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.
$1,400 / set
Pair of Louis XIV Brass Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
Pair Louis XIV brass candlesticks. Pair Italian Louis XIV period bulbous form candlesticks with weighted base on paw feet. Italy, circa 1700. Dimensions: 4.5" diameter x 5.5" H.
Brass
Pair of Antique Louis XIV Styled Gilt Bronze Candlesticks with Stylized Flowers
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of antique candlesticks are unsigned, but presumed to have originated from France and date to approximately 1880 and done in a Louis XIV style. The candlesticks are compose...
Bronze
Pair of turned brass candlesticks, Italy, 17th-18th century
Located in Vicenza, IT
Pair of turned solid brass candlesticks, of Italian manufacture, dating from the late 17th to early 18th century. The two pieces are distinguished by a turned frame with alternating ...
Brass
Brass Low Bell Base Candlestick Spanish, circa 1680-1730
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Large brass low bell base candlestick, Spanish, circa 1680-1730 Measures: 24 cm high diameter base 16 cm. Free shipping.
Brass
Pair of 18th Century Silvered Red Copper Candlesticks from France
Located in Dallas, TX
At over three feet tall, this pair of silvered copper candlesticks would make impressive decorative accessories. Dating to the 1700s, these French candlesticks have a unique patinati...
Metal, Copper
Pair Of 18th Century Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Bilzen, BE
Pair of gilded bronze candlesticks from the 18th century. Round, stepped base decorated with foliage and stylized shells, the stems are finely chiseled in a rocaille style. Normal we...
Bronze
Pair of 18th Century French Patinated Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
Cast in France during the 1700s, this pair of bronze candlesticks has a lovely patination, giving them a glossy brown color. The highly contoured and curved bases are mirrored by the...
Metal, Bronze
$2,300 / set
Pair of Louis XIV Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Louis XIV candlesticks. Louis Quatorze heavy brass candlesticks in three parts, their smaller size indicative of their original use on...
Brass
18th Century French Louis XIV Bronze Candlesticks or Candleholders
Located in Houston, TX
18th century French Louis XIV Bronze candlesticks or candleholders. Beautifully detailed rare pair of French Louis XIV bronze candleholde...
Bronze
$5,600Sale Price|30% Off
Pair 17th Century Candlesticks Candleholder Light in Brass Gift Object Antiques
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Pair 17th Century Candlesticks Candleholder Light in Brass Gift Object Antiques. A Very beautiful Simple pair circa 1600’s Louis XIV Period Ca...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Small Candlesticks in Bronze, 18th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
charming little pair of bronze candlesticks which were made in France during the 18th century. pair of candlesticks which is small in size whi...
Bronze
Pair of French 19th C. Hand Tooled Brass Candlesticks
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of French 19th C. hand-tooled brass candlesticks. Size: 12" H x 5" diameter. Nice very heavy handcrafted and hammered with some designs. Great brass decorative art objects.
Brass
Pair of Louis XIV Candlesticks in Pewter, 18th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant pair of candlesticks in pewter Louis XIV, 18th century Beautiful look and fine quality Beautiful pair of pewter candlestick with a height of 66cm France, 18th century. ...
Pewter
$1,998 / set
Pair Louis XIV Candelsticks
Located in New Orleans, LA
Add an air of regal opulence to your space with these Louis XIV Candlesticks, a stunning example of 17th-18th century French craftsmanship. Characterized by their intricate detailing...
Bronze
$3,000 / item
Pair of Louis XIV Period Pewter Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
Exemplifies the Classical Baroque period with its spiral fluting detail and contrasting patina.
Pewter
Large French Louis XIV Chandelier in Brass, 18th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Imposing Louis XIV brass chandelier from France Beautiful look and superb quality decorated with angels and acanthus leaves. Large model Height excluding spade 1m02cm France 1, ...
Brass
Pair of Louis XVI Tin Candelsticks
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of Louis XVI tin candlesticks, dated 1795. Detachable light cuffs. Supported on large circular bases. Condition: There are slight signs of wear, gentle surface scratches and...
Tin
Fine Pair of Louis XIV Style Gilt Bronze Figural Candlesticks, circa 1860
By Etienne Le Hongre
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine pair of Louis XIV style gilt bronze figural candlesticks. French, circa 1860. A fine pair of Louis XIV style gilt bronze figural candlesticks, with stems cast as female...
Bronze
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Marble and Ormolu Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking pair of French 19th century Louis XIV st. black Belgian marble and ormolu candlesticks. Each candlestick is raised by a unique and most elegant black Belgian marble base w...
Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu
Pair of Similar French Louis XVI Style Brass Candlesticks, 1920s
Located in Barntrup, DE
An elegant pair of very similar French Louis XVI-style brass candlesticks or candle holders from the 1920s. Beautifully ornate with rich chiseling, stripes, and rosettes throughout....
Brass
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks. With intricate raised decoration in the form of geometric and foliate patterns. The middle of each candlestick is fluted and ...
Bronze
Pair of French Solid Brass Candlesticks
Located in Miami, FL
Charming pair of French solid brass candlesticks. These simple yet beautifully detailed items will enhance any coffee, cocktail or bedside tab...
Brass
Pair of Louis XIV Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Louis XIV candlesticks. Louis Quatorze heavy brass candlesticks in three parts, their smaller size indicative of their original use on...
Brass
A rare pair of Louis XV gilt bronze candlesticks signed P. Gouthiere
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A rare pair of Louis XV gilt bronze candlesticks signed P. Gouthiere. Richly adorned with a foliage relief design with a wide stem and cup shaped tops. Each marked: Fait parGouthiere...
