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.
Nine Antique Porcelain Dessert Dishes White and Gold with Matching Cookie Plate
Located in Katonah, NY
This set of nine antique porcelain small dessert dishes with a matching cookie or serving plate was made in France circa 1870. The porcelain is white with finely detailed gilt decora...
Porcelain
Antique German Greek Key Rimmed Luncheon Plates by Kpm, 1920s
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous set of ten Greek key rimmed luncheon plates By KPM Porcelain Germany, Circa 1920s Measures: 8.88"W x 8.88"D x 1"H. Excellent original condition.
Porcelain
Montereau Creil French Creamware Faïence d’Aix en Provence Architecture Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Neoclassical faïence transfer printed creamware plate produced by Montereau, Creil, circa 1824-1836. A black transfer of an architectural im...
Creamware
$106,280Sale Price|30% Off
Rare Antique 102 piece Meissen „Flower Bouqet” Dinner Service, Germany 1840
Located in Rome, IT
Extensive 102 Piece Rare Meissen Dinner Service "Flower Bouqett", 1815 – 1860 , colorful, richly decorated gold rim, consisting of: 45 dinner p...
Porcelain
Vintage "Washington At Trenton" Bicentennial Plate by Crown Ducal, 1932
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a “Washington at Trenton” blue-glazed transferware plate. The plate was issued as part of a series of George Washington Bicentenary Memorial Plates in 1932, celebrating ...
Ceramic
$600Sale Price / set|20% Off
Twelve Antique Hardy & Hayes Royal Worcester Porcelain Plates, C1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
Twelve Antique English Royal Worcester Fine China Plates Retailed by Hardy & Hayes with Neoclassical Floral Urns, Garland and Gilt Highlights, C1910 Measures - .75"H x 10.5"diam A se...
Porcelain
Ralph Lauren Academy Platinum Dinnerware, 4 Place Settings Set
By Ralph Lauren
Located in New York, NY
A set of 4 (four) place settings in the academy platinum pattern by Ralph Lauren Home collection. Bone china. Signed. Imported, production period 1995-2002. Features a platinum/silv...
Porcelain
$2,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
Lorenz Hutschenreuter, Monarch Set of 12 Dinner Plates and 12 Salad Plates
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Lorenz Hutschenreuter, Monarch set of 12 dinner plates and 12 salad plates. They depicts a white center with a cobalt blue edge enhanced with...
Ceramic
Ralph Lauren Home Spectator Black Dinnerware ~ Set of 8 Place Settings
Located in New York, NY
A set of 8 (eight) place settings in the Spectator black pattern by Ralph Lauren Home Collection. Porcelain. Signed, circa 1995-1996. This pattern is currently out of production. ...
Porcelain
Antique English Neoclassical Porcelain Plate attributed to Coalport
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique English Neoclassical porcelain plate Attributed to Coalport. Decorated throughout with rich gilding, and red, green,...
Porcelain
Vintage Regency Royal Doulton Dinner Plates - Set of 11
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Grace your table with the refined elegance of the Regency era with this stunning set of 11 vintage dinner plates by Royal Doulton. Crafted in England, each plate showcases a delightf...
Porcelain
Haviland Vieux Paris Limoges Porcelain 76 Piece Dinner Set
Located in Montreal, Quebec
The collection "Vieux Paris Vert," created in 1911 by Haviland Co. remains popular over a century later with its timeless design. Every piece is hand painted by artists in Limoges, F...
Porcelain
Eight Antique Staffordshire Blue and White Large Soup Plates Circa 1820
Located in Katonah, NY
This set of eight large soup dishes or pasta plates was made by Don Pottery circa 1820. The design is part of Don Potery's series of dishes, " Italian Views". The center is decorated...
Pearlware
C.1950's Théodore Haviland "Gold Encrusted Hearts" 21pc Porcelain Dinnerware Set
Located in Thiensville, WI
C.1940's - 1950's Théodore Haviland "Milford" "gold encrusted hearts" 21pc porcelain dinnerware set. This beautiful dinnerware set comes w...
