Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.
The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.
When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.
The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.
Antique French Rococo Style Gilt Pewter and Porcelain Inkwell Signed Chatelain
Located in Barntrup, DE
Antique French Rococo style gilt pewter and porcelain inkwell from circa 1900, marked "Chatelain". This beautifully shaped gilt pewter inkwell is adorned with flowers in the center ...
Pewter
Antique French Sèvres Style Rococo Painted Gilt Pink Gold Inkstand
Located in Greven, DE
Antique French Sèvres Style Rococo Painted Gilt Pink Gold Inkstand French Porcelain 19th Century Dimensions: H x W x D: 8.5cm x 12cm x 8cm This charming decorative inkstand d...
Porcelain
Antique French Solid Silver Gilt Rococo Style Inkwell / Stand, Emile Puiforcat
Located in London, GB
We are delighted to offer this magnificent French silver gilt inkstand made circa late 19th/early 20th century by one of the most important Parisian silversmiths: Puiforcat. Puifo...
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
French Porcelain Inkstand, Sèvres Style, 19th Century
Located in Toronto, CA
This is an exquisite porcelain gilded and enameled inkstand in the Sèvres style, from France. Nineteenth century. The inkwell features an elongated shaped tray with two covered ink p...
Porcelain
An Early 19th Century Paris Porcelain Inkstand
By Jacob Petite
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A whimsical porcelain inkstand attributed to Jacob Petit, born Jacob Mordecai, was a well-known and celebrated French manufacturer of porcelain in the 19th Century. The spaniel dog s...
Porcelain
$2,950Sale Price|25% Off
Very Fine Linke Figural Doré Bronze Crystal Inkwell Ormolu Drawer Candelabra
Located in Roslyn, NY
Extremely fine cherub figural two-tone doré bronze with original crystal inkwells and ink inserts attributed to F. Linke. The two cherubs sit atop this beautiful bronze piece which i...
Bronze
Continental Very Unusual Gilt Metal Rheinstone Set Globe Shaped Inwell
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Very unusual antique continental gilt metal pedestal Rheinstone set globe shaped inkwell dating from the 19th century. The inkwell, possibly Russian or French stands raised on four b...
Metal
19th Century Antique French Inkwell in Gilded Brass and Porcelain
Located in Bradenton, FL
Beautiful Antique 19th century painted and gilded brass inkwell. Floral motif with pink rose on handle. 'Made in France' on underside.
Brass
Superb French Rococo Style Bronze Double Inkwell for Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This superb French Rococo style bronze double inkwell is a luxurious example of 19th-century decorative artistry and functional elegance. Expertly cast in bronze, the inkwell feature...
Bronze
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
French Bronze “Looking for Milk” Inkwell circa 1880 Style of Henri Picard
By Henri Picard
Located in Atlanta, GA
French Bronze “Looking for Milk” Inkwell circa 1880 Style of Henri Picard. French, circa 1880. A finely cast inkwell or storage box constructed in two parts. The top having a young ...
Bronze
Exquisite Rococo Gilt-Bronze Malachite Encrier Inkwell Desk Set ca. 1880
Located in Shippensburg, PA
ROCOCO ORMOLU-MOUNTED MALACHITE VENEERED ENCRIER Circa 1880 unmarked of exceedingly fine quality Item # 404XKP19B An exceedingly fine malachite veneered encrier (inkwell), it feat...
Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu
Fine French Late 19th Century Gilded Ormolu Rococo Style Inkwell by Millet
By Aimé Millet
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality late 19th century gilded ormolu inkwell Rococo influenced inkwell, having scrolling foliate decoration to the whole, two lidded inkwells, signed; Millet, Paris Mais...
Ormolu
Ceramic Inkwell, Talavera De La Reina, Spain, 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Talavera Inkwell, 18th century. Glazed pottery Talavera ceramic inkwell, decorated with cobalt blue enamel on a white tin slip with restorations" Size: 16 x 16 x 7 cms.
Ceramic
Rare 18th Century German Faience Rococo Encrier Inkstand Stockelsdorf
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The form of this rare encrier is based on the model of the known faience master Johann Georg Buchwald, who produced it first in the manufacture of Marieberg, later also in Eckernförd...
Faience
Louis XV Style Inkwell, Designed by Léon Messagé and Cast By Barbedienne
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Rare Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Inkwell. Designed by Léon Messagé and Cast By The Ferdinand Barbedienne Foundry, Paris. Designed in the exuberant Rococo style surmounted by a sea...
Ormolu
French Art Deco Palisander and Pewter Inkwell
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco palisander and pewter inlaid inkwell with 2 crystal wells.
Crystal, Pewter
Early Villeroy & Boch Stoneware Inkstand
Located in Forney, TX
An extremely scarce early Villeroy & Boch pottery deskset stand. The pristine German antique, circa 1860, was masterfully handcrafted in Mett...
