Reflecting the final era of royal opulence before the upheaval of the French Revolution, antique Louis XVI furniture features more angular shapes than the Rococo curves of the Louis XV style, harkening back to the imposing grandeur of Louis XIV.
Dating between 1750 and 1800, an era that overlapped with the last king of France whose reign was cut short by the guillotine, Louis XVI furniture, known as the goût grec, is emblematic of the neoclassical revision that French furniture underwent during the second half of the 18th century.
Authentic Louis XVI furniture characteristics include clean lines and carved details such as scrolls and acanthus flourishes that were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. This was informed by a burgeoning interest in antiquity in the 18th century, owing to new archaeological excavations at sites including Pompeii and Herculaneum. It largely eclipsed the more East Asian–influenced ornamentation of Louis XV for something more geometric and symmetrical.
The Louis XVI style was defined by what was being created for the palatial rooms at Versailles and Fontainebleau, particularly for the queen, with cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener being a favorite of Marie-Antoinette’s for his luxurious pieces accented with gilded bronze and marquetry. Furniture maker Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené was also a major designer of the period, with his pieces for the royal residences adorned with giltwood and neoclassical touches like tapered columns for chair legs and laurel leaf carvings. Cabinetmaker Adam Weisweiler occasionally incorporated into his furniture porcelain panels produced by Sèvres, a popular manufacturer of European ceramics that served the crown with serveware, vases and other decorative objects.
Find a collection of antique Louis XVI seating, tables, cabinets and other furniture on 1stDibs.
18th Century Nevers French Revolution Tin-Glazed Faïence Dish, La Convention
By Nevers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Revolution tin-glazed earthenware dish, showing crossed French flags with a Phrygian cap on an épée, the symbol for Liberty. La Convention, meaning The Agreement, is written...
Earthenware
$3,651Sale Price|30% Off
Jacquot Pot in Polychrome Earthenware Big Fire, French Work, Mid-18th Century
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This Jacquot pot is made of polychromed earthenware big fire. This is a French work from the city of Lille. Mid-18th century.
Earthenware, Ceramic, Faience
Antique 18th century French Tin Glaze Faience Lettuceware Cabbage Soup Tureen
Located in Litchfield, CT
Antique 18th century French tin glaze faience soup tureen in the form of a large head of lettuce or cabbage. Measures 13" diameter x 9" tall. Good condition - scattered rim chips and...
Faience
French Revolution Faience Plate, Hand-Painted, Circa 1790
Located in Winter Park, FL
A late 18th century French faience plate with hand-painted decoration entitled Les Sans Culottes 1790. This is a faience patriotique plate, a type of tin-glazed earthenware produced ...
Faience
French Revolution Faience Plate, Hand-Painted, Circa 1790
Located in Winter Park, FL
A late 18th century French faience plate entitled Aux Mans des Mirabeau 1790. Hand-painted decoration in green, orange and blue on a pale blue tinted ground with craquelure. This is ...
Faience
Antique Aprey French Faience Pottery Vase with Floral Decoration
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique French faience vase. By Aprey. Decorated throughout with floral devices and purple accents with a nature scene of two birds to one side. With two rocaille han...
Faience, Pottery
18th Century Nevers French Revolution Tin-Glazed Faïence Dish, the End of Famine
By Nevers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Revolution tin-glazed earthenware dish, made in Nevers, circa 1790. Showing a plump figure along side a basket of flowers beneath de l’arbre de la Liberté. The full body of...
Earthenware
18th Century Nevers French Revolution Tin-Glazed Faïence Dish, Bastille Tower
By Nevers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French revolution tin-glazed earthenware dish, made in Nevers, circa 1790. Showing a yellow battlement often thought to be the Bastille, the image of the tower represents the defen...
Earthenware
$556Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.5 in W 7.5 in D 7 in
Antique French Faience Quimper Inkwell Pen Tray, circa 1900
Located in Pearland, TX
A charming antique French faience Quimper double inkwell and pen tray desk set, circa 1900. This gorgeous inkwell is hand painted with a traditional Breton man surrounded by bagpipes...
Faience
Pair of Antique 18th Century Dutch Delft Faience Floral Plates
Located in Pearland, TX
A gorgeous pair of antique 18th-Century Dutch Delft faience flower garden plates. These lovely plates have a hand painted floral and foliate design in cobalt blue and white with yell...
Delft
$4,973
H 10.24 in W 10.24 in D 0.79 in
Delft - Blue and White Plaque with polychrome frame, mid 18th century
By Delft
Located in DELFT, NL
Delft blue and white wall plaque with integral polychrome self-frame, mid-18th century. The central decoration depicts an Oriental landscape with blossoming peonies, painted in coba...
Earthenware, Delft, Faience
Antique 18th Century polychrome French Faience Plate, Marseille Circa 1770
By France"
Located in DELFT, NL
18th-century Marseille faience plate, France, circa 1770. The plate is hand-painted in polychrome enamels with scattered floral sprays and leafy branches, a decoration closely associ...
Earthenware, Faience, Maiolica
18th Century French Faience Nevers Dog Plate
By Nevers
Located in Pearland, TX
A superb antique 18th-Century French provincial faience Nevers plate. This lovely plate has scalloped edges and is decorated with a hand painted charming dog holding a basket in a ga...