Bronze
Incised Pair of 17th Century Ottoman Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
Beautiful and rare museum quality pair of incised of 17th Century Ottoman bronze candlesticks. They are virtually identical to the one pictured on...
Bronze
Pair of 18th Century French Patinated Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
Cast in France during the 1700s, this pair of bronze candlesticks has a lovely patination, giving them a glossy brown color. The highly contoured and curved bases are mirrored by the...
Metal, Bronze
Pair Of 18th Century Italian Candlesticks
Located in Ongar, GB
A lovely pair of 18th century Italian candlesticks made from carved wood. With layers of beautiful polychrome paint and traces of original gold gilding. Please contact us for a wor...
Wood
$840Sale Price / set|55% Off
H 10.44 in Dm 4.73 in
Pair of Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Candlesticks 19th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A pair of very finely-chiselled French gilt bronze candlesticks crafted in the neoclassical style. The decoration is extremely intricate, particularly on the circular base and tulip-...
Bronze
17th-18th Century Antique Italian Hand-Carved Giltwood Candlestick
Located in Lincoln, GB
Antique Italian Altar Hand-Carved Giltwood Candlestick This decorative Italian altar candlestick, dating from the late 17th to early 18th centur...
Giltwood
$624
H 2.56 in W 3.55 in D 2.76 in
Antique Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Ormolu Gold Marble Candleholder Candlestick
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Ormolu Gold Marble Candleholder Candlestick Continental Bronze, marble Late 19th Century Dimensions: H x W x D: 6.5cm x 9cm x 7cm This charmi...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of 18th Century Spanish Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of 18th century Spanish patinated bronze candlesticks on Baroque tripod bases.
Bronze
Pair of 18th Century French Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
Cast in France during the 1700s, this pair of gilt bronze candlesticks feature highly contoured and curved bases are mirrored by the recessed lobes that embellish the shafts and capi...
Bronze
Pair of 18th Century Italian Giltwood Altar Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
This pair of stunning 18th century candlesticks from Italy features bountiful hand-carved foliate and floral details. The candlesticks sit on a tripartite base, with the form continuing throughout the giltwood columns, indicating that they once graced a church altar. Altar candlesticks of this era typically had unadorned backsides, as this side was always hidden from the congregation. In the case of our candlesticks, the backs have been carved without detail and painted gold to match the gilding. Both candlesticks are topped by a crinkled iron bobeche and a cylindrical capital above a thick rim embellished with egg and dart. The necks have a foliate margent set between two rings of lanceolate leaves. In the center of the column are two curled leaves that extend beyond a foliate cup and quarter round knop below. Under the molding is the three-legged base with large flowers above the front two feet. The ball feet are connected by a bracket-shaped apron adorned with a ball finial noix and a fluted front with a foliate garland affixed by a roundel. Our pair of Italian giltwood altar candlesticks...
Metal, Iron
Pair Louis XIV Style Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
Our unique pair of French gilt bronze candlesticks are distinguished by their tiny patinated bronze figures of saints and their quatrefoil shaped pedestals.
Bronze
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Candlesticks
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A pair of French 19th century Louis XIV Style Ormolu Candlesticks The faceted nozzle on a baluster shaped shaft decorated with portrait medallions within scrolling foliage With its...
Ormolu
Sold
H 10.75 in W 17.5 in D 9.5 in
Pair of Late 17th Century Italian Giltwood Three-Light Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
These sumptuous gold leaf, three-light candlesticks date to the end of the 1600s, during the period of Louis XIV. This style was party influenced by some of the fine Baroque styles c...
Iron, Gold Leaf
18th Century Pair of Louis XIV Italian Candlesticks Carved Mecca Silver-Leaf
Located in Milano, MI
From Lucca, a lovely pair of early 18th century Italian candleholders, a pair of Louis XIV circular candlesticks realized in Cembran pinewood, with a polylobed rounded shape carving ...
Silver Leaf
Pair of Mid-19th Century Wrought Iron Torcheres Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of mid-19th century wrought iron torcheres ~ candlesticks were fashioned from red-hot iron by a talented blacksmith, and feature a nice height with twisted shaft and tripod base...
Wrought Iron
Pair of Mid-18th Century Louis XIV French Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a mantel or a dining room table with this elegant pair of antique candlesticks; crafted in France circa 1750 and made of bronze, each candleholder stands on a round base ove...
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Vulpellac, Girona
Pair of 19th century bronze candlesticks with hand carved ornaments.
Bronze
Sold
H 11 in Dm 4.5 in
Pair of French Louis XIV Style Corinthian Column Gilt Candlesticks, 19th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
Pair of French Louis XIV style gilt candlesticks feature Corinthian column-form capitals above shaped shaft with beaded lower, supported on tripod scroll and foliate base, 19th centu...
Metal
Sold
H 27 in W 14 in D 9 in
French Figural Bronzed and Marble Louis XIV Garniture Clock and Candles Set
Located in Big Flats, NY
French figural three-piece garniture set features central marble encased clock with floral hand-painted face topped by bronzed Louis XIV statue, two flanking bronzed urn form candles...
Marble, Metal
19th Century Pair of Louis XIV Style Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in London, GB
This is a delightful pair of antique Louis XIV style French ormolu candlesticks, circa 1840 in date. The candlesticks have fluted barrel columns supportin stiff leaf moulded nozzl...
Ormolu