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.
Japanned or Chinoiserie Decorated Louis XV Style Lacquer Inkwell
Located in Nashville, TN
The lacquer ground with a strong burgundy undertone. Well carved , colored and other wise decorated . The porcelain well in good Antique condition . Minor wear due to age and use .
Lacquer
$880Sale Price|20% Off
Fine Antique French Neoclassical Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Picture Frame
Located in Miami, FL
A fine ornate antique French Louis XV style gilt bronze photo frame with back easel stand, Napoleon III era, circa 1880. Richly decorated with neoclassical style motifs such as faces...
Bronze
Fine 19th Century Ormolu Mounted KPM Porcelain Desk Set - Inkwell Candlesticks
By Berlin Royal Porcelain Factory
Located in Forney, TX
A very fine quality, exquisitely hand-crafted, late nineteenth century bronze doré mounted Royal Porcelain Factory Berlin (KPM) porcelain five piece desk set. The breathtaking anti...
Bronze
Antique French Gilt Bronze Encrier Inkwell Desk Stand, Signed JF
Located in Forney, TX
A most impressive fine quality antique Louis XV style French ormolu encrier / inkstand. Born in France in the 19th century, almost certainly Parisian work, exquisitely chased, chis...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French Louis XV Style Doré Bronze Dogs on Malachite Plinths
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions- H: 3in W: 4 1/4in D: 2 7/8in This exceptional pair of French Doré bronze dogs on malachite plinths/bases are an amazing example of high quality antique smalls. Finding a pair in this good of condition is highly uncommon. Malachite Was believed to have healing factors in Europe during the Renaissance and later people saw malachite as a sign of wealth and power due to its rarity. Most pieces made with malachite whether it was a piece of furniture or a pair of bronze dogs...
Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu
French Louis XV Style Bronze Roll Blotter
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XV-style (19/20th Century) bronze scroll design roll blotter with scroll top open handle.
Bronze
Antique French Louis XV Style Bronze Ormolu Inkwell Signed Van De Voorde
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions: Height: 6 1/2 in Width: 15 3/4 in Depth: 9 in This antique French Louis XV style bronze ormolu inkwell is truly a sight to be seen! If we take a look at the photos prov...
Bronze, Ormolu
French Louis XV Miniature Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XV-style (19th Century) vitrine in the form of a miniature secretary with roll top and clear glass panels.
Glass, Walnut
Period French Louis XV Ormolu Mounted Japanese Lacquer Chinoiserie Inkwell Tray
By Vernis Martin
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce nearly 300 year old Louis XV (1715-1774) period French gilt bronze ormolu mounted Japanned encrier (inkwell or inkstand) Paris, France, circa 1750, exceptionally executed in Louis 14th exotic far-east Japanesque / Chinoiserie oriental styling, popular at the time due to the rise in trade with China and Japan throughout the 18th century, Parisian Vernis Martin lacquer work, decorated with lavish Rocaille elements, having three inkwells fitted with glass jar inserts and ornate fiolated acorn finial covers, on a black lacquer cartouche shaped tray with roster...
Bronze, Ormolu
French Early 19th Century Louis XV St. Sèvres Porcelain and Ormolu Inkwell
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and exceptionally high quality French early 19th century Louis XV st. Sèvres Porcelain and ormolu inkwell, signed Sèvres. The inkwell is raised by striking pierced scrolled foliate ormolu movements in a most decorative satin and burnished finished. At the center is the finely detailed Sèvres Porcelain tray...
Ormolu
Small French Louis XV Style Carved Marble and Gilt Bronze Letter Carrier, 1900s
Located in Dallas, TX
More information coming soon… This small French Louis XV-style letter carrier would make a wonderful accessory for any office, desk, or writing table. Three gilt bronze guides with...
Stone, Marble, Metal, Bronze
Shipping Free, 19th Century Silvered Bronze Inkstand Signed Boin Taburet, Paris
By Boin-Taburet
Located in Lisse, NL
Louis XV style inkstand with chinoiserie design, lacquered top. This rare and stylish inkstand is a work of the house Boin-Taburet, goldsmith in Paris. This impressive size inkstand...
Silver Plate
Louis XV Style Bronze and Glass Figural Inkwell
Located in Germantown, MD
Louis XV Style Bronze and Glass Figural Inkwell Dimensions: 7" in width, 4" in depth and 6.5 inches in height.
Bronze
French Louis XV Style Bronze Double Inkwell
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XV-style (19th Century) bronze double inkwell with trophy caps and cupid playing the cello on a white onyx base.
Onyx, Bronze
Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Black Marble Standish Double Inkwell
Located in Germantown, MD
An exceptional Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Black Marble Standish Inkwell with Cherub playing music.
Marble, Metal, Brass
French Louis XV Silver and Bronze Inkwell
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XV-style (19/20th Century) silver plate on bronze oval shaped inkwell with handles and acorn finial.
