Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Neoclassical furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms.
Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.
The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.
Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.
Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
As you can see from the furniture on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep neoclassicism fresh.
Find antique neoclassical furniture today on 1stDibs.
Hans Jensen 6-Piece Vanity Set – Embossed Silver-Plated Alpacca, Denmark
By Hans Jensen
Located in Bochum, NRW
Hans Jensen Danish Silver-Plated Vanity Set – 6-Piece Antique Collection with Embossed Classical Scenes, Marked "Prima Alpacca Import" A rare 6-piece antique vanity set...
Silver Plate
Goerz Tenax Folding Medium Format Roll Film With A Zeiss Ikon Compur With C.P.G
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Goerz Tenax Folding Medium Format Roll Film With A Zeiss Ikon Compur With C.P.Goerz Berlin Dogmar 12.5cm F6.3 Prime Lens With A Leather Case Shutter speed 1 - 1/250 Takes 6.5 x 4 c...
Leather, Glass
$2,962Sale Price|25% Off
French 1798 Neo Classic Stamp Seal In 18Kt Gilded Silver Carved Bust Of Flora
Located in Miami, FL
French neo classic desk seal. Wonderful desk seal, created in France during the late 18th century, back in the 1798-1808. This magnificent piece of a...
Gold, Silver
Kodak No 2 Folding Pocket Brownie Model B 120 Roll Film Camera USA 1909
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Kodak No 2 Folding Pocket Brownie Model B 120 Roll Film Camera USA 1909 The No 2 Folding Pocket Brownie is a folding camera made by Kodak in Rochester, NY, USA, from c. 1909. It has...
Leather, Glass
Vintage Cloisonné Enamel Brass Magnifying Glasd
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Gorgeous cloisonné enamel on brass magnifying glass.
Brass
Desk Set by Eleanor Claire Letter Organizer Desk Set
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration a desk set by Eleanor Claire, letter organizer. Beautiful embossed decorative pattern. Dimensions: 3.5" D x 5.75" W x 4" H Pl...
Stainless Steel
French Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze-Mounted Escritoire Desk
Located in Brea, CA
This Louis XV style vanity gilt bronze-mounted desk has one wide drawer in front and there are 6 drawers on two lines for even more storage. Fine writing desk with curved sides and g...
Hardwood
Twelve 19th Century Painted and Gilt Metal Desk Accessories
Located in London, GB
In a time of computers and technology, this antique desk set harks back to a more romantic period when people read letters at their desks by candlelig...
Metal
Bronze Writing Set, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
On a tray of curved profiles decorated with moldings and scallops on its edges are the four containers that make up the desk. The sandbox or salvador, the duster and the inkwell pres...
Bronze
Midcentury Modern Desk Organizer by Børge Mogensen, 1960s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Lovely desk organizer by Børge Mogensen, made from oak with red, grey and white lacquered drawers. The drawers fit A4 size magazines and documents.
Wood
Typewriter/Remington Standart 12 USA, 1930s
Located in Praha, CZ
The packaging of the machine has surface defects that are associated with the age of use. Made in USA. Fully functional. Made of metal, steel, chrome, fabric. Good original condition...
Metal
Tusk Candle, Medium, Black Beeswax
By UMÉ Studio
Located in Oakland, CA
100% beeswax, organic hemp wick and coloring, unscented. The tusk candle takes its inspiration from natural motifs: Ivory, tusks, canines, teeth and oth...
Hemp
Edwardian Sterling Silver and Blue Guilloche Enamel-Mounted Magnifying Glass
By George Hope
Located in New York, NY
Large, Edwardian, sterling silver and blue guilloche enamel-mounted magnifying glass, Birmingham, England, 1906, Geo. Hope - maker. Measures almost 9 inches long x 3 3/4 inches diame...
Metal, Sterling Silver, Enamel
$1,268Sale Price|20% Off
H 19.25 in W 14.25 in D 10.5 in
Landers, Frary & Clark Cast Iron Coffee Grinder/Mill
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This a large and heavy Landers, Frary & Clark cast iron coffee grinder#20 1/2. It has a bell shaped nickel hopper with a flat wood lid and two...
Iron, Nickel
$2,772
H 3.55 in W 13.39 in D 7.49 in
Rare Chinese opium smoking tray in Cloisonné Bronze with Black Enamel
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Rare Chinese opium smoking tray in cloisonné bronze with black enamel. Divided into three compartments plus the wick deposit. 19th century.
Bronze, Enamel
$107 / item
H 4.14 in Dm 4.14 in
Handmade Medium Paperweight with Sphere Shape in Satin White Carrara Marble
By Fiammetta V.
Located in Carrara, IT
Paperweight with sphere shape in satin white Carrara marble. Measure: Diameter 10,5 cm Each piece is in a way unique (since each marble block is different in veins and shades) and...
