Antique Louis XIII furniture is not as lavish as that of his son Louis XIV, who transformed his father’s modest Versailles hunting lodge into a sumptuous palace. Yet the imposing forms of its chairs, dressers, tables and other pieces express grandeur and luxury.
When Henry IV was assassinated in the streets of Paris in 1610, his young son became the king of France. With Louis XIII too young to rule, the widowed Marie de' Medici — a native of Italy and member of the prominent House of Medici — became regent, instilling an Italian influence in the decorative arts. Even after Louis XIII exiled his mother and took power in 1617, this aesthetic informed his court style. As did the consolidation of power, established with his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, through his death in 1643.
From sturdy chests and tall cupboards to colossal four-poster beds, almost every piece of Louis XIII furniture was heavily carved or turned from dark-toned wood. Motifs of the period included scrollwork, foliage, fruits, grotesque masks and other images of abundance, often inlaid in marquetry of wood or tortoiseshell. Ornamental scenes, sometimes carved on cabinet panels and other pieces from rare ebony, oak or walnut, were borrowed from engravings by northern European masters like Peter Paul Rubens. Engravings also spread the Louis XIII style during the 17th century, particularly by printmaker Abraham Bosse, who depicted the popular Louis XIII chairs designed with upholstered seats and low, wide backs.
The lofty profiles of the French furniture complemented the architecture under the reign of Louis XIII, such as the Palais du Luxembourg by chief architect Salomon de Brosse and architect Jacques Lemercier’s chapel at the Sorbonne, which showcased the influence of Italian Baroque.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIII armchairs, storage cabinets, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
$505Sale Price / set|20% Off
Jacques Callot - Set of 2 Engravings : "Les Gueux" - 17th Century - France
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
These engravings are part of a series of 25 prints called "les gueux" or "les mendiants", "les barons", "les barons". Numbered 12 and 16, they were published with the 23 others betwe...
Paper
$337Sale Price|20% Off
Jacques Callot "La Dame en deuil" Engraving 17th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This engraving is part of a series of 12 plates called "La Noblesse" ("Nobility"). Numbered 5, it was published with the 11 others between 1620 and 1623. It depicts a lady wearing a ...
Paper
$570Sale Price|25% Off
H 13.39 in W 8.75 in D 0 in
Rare Anatomy Engraving – Skeleton and Flayed Figure, Blome, 17th Century
Located in Langweer, NL
Anatomy Display – Antique Engraving by Michael Vandergucht, 1686 This fascinating late 17th-century engraving depicts an anatomy display, showing a skeleton, an écorché (a flayed fi...
Paper
Framed 18th C. Swedish Botanical Engravings, Set of 4
Located in Atlanta, GA
A collection of four art pieces of Swedish 18th century ferns, displayed nicely within custom gold toned wooden frames. This set of framed wall decorat...
Glass, Wood
$806
H 20.9 in W 17.7 in D 1.4 in
Saint Sebastian 17th Century Engraving on Chain-Laid Paper, Black Frame
Located in Lincoln, GB
A Rare 17th Century Engraving: Saint Sebastian on "Chain-Laid" Paper This powerful 17th-century engraving captures Saint Sebastian in a moment of stoic martyrdom. A hallmark of Baroq...
Paper
$1,287 / set
H 19.3 in W 26.38 in D 0.6 in
After Carracci, Atlantes from the Farnese Palace, 2 Engravings, 17th Century ?
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
This pair of engravings is made in the sanguine style, using red chalk. They represent the preparatory work for the Atlanteans of the Farnese Gallery in Rome, according to Carracci. ...
Paper
$480Sale Price|40% Off
H 19 in W 22 in D 1.75 in
17th Century German Nativity Copperplate Engraving with Fine Detail
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Copperplate engraving of the nativity printed on hand laid paper. The piece has an incredible level of fine detail for the diminutive size of the work. ...
