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.
Christofle Silver Plated Antique Styled Knife Rests Set of Six
By Christofle
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This set of six silver plated knife rests were made by Christofle of France in approximately 1960 in an antique style. The knife rests have nicely decorated serpentine side panels wi...
Metal
18th Century Repousse Decorated Copper Chaudron from France
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautiful example of a period Louis XVI chaudron, or cauldron, the copper has been decorated with a metalworking technique known as repousse, where low relief motifs are hammered from the reverse side. Many motifs from Louis XVI were inspired by ancient civilizations (Egypt, Rome, Greece, etc.), such as the mascarons and cartouches seen on the sides of this chaudron. There are two distinct mythological scenes on opposite sides, set in between a pair of twisted loop handles emanating from the mouth of a heavily bearded mascaron with a tied bow in his hair. One image depicts Pegasus rearing up as a man with a sword...
Metal, Copper
$340Sale Price|20% Off
English EPBM Sheffield Silver Salt Cellar with Blue Glass Insert
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An English, Sheffield silver made salt cellar with cobalt blue removable glass insert. Marked on the edge JD&S (James Dixon & Son grounded 1806 as Dixon & Smith c.) and EPBM (Electro...
Silver Plate
Silver Plated Covered Dish, Louis XVI Style, French Serveware, 1990
Located in Miami, FL
Covered vegetable, meat or cheese dish. Classical LXVI style dishes. This special type of dish made to protect the food for getting not hot enough before serving. Very precious an...
Metal
$299Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.7 in W 5.91 in D 2.76 in
Christofle Frances "Le Grillon" Silver-Plated Steel Crumb Sweeper
By Christofle
Located in Valladolid, ES
A refined and exquisite crumb sweeper from the prestigious French house of Christofle, model "Le Grillon," made of silver-plated steel with a handle hallmarked with the Christofle ha...
Silver Plate
$570 / item
H 7.09 in W 13.39 in D 11.03 in
Bolson Apple Large Bowl by AIREDELSUR, Horn & Alpaca Silver
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
While walking through the fruit fields in the Bolson on an ending spring morning, the voluptuous shapes and scents of pears and apples bring your senses to life. This idea creates th...
Metal
Antique Silver Domed Dish Cover
Located in New York, NY
Elegant silver-plate dome dish cover with ornate handle, made in England in the 19th century.
Silver
Royal Crown Derby Partial Dinner Service
By Royal Crown Derby Porcelain
Located in Buchanan, MI
A Royal Crown Derby Partial dinner service, twenty seven pieces, 20th century, in the Imari pattern, comprising of ten dinner plates and ten bread and b...
Porcelain
$3,800 / set
H 0.79 in W 3.94 in D 0.79 in
Set of 12 Fine French Art Deco Silver Plated "Gallia" Knife Rests by Christofle
By Gallia, Marcel Eduoard Sandoz, Christofle
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of 12 fine French Art Deco silver plated knife rests designed by Edouard-Marcel Sandoz for the Gallia collection of Christofle. All 12 animals are different. Original case. Aver...
Silver Plate
$15,000 / set
H 17.72 in W 28.35 in D 19.69 in
Silver Plate Tea and Coffee Set, Bamboo Model by Christofle, France, circa 1890
By Christofle
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Silver-plate tea and coffee set, bamboo model by Christofle, France, circa 1890. 1 tray, 1 samovar, 1 teapot, 1 coffeepot, 1 sugar bowl and 1 milk jug. All pieces are signed.
Silver Plate
$450 / item
H 7.09 in W 12.6 in D 9.45 in
Bolson Apple Medium Bowl by Studio AIREDELSUR, Horn & Alpaca Silver
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
While walking through the fruit fields in the Bolson on an ending spring morning, the voluptuous shapes and scents of pears and apples bring your senses to life. This idea creates th...
Metal
Antique silver-plated scallop shell serving dish made in USA
Located in Birmingham, AL
This vintage silver-plated scallop shell serving dish features a deeply fluted, reflective basin framed by an exceptionally detailed Rococo style handle.Basin and EdgeRadial Fluting:...
Silver Plate
Vintage Italian Silver Plate Salt Shaker and Peppermill
Located in Sheffield, MA
Add style to your dining table with these vintage Italian salt shaker and matching pepper grinder are silver plate with wood liners to prevent corrosion. ...
