As opposed to the styles that would follow from the other 18th-century French kings, Louis XV and Louis XVI, antique Louis XIV furniture is rigid and imposing. It expresses opulence — even its armchairs, with their upright backs, straight legs and lavish ornamentation, look like thrones. Authentic Louis XIV sofas, a then newly emerging iteration of seating, are fully upholstered and often feature decoratively carved frames of walnut, chestnut or oak.
When French King Louis XIV established his royal court at Versailles in 1682, he transformed what was once a hunting lodge into a palace that declared his wealth and power through its design. Until his death in 1715, he reigned with a spirit of excess and absolute political dominance. The “Sun King,” as he called himself, believed that France revolved around him as planets do the sun. Louis XIV adopted the sun as his emblem, decorating the grounds with symbols of the sun and Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. As he stated, “There is nothing that indicates more clearly the magnificence of great princes than their superb palaces and their precious furniture.” He was a child when he became king in 1643, only shaping his style after he became absolute monarch in 1661.
Reflecting trends in French Baroque art, Louis XIV furniture characteristics included exuberant decoration. There were gilded bronze details including shells, suns, grotesques, lions and classical references like acanthus leaves. The years of growth in the country’s manufacturing, such as the tapestries and cabinets made at Gobelins, led to design innovations. The commode replaced the chest as a storage device, with drawers and a surface that could double as a desk.
The materials were luxurious, such as the popular tortoiseshell veneer technique that leading cabinetmaker Pierre Golle used in his designs. André-Charles Boulle, who became royal cabinetmaker in 1672, was a masterful artist of marquetry, using inlays of ebony, exotic woods and mother-of-pearl.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIV bedroom furniture, chairs, tables and other pieces on 1stDibs.
Antique Pair of Louis XIV Ormolu Jardinieres 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a superb 19th Century pair of Louis XIV Revival ormolu jardinieres, Circa 1870 in date. They are beautifully applied with with lion mask and loop handles, cast with strapwor...
Ormolu
Pair French Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mounted Green Marble Lidded Urns
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Pair of French Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mounted Green Marble Lidded Urns Superb and most elegant pair of Louis XVI style ormolu mounted Verde Antico Marble lidded urns. Flanking the m...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of French Early 19th Century Louis XVI Style Sèvres Porcelain Vases
By Jacob Petit
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensation and large scaled pair of French early 19th century Louis XVI st. Sèvres porcelain vases, signed Jacob Petit. The pair are rais...
Porcelain
19th Century French Sevres style porcelain comport.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality late 19th Century French Sevres style porcelain comport, having scrolling foliate gilded ormolu handles, mouldings and base. The cobalt blue ground with gilt highlight...
Ormolu
Louis XIV Style Lidded Urn on Pedestal
Located in Atlanta, GA
A superb Louis XVI style lidded urn on pedestal. Great detail. An imposing presence for a garden. Pair available !!! Dimensions: Overall height 95" x 34" wide x 34" deep.
Composition
Large Sevres style comport, circa 1880.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French Sevres style porcelain and pierced gilded ormolu comport. Having a turquoise ground, with gilded highlights and an inset hand painted pan...
Ormolu
Pair of Russian Ormolu Mounted Fluted White Opaline Crystal Covered Bottles
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of 19th century Louis XVI style Russian hand diamond-cut white opalescent crystal and ormolu-mounted perfume bottles. This pair of hand diamond-cut crystal perfume bottle...
Crystal, Bronze
$3,290Sale Price|30% Off
19th Century French Monumental Terracotta Cobalt Blue Glazed Vase-Urn
Located in Vero Beach, FL
19th century French monumental terracotta cobalt blue glazed vase-urn This elegant palace sized French cobalt blue glazed terracotta floor vase from the 19th century, is a stunn...
Terracotta
Victorian Kingwood and Gilt Metal Mounted Planter Jardinière Table
Located in Altrincham, GB
Victorian Kingwood and Gilt Metal Mounted Planter Jardinière Table, late 19th century, with removable cover opening to reveal a metal void, the waisted sides above a shaped apron, ra...
