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.
French 19th century Louis XV st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A lovely and most elegant true pair of French 19th century Louis XV st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu candelabras. Each beautiful two arm candelabra is raised by a scrolling floral dec...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Louis XV Style Repoussé Copper Candlesticks, France, circa 1850s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Unusual faux pair of large repoussé copper candlesticks in the style of Louis XV. Dimensions provided below are for the taller candlestick. The smaller one measures (in centimeter...
Copper
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu Bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Louis XV. st. ormolu, patinated bronze and Rouge Griotte marble clock. The clock is raised b...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
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...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of Monumental Crystal, Rock Crystal and Brass Candelabras. Great Scale
Located in Buchanan, MI
Spectacular pair of monumental crystal, rock crystal and brass candelabra. Electrified. Great Scale And Proportions.
Crystal, Rock Crystal, Brass
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XV St. Bronze and Ormolu Candelabra Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most impressive true pair of French 19th century Louis XV st. patinated bronze and ormolu candelabra lamps. Each ten arm lamp is raised by an exceptionally well execut...
Bronze, Ormolu
$4,400Sale Price / set|51% Off
Pair of Cartel and Barometer in Bronze Style Louis XV
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine pair of bronze cartel and barometer in louis XV style the both case is exuberantly embellishedwith scrolling work of the louis XV style,the both faces are in enamel.
Bronze
Hand Painted Floral Wig Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful hand painted, domed shape wig box with brass corners and incised brass surround around lock. Painted interior.
Brass
Pendulum Antique circa 1870 Wood with Gilded Bronze Mechanik Gustaf Becker
Located in Berlin, DE
Pendule of the early days, circa 1870 wood decorated with splendidly gilded bronze, work by Gustaf Becker clock with striking mechanism working with key a...
Oak
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ormolu Cherub Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite true pair of French 19th century Louis XV st. ormolu candlesticks. Each candlestick is raised by an elegant pierced circular base with four scrolled acanthus leaf suppor...
Ormolu
Pair Of French 19th Century Louis XV St. Rouge Royale Cassolettes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of impressive French mid 19th century Louis XV st. ormolu and Rouge Royale marble cassolettes. The marble bases are ornamented with ormolu acanthus leaf designs. Each with two...
Marble, Ormolu
Louis XV Style Bronze Figural Clock Garniture by Maison Baguès French circa 1870
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Louis XV style gilt and Patinated bronze figural clock garniture by Maison Baguès. This rare example of a clock garniture by Maison Baguès has a twin train eight-day movement striking on a bell. The garniture consists of a clock and a pair of candelabra en suite. The clock has a Rococo cast case surmounted by a patinated bronze putto playing a lyre, above a circular white enamel dial with Roman numerals, Arabic seconds and pierced hands. The dial inscribed 'Eug Bagues, Paris'. The case terminates in four scrolling legs put down on an acanthus cast plinth base. The candelabra en suite have gilt bronze pierced acanthus cast bases supporting patinated bronze putti each holding aloft three scrolling acanthus arms terminating in circular and foliate cast drip trays and nozzles. Maison Baguès The Baguès Company, located at 31, rue des Francs-Bourgeois, was founded in 1840 by Mr. Noel Baguès who started his business to cast liturgical bronzes. By 1880 the company had expanded into the production of bronze light fixtures in response to the development of electrical lighting. Carried on by Noël’s son Eugène and grandsons Victor and Robert, Maison Baguès continued to progress, adding intricately detailed iron lighting collections in the 1920s as well as stair banisters...
Bronze
Pair of Large French Gilt Bronze and Patinated Vase Form Candelabras
Located in Tarzana, CA
A Pair of large Antique French Gilt Bronze & Patinated Vase Form Candelabras. Each with a vase form shaped body with central relief under a 12 branch candelabrum. Standing on a tr...
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Large Louis XV Sculpture of a Putto with Zephyr
Located in Berlin, DE
Late 19th century French large Louis XV sculpture of a Putto with Zephyr. A figure of a boy standing on a rectangular plinth, looking aside while holding a ball or stylised poppy ...
Cast Stone
19th Century Japanese Imari Porcelain Bowl on French Louis XV Ormolu Base
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring an elegant touch of East–West artistry to your decor with this refined antique vide poche. Crafted in Japan circa 1860, the octagonal Imari porcelain bowl rests on a finely cas...
Bronze
Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
Louis XV style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi is cast in the traditional manner with all the sumptuous movement of the Rococo period, having fourteen arms issuing ...
Bronze
$10,230 / set
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...
Bronze
French 19th century Louis XV st. Vert de Patricia marble and Ormolu candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful and most elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XV st. Vert de Patricia marble and Ormolu candelabras. Each truly stunning eight arm candelabra is raised by three 'C' ...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Brèche Violette Marble and Ormolu Urn
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional French 19th century Louis XV st. Brèche Violette marble and ormolu urn. The impressive urn/trophy is raised by a square ormolu base with concave corners and decorative...
Marble