As opposed to the styles that would follow from the other 18th-century French kings, Louis XV and Louis XVI, antique Louis XIV furniture is rigid and imposing. It expresses opulence — even its armchairs, with their upright backs, straight legs and lavish ornamentation, look like thrones. Authentic Louis XIV sofas, a then newly emerging iteration of seating, are fully upholstered and often feature decoratively carved frames of walnut, chestnut or oak.
When French King Louis XIV established his royal court at Versailles in 1682, he transformed what was once a hunting lodge into a palace that declared his wealth and power through its design. Until his death in 1715, he reigned with a spirit of excess and absolute political dominance. The “Sun King,” as he called himself, believed that France revolved around him as planets do the sun. Louis XIV adopted the sun as his emblem, decorating the grounds with symbols of the sun and Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. As he stated, “There is nothing that indicates more clearly the magnificence of great princes than their superb palaces and their precious furniture.” He was a child when he became king in 1643, only shaping his style after he became absolute monarch in 1661.
Reflecting trends in French Baroque art, Louis XIV furniture characteristics included exuberant decoration. There were gilded bronze details including shells, suns, grotesques, lions and classical references like acanthus leaves. The years of growth in the country’s manufacturing, such as the tapestries and cabinets made at Gobelins, led to design innovations. The commode replaced the chest as a storage device, with drawers and a surface that could double as a desk.
The materials were luxurious, such as the popular tortoiseshell veneer technique that leading cabinetmaker Pierre Golle used in his designs. André-Charles Boulle, who became royal cabinetmaker in 1672, was a masterful artist of marquetry, using inlays of ebony, exotic woods and mother-of-pearl.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIV bedroom furniture, chairs, tables and other pieces on 1stDibs.
Fine French Ormolu Crown Frame with Tinted Photograph, circa 1890–1910
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fine French Ormolu Crown Frame with Tinted Photograph, circa 1890–1910 A richly detailed French ormolu (gilt bronze) portrait frame, surmounted by a regal crown finial and finely de...
Ormolu
18th Century French Giltwood Frame
Located in Roma, IT
Important, beautiful gilded and carved wooden frame with typical 18th century French motifs Excellent condition Internal dimensions cm 20.8 x 26.8 This artwork, never before on the...
Wood
Antique French Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Rose Garlands Photograph Frame
Located in New York, NY
Classic French Louis XVI style antique gilt bronze photograph frame 19th Century This beautiful French frame features a large, lovely ornate bow at the crest and rose garlands along ...
Bronze
18th Century Louis XIV Italian Gilt Frames Pair of Oval Small Frames From Rome
Located in Milano, MI
From Italy Rome, a unique Louis XIV Pair of 1700s Italian Giled Terracotta Frames, they are almost a pair of similar form and age but with slight differences. The two lovely small oval frames were probably made for framing oval miniatures, they are empty now, come from a private Italian collection and can be used as mirrors. They are in good condition consistent with age, they are older than 300 years, with old restorations and minor losses in a few curls and small felures. See, closed-up picture details. It is more common to find these kinds of antique small frames...
Terracotta
$328Sale Price / set|20% Off
Bernard De Bailliu "Pitti Palace, Venus Room", Engraved, 17th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Nice pair of large engravings by Bernard Bailliu is a representation of the work done by Peter of Cortona on the ceiling of the Venus Room in the Pitti Palace...
Paper
18th Century French Louis XIV Mirror
Located in New York, NY
18th century French Louis carved and gilt mirror frame with inlaid mirror panels. Carved flower corner ornaments.
Giltwood
Early 18th Century Italian Salvator Rosa Gilded Frame
Located in Roma, IT
Important “Salvator Rosa” gilded frame late 17th Century Frame with three rows of carvings Original gilding Central Italy Internal measurements Every item of our Gallery, upon ...
Wood
$356Sale Price|20% Off
Antoine Coypel Engraving "Amor and Psyche" by Jean Audran, 18th Century
By Charles Coypel
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This beautiful engraving of "Cupido and Psyche" by Jean Audran after a work by Antoine Coypel. Inspired directly by Greek mythology. Psyche is a young ...
Paper
$4,321Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Jacques Laudin ii Enamel Plaques, circa 1665-1729
Located in Faversham, GB
A captivating pair of 17th-century Limoges enamel plaques by Jacques Laudin II of the renowned Laudin family dynasty of enamellers. Entitled ‘Jesus Amabilis’ and ‘Mater Amabilis’ fea...
Enamel
$880Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.38 in W 7.5 in D 9.5 in
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
$329
H 8.27 in W 5.91 in D 3.94 in
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Style Bronze Oval Desktop Picture Frame
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Louis XVI style bronze oval photo or picture desktop easel frame from circa the 1900s. This adorable picture frame is made of bronze and has an easel supporting leg on the bac...
