Beaux Arts furniture included chairs replicating models from the Renaissance and sofas inspired by Louis XIV. These pieces filled high-ceilinged rooms that featured tapestries fit for a medieval castle and were illuminated by crystal chandeliers reminiscent of those in European palaces. Leon Marcotte Company created furnishings for the White House mimicking the style of Louis XVI, while in France, cabinetmaker Louis Majorelle reproduced 18th-century pieces that would influence his later Art Nouveau style.
Students at the École des Beaux-Arts in 19th-century Paris meticulously sketched Roman and Greek art and architecture as part of a curriculum that elevated the classical world. This reverence for history informed the architecture and design being constructed in the French capital and beyond, where columns and pediments were joined with elements referencing the Renaissance and Baroque eras, culminating in grand civic buildings such as the Palais Garnier opera house constructed under Napoleon III.
Beaux Arts style, also known as Classical Eclecticism for its flamboyant mixing of influences, made its way to the United States in the late 19th century through American architects who studied in Paris, like Richard Morris Hunt and Charles Follen McKim. They designed monumental turn-of-the-century buildings like train stations, libraries, museums and mansions that featured soaring entry halls and grand stairways with nearly every surface embellished, from mosaic floors to stained-glass ceilings. The luxurious interiors of these Beaux Arts buildings, which weren’t crowded with objects as in the Victorian era, matched this spirit of opulence and embraced the past.
Find a collection of Beaux Arts decorative objects, lighting, wall decorations and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Bronze Card Tray or Pin Tray, Vide-Poche in a Shape of a Wild Boar
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Bronze Card Tray or Pin Tray, Vide-Poche in a Shape of a Wild Boar This adorable card tray or pin tray, Vide - Poche, is made of bronze in the ...
Bronze
Rare Bronze Paperweight Celebrating 500th Anniversary of Leipzig Univ, 1909
By Max Lange
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Depicting two male nudes lifting a garland framing Medieval images of the two patron saints of Leipzig University -- St. Laurentius and John the Baptist -- this rare and beautiful br...
Bronze
$306Sale Price|20% Off
French Brass Duck’s Head Letter Opener, Paper Knife
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
French brass duck’s head letter ppener, paper knife A great desk piece, the knife sits neatly on your desk ready for use, all in solid brass and go...
Brass
$453Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Hand-Carved Fruitwood Pipe Holder, Beaux Arts Style, c. 1880
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Antique elegant pipe-holder: an unique piece for an unique gift! It is made entirely- carved wood.
Fruitwood
Finely Carved 'Black Forest' Pipe Stand
By Black Forest
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
A finely carved "Black Forest' pipe stand. Carved Lindenwood with a single bear standing over a naturalistic base with the pipe holders and astray to fron...
Wood
Hermes, Paris, Equestrian / Horse Head Letter Opener, c.1960
Located in Bath, GB
A highly collectable letter opener or paper knife made in gilded bronze and dating to c.1960; a scarce-find in the gold colour. The handle is in the form of a horse head, beautifu...
Bronze
$4,400Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 3 in W 3 in D 3 in
Rare 1979 Donovan Leisure NYC Cia Law Firm 50th Anniversary Brass Paperweight
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Extremely rare New York City historical relic. A fiftieth anniversary brass cubic monolith commemorative desk sculpture. Issued to monogram; AWS. Approx. 45-60 members of firm a that time, only a handful were issued this paperweight in solid Brass weighing 8 lbs. 4.2 oz. Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine was an American white-shoe law firm, located in New York. It was founded in 1929 by General William "Wild Bill...
Brass
$3,250 / set
H 4.63 in W 5.75 in D 3 in
Pair of Antique Bronze Sculpture Paperweights Wounded Stag and Wild Boar
Located in Shippensburg, PA
Pair of figural bronze paperweights over cararra marble bases. circa early 19th century; models of "Il Porcellino" and "Wounded Stag" Item # C104009 A superb pair of 19th century p...