Porcelain
Minton Mazarine Extensive Pristine Dinner Service Cobalt Blue & Gold 232 Pcs
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
It's always time to entertain! This is one of the most elegant and versatile patterns imaginable in a Classic and rare Minton cobalt blue pattern wi...
Porcelain
Spode Pottery Neo-Classical Greek Pattern Blue Set of Dinner Plates-33 Plates
By Spode
Located in Downingtown, PA
Greek Grandeur: Extensive Set of 33 Spode "Zeus in His Chariot" Dinner Plates (c. 1806–1820) An impressive and extensive set of 33 early 19th-century blue and white transfer-printed...
Pearlware, Pottery
12 Heavily Gilt Encrusted Antique Green & Gold Minton England Dinner Plates
By Minton
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gorgeous set ! Please click on the pictures to see the detail and enlarge. Heavy raised paste gilding on a vibrant green collar and custom ordered through the fine Gilded Age Retai...
Gold, Enamel
Antique German Greek Key Rimmed Luncheon & Salad Plates by C. Tielsch Altwasser
Located in Elkhart, IN
A stunning set of antique Greek Key rimmed Luncheon & Salad Plates, service for six By C. Tielsch Altwasser Germany, early 20th century Sala...
Porcelain
Neoclassical Creil Creamware Plate
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical Creil creamware plate. Antique black and white soup plate "Naissance de Romulus et de Remus" with grapevine border. Impressed and undergla...
Creamware
12 Royal Doulton "Powder Blue" W/ Raised Gold Dinner Plates
Located in Great Barrington, MA
These aren't the typical set of dinner plates from Royal Doulton. This set of 12 are decorated with thick raised paste gold over a "lapis lazuli" type of decoration which distinguish...
Porcelain
Minton for Tiffany Complete Dinner Service for 12 Caramel, White & Raised Gold
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
As we approach the holiday season, this complete Minton for Tiffany dinner service for 12 will work with many decorating themes to dress up any even...
Porcelain
Set of 12 Antique Dinner Plates Neoclassical "Florentine" by Minton in 1874
By Minton
Located in Katonah, NY
This set of antique ironstone plates, made by Minton in England circa 1874, features the richly detailed Florentine pattern. The wide border is hand-painted in deep red and embellis...
Ironstone
Set of 2 majolica plates, early 20th century and an earthenware dish, France
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
A decorative set comprising two early 20th-century majolica-style earthenware plates and a glazed terracotta platter. The plates feature rich polychromy and hand-painted decoration: ...
Earthenware, Majolica
$795 / set
Greek Key Rimmed China by Noritake
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous set of china with Greek key rim, service for 8 including dinner, salad, and bread plates By Nortitake Japan, Circa mid-20th century Dinner plate: 10" Salad plate: 8.75"...
Porcelain
European Porcelain Soup Tureen Neoclassical
By Royal Epiag
Located in Katonah, NY
This lovely soup tureen is decorated with two finely wrought gold bands of raised silhouettes of children in a celebratory procession. It is joyous! Some of the children play musical...
Porcelain
$2,796Sale Price / set|20% Off
Eleven Antique English Dinner Plates, Cobalt Blue Gilded Musical Instruments
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A rare and wonderful custom set of 11 plates from Copeland Spode England. Rich Cobalt Blue Extended Collars featuring raised gilt encrusted cartouches of musical instruments. Custom ...
Gold, Enamel
PH Choisy French Creamware Neoclassical Palais à Paris Architecture Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French neoclassical faïence transfer printed creamware plate, circa 1820-1830. A black transfer of an architectural image on a creamware body, depicting the Palais de la Chambre...
Creamware
12 Minton England French Enamel Custom Dinner Plates T Goode London Circa 1950's
12 Royal Crown Derby Neoclassical Dinner Plates with Profuse Raised Paste Gold
By Royal Crown Derby Porcelain
Located in Great Barrington, MA
There is great and then there is magnificent and these plates made by Royal Crown Derby qualify as magnificent! This set of 12 dinner plates exhibit all of the characteristics of the...
Gold
Minton 19th C Gilt Dessert Service 15 Pc. W/ Parian Figures Hand Painted Roses
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Beyond belief! This set is museum worthy, exhibiting some of the finest workmanship Minton produced. The centerpiece features an exquisite pierced tall basket lifted up by 3 tall Par...