Bronze
French Louis XVI Style Bronze Oval Desktop Picture Frame, ca 1900
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Louis XVI style bronze oval photo or picture desktop easel frame from circa the 1900s. This adorable picture frame is made of bronze and brass and has an easel supporting leg ...
Bronze, Brass
Early 19th Century French Giltwood Frame
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Early 19th century French giltwood frame. The inside dimensions 39.25 x 31.25
Giltwood
$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
$2,693Sale Price|20% Off
H 25.6 in W 18.51 in D 1.97 in
Baroque Picture Frame, Lacquered & Gilt Wood, Italy, 17th Century
By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting
Located in Milano, IT
Piccola cornice Barocca, laccata e dorata. Cornice lignea traforata riccamente intagliata a soggetti fogliacei. Italia, XVII Secolo.
Wood
Italian 17th Century Carved And Gilded Rectangular Shape Frame
Located in Milano, MI
Bolognese Italian Carved And Gilded Antique Cornice from 1600 in good condition. Rectangular in shape, it is suitable for a painting or for framing a mirror. The frame is been re-dy...
Gold Leaf
$6,900
H 31.11 in W 27.56 in D 3.94 in
Antique French Louis XVI 18th Century Gold Gilded Picture Frame
Located in Doha, QA
Magnificent 18th century French hand carved and gold gilded frame. An incredible detailed work. The frame looks Royal and luxurious. Dimensions of the interior painting size to fit a...
Gold
18th Century Italian Baroque Carved Giltwood Picture Mirror Frame
Located in Rio Vista, CA
An imposing finely carved early 18th century Italian Baroque giltwood mirror frame or picture frame featuring a dramatic pierced crest depicting a reclining nude nymph beneath a orna...
Wood, Giltwood
$8,902
H 35.83 in W 30.71 in D 2.37 in
17th Century Dutch Flame Moulding Frame Ebonized Old Master Style
Located in Epfach, DE
17th Century Dutch Flame Moulding Frame Ebonized Old Master Style A particularly fine and original Flammleisten (flame-moulding) frame, Netherlands, 17th century, a distinguished ex...
Wood
$11,284 / set
H 20.5 in W 15 in D 2 in
"Set of 9, 18th Century Italian Engravings, Features Female Statues, Framed"
By Giovanni Domenico Campiglia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These Beautiful Italian 18th Century Black & White Engravings on Laid Paper Feature the Portrait of Female Statues, these pieces have been professionally Framed using all new Mat...
Paper, Textile, Linen, Wood, Paint
Frame. Ebonized wood, metal. Dutch School, 17th century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Frame. Ebonized wood, metal. Dutch School, 17th century. It has faults. Slightly rectangular frame made of ebonized wood and decorated with a series of smooth moldings of varying w...
Other
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
$1,483
H 3.63 in W 2.8 in D 0.48 in
Art Nouveau Silver and White Guilloché Enamel Picture Frame, circa 1910s
By Maison Fonsèque et Olive, Giorgio Salimbeni, Salimbeni, Georg Jensen, Paolo Traversi
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Vintage oval silver frame with shiny white and light blue enamel front. Luminous and iridescent decorative white front with a cool light blue tint and a wavy, organic mother of pear...
Silver
18th Century Hand Carved Spanish Polychrome Painted Framed Mirror
Located in Vero Beach, FL
18th century hand carved Spanish polychrome painted framed mirror This Baroque wood frame is hand carved and polychrome painted. The contrast...
Wood
Sold
H 35.5 in W 43.5 in D 3.25 in
Antique French Empire Figural Giltwood Over Mantle Mirror with Mask
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Reduced Delivery Rates - See Below or Click “Ask The Seller” to Request a Quote*** Antique French Empire over mantel mirror offers giltwood frame with figural pierced crest havin...
Mirror, Giltwood
Sold
H 45.5 in W 30.75 in D 1.25 in
Antique Pair of French Louis XIV Style Carved Mahogany Mirrors, circa 1930
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique matching pair of French Louis XIV style wall mirrors offer mahogany construction with shaped form with carved crests having foliate and scroll design, circa 1930. Meas...
Mahogany, Mirror
French Louis XIV Style Giltwood Foliate Form Wall Mirror 20th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
A French Louis XIV wall mirror offers stylized shield shape with giltwood foliate form frame, 20th century Measures- 46.5''H x 30.25''W x 2.5''D. Catalogue Note: Ask about DISCOUNT...
Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
French Louis XIV Style Giltwood Wall Mirror 20th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Louis XIV style wall mirror offers giltwood construction with pieced foliate crest over frame with drape & swag elements, 20th century Measures- 47.75''H x 27''W...