Marble
Marble Desk Pen Holder Organizer
Located in New York, NY
A substantial marble desk pen/pencil/marker holder organizer, in the modern style, Midcentury Modern design period, circa mid-20th century. Organizer can hold small pieces of paper, ...
Marble
Vintage Brass Handled Magnifying Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage brass handled magnifying glass, circa 1980s. #4348
Brass
Large English Antique Brass Desk Magnifying Glass / Paperweight c.1910
Located in Bath, GB
Always very popular and a very useful desk-top accessory. These large circular magnifiers actually are the condenser or magnifier from a Magic Lantern dating to around 1910; they are...
Brass
Vintage Midcentury Hermès Lizard Pocket Agenda
By Hermès
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage midcentury Hermès natural lizard skin pocket agenda, France, 1960s.
Lizard
$580 / set
H 2.88 in W 9.63 in D 10.38 in
Antique Art Nouveau Silver Inkwell, Letter Opener, Dip Pen and Seal Set, in Box
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1900s travel set or desktop accessories inkwell, dip pen, letter opener and seal. Made of silver (marked 800) and crystal glass. Nice additio...
Crystal, Silver
Krone Abraham Lincoln DNA Limited Edition Fountain Pen with Original Box
Located in Plainview, NY
A rare Krone Abraham Lincoln Fountain Pen limited edition numbered 350 / 1008. Krone Expert artisans have carefully hand-crafted each component of the pen using the finest materials ...
Gold, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Gold & Black Lacquered Wood Letter Holder
Located in Pearland, TX
A lovely vintage Neoclassical style Italian gold and black lacquered wood desktop letter holder. No maker's mark. This stylish letter rack has three slots for letters and is decorate...
Wood
Sold
H 11.5 in W 10 in D 4.5 in
Neoclassical Rococo Reticulated Foliate Gilt Bronze Cameo Letter Holder 20thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
Neoclassical Rococo Reticulated Foliate Form Gilt Bronze Letter Holder with Cameo, 20thC Measures- 11.5''H x 10''W x 4.5''D
Bronze
Doré Bronze And Enamel Writing Desk Casket
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exquisite French writing desk casket is a stellar example of neoclassical craftsmanship. Fashioned from Doré bronze and adorned with royal blue enamel, it features a classical t...
Bronze, Enamel
Sold
H 6.5 in W 6.25 in D 3.75 in
19th Century English Sheffield Silver Plate Lyre Shaped Letter Rack Holder
By Thomas Bradbury & Sons Ltd.
Located in Pearland, TX
A lovely antique English silverplate lyre shaped letter holder by Thomas Bradbury of Sheffield, dated 1872. Hallmarks on base. This beautiful letter rack has a Neoclassical design wi...
Silver Plate
Sold
H 12.21 in W 14.18 in D 11.42 in
Silver Desk Writing Set, Daoíz, Velarde, Ruíz and Arango at Monteleón, Madrid
Located in Madrid, ES
Scribe with four inkwells; Luis Daoíz, Pedro Velarde, Jacinto Ruiz and Rafael Arango defending the Monteleón Barracks on May 2, 1808. Silver in its color and gold plated. Madrid, Celestino Espinosa, 1822-1823. With contrast marks. Notary of silver gilt and in its color composed of a tray, two bells in the shape of a tent, four containers in the corners, four cannons with soldiers and a central architectural element resembling a fortification and including two drawbridges over a small "moat" circular...
Silver
Silver Desk Writing Set, Platerías Martínez, Madrid, Spain, 1845
By Platerías Martínez
Located in Madrid, ES
Scribe with three inkwells. Silver. Real Martínez silver factory, Madrid, 1845. With contrast marks. Notary of silver in its color composed of a rectangular tray with raised and op...
Silver
Sold
H 4.34 in W 9.85 in D 4.73 in
Silver Desk Writing Set, Martínez, Apolinar del Campo, Spain, 1803 and Later
By Platerías Martínez
Located in Madrid, ES
Scribe with three inkwells. Silver. Silversmiths Martínez and Apolinar Del Campo, Madrid and Vitoria, 1803 and later. With contrast marks. Notary of silver in its color composed of...
Silver
19th Century Italian Tooled Leather Desk Blotter
Located in Houston, TX
An elaborate antique Italian desk blotter in tooled leather with a center portrait along with other tooled designs and mask with scrolls in all fo...
Canvas
Silver Writing Set Manuel Díaz Del Castillo, Toledo, Spain, 1819
By Manuel Díaz del Castillo
Located in Madrid, ES
With hallmarks. On an oval tray decorated with an openwork balustrade, are placed various items: the inkwell, the sandpit and container with lid holed to let the feathers on, all si...
Silver
Antique Neoclassical Bronze Inkwell Desk Set
Located in Houston, TX
A 19th century neoclassical bronze desk set featuring two inkwells that are flanked by two elongated trays with a centre oval pedestal dish. The inkwells are black patinated sporting...
Bronze