The decadence of the Baroque style, in which ornate furnishings were layered against paneled walls, painted ceilings, stately chandeliers and, above all, gilding, expressed the power of the church and monarchy through design that celebrated excess. And its influence was omnipresent — antique Baroque furniture was created in the first design style that truly had a global impact.
Theatrical and lavish, Baroque was prevalent across Europe from the 17th to mid-18th century and spread around the world through colonialism, including in Asia, Africa and the Americas. While Baroque originated in Italy and achieved some of its most fantastic forms in the late-period Roman Baroque, it was adapted to meet the tastes and materials in each region. French Baroque furniture informed Louis XIV style and added drama to Versailles. In Spain, the Baroque movement influenced the elaborate Churrigueresque style in which architecture was dripping with ornamental details. In South German Baroque, furniture was made with bold geometric patterns.
Compared to Renaissance furniture, which was more subdued in its proportions, Baroque furniture was extravagant in all aspects, from its shape to its materials.
Allegorical and mythical figures were often sculpted in the wood, along with motifs like scrolling floral forms and acanthus leaves that gave the impression of tangles of dense foliage. Novel techniques and materials such as marquetry, gesso and lacquer — which were used with exotic woods and were employed by cabinetmakers such as André-Charles Boulle, Gerrit Jensen and James Moore — reflected the growth of international trade. Baroque furniture characteristics include a range of decorative elements — a single furnishing could feature everything from carved gilded wood to gilt bronze, lending chairs, mirrors, console tables and other pieces a sense of motion.
Find a collection of authentic antique Baroque tables, lighting, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Sculptural 17th Century 'Florence Fragment' with a Fossil Shell and Crystals
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Sculptural 17th century hand-carved Florence Fragment mounted with a fossil shell with barnacles and adorned with crystals. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found ...
Rock Crystal
17th Century Italian 'Florence Fragment' Vase with Crystal Quartz Clusters
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian vase with a crystal quartz cluster on a crystal quartz cluster base. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the historic Florence Flood of 1966. This was one of the worst floods recorded since the Renaissance and drew thousands of volunteers from all over the world to help save the city known for its precious history, artwork, artifacts, and rare books. The volunteers were called "the mud angels" because of the mud and silt left everything from the damage of the flood. There is still the original paint and silt left on the piece to uphold the integrity, craftsmanship, and history of fragment. The crystal quartz clusters are applied to the piece to create a sculptural work. The story and history of this piece and Interi's collection of Florence fragments...
Rock Crystal
17th Century Italian 'Florence Fragment' Vase Mounted with Chalcedony Rosettes
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian vase mounted and encrusted with chalcedony rosettes on a petrified wood base. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the historic Florence Flood of 1966. This was one of the worst floods recorded since the Renaissance and drew thousands of volunteers from all over the world to help save the city known for its precious history, artwork, artifacts, and rare books. The volunteers were called "the mud angels" because of the mud and silt left everything from the damage of the flood. There is still the original paint and silt left on the piece to uphold the integrity, craftmanship, and history of sculptural fragment. The chalcedony rosettes perfectly emulate the color and texture of the piece. The story and history of this piece and Interi's collection of Florence fragments...
Rock Crystal
18th Century Italian Gold Leaf Candlestick with Chalcopyrite and Baroque Pearls
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Sculptural 18th century Italian candlestick mounted on chalcopyrite and adorned with baroque pearls. This fragment was originally part of a candlestick from a historical church in I...
Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf, Metal
18th Century Italian Fragment with Chalcopyrite, Calcite Crystals, and Kyanite
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Sculptural 18th century Italian fragment with chalcopyrite on a druzy crystal matrix with calcite crystals and gold-plate kyanite. Th...
Rock Crystal
17th Century Italian Gilt Candlestick with Chalcopyrite and Gold-Plated Quartz
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Sculptural 17th century Italian gilt candlestick mounted on chalcopyrite and adorned with gold-plated kyanite. This fragment was originally part of a candlestick from a church in It...
Rock Crystal, Quartz, Gold Plate, Gold Leaf, Metal
17th Century Italian Gold Leaf Fragment with Calcite Crystals in Matrix
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian gold leaf fragment with calcite crystals in a rock matrix with gold leaf crystal quartz and mounted on a rock coral base. This fragment was originally part of a...