Wood, Mirror, Giltwood
18th century, French Wood Guilloché Frame
Located in IT
18th century, French Wood Guilloché Frame measures: L 104, 5 x 115 cm x P 10,5. Internal stop (back) L 44,5 x H 56,5 x P 2. Golden frame light L 41 x H 51,5. This rectangular frame consists of several concentric bands worked with wavy pattern in some parts and smooth for other small sections. The four corners are highlighted internally by a gilding on the guillotined part, which optically appears in relief. The inner frame is moved and gilded, a device used to give light to the painting or mirror to be placed inside. The frame, made in northern France, in the early eighteenth century, has a wooden structure called a guilloché. The French term indicates a characteristic ornamental processing of wooden or more commonly metallic surfaces, obtained with a special tool (called guillocher) that, used manually, generates a repetitive design of engraved lines, linear or wavy. The first guilloché picture frames...
Wood, Bentwood
Nicolas Perelle "Christ Speaking to the Shepherds" Engraving 17th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This charming engraving by Nicolas Perelle depicts a biblical scene surrounded by lush nature. In this space of nature lies an antiquisite ruin evoking the archaeological excavations...
Paper
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H 10.63 in W 14.18 in D 0.4 in
Pierre Mignard, Engravings from the Series "The Four Seasons" 17th Century
By Pierre Mignard
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Pair of magnificent engraving by Jean Baptiste de Poilly after the royal works of Pierre Mignard for the Duke of Orleans in 1677. These allegorical represent...
Paper
P.P. Rubens "The Exchange of Two Queens" Engraving, 18th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Beautiful engraving by Benoit Audran after a painting by Rubens. It depicts a ceremony on the river Andaye that separates the two kingdoms, represented by allegorical figures in the lower part of the composition (Triton, a sea nymph and a sea man). In this scene, Isabella of Bourbon crosses the river on her way to Spain to marry Philip IV. It also depicts the passage of Anne of Austria to France, to marry Louis XIII. These two princesses are standing on a sort of richly decorated bridge. Each is accompanied by a male allegorical figure representing the two nations. France is dressed in fleur-de-lis. As a blessing for this exchange, the allegorical figure of Felicity pours out treasures from Heaven. This engraving was designed by Nattier but sculpted by Benoit Audran, known as "le Vieux". It is published with the privilege of the king. signed : Rubens pinxit I.M Nattier delineavit Ben. Audran sculpsit Fold in the lower right corner Very good quality of engraving with great finesse of execution. France 1710 Benoit Audran, known as le Vieux, is a French engraver of the late 17th and early 18th century. He is a great French engraver, he is recognized as such thanks to his engravings of works by Antoine Dieu, Coypel or Hallé. He was even more inspired when he started working on the works of the colourist Rubens. In the series of paintings dedicated to the glory of Queen Marie de Medici, he was commissioned to engrave the birth of the queen and the exchange...
Paper
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H 41.5 in W 21.5 in D 3.5 in
Large French Louis XIV Connoisseur Collection by Friedman Giltwood Wall Mirror
Located in Big Flats, NY
A large French Louis XIV style wall mirror of the Connoisseur Collection by Friedman Brothers offers oval form with beaded giltwood frame having palmette urn crest with flanking scro...
Mirror, Giltwood
Sold
H 44.5 in W 25.5 in D 1.25 in
Antique Pair Large French Louis XIV Giltwood Wall Mirrors, 19th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique and large French Louis XIV wall mirrors offer pierced giltwood frames with stylized shell crest and scroll, foliate and floral surrounds, 19th century Measures: 44.5" ...
Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
Antique French Louis XIV Gilt Wall Mirror, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Louis XIV wall mirror offers gilt composite foliate form frame with stylized palmette cartouche, 20th century Measures: 40" H x 27" W x 1.75" D , Sight: 33" H x ...
Composition
Antique French Louis XIV Giltwood Wall Mirror, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Louis XIV wall mirror offers giltwood scroll and foliate form frame with pierced gadroon cartouche and shaped mirror, 20th century Measures: Overall 34" H x 36.5...
Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
Sold
H 50 in W 28.25 in D 2.5 in
Large Vintage French Louis XIV Style Giltwood Trumeau Wall Mirror, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
A large vintage French Louis XIV Trumeaau wall mirror offers stylized fleur-de-lis foliate crest surmounting scroll and gadroon shaped frame, 20th century Measures: 50" H x 28.25" W.
Mirror, Giltwood
Sold
H 30 in W 16 in D 1 in
Antique French Louis XIV Masquerade Mask Gilt Hammered Wall Mirror, circa 1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Louis XIV wall mirror offers gilt cast metal frame with masquerade mask crest with flanking foliate elements and rosette at corners surmounting hammered frame, circ...
Metal
Sold
H 55.12 in W 44.1 in D 2.76 in
17th Century, Henriette-Anne d'Angleterre, Circle of Jean Charles Nocret
By Jean Nocret
Located in IT
Portrait of Henriette-Anne d'Angleterre, circle of Jean Charles Nocret Oil on canvas. French 17th century Sizes with frame 140 x 112 cm; only canvas 105 x 76.5 cm The fine por...
Canvas