Faience
French Faience Plate Henriot Quimper Circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French Faience Plate Henriot Quimper Circa 1950. woman from Brittany with a spinning wheel. 10.5 inches diameter.
Faience
Henroit Quimper Faience Duck Plate, France, circa 1930s
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
hand painted French Faience 1930s Quimper Duck Plate Exceptional Quimper plate from France featuring a duck in the center. The rim of the piece is accentuated with a colorful bord...
Faience, Pottery
Great 18th Century Polychrome French Faience Platter
Located in Richmond, VA
18th century polychrome French faience molded platter with scenes of gentry figures
Faience
$273Sale Price|20% Off
H 1 in Dm 9.13 in
18th Century Faience Earthenware Plate - A hand painted, French circa 1780
By Faience Manufacturing Company
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very decorative French Faience plate dinner plate made from tin-glazed earthenware (pottery) which we date to the late 18th century. The plate has a pan shaped base with n...
Earthenware
French Faience Floral Plate Henriot Quimper Circa 1950
Located in Austin, TX
French Faience Floral Plate Henriot Quimper Circa 1950.
Faience
French Faience Plate Henriot Quimper, circa 1930
Located in Austin, TX
A French large faience plate with a farmer in the costume with flowers signed Henriot Quimper, circa 1950. Colorful yellow border and blue lines. Measure: 9.5 diameter.
Faience
French Faience Plate Henriot Quimper, circa 1930
Located in Austin, TX
A French large faience plate with a farmer in the costume with flowers signed Henriot Quimper, circa 1950. Colorful yellow border and blue lines. Measure: 9.5 diameter.
Faience
Nevers French Faïence Paris Mens Fashion Plate, circa 1900
By Nevers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Faïence plate showing the men’s fashion in Paris during the early 19th Century, likely made in Nevers, France – circa 1900. The scallop rimmed plate is fashioned in the st...
Earthenware
18th Century, French or Italian, Faience Brasero Stove
Located in Doylestown, PA
A very nice 18th century faience brasero or portable parlor stove with grotesque mask decoration, blue splash glaze and retaining its original faience lid...
Faience
Sold
H 27 in W 22 in D 13 in
Earthenware Rabbit on Turtle, Attributed to Emile Galle, French, 19th Century
By Émile Gallé
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This earthenware is showing a rabbit on a turtle. This is a French work, attributed to famous designer and maker Emile Galle. Circa end of 19th century.
Earthenware, Ceramic, Faience, Pottery
Set of 4 French Strasbourg Faience Chargers with Flower Decor
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Two large French Faience dishes and two smaller from the city of Strasbourg in hand painted floral decoration. They are approximately from around...
Faience
18th Century Nevers French Revolution Tin-Glazed Faïence Dish, Abondance
By Nevers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Revolution tin-glazed earthenware dish, made in Nevers, circa 1789, showing the symbols of the three estates, the crook of the clergy, the wheat of the peasant, and the swor...
Earthenware
18th Century Nevers French Revolution Parlante Motto Tin-Glazed Faïence Dish
By Nevers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Revolution tin-glazed earthenware dish, made in Nevers, circa 1790. A hand painted motto reads in French, “tous les méchants sont buveurs d’eau – cést bien prouvé par le ...
Earthenware
18th Century Nevers French Revolution Tin-Glazed Faïence Dish, Angel & Motto
By Nevers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Revolution tin-glazed earthenware dish, made in Nevers, date marked 1790. Showing a winged angel in flowing blue robes, blowing his Horn and holding a shield with a motto...
Earthenware
Sold
H 3.5 in Dm 13 in
18th Century Nevers French Revolution Tin-Glazed Faïence Saladier / Serving Bowl
By Nevers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A charming, rustic French revolution tin-glazed earthenware large Saladier or salad serving bowl, made in Nevers, circa 1790. Showing a plump figure, painted blue, and holding a v...
Earthenware
18th Century Nevers French Revolution Tin-Glazed Faïence Dish, é Lavement
By Nevers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Showing a bare-bottomed figure, wearing the Phrygian cap, a symbol of liberty, while bending over for a figure representing the nobility. The noble figure holds an oversized instrument made to administer a horse enema. The phrase reads, ” Mais mon amie...
Earthenware
18th Century Nevers French Revolution Tin-Glazed Faïence Dish, Au Raisoir
By Nevers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Revolution tin-glazed earthenware dish, made in Nevers, circa 1790, called Au Raisoir National or The National Guillotine. The french guillotine is an enduring symbol of the...
Earthenware
18th Century Nevers French Revolution Tin-Glazed Faïence Dish, Vive La Nation
By Nevers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Revolution tin-glazed earthenware dish, showing three figures representing the Three Estates. On the left is a gentleman with a an épée, symbolizing the nobility. In the cen...
Earthenware
Sold
H 1.25 in Dm 9 in
18th Century Nevers French Revolution Tin-Glazed Faïence Dish Les Trois Domaines
By Nevers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Revolution tin-glazed earthenware dish, made in Nevers, circa 1790, showing the symbols of the three estates, the crook of the clergy, the spade of the peasant, and the swor...
Earthenware