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 Figural Ormolu Clock Garniture, Raingo Frers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and palatial French 19th century Louis XIV style figural ormolu three-piece clock and candelabra garniture suite, comprising of a gilt-bronze clock and a pair of ten-ligh...
Bronze
$1,472Sale Price|20% Off
Boulle ta Table Clock in Wood and Brass from the Second Half of the 20th Century
Located in Milano, MI
Boulle Table Clock, with red background and brass inlays, brass dial with white enamel cartouches and black Roman numerals, crowned with rocailles and pendulum movement. Ø 31.5 cm ...
Brass
$12,000Sale Price|47% Off
Large Scale Period Louis XIV Boulle Cartel Clock with Matching Plinth/Bracket
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Grand scale boulle Cartel clock and matching plinth, the ebonized wood case is embellished all-over with gilded bronze mounts (re-gilt). The medall...
Brass, Bronze
Antique French Cartel Clock of Venus with Cherubs
By Jacques Caffieri
Located in London, GB
Antique French cartel clock of Venus with cherubs French, Late 19th Century Height 120cm, width 55cm, depth 20cm This remarkable cartel clock is inspired by an 18th-century desi...
Enamel, Ormolu
LeRolle Regence Style Brass Pedestal Clock
Located in Astoria, NY
Regence Style Brass Pedestal Clock, by LaRolle Fres, Paris, 19th century, the repousse dial with enamel chapter ring, signed "LaRolle Fres, Paris", movement strikes on gong, surmount...
Brass, Enamel
Large 19th Century Gilded Ormolu and Bronze Clock Set, by Deniere, Paris
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A large and impressive 19th century gilded ormolu and bronze Louis XVI style clock garniture, having a reclined classical lady reading, next to a white enamel clock face with an eigh...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Clodion Signed Very Large and Heavy Bronze Clock, the Bronze is Gilded 19th Cent
Located in Madrid, ES
Very large and heavy bronze clock,the bronze is gilded and patinated. The work of the bronze i very fine quality. Signed:CLODION. 90 cm high and 50 kg aprox 19th century very go...
Bronze
19th Century French Boulle Mantle Clock In The Louis XIV Style
Located in Dublin, IE
A fine 19th century Louis XIV style ormolu and brass Boulle style mantel clock, in the manner of Martinot of Paris, the eight day movement striking the half hours on a bell, with key...
Brass, Ormolu
Regulator Clock by Jean-Aimé Jacob and Adam Weisweiler
Located in New Orleans, LA
This important regulator clock beautifully demonstrates the heights of precision clockmaking. While regulator clocks are known for their incredible acc...
Ebony, Mahogany
Louis XVI Boulle mantel clock, 19th Century.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th Century French Louis XVI style Boulle mantel clock, having Father Time perched above the brass inlaid dome, scrolling foliate ormolu mounts, white enamel Rom...
Brass
19th Century French Louis XVI Carved Oak Wall Clock ~ Cartel
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis XVI Wall Clock ~ Cartel was sculpted from solid old-growth quarter-sawn oak to create a work of art for your wall that was also originally designed to provi...
Brass
Rare Silver Pocket Sundial and Compass by Michael Butterfield, Paris, circa 1700
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A beautiful, rare solid silver Anglo-French octagonal pocket sundial with compass by Michael Butterfield, circa 1700. The sundial is made for a latitude of 44° and could be used in places in the south of France such as Avignon and elsewhere along this parallel. The elaborately engraved base plate has a Roman chapter ring on which the gnomon (a triangular flap) casts its shadow. It is signed by the maker in the following manner: Butterfield A Paris. On one side is a glazed recessed compass with a blued steel hand to position the instrument in such a way that the time can be read. The hinged triangular gnomon is richly engraved and in the shape of a bird’s head. The folding gnomon and cut corners enable the dial to be carried in the pocket. The underside shows the latitudes of various Southern-French places in the relevant areas Its maker Michael Butterfield was an English instrument maker who based himself in 'Le Quay de l'Horloge' of Paris from circa 1685. These types of dials, often replicated by other makers, became known as Butterfield Dials...
Silver
French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality mid-19th century French Louis XIV st. ormolu clock. The clock is raised by four tapered fluted legs decorated with acanthus leaves. The scalloped shaped c...
Ormolu
Table Clock in Patinated and Gilded Bronze from the 18th Century
By France"
Located in Madrid, ES
Table clock in patinated and gilded bronze from the 18th century with religious scene Size 44 x 25 x 14 cm 1450 euro very good condition.
Bronze
Marble and Bronze Clock with Allegory of Astronomy Representing Copernico
By France"
Located in Madrid, ES
Marble and bronze clock with allegory of astronomy representing Copernico The clock measurements: 60 x 48 x 16 cm and Vases: 28 x 15 x 15 cm ...
Bronze
Large Gilded Bronze Clock with Louis XIV Figure, 18th Century
By France"
Located in Madrid, ES
Large gilded bronze clock with Louis XIV figure. Mechanism working with a pendulum and original key End 18th century beginning 19th century...
Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Ormolu Three-Piece Garniture Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extraordinary and high quality French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu three piece clock and candelabras garniture set. Each raised by square tapered fluted feet with fine acanth...
Ormolu
Barbedienne French Mantel Clock, circa 1890
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality Louis XVI style French gilded ormolu mantel clock, signed Barbedienne. Having shield and foliate decoration to the top, white enamel roman numerals, a lyre shaped pend...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Ormolu Clock Stamped ‘DENIERE A PARIS”
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu clock stamped 'DENIERE A PARIS". The clock is raised by square tapered fluted feet with fine...
Ormolu
17th Century Time Clock Cartel Louis XIV André Boulle Marquetry
By Gilles Martinot
Located in Marseille, FR
Pendulum cartel Louis XIV Boulle marquetry seventeenth and bronze Ormolu with its matching pedestal. baby decor mower by Martinot watchmaker in Paris. Good ...
Marine turtle
$4,219Sale Price|20% Off
French gilt bronze Louis XIV figured antique clock with library design
Located in Milano, IT
Imagine stepping back in time to the opulent 19th century, where a magnificent French clock in gilded bronze takes center stage, a breathtaking tribute to the Sun King himself, Louis...
Bronze
Gilt Bronze Fireplace Trim Signed G.philippe Palais Royal In Paris
By G. Philippe
Located in BARSAC, FR
Beautiful gilded and chiseled bronze fireplace set in the Louis XIV / Regency style composed of two candelabra with six light arms and a large clock. Beautiful model richly decorated...
Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Ormolu Cartel Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive and high quality French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu cartel clock. The clock is raised on its original wall mounting stand with a lovely foliate bottom finial ...
Ormolu
Important Cartel in Green Horn Veneer Gille L Aine 18th Century
By France"
Located in Madrid, ES
Important Cartel in green horn Veneer Gille L Aine 18th, gilded bronzes and brass inlays chiseled with foliage of flowers and natural patterns. The dial i...
Bronze
French Louis XIV Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock After Andre-Charles Boulle
By A.D. Mougin
Located in New York, NY
Impressive antique (late 19th century) gilt bronze mantel clock in the Louis XIV style after the original model Andre-Charles Boulle (1643-1732), finely crafted by AD Mougin, circa 1...
Bronze
19th Century French Wall Clock In Lapis Lazuli By Paul Sormani
By Paul Sormani
Located in Southall, GB
Elegant wall clock by Paul Sormani, in blue lapis lazuli and gilt bronze ormolu. Paul Sormani was a famed French 19th century cabinetmaker, renown for his production of magnificent...
Lapis Lazuli
French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Cartel Clock Signed F.Lesage Paris
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century Louis XIV st. tortoiseshell, brass and ormolu Cartel Clock signed F.Lesage Paris. The beautiful clock is raised on its orig...
Brass, Ormolu
Louis XIV Tortoiseshell Boulle Bracket Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
An Exceptional Louis XIV Boulle Bracket Clock. Nine inch twelve piece enamel cartouche dial with Roman numerals and original hands signed ‘Jean Mino...
Tortoise Shell
Important Boulle Marquetry Clock, 19th Century
By Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This exceptional cartel presents a remarkable work of bronze and an ornamentation resuming the Boulle marquetry that can be attributed to Alfred-Emmanuel Beurdeley (1847-1919), a great Parisian cabinetmaker of the second half of the 19th century. The mechanism of our astronomical clock...
Bronze
$19,538Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Revolving Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful late 19th century French Annular Louis XVI style gilded ormolu revolving mantel clock, depicting putti representing the arts and music, either side of a rotating tole urn...
Ormolu