Porcelain
Neoclassical Gilt Decorated Plate With Mythological Figure
By Real Fabbrica Ferdinandea 1
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical gilt decorated plate with mythological figure. Naples Real Fabbrica Ferdinandea white porcelain painted and gilt decorated saucer dish wi...
Porcelain
12 Coalport for Tiffany 1899 Gold, Ivory and Cobalt Blue Dinner Plates
By Coalport for Tiffany
Located in Great Barrington, MA
A set of 12 rare Coalport, made for Tiffany and Co. dinner plates featuring six alternating reserves of two colors of cobalt blue enamel with profuse raised paste gold overlay. The p...
Porcelain
French Creamware Sorbonne Plate
Located in New York, NY
French creamware Sorbonne plate. Black and white creamware transfer plate with “vue de la Sorbonne” centered by three graduated black bands and a neoclassical twist ribbon & foliate ...
Creamware
Gold and Pink Floral Painted Ceramic Plate with Scalloped Edges
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Beautiful floral plate with scalloped edges. The piece features roses and other flora throughout and gold designs around the rim and in center. The bottom reads: Gold Castle made in Occupied Japan...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Neoclassical Creil Creamware Plate
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical Creil creamware plate. Antique black and white plate "Battaile de Fontenal Année 841" with medallions border. Impressed markings for Creil...
Creamware
Cupid Neoclassical Creil Creamware Plate
Located in New York, NY
Cupid neoclassical Creil creamware plate. Antique black and white soup plate "L'amour et l'Himen l'entrainent à leur autel" with grapevine border. Impr...
Creamware
Neoclassical Creil Creamware Plate
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical Creil creamware plate. Antique black and white soup plate from the "An de Rome" series "Prise de Syracuse; Mort D'Archimide" with grapevin...
Creamware
Neoclassical Creil Creamware Plate
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical Creil creamware plate. Antique black and white soup plate "Prudence fuit au fond du vèrre" with grapevine border. Impressed and underglaze...
Creamware
Neoclassical Creil Creamware Plate
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical Creil creamware plate. Antique black and white soup plate from "An de Rome" series, "Fierte de Popillius" with grapevine border. Underglaz...
Creamware
Cupid Neoclassical Creil Creamware Plate
Located in New York, NY
Cupid neoclassical Creil creamware plate. Antique black and white soup plate "L'amour preside a leur entretien" with grapevine border. Impressed and un...
Creamware
Neoclassical Creil Creamware Plate
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical Creil creamware plate. Antique black and white plate "Naissance de Romulus et de Remus" with grapevine border. Impressed and underglaze ma...
Creamware
42 Pieces Mikasa Ultima and Super Strong Silver Grey White Fine China Cameo
Located in Brea, CA
42 pieces Mikasa platinum ultima cameo super strong silver grey white fine china, marked on bottom, 12 pieces of 10.75" big dinner plates, 6 pieces of...
Porcelain
Set of 12 Coalport Cobalt Blue & French Enamel Dinner Plates
Located in Great Barrington, MA
A beautiful set of 12 Coalport dinner plates with subtly shaped rims and acid-etched gold borders. The distinctive deep blue enamel ground is con...
Paste, Porcelain
12 Cauldon Hand Painted Signed G Rowley Ornate Exotic Bird & Floral Desserts
By Brown, Westhead & Moore/Cauldon
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Turquoise is in! This set of 12 hand painted and artist signed dessert plates are presented with a piecrust border, trimmed in gold and highlighted with a band of turquoise enamel. T...
Porcelain
Antique German Porcelain Twelve Piece Dessert Service
Located in London, GB
Antique German porcelain twelve piece dessert service German, c. 1880 Measures: Seven flat plates: Height 2cm, diameter 22cm Four raised plates: Height 6.5cm, diameter 25cm Large...
Porcelain
$22,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of Twelve Meissen Porcelain Plates with Putti and Heavenly Scenes
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and pristine set of twelve neoclassical style 19th century Meissen Porcelain plates hand painted with putti, fruit, garland, and heavenly scenes. The center of each plate ...
