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.
18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
Early 19th Century European Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Silver
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Stone, Cast Stone, Cement, Limestone
20th Century Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
Late 20th Century European Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble
Late 19th Century European Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble
Late 20th Century European Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Stone
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
1840s Danish Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Natural Fiber, Plaster, Paint
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Wood
Late 19th Century Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
1960s English Vintage Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Stoneware
19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Sterling Silver
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Wood
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Statuary Marble
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
1890s English Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Sterling Silver
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Ceramic
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
Late 18th Century English Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Stoneware
Late 18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
1790s English Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Sterling Silver
Mid-18th Century English Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Earthenware
Late 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Other
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Glass
18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Pewter
Mid-19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Stoneware
20th Century German Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Ceramic
Early 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Stoneware
1770s English Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Sterling Silver
1930s American Vintage Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Iron
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Ormolu
Early 20th Century Danish Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Porcelain
20th Century English Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Steel
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze, Ormolu
Mid-19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Agate, Gold
Mid-20th Century English Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Pottery
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Tôle
19th Century British Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Clay
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century European Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
Early 1900s Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Wood
19th Century German Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Porcelain
Early 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
Mid-19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Ormolu
Early 2000s Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Wood
20th Century Russian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Malachite, Ormolu
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Tôle
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze