Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Neoclassical furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms.
Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.
The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.
Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.
Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
As you can see from the furniture on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep neoclassicism fresh.
Find antique neoclassical furniture today on 1stDibs.
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Clay
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Pottery
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Majolica
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Porcelain
1980s Vintage Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Silver
Late 20th Century Mexican Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Ceramic
Mid-19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Blown Glass
1890s French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Crystal
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Stone, Carrara Marble
20th Century Belgian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Linen, Maple
1980s Portuguese Vintage Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Porcelain
Early 20th Century German Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Stone, Marble, Metal, Silver, Bronze, Copper
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Crystal
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century British Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Silver Plate
Mid-19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Ormolu
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Metal, Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Metal, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Unknown Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Composition
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
1870s German Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Porcelain
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble
Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Iron
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Ceramic
1960s American Vintage Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Iron
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Brass, Bronze
1810s Swedish Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Porphyry
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Brass
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Carrara Marble
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Statuary Marble, Bronze
20th Century American Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Metal
Late 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Iron
1980s German Vintage Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Porcelain
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Ormolu
1890s Austrian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Brass
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
19th Century Spanish Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Brass
20th Century American Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Paint
1810s Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Early 1800s Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble
20th Century Unknown Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble
Early 1900s French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century English Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Other
19th Century European Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
Early 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Creamware
1860s French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Brass, Enamel
Late 20th Century North American Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Wicker, Paint
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Crystal, Bronze