaves...
Ormolu
Pair 19th Century French D'ore Bronze and Marble Candelabras
Located in New York, NY
Pair 19th century French D'ore bronze and marble candelabras. The candelabras weigh approximately 40 pounds each.
Marble, Bronze
18th Century French Louis XIV Wrought Iron Four-Light Candelabra
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a mantel, console, or dining table with this striking antique French wrought iron candelabra, crafted circa 1780 in the Louis XIV style. Forged by hand, the piece rises from...
Wrought Iron
Pair Of 19th Century Siena Marble & Ormolu Mounted Three Light Candelabra
Located in Dublin, IE
A beautiful pair of 19th century French Sienna Marble and ormolu candelabra, each with three out swept decorative leaf capped candleholders above a central tapering circular marble s...
Siena Marble, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and most impressive pair of French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu candelabras. Each seven arm candelabra is raised by a triangular base with three delicate tapered flut...
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu candelabras. Each five arm candelabra is raised on a square base with lovely cut corners and a richly cha...
Ormolu
$3,564 / set
H 29 in W 16 in D 16 in
Pair of 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Rock Crystal Six Arm Candelabras
Located in Chicago, IL
This exquisite pair of late 19th-century Louis XVI-style six-arm candelabras is crafted from bronze and adorned with stunning rock crystal. Each candelabra features six gracefully cu...
Rock Crystal, Bronze
$1,920
H 9.45 in W 5.91 in D 4.34 in
19th Century Bronze and Gilt Cherub Candelabras, Twin-Light Design
Located in Lincoln, GB
A pair of 19th century bronze and gilt ormolu twin cherub candelabra Beautifully detailed bronze cherubs adorned with olive wreath crowns (seen as a s...
Bronze
$59,700 / set
H 32 in W 16 in D 12 in
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Rouge Griotte Marble and Ormolu Clock Set
Located in New York, NY
A Magnificent Large Antique French 19th Century Ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble clock set of exquisite craftsmanship. This spectacular clock set is comprising a pair of very large ni...
Griotte Marble, Bronze
$295
H 14.5 in W 10 in D 5 in
Pair of Rock Crystal, Lead Crystal, and Brass Candelabra, Late 19th Century
Located in valatie, NY
Pair of rock crystal, lead crystal, and brass candelabra, late 19th century. This pair of candelabras have a series of large rock crystal beads supporting their stems topped by a pin...
Crystal, Rock Crystal, Brass
$16,800Sale Price|30% Off
H 28.35 in Dm 13.78 in
Amazing Pair of French 19th Century Bronze and Gilt Bronze Candelabras
Located in Rome, IT
A fine pair of French 19th century bronze and gilt bronze candelabras, each with a dark bronze delicious dancing putto figures and parrots holding aloft three scrolled candle-branche...
Bronze
$19,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.35 in Dm 13.78 in
Amazing Pair of French 19th Century Bronze and Gilt Bronze Candelabras
Located in Rome, IT
A fine pair of French 19th century bronze and gilt bronze candelabras, each with a dark bronze delicious dancing putto figures and parrots holding aloft three scrolled candle-branche...
Bronze
$45,000 / set
H 27.96 in W 18.12 in D 8.67 in
Gilt Bronze and Marble Garniture, Clock Signed Raingo Fres, France, 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Gilt bronze and marble three piece clock garniture. Clock signed Raingo Fres. France, 19th century. Clock works. Clock dimensions: 71 cm height, 46 cm ...
Marble, Bronze
Pair Antique French 19th Century Gilt Bronze Louis XV Style Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of antique French 19th century Louis XV style five light gilt bronze candelabra Beautiful antique French five light gilt bronze hand chiselled pair of Louis XV style can...
Bronze
$4,250 / set
H 28 in Dm 13 in
Wonderful Pair of French Dore Bronze Cherub Putti Figural Louis XVI Candelabras
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Pair of French Dore Bronze Cherub / Putti Figural Form, With 6 Candelabras On Top In The Louis XVI Manner
Bronze
$1,715Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 10 in W 8.5 in D 5 in
Louis XV Style Pair of Candelabra, Ormolu, France.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
This pair of bronze candelabras are high quality fire gilded with three candle cups each. These 19th century sculptural candle holders are in the Louis XV style. Starting at the ba...
Bronze
$1,830 / set
H 12.21 in Dm 8.27 in
19th Century Pair of Gilt Bronze Cherubs Candelabra on White Marble Stands
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A fabulous pair of complementary 19th century gilt bronze and white marble two-branch candelabra, crafted in the Louis XVI style. Each of these ornate candle holders takes the form o...
Marble, Bronze
Pair of 19th Century French Gilt Bronze 3-Light Candelabras
Located in Dallas, TX
The appeal of the Napoleon III style (sometimes referred to as the Second Empire) stems from the fact that art and furniture from the mid-1800s incorporated elements from previous Fr...
Metal, Bronze
Coppia di Candelieri in Legno Laccato Italia XVIII secolo
Located in Pistoia, IT
Coppia di piccoli candelieri in legno laccato di epoca Luigi XIV, Italia, inizi del XVIII secolo. Ottimo stato di conservazione, laccatura originale dell'epoca. Misure H cm 22,5
Wood
Sold
H 52 in W 17 in D 8.5 in
Near Pair of Louis XIV Wood & Metal Flower & Urn Form 9-Light Candelabra
Located in Milford, NH
A wonderful near pair of polychrome wood & metal flower and urn form 9-light candelabra on slightly different square bases, the upper floral portion in wrought iron and the urn porti...
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 22.75 in W 12.5 in D 12.5 in
Antique French Louis XIV Gilt Bronze Figural Putti Candelabra Circa 1880
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique French Louis XIV Gilt Bronze Figural Putti Candelabra with Scrolled Foliate Arms Circa 1880 Measures- 22.75''H x 12.5''W x 12.5''D
Bronze
Sold
H 29.5 in Dm 26.5 in
Antique Caldwell French Louis XIV Figural 8-Light Candelabra Chandelier 19thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Caldwell French Louis XIV figural candelabra chandelier offers cast metal construction with upper having female caryatids over foliate embossed base with eight scroll form...
Giltwood
Pair of Early 19th Century French Bronze Marble Ormolu Guilt Candelabras
Located in Middleburg, VA
Pair of Early 19th Century French Bronze Marble Ormolu Guilt Candelabras. Attributed to Jean-Simon Deverberie (1764-1824), who was one of France's...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique French Louis XIV Figural Parcel Gilt Bronze Candelabra 19th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Louis XIV candelabra offers cast bronze construction with gilt frame having five candle sockets over ebonized figure of Classica...
Bronze
18th century tuscany iron candelabras
Located in Firenze, FI
beautiful torch in wrought iron and forged by hand with a base with three curly feet with a stem supporting three arms with flowers and candle holders. Tuscan manufacture from the Lo...
Iron
Sold
H 28 in W 13.5 in D 13.5 in
Antique French Rococo Louis XIV Style Gilt Bronze Candelabra Chandelier c1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Louis XIV into Rococo hanging candelabra chandelier offers cast gilt bronze frame in the form of scrolled foliate elements with acanthus arms terminating in candle ...
Bronze
17th Century Italian Louis XIV Pair of Candelabras in Gilded Bronze
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare antique Italian Louis XIV candelabras in gilded bronze, set of 2. The bronze is finely chiselled decoration of great quality at the base of t...
Bronze
Pair of Antique Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce Candelabra
Located in London, GB
Large pair of antique French gilt bronze seven branch wall sconces in wonderful original condition with all the candleholders in place. It's nice to find examples of these that haven...
Bronze
Sold
H 27.5 in W 8.5 in D 8.5 in
Pair of French Gilt Bronze, Onyx and Champleve Figural Candelabra, 19th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique pair of French Louis XIV style candelabra offer gilt bronze frame with central column surmounted by foliate embossed candle socket and surrounded by four scroll form arms ...
Onyx, Bronze
Sold
H 71.26 in W 17.33 in D 14.57 in
17th Century Italian Louis XIV Carved and Gilded Wood Candelabra
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
17th century Italian Louis XIV rare candelabra in carved and gilded wood with gold leaf. Very high it becomes an important piece of furniture in your home.
Wood