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.
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Terracotta
18th Century Unknown Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Brass
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Giltwood
1820s Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Other
1950s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Ceramic
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Silver Plate, Copper
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Gold
1780s English Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century German Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Lacquer
1920s French Vintage Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Copper
Mid-20th Century Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze, Enamel
Early 19th Century German Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Silver
20th Century Unknown Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble
20th Century Czech Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Crystal
Late 19th Century European Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Alpaca
1860s French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Terracotta
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Metal
Late 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Clay
18th Century and Earlier Austrian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Giltwood, Glass
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Terracotta
Early 20th Century Spanish Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Walnut
18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Brass, Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Metal, Silver Leaf
20th Century Kenyan Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Clay
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Wood
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Terracotta
Early 20th Century Danish Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Porcelain
19th Century Spanish Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Silver, Other
1820s Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Alabaster
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Porcelain
20th Century Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Stone, Iron
20th Century American Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Paper
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Terracotta
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Wood, Lacquer
20th Century French Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Plaster
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Marble
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Stone
Mid-20th Century Austrian Neoclassical Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Paint