Ormolu
Pair Italian or Spanish Portapalme Urns in Copper and Brass, circa 1700
Located in Atlanta, GA
Cast copper and brass with urn bases and roses and vines with delicate bows, incredibly crafted, these portapalme were particularly in Italian and Italianate churches, the utilizatio...
Brass, Copper
Pair of 18th Century Italian Giltwood Urn Ornaments
Located in Houston, TX
Beautiful pair of three dimensional detailed 18th century giltwood urn ornaments. Original period pieces, Italy, circa 1750.
Giltwood
Pair of Crackled Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Cassolettes — Wong Lee 1895
Located in NICE, FR
Pair of crackled porcelain cassolettes, decorated in underglaze blue and mounted in finely chased gilt bronze. The vases bear the “WL 1895” Wong Lee hal...
Bronze
Pair of Louis XIV style andirons in bronze after a design by André-Charles Boull
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Pair of Louis XIV style bronze andirons after a design by André-Charles Boulle, around 1880
Bronze
Patinated Bronze Vase With Handles Topped With Two-headed Busts 19th Century
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Patinated bronze vase with handles topped with two-headed busts. Reduction of a vase forming part of the decoration of the North Parterre of the Palace of Versailles. Made in 1665 af...
Bronze
Pair of Breccia Marble and Gilt Bronze Cassolettes, France, Mid-19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of breccia marble and gilt bronze cassolettes, France, mid-19th century.
Breccia Marble, Bronze
20th Century Louis XIV Sèvre Pompe Lidded Vase
Located in Berlin, DE
Engraved and patinated bronze mountings, colored representation. (Q-Ks-7).
Bronze
Italian Silver Neoclassical Lidded Urn
Located in New York, NY
Italian Silver Neoclassical Lidded Urn. Italian neoclassical sterling silver urn form zucchiera. Handles with foliate terminals and lid with a...
Sterling Silver
Large Majolica Thistle Jardinière Onnaing, circa 1880
By Onnaing
Located in Austin, TX
Large Majolica thistle jardinière Onnaing, circa 1880. Height / 9.5 inches. Diameter / 13 inches.
Ceramic
Large French Majolica Palissy Jardiniere Circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica Palissy jardinière with leaves and branches, circa 1880.
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Late 19th Century Sèvres Style Parcel-Gilt Porcelain Jardinière
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Long Island City, NY
A late 19th century Sèvres style parcel-gilt porcelain jardinière Finely painted with numerous colored flowers with green and gold trim, gilt ram heads on either side. In late ...
Porcelain
Vintage Asian Cloisonné Lidded Urn
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Add a touch of exotic elegance to your home with this Vintage Asian Cloisonné Lidded Urn. Featuring intricate enamel work and vibrant floral patterns, this urn is a testament to trad...
Metal, Enamel
Pair of 19th Century Bronze and Ormolu Tazzas
Located in London, GB
A small pair of early 19th century bronze and ormolu tazzas, having elegant scroll handles, above turned stems, raised on sienna marble plinth bases with ...
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century Marble and Ormolu Urns
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of late 19th century French marble and gilded ormolu urns, each with classical Rans head mounts, supported by three out-swept supports, terminating in hoof feet a...
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XVI Sèvres-Style Blue Porcelain Vase
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Dallas, TX
This monumental antique French porcelain vase was created in Paris, circa 1860, in the Louis XVI style and in the manner of the celebrated Sèvres tradition. The tall, elegant vessel ...
Bronze
19th Century French Sevres style porcelain comport.
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality late 19th Century French Sevres style porcelain comport, having gilded ormolu classical female mounted handles on either s...
Ormolu
$1,250
H 9.5 in Dm 10.5 in
19th C. French Sevres-Style Porcelain Cachepot with Gilt Bronze Lion Mounts
Located in Atlanta, GA
A richly decorated French porcelain cachepot in the style of Sèvres, dating to the late 19th century and mounted in finely chased gilt bronze. One side features a Rococo fête galante...
Bronze, Enamel
$3,500 / set
H 16.5 in W 8 in D 6 in
19th Century French Neoclassical Louis XVI Style Bisque Porcelain Urn Vases Pair
Located in Forney, TX
An exceptional matching pair of exhibition quality bisque porcelain vasi-form urn garnitures, very fine Parisian work, elegant Louis XVI style, finished with luxurious Neoclassical taste, the magnificent, richly decorated ovoid form antique urns / vases adorned in sumptuous finely gilded, chiseled and chased ormolu mounts. Made in France in the late 19th century, having shaped rope twist handles rising above classical female mask mounts decorating the sides, bands of decadent gold-tone gilded bronze floral garland and ribbon draped laurel swags flanked by exuberant scallop-shell running ornamentation, complementing the matte cream white color of the bisque porcelain. The waisted neck and slightly flared rim with simple decoration, the waisted pedestal base ornamented with stylized acanthus leaves in gilt bronze, leading to a cavetto square white marble socle encircled with stepped scrolling foliate festoon ornamental gilt...
Bronze, Ormolu, Brass
Late 19th Century French Sèvres-Style Ormolu-Mounted Porcelain Vase
Located in New York, NY
A Fine quality Sèvres-style ormolu-mounted porcelain bleu vase. The oviform vase flanked by ormolu garlands, finely painted floral design. Date: Late 19th century Origin: French ...
Ormolu
Copper finial, Decorative Urn, About 1880
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Copper finial, Decorative Urn, About 1880
Copper
Antique Pair French Louis XIV Figural Bronze Covered Urns 19th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Pair French Louis XIV Figural Bronze Covered Urns 19thC Measures - 14.5"H x 8.25"W x 8.25"D A pair of 19th-century French Louis XIV style figural bronze covered urns feature ...
Bronze
Pair of Late 19thC French Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Torcheres
Located in Altrincham, GB
Pair of Late 19thC French Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Torcheres with circular marble tops and tapering stems having paw feet and circular plinth bases - 16" diam x 43"h
Marble
Sold
H 23.23 in W 10.63 in D 6.7 in
A Large Pair of Gilt Bronze Ewers in the Louis XIV Style, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A large pair of gilt bronze ewers in the Louis XIV style, Napoleon III period, 19th century. A pair of Louis XIV style gilt bronze ewers, Napoleon III period, 19th century, decorate...
Bronze
18th century French Louis XIV Copper Seeds Tank or Urn, 1740s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Exceptional 18th century French Louis XIV Period tank or urn made with copper. Used in the kitchens of French castles to store seeds or salt. The plug is openable and has the writin...
Copper
A French Regence Style Ormolu-Mounted Chinese Porcelain Pair of Ginger Jar
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Polychromed Chinese Porcelain ovoid shape covered vases Hand-painted with landscape of flowering trees, plants, cranes and birds Ormolu-mounted with finely chiseled and gilt...
Ormolu
Sold
H 43.75 in W 14 in D 14 in
18th Century French Marble and Bronze Dore Pedestal Table with Matching Planter
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique marble "Selette" with matching urn was crafted in France, circa 1780. The Louis XIV style pedestal sits on small square feet over a thick st...
Marble, Bronze
17th Century German Salt Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
This rare and important German saltbox is displays exceptional quality, age and condition. Dating to the 17th century, this box would have been used to store one's precious supply of...
Stone
Sold
H 16.5 in Dm 8.5 in
Large Early 18th Century French Louis XIV Period Hand Hammered Copper Pitcher
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This large early 18th century Louis XIV period hand hammered copper water pitcher from the city of Lyon, France, features a spout at each end and ...
Iron, Copper
Sold
H 16.5 in Dm 3.25 in
Antique Pair of French Sèvres Hand Painted Porcelain and Bronze Urns, circa 1880
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique pair of French Sèvres porcelain urns offer hand painted central reserves of Classical cherub scenes with all-over floral, scroll...
Bronze
Large Pair of Hand Painted Paris Style Porcelain Urns
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Elegant and grand hand painted porcelain urns in the style of Old Paris. These are made by Chelsea House. These are of large size and scale with impressive hand-painted birds and flo...
Porcelain
Sold
H 7.5 in Dm 21 in
Italian Brass Bracciere from Louis XIV Period, First Quarter of the 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
The shaped bowl with heavy cast brass handles, raised on hoof shaped feet, the original purpose of the bracciere was to hold coal or other combustible fuels in an effort to warm, oft...
Brass