Antique Louis XIII furniture is not as lavish as that of his son Louis XIV, who transformed his father’s modest Versailles hunting lodge into a sumptuous palace. Yet the imposing forms of its chairs, dressers, tables and other pieces express grandeur and luxury.
When Henry IV was assassinated in the streets of Paris in 1610, his young son became the king of France. With Louis XIII too young to rule, the widowed Marie de' Medici — a native of Italy and member of the prominent House of Medici — became regent, instilling an Italian influence in the decorative arts. Even after Louis XIII exiled his mother and took power in 1617, this aesthetic informed his court style. As did the consolidation of power, established with his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, through his death in 1643.
From sturdy chests and tall cupboards to colossal four-poster beds, almost every piece of Louis XIII furniture was heavily carved or turned from dark-toned wood. Motifs of the period included scrollwork, foliage, fruits, grotesque masks and other images of abundance, often inlaid in marquetry of wood or tortoiseshell. Ornamental scenes, sometimes carved on cabinet panels and other pieces from rare ebony, oak or walnut, were borrowed from engravings by northern European masters like Peter Paul Rubens. Engravings also spread the Louis XIII style during the 17th century, particularly by printmaker Abraham Bosse, who depicted the popular Louis XIII chairs designed with upholstered seats and low, wide backs.
The lofty profiles of the French furniture complemented the architecture under the reign of Louis XIII, such as the Palais du Luxembourg by chief architect Salomon de Brosse and architect Jacques Lemercier’s chapel at the Sorbonne, which showcased the influence of Italian Baroque.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIII armchairs, storage cabinets, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
$2,050 / set
Pair of 19th Century, French Iron Candelabra
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Pair of 19th century, French iron candelabra.
Iron
17th Century Pair of Candlesticks, Italy
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant pair of bronze candlesticks from the end of the 17th century from Italy Beautiful turning and fine quality little difference of the pikes (see pictures) Delivery in Belgiu...
Bronze
$1,440Sale Price|20% Off
Pair 17th C. Candlesticks Candle Holder Light in Brass Antique Gift Object LA CA
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Pair 17th C. Candlesticks Candle Holder Light in Brass Antique Gift Object LA CA . A very beautiful simple pair of 17th century Louis XIII Period candleholders Candlesticks in brass....
Brass
Large Pic Candle Or Verge Candlestick - Golden Wood With Leaf - Period: XIXth
Located in CRÉTEIL, FR
Large carved and gilded wooden candlestick, decorated with foliage, gadroons and acanthus leaves resting on a tripod base. This sumptuous piece has been restored in our workshops and...
Wood
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
$5,250
H 8.25 in W 4.75 in D 4.75 in
Pair Of 17th Century French/English Huguenot Brass Silver Form Candlesticks
Located in Flourtown, PA
Wonderful Pair of 17th century French/English Huguenot Brass Silver Form Candlesticks. Removeable bobeches. Seamed. Traces of silver on underside of base. Very rare. Circa 1680. Rema...
Brass
$409 / set
H 8.86 in W 4.73 in D 4.73 in
Pair of candlesticks or candle holders. Bronze. 19th century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of candlesticks or candle holders. Bronze. 19th century. Pair of candlesticks made of bronze that have a polygonal base, stepped upwards and towards the center and enhanced with...
Bronze, Other
$1,800 / set
H 4 in Dm 3 in
Rare Pair of 16th / 17th Century Dwarf Brass Capstan Candlesticks, Netherlands
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Both of these rare & diminutive 'dwarf' brass capstan candlesticks, aka ‘Rokkandelaars’ (Dutch term meaning 'sconce skirt'), showing cylindrical & belted sockets with twin ej...
Brass
$795 / set
H 21.25 in W 7.25 in D 7.25 in
Pair of 19th Century French Brass "Holy Trinity" Candle-Holders or Pic-Cierges
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a console or a mantel with this elegant pair of antique candlesticks. Crafted in France circa 1880, each "Pic-Cierge" stands on scrolled feet over a triangular base with an ...
