The style of 18th-century French furniture was guided by the court. When Louis XV, who reigned from 1715–74, focused royal life on the smaller salons of Versailles rather than its grand chambers, it transformed the aesthetics away from the imposing and angular furniture that characterized the style of Louis XIV. A broader focus on comfort and more delicate forms define antique Louis XV furniture, with nature-inspired carvings, wood inlays, curved cabriole legs, asymmetrical shapes and rounded oval seat backs. The furnishings changed throughout the king’s life, as he ascended to the throne as a child and then grew to establish his own tastes.
Pieces like the bergère, an upholstered armchair with a wide cushion that fit the flowing dresses in fashion at the time, reflected this more informal court. Introduced at the start of Louis XV’s reign, bergère chairs in this style were deeper and broader than other chairs of the period.
Louis XV tapestries and carpets tended to be floral and colorful, and design elements were borrowed from Asia. Dutch-born cabinetmaker Bernard van Risenburgh brought lacquer techniques influenced by Japan and China into his luxuriously made furniture. Along with its fine details, the furniture of the era also featured new innovations including mechanical devices. Jean François Oeben, a royal cabinetmaker, created such intricate pieces as a mechanical table for Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s mistress. It involved a sliding top and a writing surface that extended from its marquetry panels.
During the later years of Louis XV’s reign, there was a shift from the ostentatious rocaille style, part of the exuberantly decorative Rococo movement in Europe for which designers such as Nicolas Pineau and Juste-Aurèle Meissonier are known. The style under Louis XVI would return to boxier forms, but with a neoclassical touch inspired by the ancient world.
Find antique Louis XV bedroom furniture, seating, tables and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Rococo Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock with Sèvres Style Porcelain Plaques
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
Rococo style gilt bronze mantel clock with Sèvres style porcelain plaques French, late 19th Century Measures: Height 45cm, width 32cm, depth 15cm This fine mantel clock is a cha...
Ormolu, Bronze
Louis XV Style Vernis Martin Cartel Clock and Thermometer, circa 1740
Located in Madrid, ES
Louis XV Style Vernis martin cartel clock and thermometer, circa 1740. A very fine and palatial of French 18 century Louis XV style vernis marti...
Bronze
$2,950 / set
Louis XV Style Garniture Clock Set
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Extremely decorative Louis XV style turquoise porcelain three-piece garniture clock set with bronze doré' mounts. (Turquoise foo dogs Chinese export...
Bronze
Antique Three-Piece Louis XV and Sèvres Style Clock and Ewer Set
Located in London, GB
Antique Three-piece Louis XV and Sèvres style clock and ewer set French, late 19th century Dimensions: Height 36cm, width 34cm, depth 12cm Consisting of a central mantel clock a...
Ormolu
$4,326Sale Price|25% Off
Late 19th Century Rocaille Ormolu Mantel Clock with Floral Decoration
Located in Paris, FR
Mantel clock in gilt and sculpted bronze featuring abundant Rocaille motifs such as rinceaux, shells, distressed leaves, and scrollwork. Putti engaged in activities such as reading, ...
Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu Bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Louis XV. st. ormolu, patinated bronze and Rouge Griotte marble clock. The clock is raised b...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$4,400Sale Price / set|51% Off
Pair of Cartel and Barometer in Bronze Style Louis XV
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine pair of bronze cartel and barometer in louis XV style the both case is exuberantly embellishedwith scrolling work of the louis XV style,the both faces are in enamel.
Bronze
Pendulum Antique circa 1870 Wood with Gilded Bronze Mechanik Gustaf Becker
Located in Berlin, DE
Pendule of the early days, circa 1870 wood decorated with splendidly gilded bronze, work by Gustaf Becker clock with striking mechanism working with key a...
Oak
Louis XV Style Bronze Figural Clock Garniture by Maison Baguès French circa 1870
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Louis XV style gilt and Patinated bronze figural clock garniture by Maison Baguès. This rare example of a clock garniture by Maison Baguès has a twin train eight-day movement striking on a bell. The garniture consists of a clock and a pair of candelabra en suite. The clock has a Rococo cast case surmounted by a patinated bronze putto playing a lyre, above a circular white enamel dial with Roman numerals, Arabic seconds and pierced hands. The dial inscribed 'Eug Bagues, Paris'. The case terminates in four scrolling legs put down on an acanthus cast plinth base. The candelabra en suite have gilt bronze pierced acanthus cast bases supporting patinated bronze putti each holding aloft three scrolling acanthus arms terminating in circular and foliate cast drip trays and nozzles. Maison Baguès The Baguès Company, located at 31, rue des Francs-Bourgeois, was founded in 1840 by Mr. Noel Baguès who started his business to cast liturgical bronzes. By 1880 the company had expanded into the production of bronze light fixtures in response to the development of electrical lighting. Carried on by Noël’s son Eugène and grandsons Victor and Robert, Maison Baguès continued to progress, adding intricately detailed iron lighting collections in the 1920s as well as stair banisters...
Bronze