Silver Plate
$2,167 / set
H 31.5 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
"NEMO" Majolica Set Designed by Aude Clément for 12 People '38 Pcs'
By Aude Clément
Located in Paris, FR
"NEMO" Service set for 12 persons in hand-painted majolica. Original NEMO set, designed by the french artist Aude Clément and produced by Au Bain Marie,...
Majolica
$475 / item
H 6.7 in W 9.85 in D 5.52 in
Handcrafted CALA Leaf Medium Tray by Studio AIREDELSUR, Organic Modern
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
With its beauty and elegant movement and curves, the calla lily brings us the concept for this family of handmade trays with fine alpaca and goat horn. T...
Metal
$3,200 / set
H 0.79 in W 3.94 in D 0.79 in
Set of 12 Fine French Art Deco Silver plated "Gallia" Knife Rests by Christofle
By Christofle, Marcel Eduoard Sandoz
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of 12 fine French Art Deco silver plated knife rests designed by Marcel Sandoz for the Gallia collection of Christofle. Six different animals are rep...
Silver Plate, Metal
Sold
H 6.7 in W 8.67 in D 7.88 in
French Empire Drageoir With Présentoir, Angélique Marie Coulon, Paris, Ca 1800
Located in Vienna, AT
Elegant drageoir, round lid bowl with two handles on a présentoir, made from vermeil, gold-plated 950 silver, a vessel from the Directoire period in France (1795-1799) – transition p...
Silver
Sold
H 7.49 in W 18.9 in D 11.42 in
Magnificent Empire Silver Centerpiece, Jean-Nicolas Boulanger, Paris, Ca 1795
By J. Boulanger
Located in Vienna, AT
Elegant, festive silver vessel in an oval shape on a recessed stand, the entire wall and foot decorated with elaborate openwork decoration in the form of stylised leaf and flower fri...
Silver
Sold
H 2.75 in W 14.75 in D 11.25 in
French Silver Plate Cutlery Set by Guêpe Fils Lyon, Louis XVI Style
Located in Montreal, Quebec
French silver plate cutlery set by Guêpe Fils Lyon, Louis XVI style Guêpe Fils Silversmith and Master Cutler, established in Lyon in 1847. The "Pearl" model was inspired by Marie-...
Silver
Set of 4 Silver Plated Under Bottles, French, circa 1900
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
These 4 under bottles are made of silver plated. This is a fine French work, circa 1900.
Silver
Sold
H 2.37 in W 48.43 in D 15.36 in
Antique French Ormolu and Mirrored Surtout de Table Plateau, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a superb antique French ormolu surtout-de-table or mirrored plateau in the classic Louis XVI style, circa 1870 in date. The elongated oval f...
Ormolu
Sold
H 44.25 in W 37 in D 21.88 in
French 19th-20th Century Louis XVI Style Silver-Plated Meat Carving Trolley Cart
By Christofle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th-20th century Louis XVI style silver-plated and gilt-bronze mounted wooden serving "Chariot à Viande" meat-carving trolley cart...
Silver Plate, Ormolu
French Porcelain Paris Oval Trencher Salts, Porcelaine a la Reine
By Old Paris
Located in Downingtown, PA
French porcelain Paris oval trencher salts, André Leboeuf rue Thiroux, Paris, Porcelaine a la Reine, circa 1780 (Ref: ny9090-iir) The trencher sa...
Porcelain
Four Silver Louis XVI Style Cachepots or Salts, with Cobalt Blue Glass Liners
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Four silver (.800) Louis XVI style cachepots or salts, with cobalt blue glass liners, each one finely cast and chased with rams head handles and pierced body, with removable cobalt b...
Antique French Oval Tole Tray With Bronze Mounts
Located in Houston, TX
Large French Louis XVI Style hand-decorated tole tray with bronze handles from the 19th century. Gorgeous colors! Please click KIRBY ANTIQUES logo below to view additional pieces ...
Bronze, Tôle
Sold
H 14.2 in W 35 in D 20 in
19th Century Antique Bronze Louis XV Style Liquor Casket Attributed to Baccarat
Located in Stamford, CT
Fantastic attributed to Baccarat bronze liquor cabinet. Finely cast claw feet support a cut crystal bronze-mounted cabinet. The interior fitted with all original liquor bottles all w...
Glass