Silver, Bronze
19th Century French Louis XV Miniature Secretary Inkwell Stand
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XV-style (19th Century) inkwell stand in the form of a miniature secretary with roll top and etched glass doors. Roll top is stiff and hard to open.
Glass
Art Deco, Inkwell Desk Set, Pen Holder, Marble, Bronze Panthers, 1920s
Located in Stamford, CT
Art Deco, Inkwell Desk Set, Pen Holder, Marble, Bronze, 1920s Perched upon a portoro black and brown with gold veined marble base having a pen and pencil cut out sit a male and fema...
Onyx, Marble, Bronze
19th Century Belgian Louis XV Style Repoussé Brass Inkwell with Letter Holder
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a gentleman’s desk or study with this elegant antique inkwell and letter holder from Belgium, circa 1880. Designed in the Louis XV Rococo taste, the desk accessory stands on...
Brass, Metal
19th Century French Patinated and Gilt Spelter Rooster Inkwell Desk Set
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate your desk or study with this elegant antique French figural inkwell, crafted circa 1870. The composition features a finely cast rooster perched atop a rustic fence, flanked ...
Spelter
19th Century French Louis XV Bronze Dore Double Inkwell with Candles
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XV-style (19th Century) bronze dore filigree double inkwell with candleholder sides and griffins.
Bronze
$6,450Sale Price|56% Off
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Encrier Inkwell by Boin Taburet
By Boin-Taburet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century Louis XV style gilt-bronze, mahogany and porcelain Encrier (Inkwell). The oval mahogany base surmounted with an ormolu mounted trim, dual-trays and fi...
Bronze, Ormolu
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
19th Century French Gilt Spelter Inkwell with Rooster Sculpture Signed A. Bossu
Located in Dallas, TX
Place this elegant antique inkwell in a man’s office or study. Created in France, circa 1880, and built of spelter, the desk accessory sits on five small d...
Spelter
$4,160Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century French accessories Inkwell in bronze Louis XV style
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Louis XV style bronze inkwell ,in the middle you have a marble plaque in the shape of a heart ,the bronze are finely executed,original condition Extremly rare this inkwell have its...
Bronze
French Louis XV Miniature Secretary Inkwell
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XV-style (19th Century) inkwell stand in the form of a miniature secretary with roll top and etched glass doors.
Glass, Walnut
Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Encrier by Paul Sormani, French c 1870
By Paul Sormani
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Rare Louis XV Style gilt bronze Encrier, By Paul Sormani. French, circa 1870. Signed 'P. Sormani, Paris' to the underside of the cover. Thi...
Bronze
19th C. French Faience Blue and White Hand Painted Inkwell with Harbor Scene
By Delft
Located in Dallas, TX
Add a touch of classic French charm to your writing desk with this elegant ceramic inkwell. Crafted in France circa 1880, the cartouche-shaped faience piece features intricate hand p...
Ceramic, Faience
Napoleon Bronze Sculpture Desk Inkwell, Signed Emile Pinedo
By Émile Pinedo
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Napoleon Bonaparte bronze desk inkwell, signed Pinedo with foundry mark. Mounted over a Green Alps marble. Antique signed 19th large bronze ...
Bronze
$2,650
H 18 in W 14 in D 1.5 in
Wonderful French Large Oval Bronze Ormolu Garland Embossed Picture Frame
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French large oval bronze ormolu garland embossed picture frame with easel back 18" H x 14" W.
Bronze
French Dore Bronze Mounted Blue Opalescent and Dore Bronze Finial Covered Box
Located in New York, NY
A French dore bronze mounted blue opalescent and dore bronze finial covered box. This round form box is very unusual with a blue opalescent color and dore bronze mount. The top is fi...
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century Baccarat Inkwell
Located in Tampa, FL
A Baccarat crystal inkwell with decorated bronze. Circa 19th century, France. The interior is two inches deep and the opening is one inch wide.
Crystal
$14,000 / set
H 16.5 in W 11 in D 11 in
19th Century French Ormolu Mounted Rounded Globe Style Tantalus Liquor Set
Located in New York, NY
An Unusual 19th century French Ormolu Mounted Globe Style Tantalus liquor set. The round globe top which rests on an elongated ormolu base is not common to find. The crystal top is m...
Crystal, Ormolu
Chalten Wood & Alpaca Silver Picture Frame by AIREDELSUR
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Inspired by the trails of the Chalten Mountain, in the south of the Andes mountain range, this family of trays, flower vases, containers and picture frames is born. The mountain hiking trails...
Metal
$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
$1,395
H 0.25 in W 24 in D 19.25 in
Tiffany Studios New York Bronze Blotter Corners With Leather Desk Blotter
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous set of four Art Deco or Arts & Crafts period bronze blotter corners in the "Pine Needle" pattern, with a custom green leather desk blotter. By Tiffany Studios (signed to ...
