Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.
The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.
When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.
The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.
4 Antique Meissen Porcelain Footed Frauenkopf Salt Cellars with Puce Flowers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine set of 4 antique Meissen porcelain salt cellars. Modelled after salts originally designed for the Sulkowski service by Johann Frie...
Porcelain
Large French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Bronze Ormolu Presentoir Centerpiece
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Large French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Bronze Ormolu Presentoir Centerpiece. High quality French 19th century Louis XVI style bronze ormolu presentoir centerpiece. Raised on th...
Ormolu
Italian Rococo Style Red Glass and Silver Chalice
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Rococo-style (19th Century) ruby colored glass chalice with silver base and cover with finial.
Glass
Elbogen Porcelain Manufacrory Collecting Cup, Rocailles With Pink & Gold, 1845
By Viennese Imperial Porcelain Manufactory
Located in Vienna, AT
Finely decorated porcelain cup with saucer: Porcelain cup with a slightly flared, embossed body and an irregular rim, standing on three small rocaille feet with acanthus leaf motifs ...
Porcelain
Elbogen Porcelain Manufacrory Collecting Cup, Acanthus Pink Blue & Gold, 1845
By Viennese Imperial Porcelain Manufactory
Located in Vienna, AT
Finely decorated porcelain cup with saucer: Porcelain cup with a slightly flared, embossed body and an irregular rim, standing on three small rocaille feet with acanthus leaf motifs ...
Porcelain
6 Early Antique Viennese Imperial Porcelain Plates Flower Painting & Gold c 1750
By Viennese Imperial Porcelain Manufactory
Located in Vienna, AT
Six early porcelain plates with polychrome floral painting: small bouquets of meadow flowers in iron red, purple, yellow and green in the centre and on the rim, as well as scattered ...
Porcelain
Silver spice dish or bowl. DE LUQUE Y LEYVA, Juan. Cordoba, 18th century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Spice rack. Silver. DE LUQUE Y LEYVA, Juan. Cordoba, 18th century. With contrast markings. Silver spice rack in its color with a frustoconical body, a sinuous lower edge that rests...
Silver
Silver Spices Dish or Bowl, with Hallmarks, Spain, Córdoba, 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Spice rack. Silver. DE CASTRO, Damian. SANCHEZ SOTO, Juan. Spain, Córdoba, second half of the 18th century. With contrast markings. Silver spice rack in its color with a frustoco...
Silver
Pear Shaped Meissen Vase with Cover and Vines with Flowers and Fruits
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful early 19th century pear shaped Meissen covered vase with raised fruits, vines and flowers. The vase is finely hand painted with pink ...
Porcelain
$4,177
H 0.79 in Dm 9.45 in
Christopher Dresser Aesthetic Movement Japonism Style Green Minton Plate, 1876
By Minton, Christopher Dresser
Located in Paris, FR
Green Aesthetic Minton Porcelain Plate in the style of Japonism creations made by Christopher Dresser. Round plate adorned with an oriental fan representi...
Porcelain
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
$78,500 / set
H 21 in W 12 in D 8.5 in
Meissen Porcelain Chinoiserie "Gold Dragon" Flower-Encrusted Garniture
Located in New York, NY
A Meissen porcelain ‘Gold Dragon’ pattern three-piece garniture. A Meissen porcelain reticulated three-piece basket Garniture and stands. ...
Porcelain
Antique Meissen Porcelain Floral Encrusted Tea Cup & Saucer
Located in Atlanta, GA
Meissen, Germany, late 19th to early 20th century Hard-paste porcelain, hand-painted with polychrome enamels and gilt accents, applied porcelain flowers, five small knop feet. ...
Porcelain
$75,500 / set
H 15 in Dm 11.5 in
Important Pair of Meissen Porcelain Filigree Vases with Raised Flowers
Located in New York, NY
A Highly Important pair of Museum Quality Louis XV Period 18th century Meissen Porcelain filigree openwork vases with a medially of flowers and vined leaves. This is truly an excepti...
Porcelain
$950 / set
H 1 in Dm 10.75 in
Minton Porcelain "English Rose" Pattern Part Dinner Service, 20th Century
By Minton
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Minton porcelain 'English Rose' pattern part dinner service 20th century. Comprising nine dinner plates 10¾ in. (27.3 cm.) diameter. Nine 6 1/8 in.(15.5cm.) bread and butter...