Rock Crystal, Quartz, Gold Leaf
17th Century Italian 'Florence Fragment' Vase with a Mica Cluster & Garnets
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian fragment mounted with mica cluster with garnets on a petrified wood base. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It wa...
Rock Crystal
$271Sale Price|52% Off
H 4.34 in W 2.37 in D 2.17 in
Small 17th-18th Century French Carved Oak Lion Fragment
Located in Buisson, FR
Wonderful and unique small hand carved oak lion fragment. Beautiful weathered. France circa 1650-1750 Weathered. measurements include the wooden pedestal. H:11cm W:6cm D:5,5cm
Oak
$391Sale Price|45% Off
H 7.29 in W 4.34 in D 4.53 in
Italian 17th 18th Century Carved Giltwood Baroque Angel Head
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful giltwood angelhead. Italy, circa 1650-1750 Weathered and small losses. Measurement here below inclusive the wooden base. H:18,5cm W:11cm D:11,5cm
Wood
17th Century French Capital Fragment
Located in Round Top, TX
An outstanding and exquisite 17th century French capital to a pilaster. Expertly carved from wood with a wonderful cherub stunningly finished in water g...
Wood
$1,054Sale Price|44% Off
H 19.49 in W 12.6 in D 2.37 in
Italian 18th century baroque Carved Wooden Silvered Panel / Coat Of Arms
Located in Buisson, FR
Amazing baroque panel depicting a crowned reliquary . Beautiful weathered with traces of its original silver, gilding and colour. Italy circa 1750 Weathered, small losses . Measureme...
Wood
$2,400
H 11.25 in W 12.5 in D 7.5 in
A 17th Century Mounted French Limestone Carving of a Winged Angel
Located in Dallas, TX
Originally part of a larger architectural from a French building in the 1600s, this hand-carved limestone fragment of a winged angel has been mounted more recently to a painted black...
Stone, Limestone, Metal
$271Sale Price|47% Off
H 5.32 in W 3.94 in D 1.58 in
French 16th/ 17th Century Weathered Oak Renaissance Angel Fragment
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful weathered oak winged angel head Renaissance ornament. France, 16/ 17th century. Weathered Measurements include the wooden pedestal.
Oak
$1,536Sale Price|32% Off
H 12.6 in W 7.88 in D 5.52 in
French, 18th Century Carved Stone Head Fragment
Located in Buisson, FR
Magnificent carved stone head fragment with a very beautiful and strong expression. France, circa 1750. Beautiful weathered and small losses. Measurement is with the wooden base. H:3...
Stone
$837Sale Price|49% Off
H 14.97 in W 3.55 in D 3.55 in
French 17th Century Weathered Carved Oak Christ Fragment
Located in Buisson, FR
Very nice carved oak fragment of a Christ figure with a strong expression. Beautiful weathered , France circa 1600-1700. Weathered, and losses. Measurement with the base
Oak
IMPORTANT ITALIAN IMPERIAL EAGLE 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
IMPERIAL EAGLE Italian, 17th Century sculpture in carved and gilded wood, based on a base decorated with plant motifs and masks with two claw and ball-...
Wood
17th-Century Carved Wooden Angel – Polychrome and Gilded Sculpture
Located in TEYJAT, FR
17th-Century Carved Wooden Angel – Polychrome and Gilded Sculpture (One Wing Remaining) Height: 70 cm Width: 33 cm A beautiful 17th-century carved wooden angel, depicted kneeling i...
Wood
$957Sale Price|48% Off
H 9.26 in W 6.3 in D 3.15 in
Small Italian 18th Century Carved Wooden Baroque Angel
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful small Baroque angel with glass eyes. Unique period piece made out of wood . Hand-carved Italy, circa 1700- 1750 Weathered, small losses and old repairs Measurement here b...
Glass, Wood
Saint Ambrosius Italian Sculpture 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Saint Ambrosius Italian sculpture 17th century in painted and gilded wood. The figure is represented standing up blessing with the hand. Faults and defects. Dimensions. Heigh...
Wood
Sold
H 22 in W 19 in D 8 in
Pair of 17th Century Italian Angels with Mica Wings and Selenite on Lucite
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Pair of large 17th century Italian hand-carved and gilded angels with mica wings adorned with dynamically applied selenite and citrine crystals and mounted on lucite bases. These an...