Paper
Carved Wooden Frame, 17th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Large wooden frame carved in twisted style and painted, from the 17th century. Original paint - Some chips and missing parts, traces of treated woodworm, transformations on the b...
Wood
Original Ancient "Sansovino" Wood Frame, 17th Century
Located in Roma, IT
17th century wood frame is an original ancient object realized in Italy in the 17th century. Original wood. Very good conditions. Exceptional frame in carved and gilded woo...
Wood
Pair of 17th Century Engravings of Swedish Kings Karl X & Karl XI
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A pair of fine engravings of two Swedish monarchs by Samuel Blessendorf for Puffendorf’s History of Sweden, in antique birch frames, 1663 and 1696. Engravings of Swedish King Karl X Gustav (b. 1622 - d. 1660) dated 1663 and his successor, King Karl XI (b. 1655 - d. 1697) from 1696 by Samuel Blessendorf, a Prussian enamel painter and engraver, born in Berlin in 1670. He designed and engraved these portraits for Puffendorf’s History of Sweden by Freiherr Samuel von Pufendorf (1632-1694), Historiographer to King Karl X of Sweden. Freiherr Samuel von Pufendorf (b 1632 – d 1694) was a German jurist, political philosopher, economist and historian. He was born Samuel Pufendorf and ennobled in 1684 when he was made a baron by Charles XI of Sweden a few months before his death at age 62. Among his achievements are his commentaries and revisions of the natural law theories of Thomas Hobbes...
Paper
$6,000
H 23.63 in W 20.48 in D 1.38 in
Antique Rare Italian Gold Gilded Hand-Carved Frame Early 17th Century
Located in Doha, QA
A truly magnificent Italian Renaissance gold gilded hand carved frame. Amazing craftsmanship and a very good condition for its age. Painting which fits inside (painting opening), di...
Giltwood
$833Sale Price|20% Off
H 12.6 in W 15.75 in D 0.99 in
French Engraving of Italian Landscape View with Gold Leaf Gilt Frame
Located in Barcelona, ES
Engraving printed in black on laid paper framed with a neoclassical style gold leaf frame. The engraving shows a beautiful view from the Aqueduct of Corigliano, Calabria. Marks with ...
Gold Leaf
English Hand Colored Billiards Escene Engraving Print
Located in Barcelona, ES
An antique English hand colored framed print titled "Billiards" Gentlemen playing billiard scene. Designed and etched by E.F. Lambert, published by Thomas Mc Lean, 1827,Haymarket, Lo...
Wood, Paper, Glass
$880
H 13.8 in W 12.2 in D 1.4 in
Unicorn Limited Edition Engraving, Signed Ramah, 17th-Century Laid Paper
Located in Lincoln, GB
Limited Edition Engraving by Ramah on "Unicorn" Laid Paper This exceptional work is a masterclass in the revival of traditional intaglio techniques. Purchased in Belgium, the engravi...
Paper
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H 2.37 in W 3.15 in D 0.4 in
Jacques Callot "The Gun Exercises: Pointing" Engraving, 17th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This engraving is part of a series of 13 made by Jacques Callot. It is number 11 and is called "Exercise de canon: le pointage". It is a 2nd state (presence of a number in the lower ...
Paper
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H 7.88 in W 10.24 in D 0.4 in
Jacques Callot "Les Caprices Trousers Looking at Each Other Engraving
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This engraving is part of a series of 50 etchings. It consists of 48 caprices, a frontispiece and a dedication to Lorenzo de' Medici, brother of Cosimo II de' Medici. It is a first s...
Paper
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H 12.8 in W 19.69 in D 1.19 in
Jacques Callot "The Two Views Of Paris, 2, Pont Neuf" Engraving, 17th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This engraving is part of a series of two engravings drawn during Jacques Callot's stay in Paris in 1628-1630. size : 13.4 x 10.23 inches 19.7 x 12.6inches with frame signed: Cal...
Paper