Brass
Large 19th Century Pic-Cierges, French
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Tall and elegant pair of repoussé copper baroque, Louis XV style pricket sticks.
Copper
Pair of Antique Continental Porcelain and Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Tarzana, CA
Pair of antique continental porcelain and bronze candlesticks. circa 1890. Height 9" width: 9". Height measured without the lighting fixture.
Camino Small Candle Holder by Sebastián Angeles
Located in Geneve, CH
Camino candle holder by Sebastián Angeles Material: brass Dimensions: W 18 x D 30 x H 65 cm Also available: steel version available. The transcendence of decisionmaking and its cons...
Brass
$2,750 / set
H 24 in W 9.5 in D 9.5 in
Pair of 19th Century French Neo-Greco Gilded and Tole Iron Candelabra
Located in Hudson, NY
This fine and interesting pair of candelabra are from the late 19th century and are most likely French made from iron, the three light pair show both classical Greek design as well as Assyrian and Roman elements. Unusual styles were considered all the rage in France during the Napoleon III period. The gilding is all original and the tole is an interesting addition giving the pair a great presence when seen in candlelight. Each reeded stem with draped scarf supporting oil lamp shaped arms centering satyr headed candle...
Iron
French 17th Century Candlestick
Located in Round Top, TX
A very beautiful 17th century Bougeoire - Candlestick from the South of France. Beautifully crafted from hand forged iron. Terrific patina. A perfect table top accessory.
Iron
A pair of 19th century gilt bronze French candelabra
Located in Eindhoven, NL
A very pretty pair of gilt bronze French candelabra in the style of Louis XV. Each with two candle light. Decorated with foliate motifs and acanthus leaves.
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century Bronze Neoclassical French Candelabra
Located in Palm Springs, CA
An exquisite pair of 19th Century Neo Classical French bronze candelabra. They each feature 5 candle holders and central female figure on top. All of the bobeches are present. The ch...
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
$600Sale Price / set|60% Off
H 11.82 in Dm 5.12 in
Two Large 18th C. French Polychromed Bois Doré or Gold Painted Wood Candlesticks
Located in Haarlem, NL
Beautiful old set of two large 18th century French polychromed candlesticks. Multiple layers of bois doré or gold paint were supposed to make the wood look very chique, and it did. ...
Wood
Antique 17th Century Dutch Brass Baluster Candlestick
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine 17th century Dutch brass candlestick. With elegant baluster turnings, a medial drip pan, and a hole for removing wax. A rare model and a Fine example for any collection!...
Brass
Pair of French Cast Bronze Louis XIII Period Candlesticks, 17th century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Robustly cast with stepped bases baluster form bodies and large bobeches, retaining original iron prickets
Bronze
Near Pair of Italian, Lombardia, Turned Walnut Ebonized Torcheres/Pedestals
Located in Atlanta, GA
Very similar in size and construction and likely made by the same craftsman and time in Northern region of Lombardy, Italy. the pedestal tops are round with molded edges and raised o...
Walnut
18th Century French Louis XIII Wrought Iron Three-Light Candelabra
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a mantel or a buffet with this elegant antique candelabra, crafted in southern France circa 1760, the forged piece stands on a three-leg pedestal and features three arms for...
Wrought Iron
17th Century Pair of Candlesticks, Italy in Bronze Stamped FS
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant pair of bronze candlesticks from the end of the 17th century from Italy stamped FS Beautiful turning and fine quality beautiful patina Delivery in Belgium, US and abroad...
Bronze
Candlestick in Sculpted Wood from the 19th Century Repainted in 20th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Candlestick in sculpted wood from the 19th century repainted in the 20th century.
Wood
Sold
H 27.56 in Dm 7.09 in
Candle Stick in Sculpted Wood from the 19th Century Repainted in 20th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Candle stick in sculpted wood from the 19th century repainted in the 20th century.
Wood
Candle Stick in Sculpted Wood from the 19th Century Repainted in 20th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Candle stick in sculpted wood from the 19th century repainted in the 20th century.