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Louis XV Sculptures

LOUIS XV STYLE

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.

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Style: Louis XV
Saint Amable, polychrome poplar wood, France, 18th century
Located in Brescia, IT
Description Polychrome wooden centerpiece sculpture depicting Saint Amable. Saint Amable of Riom was a Latin presbyter and was among the first Rium pastors. Tradition has it that at ...
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Clodion, Pair of Ewers in Bronze with Two Patinas, Late 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
After Clodion. Pair of bronze ewers with two patinas representing bacchanalia scenes after Clodion. Circular base with gadroon piedouche decora...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

18th Century French Louis XV Carved and Pierced Giltwood Wall Decor with Cherub
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall or dress a over-door with this elegant antique gilt carving. Crafted in Provence, France circa 1780, the element features a center cherub sculpture holding a flower b...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Giltwood

Pair of French 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Candelabra with Cherubs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine pair of French 19th century Louis XV style figural gilt bronze and rouge marble six-light candelabra, each with a figure of a standing cherub holding the ornate scrolled arm candelabra, crowned with a gilt bronze candle snuffer...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Mystic Lamb On The Book With Seven Seals In Gilded Wood - 18th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Lovely carved wood representing the mystic lamb on the book with the seven seals in gilded wood beautiful quality of carving good condition, France 18th century.
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Angelot En Bois Sculpté -18° Siècle
Located in Brussels, Brussels
ravissant angelot en bois sculpté du 18° siècle d'époque Louis XV anciennes traces de polychromies qui lui donnent beaucoup de charme
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Carved Oak Sculpture of a Saint, 18th Century, Louis XV.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Carved oak sculpture of a Saint, 18th century, Louis XV. An 18th century Louis XV carved oak sculpture of a Saint. H: 58cm, W: 20cm, D: 20cm
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Wood

19th Century French Bust of Queen Marie Leczinska after Versailles Original
Located in Queens, NY
French Sevres biscuit porcelain bust after Versailles original signed "1703-1768 Coustou." The bust portrays King Louis XV's Queen consort Mar...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Gold Leaf

19th Century Pair of French Louis XV Metal Noblemen Busts
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of similar French Louis XV style (19th century) metal busts of 18th century style Noblemen (signed POLI).  
Category

19th Century Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Cipri Adolf Bermann, German, 19th Century Gilt-Bronze Bacchus Herm Term
By Cipri Adolf Bermann
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cipri Adolf Bermann (German, 1862-1942) a very fine 19th century gilt-bronze miniature figure of a Bacchus Herm, depicting Bacchus, also known as Dionysus, the god of the grape harve...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair of gilt bronze sculptures of Cupidon and Psyché, 19th century
Located in NICE, FR
Pair of Napoleon III period gilt bronze andirons, 19th century, depicting Cupid and Psyche on acanthus leaf bases. High-quality gilding with matte and glossy finishes. Ideal for de...
Category

1850s French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Bronze Cherubs on Marble Bases
Located in London, by appointment only
A fine pair of mid-18th century French bronze cherubs standing contrapposto, one playing an instrument and the other holding a knife opening a oyster shell. Both standing besides tre...
Category

Mid-18th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Bronze Sculpture of the XIXth Century of Louis XV Style
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze Sculpture of the XIXth Century of Louis XV Style Beautiful bronze sculpture of the XIXth century on its base in blackened wood of ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Carved Wood Sculpture from the 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Carved wood sculpture from the 19th century. Measures: H: 54 cm, W: 26 cm, D: 18 cm.
Category

19th Century European Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Terracotta Representing a Child and a Bird in the Hand
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Terracotta representing a child and a bird in the hand, signed, early 20th century, Louis XV style. Measures: H: 24 cm, W: 32 cm, D: 15 cm.
Category

Early 20th Century European Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

19th Century, Pair of Terracotta French Busts
By Augustin Pajou
Located in IT
Pair of terracotta French busts resting on circular marble bases, 19th century, signed on the back. The refined pair of busts depicts a man and a woman who have been paired accord...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Ormolu-Mounted Porcelain Horses by Samson Manufactory
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of 20th century white porcelain horses on clouds, above rocaille bases richly decorated with scrollwork and openwork foliage. Both figures are marked underneath with two crossed...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

19th Century, French Terracotta Bust and Marble Base with Nobleman
Located in IT
Terracotta bust depicting nobleman, marble base, 19th century, France The refined bust depicts a nobleman dressed according to the fashion of the mid-eighteenth century in France. T...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Female Bust In Carrara Marble, Late 18th Century, Northern Italy
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Female Bust In Carrara Marble, Late 18th Century, Northern Italy
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Carrara Marble

French Long Chenet Fire Fender with Putti, 19 Century
Located in Cypress, CA
Sensational and unique 19c French Louis XV style gilt bronze and steel large fire fender. On each corners depicting two cherubs in seated and reclin...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Bronze, Steel

Nice Pair of 1860's Girandoles in Gilded Bronze with Crystal Pendants
Located in Paris, FR
Two girandoles in gilded bronze with crystal pendants on a round "red griotte" marble base, representing a nymph and a satyr in a very young age. Very fine work in the style of the...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French Louis XV Cupid Figure
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XV style (19th Cent) painted and gold trimmed figure of cupid with hammer and chisel.
Category

19th Century Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Louis XV Unglazed Sevre Cupid
By Eugene Robert 3
Located in Queens, NY
"Figure of a Reclining Pluto", French Louis XV style (19th Cent) unglazed Sevre white parian figure of cupid reclining with two birds. (signed EUG. ROBERT)
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

A French 19th century Ormolu and Pietra Braschia marble sculpture of Lucretia
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive French 19th century Ormolu and Pietra Braschia marble sculpture of Lucretia. The sculpture is raised by a rectangular Pietra Braschia base with an handsome Coeur de Rai...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Horseman in Carved Wood-18th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb horseman from the 18th century - France Very beautiful rare subject which probably represents a horseman during a hunt Very good quality of sculpture Superb original polych...
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Fruitwood

Pair 18th Century Louis XV Silvered Bronze Figures
Located in London, by appointment only
Beautiful pair of 18th century Louis XV silvered bronze musical cherubs on columns. The silvering on these delightful and elegantly sculpted pair exhibits the most wonderful aged col...
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XV Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Louis Xv sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Louis XV sculptures for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, building and garden elements, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XV sculptures made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Affortunato Gory, Cipri Adolf Bermann, Claude Michel Clodion, and Coustou. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $695 and tops out at $845,000 while the average work can sell for $6,800.

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