Pottery
Gilt Bronze and Champleve Enamelled Inkstand
Located in Cheshire, GB
19th Century gilt bronze and champlevé enameled inkstand with single well with hinge cover and pen rest. All raised up on bun feet. Dimensions H...
Bronze
$1,795
H 6 in W 15 in D 7.5 in
Early 20th-C. French Gilt Bronze And Malachite Desk Pen Inkwell / Inkstand
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is an early 20th century highly decorative French gilt bronze, malachite and faux malachite inkstand with dual inkwells. The base is a mix of faux malachite and malachite veneer...
Malachite, Bronze
19th Century French Sevres style porcelain comport.
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality late 19th Century French Sevres style porcelain comport, having gilded ormolu classical female mounted handles on either s...
Ormolu
French Empire Style Green Glass Inkwell with Gilt Mounts
Located in Nashville, TN
Second Empire green glass inkwell circa 1870 .rare color .Encased in gilt metal Empire styled mounts ,swans drinking from a fountain. The lid shows a woman with bust . The ovoid gree...
Glass
$2,250 / set
H 4.5 in W 11.5 in D 7.5 in
18th/19th Century English Georgian III Period Matthew Boulton Inkstand
Located in Forney, TX
A fine quality Georgian III period silver plated inkstand by celebrated English silversmith Matthew Boulton, displaying all of the timeless eleganc...
Silver Plate
Pair 19th Century French Sevres Style Porcelain Vases
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of late 19th century French Sevres style porcelain vases, each with classical gilded ormolu mask handles to either si...
Porcelain
Late 19th Or Early 20th Century Glass Inkwell
Located in Greven, DE
Faceted Amethyst Glass Inkwell with Brass Lid Origin: France Material: glass, brass Date: circa 1900 Dimensions: H × D: approx. 6 × 12 c...
Bronze
$939
H 7.49 in W 7.49 in D 2.76 in
Antique Napoléon III. Inkwell from Bronze and Porcelain, Paris, France, 1839
Located in Greven, DE
Exceptional antique Inkwell with rich bronze ornaments and three porcelain vessels. The ink jars are painted in a beautiful rich green and embellished with gold colour. France, 1839. On the lid is written "ENCRIER BOUQUET" "MEDAILLE D´ARGENT...
Bronze
$590
H 6.3 in W 5.52 in D 3.15 in
19th Century French Brass Antique Engraved and Signed Inkwell Louis XV Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th Century small French antique engraved brass Inkwell in Louis XV style signed in the bottom in very good authentic condition.
Brass
French Art Nouveau Bronze Dore Inkwell
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Nouveau (Secessionist-style) bronze dore double inkwell with floral design and green fabric under glass base.
Bronze
Nineteenth Century Cobalt Porcelain Inkstand
Located in Toronto, CA
This is a lovely porcelain ink stand, most probably French, from the nineteenth century. Brilliant cobalt ground with glorious, hand-painted floral and gilded decoration, and bronze ...
Bronze
Emancipation Proclamation Inkstand - 19th Century Heavily Chased Brass
Located in Atlanta, GA
Any collectors of American history should look closely at this listing. "In the summer of 1862 President Abraham Lincoln sat at a desk in the War Department telegraph office and wit...
Brass
Sold
H 2.5 in W 6 in D 4.5 in
Antique French Rococo Bronze & Enameled Champleve Scroll Form Inkwell 19th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Rococo inkwell offers cast bronze construction in scroll and gadroon form with tray having central well, allover Champleve enamel decorated, raised on ball feet, 19...
Bronze
19th Century Boulle Style Table Desk
Located in Wiscasset, ME
With carrying handle and single drawer. Lacking inkwells, circa 1870 Measure: Width 12 in.
Bone, Wood
Sold
H 4.5 in W 6 in D 3 in
French Gilt-Bronze and Pink Sèvres Porcelain Inkwell & Letter Holder, circa 1880
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A French gilt bronze and pink Sèvres Porcelain inkwell and letter holder, circa 1880 With raised gold, hand-painted with putti and flower...
Bronze
Sold
H 5 in W 9 in D 6 in
Rococo French Bronze Ormolu Desk Inkwell Encrier by Paul Sormani, 19th Century
By Paul Sormani
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
French bronze ormolu desk inkwell Encrier by Paul Sormani. Late 19th century. Signed P. Sormani Paris Measures: 5" high x 9" wide x 6" deep.
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Boulle Tortoise Shell Inkwell with Brass Inlays
Located in Dallas, TX
Fine 19th century French "Boulle" tortoise shell inkwell (circa 1860). Inkwell containers, brass inlays and bronze feet.
French Rococo Chinoiserie Inkwell
Located in Dallas, TX
an 18th century French Rococo chinoiserie inkwell of gilt bronze with gilt bronze happy Buddha, black lacquer top with fantasy creature, some minor losses to lacquer top
Ormolu