Carrara Marble, Bronze
$180
H 1.25 in W 9.63 in D 0.25 in
Antique French Signed Art Nouveau Bronze Duck Figure Letter Opener by Frecourt
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful antique French bronze letter opener by the sculptor Maurice Frécourt. Circa 1900. It is signed "Frécourt". This piece is in goo...
Bronze
Hermes "Chaine D'Ancre" Vide Poche or Change Tray
By Hermès
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Hermes "Chaine D'Ancre" blue rectangular porcelain vide poche, change tray or pocket emptier / Made in France circa 1990s Original stamp at underside Width: 6.5 inches / Dept...
Porcelain
Natural Malachite Specimen Vide Poche Stone Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
Natural malachite stone specimen vide poche tray hand carved at center. May be used as a decorative object or used as a paperweight to brighten ones desk. Beautiful includes crysta...
Malachite
$380Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 0.88 in W 5.38 in D 5.38 in
Danish Faience Pottery Jewelry Dish Vide-Poche Aluminia & Royal Copenhagen
Located in New York, NY
**There're two (2) available, each sold separately, as per listing. A Danish Faience ceramic pottery jewelry vide-poche square dish, from Denmark. Each dish has an internal band in...
Ceramic, Pottery
Edgar Brandt Bronze Paper Knife/Letter Opener
By Edgar Brandt
Located in NANTES, FR
Art Nouveau letter opener, circa 1905, in bronze. Decorated with ginkgo biloba leaves, stamped E. Brandt. In perfect condition. Length: 20 cm Width: 3.3 cm Thickness: 1 cm Weight...
Bronze
Hermes "Chaine D'Ancre" Vide Poche or Change Tray
By Hermès
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Hermes "Chaine D'Ancre" platinum square porcelain vide-poche, change tray or pocket emptier with base in suede / Made in France circa 1990s Original stamp on the side / comes...
Porcelain
Letter Opener or Paper Cutter in Silver Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Letter opener in silver bronze Silver plated bronze letter opener 35/42 microns Measures: L: 218 mm, weight: 118 gr This letter opener is the handmade work of French designer Richard Lauret...
Bronze
Brass Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
A vintage brass letter opener with a Greek-Key like design on handle, circa 20th century. Dimensions: .63" W x 7.5" Long. Other desk accessories available separately, search 1stDibs ref. #s: Italian desk/letter organizer...
Brass
1920s French Marble Pedestals, a Pair
Located in High Point, NC
An elegant pair of marble pedestals from 1920s France. A tapered pyramidal base in pristine white marble is crowned by a circular dish. Carved scrolls, accentuated by gilded metal ac...
Marble
Sold
H 6 in W 14.5 in D 6 in
A Fine Early 20th Century Austrian Bronze Figural Inkstand by Friedrich Gornik
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome early 20th century figural bronze inkstand depicting the finely modelled figures of a lion & lioness striding across a naturali...
Bronze
Metal Secret Society Ceremonial Skull
By Edwin Skull
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A nickel-plated brass secret society skull used in ceremonies with movable lower jaw, life size well constructed with great detailing.
Signed Mappin & Webb Clock 22-Carat Gold-Plated Letter Opener
Located in North Miami, FL
This rare and fantastic Mappin & Webb clock letter opener is finely made. The roman numerals on the clock give regality and a Cartier style. There is a glass front to the clock. It...
Gold Plate
Hermès Silver Plate and 24-Carat Gold-Plated Letter Opener/ Desk Accessory
By Hermès
Located in North Miami, FL
This substantial vintage hallmarked Hermès letter opener is a great one. It is signed Hermes Paris, then a symbol and then made in France. The 24-...
Gold Plate, Silver Plate
Austrian Bronze Inkwell of an Automobile and Driver ca. 1920's
Located in Petaluma, CA
Oh how rare this subject matter in sculpture appears. We would like to point out that this no small trinket. It is impressive and good sized. The driver is a kick and the car is cert...
Bronze
Bronze and Marble Figural Inkwell of a Sleeping Boy
Located in Petaluma, CA
Artist signed Joachin Angles .Joaquin Angles, 1859-1905, France, figural bronze and marble inkwell, the sleeping young boy resting on his book bronze sets on a black marble base with...
Marble, Bronze