Porcelain
Set of Twelve Hand-Painted Lenox Porcelain Fish Plates signed William Morley
By Lenox's Ceramic Art Company
Located in New York, NY
This remarkably beautiful Set of Twelve Hand-Painted Lenox Porcelain Plates signed William Morley Depicting Fish originates from the United Stat...
Porcelain
Josiah Spode 'Bridge of Lucano' Blue Transferware Dinner Plates Circa 1820 Set/6
By Josiah Spode
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A set of six ‘Lucano’ or ‘Bridge of Lucano’ pattern dinner plates, Spode, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire England, Circa, 1820-1830 Blue on white transfer printed earthenware, showing an Italian scene of a four-arch bridge, a round stone tower, cows in the foreground, and other buildings on a hillside in the distance. The central scene is bordered with leafy branches of olives, grape vines, and heads of wheat. A dense pattern, printed in a deep blue. Pictured here is the original source print Spode used...
Earthenware
Antique Nyon Swiss Porcelain Hand Painted Cabinet Plate with Cobalt Blue Rim
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, Darte Frères, Royal Vienna Porcelain
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Nyon Swiss hand painted porcelain cabinet plate with cobalt blue rim. With a richly gilt cobalt border & decorated to the center w...
Porcelain
Choisy French Creamware Neoclassical Arc de l’ Étoile Paris Architecture Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French neoclassical faïence transfer printed creamware plate produced by P&H Choisy, circa 1824-1836. A black transfer of an architectural image on a creamware body, depicting t...
Creamware
Neoclassical Gilt Decorated Plate With Leopard
By Real Fabbrica Ferdinandea 1
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical gilt decorated plate with leopard. A Naples Real Fabbrica Ferdinandea white porcelain painted and gilt decorated saucer dish with leopard....
Porcelain
Stone, Coquerel et Le Gros French Creamware Neoclassical Architecture Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Neoclassical faïence transfer printed creamware plate from Stone, Coquerel et Le Gros, circa 1820-1830. A black transfer of an architectural image on a creamware body, de...
Creamware
PH Choisy French Creamware Vue de Fontainbleu à Paris Architecture Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Neoclassical faïence transfer printed creamware plate produced by P&H Choisy, circa 1824-1836. A black transfer of an architectural image on a creamware body, depicting t...
Creamware
Creil Neoclassical French Creamware Palais des Beaux Arts Architecture Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French neoclassical faïence transfer printed creamware plate, Creil, circa 1824-1836. A black transfer of an architectural image on a creamware bod...
Creamware
Neoclassical Gilt Decorated Plate With Puma
By Real Fabbrica Ferdinandea 1
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical gilt decorated plate with puma. A Naples Real Fabbrica Ferdinandea white porcelain painted and gilt decorated saucer dish with puma confr...
Porcelain
Dozen Chain Link Border Porcelain Soup Dishes Minton England, Circa 1860
By Minton
Located in Katonah, NY
Made by Minton circa 1860, this set of a dozen large porcelain soup dishes has a timeless elegance. The lavish gilding along the edge beautifully complemen...
Porcelain
Cupid Neoclassical Creil Creamware Plate
Located in New York, NY
Cupid neoclassical Creil creamware plate. Antique black and white soup plate "L'Amour la punit de son indiference" with grapevine border. Impressed and...
Creamware
Montereau French Creamware Faïence Le Palais Royal Architecture Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Neoclassical faïence transfer printed creamware plate produced by Montereau, Creil, circa 1824-1836. A black transfer of an architectural image on a creamware body, depicting Le Palais Royal...
Creamware
PH Choisy French Creamware Neoclassical Fontainbleu à Paris Architecture Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Neoclassical faïence transfer printed creamware plate produced by P&H Choisy, circa 1824-1836. A black transfer of an architectural image on a creamware body, depicting t...
Creamware
Antique Set Eight Hand-Painted Minton Plates Depicting Fish Signed A. Holland
By Minton
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite and beautifully made set of Eight Hand-Painted Minton Porcelain Plates Depicting Fish signed A. Holland originate from England, Circa 1900. The border of each plate f...
Porcelain