Bronze
Large French Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Picture Frame
Located in Bradenton, FL
French Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Picture Frame. Large ornate Neoclassical gilt bronze picture frame embellished with floral swags, ribbon-tied garlands, urn motifs, and foliate orname...
Bronze
French Giltwood Picture Frame, Louis XV Style, Circa 1890-1900
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th Century French giltwood picture frame with floral relief decoration and outer rope border. Warm gilt finish is in good condition with some losses, slight corner separations an...
Giltwood
French Louis XV Style Bronze Dorè Picture Frame
Located in Bradenton, FL
French Louis XV Style Dore Bronze Picture Frame. Frame features rich ornamentation with finely cast floral garlands, fruiting vines, and charming figural putti. The crest is crowned ...
Bronze
French Louis XV1 Style Malachite and Gilt Bronze Pen Tray
Located in Montreal, QC
This luxurious encrier de bureau is raised on scrolling and leafy feet mounting a malachite-finished base. The tray itself is modelled as a shell rising to a spring-loaded pen holder...
Malachite, Bronze
19th Century French Pewter Lion Inkwell Signed A. Bossu
Located in Dallas, TX
Add a distinguished touch of antique French character to a desk, library, or study with this elegant pewter inkwell signed A. Bossu, crafted in France circa 1880. Rich in sculptural ...
Pewter
Sold
H 4 in W 12 in D 10 in
Antique French Figural Louis XV Style Figural Bronze Double Inkwell Inkstand wit
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Figural Louis XV Style Figural Bronze Double Inkwell Inkstand with Pen Holder 19th Century French Louis XV style figural cast bronze d...
Bronze
Letter Openers louis XV style in bronze
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Louis XV style bronze Letter Openers,the facesare decorated with foliage and crosspieces, original condition
Bronze
Louis XV Style Pewter Mounted Double Inkwell Stand
Located in Astoria, NY
Louis XV Style Pewter Mounted Double Inkwell Stand, 19th century, with finial handle opening inkwell covers to porcelain liners marked "CE" and ebonized composition pen rest. 5.25" ...
Pewter
Sold
H 7.5 in W 22.25 in D 13.25 in
A Louis XV-Style Lacquer, Porcelain and Gilt Bronze-Mounted Encrier
Located in Dallas, TX
a Louis XV-style lacquer, porcelain and gilt bronze-mounted encrier (inkwell / inkstand), Chinese Kangxi porcelain, French lacquer and gilt bronze mounts, France, 19th century
Bronze
Sold
H 9 in Dm 6.75 in
Pair of Late 19th Century French Marble and Bronze Vide-Poches Urns Tazza Dishes
Located in Dallas, TX
Catch loose change or other odds and ends with this pair of 19th century decorative tazza dishes. Crafted in France circa 1880, each compote sits on a square green marble base with r...
Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 9 in W 10.5 in D 10 in
19th Century French Bronze Inkwell with Horse Sculpture Signed P.J. Mêne
By P.J. Mêne
Located in Dallas, TX
Place this elegant antique signed inkwell in a man’s office. Created in France, circa 1870, the bronze desk accessory sits on four small curved feet, and f...
Bronze
Sold
H 6.3 in W 16.93 in D 11.03 in
19th Century French Inkwell and Ink Stand with Letter Holder in Louis XV Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century inkwell and ink stand made of brass with double letter holder in the back. Made in France in Louis XV Style. There is one small top decoration of the left inkwell that ...
Brass
Gilt Bronze and Patina Inkwell, Late 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Gilt bronze and patina inkwell, late 19th century. Inkwell in double patina bronze, gilt and brown patina. Representing a sculpture of a winged nude woman (model by Moreau). ...
Bronze
Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Inkwell, Late 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A Louis XV style gilt bronze inkwell, late 19th century. Large Louis XV style gilt bronze inkwell, end of the 19th century, beginning of the 20th century, missing the inner glass re...
Bronze
Sold
H 6.5 in W 9 in D 5 in
Bradley & Hubbard Louis XV Style Gold Gilt Bronze Hunt Scene Desk Letter Holder
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Bradley & Hubbard Louis XV style gold gilt bronze hunt scene desk letter holder. Item features a remarkable patina, deer hunting scene with deer and dogs, original stamp, very nice a...
Bronze
Antique Italian Louis XV Rocaille Desk Stand with Double Inkwell
Located in Forney, TX
A late 19th century Italian gilded solid brass desk ornament. The elaborately decorated, highly detailed, Louis XV style, Rocaille form encrier, with a raised back single slot letter holder decorated with ornate scrollwork, floral, foliate and putti motif (two mythical nymphs and three cherub winged angels), in front a depressed central pen tray with shell-form decoration in relief, flanked by scalloped hinged lid double inkwells, rising on figural cherub-form front feet. In wonderful, original, antique condition. Presents splendidly. Lacking glass ink tub inserts. Handcrafted, exceptionally excuted, brilliant gilt gold solid cast brass, this antique desk stand...
Brass