Rock Crystal, Silver Leaf, Gold Leaf
Sold
H 1.58 in W 2.96 in D 2.56 in
Vintage Porcelain Roses by Karl ENS Volkstedt & Kaiser Porzellan, Germany
Midcentury German porcelain roses in soft pastel colours by Karl Ens Volkstedt (Dresden). Beautiful, delicately shaped pieces of high quality por...
Porcelain
Sold
H 15.5 in W 7.375 in D 3.25 in
Pair, Antique Italian Tole Hyacinth Floral Arrangements Unusual Circa 1920
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian, circa 1920. This very unusual pair of floral arrangements are made of tole and formed as a bouquet of yellow Hyacinth flowers with four green leaves stemming from a carved ...
Metal
20th century pair of Nautilus with silver garnish, England
Located in Valladolid, ES
On of a kind pair of nautilus set in 925 sterling silver, with a highly refined garnish. They come from England, from the beginning of the 20th century. Beginning in the 16th century, nautilus shells from the Pacific Ocean became highly valued by collectors. In addition, with this valuable piece already in itself, the best craftsmen began to create true works of art, removing the outer layer of the shell to reveal the pearly interior surface. Either way, both in their natural state and worked by skilled goldsmiths, these shells began to conquer the Wunderkammer, also known as a cabinet of curiosities or a room of wonders. Very popular among the European bourgeois of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries were rooms or simply furniture in which they collected and exhibited exotic objects from all corners of the world. They became the direct ancestors of modern museums, especially those of natural history. They arose during the Renaissance and their collections were enriched thanks to the great geographical discoveries; They were further divided into four sets: naturalia, artificialia, sciencia and exotica. Naturalia refers to objects of mineral, animal and plant natural history; while artificialia are the objects created or modified by man. Some of the most impressive collections were managed to treasure, for example, Emperor Rudolf II of Habsburg, Ferdinand II of Austria or Tsar Peter the Great. Nautilus glasses...
Silver
17th Century Italian Fragment with Chalcopyrite in a Druzy Crystal Matrix
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian fragment mounted with chalcopyrite in a druzy crystal matrix. This fragment was originally part of a candlestick from a church in Italy. It is distressed from...
Rock Crystal
17th Century Italian 'Florence Fragment' Vase with Fossil Coral
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian vase with a fossil coral head on a rock coral floret base. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from t...
Coral
Sold
H 12 in W 6 in D 4.75 in
17th Century Italian 'Florence Fragment' with a Fossil Rock Coral Head & Base
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian vase with a fossil coral head on a rock coral base. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the hist...
Coral
Sold
H 17.5 in W 8 in D 8.5 in
Pair of 17th Century 'Florence Fragments' with Fossil Shells & Calcite Crystals
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
Pair of 17th century Italian candlestick bases with fossil shells and calcite crystals in matrix. The feet of the bases are adorned and restored with fossil shells and calcite crysta...
Rock Crystal
Pair of 17th Century 'Florence Fragment' Vases with Fossil Agate Coral
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
A pair of 17th century Italian fragment vases decorated with fossil agate coral on cut rock coral bases. The pair is from a church in Florence. They were found and saved from the hi...
Coral, Agate
Sold
H 8 in W 7 in D 4.75 in
17th Century Scroll 'Florence Fragment' with Fossil Shells on a Rock Coral Base
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian scroll fragment with fossil shells (ecphora) and mounted on a rock coral base. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was fo...
Rock Crystal
Sold
H 13 in W 6.5 in D 6.5 in
17th Century Italian Candlestick Base with a Selenite Blade and Fossil Shells
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian candlestick base decorated with a selenite blade, and various fossil shells, sea urchins, and ammonites. It has hand-written inscriptions on the base. This fragm...
Rock Crystal
Sold
H 15 in W 6.5 in D 5 in
17th Century Italian Candlestick with a Selenite Blade Cluster and Fossil Shells
By Interi
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
17th century Italian candlestick base decorated with a selenite blade cluster, fossil shells. This fragment is from a church in Florence. It was found and saved from the notorious fl...
Rock Crystal