Porcelain
$15,200
H 14.5 in W 18.25 in D 12.25 in
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Centerpiece
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and very high quality French 19th century Louis XVI St. ormolu and Sevres porcelain centerpiece. The centerpiece is raised by an elegant ormolu base with fine foliate feet, beautiful richly chased frolicking lovebirds and a striking fluted socle shaped pedestal support adorned with superb swaging berried laurel garlands tied with ribbons and flanked by charming winged cherubs amidst scrolled acanthus leaves. The exceptional oblong shaped cobalt blue Sèvres porcelain bowl...
Ormolu
$85 / set
H 2 in W 5 in D 3 in
Vintage Porcelain Elephants Salt and Pepper Shakers with Tray Collectible
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage collectible blue and white porcelain elephants salt and pepper Shakers with tray. Shakers are 2”H x 2 1/5”. Tray is 3” x 5”. Chinoiserie han...
Porcelain
Contemporary Japanese Gold Red Blue Porcelain Long Stem Cup, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary Japanese Ko-Imari (old Imari) porcelain long stem cup, in bright red, blue and green colors and generous gold application that are char...
Gold
$975
H 4.75 in W 11.5 in D 1.75 in
Fine Antique Meissen Porcelain Blue Onion Pattern 2 Lobed Serving Dish
Located in Tustin, CA
Very fine, elegant antique handmade and hand painted Meissen porcelain, 2 lobed scalloped serving dish with rocaille handle in the "Blue Onion" pattern. In perfect condition. The ...
Porcelain
$2,360Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 1 in Dm 10.5 in
12 Limoges Raised Gilt Enameled Napoleonic Plates, circa 1900
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
12 Limoges raised gilt enameled Napoleonic plates, circa 1900, each one decorated with gilt laurel surround, filled with golden bees, the center with Napoleonic crest of laurel wreath and monogrammed 'N'. The porcelain is made by Charles Ahrenfeldt Limoges...
Porcelain
French Silver Wine Coolers with Grape Motif 'Priced Individually'
Located in Austin, TX
A beautiful pair of French wine coolers or champagne buckets of fine plate silver from the 19th century - each cooler featuring an elegant design of a gourd accented with a relief of...
Metal, Silver Plate
Sold
H 9.85 in W 0.79 in D 0.79 in
130-Piece Set Silver Plated Flatware, Frionnet France, Rococo Style
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A lovely set of silver plated cutlery for 12 persons, made by the French brand Frionnet. An elegant design in rococo style, the cutlery dates from circa 1990 in is in very good con...
Silver Plate
Sold
H 0.79 in W 9.06 in D 9.06 in
Set of Two Silver Plates, Asteiza, Joseph De. Bilbao, Spain, 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of plates. Silver. ASTEIZA, Joseph de (18th century). Bilbao, Spain, towards the first half of the 18th century. With contrast markings. Pair of silver plates embossed in it...
Silver
Meissen Porcelain Tea / Coffee Service / 12 People
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful German Meissen porcelain coffee / tea service for twelve people. The coffee / tea service is in great condition. Just exquisite & very rare to find a complete service for twelve. Each piece has a detailed painting of pink flowers...
Gold
Sold
H 1.5 in W 44 in D 13 in
English Sheffield Silver Plate Repro, Rococo Style Three-Section Mirror Plateau
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Finest quality reproduction English Sheffield silver-plate Rococo style three-section mirror plateau -Antique copy- Made in Sheffield, England. This ...
Sheffield Plate, Silver Plate
21st Century Rococo Style Sterling Silver Sugar Box, Italy, 2005
Located in Cagliari, IT
A stunning handmade sterling silver sugar box. Beautiful chisel work reproducing the Classic shape of the 18th century Turin sugar box, the k...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 1.5 in W 44 in D 13 in
English Sheffield Silver Plate Repro, Rococo Style Three-Section Mirror Plateau
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Finest quality reproduction English Sheffield silver-plate Rococo style three-section mirror plateau -Antique copy- Made in Sheffield, England. Fa...
Silver Plate
Exquisite Luxe Arzberg Gold & Porcelain Espresso Cup Set
By Arzberg
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A truly divine set of 11 vintage espresso cups. This set includes 11 Sheffield England spoons. Gold plated shells marked "PM Italy". Porcelain cup...
Gold Plate
Large Floral Porcelain Dessert Service by Dresden
Located in London, GB
Large floral porcelain dessert service by Dresden German, early 20th century Measures: Teapot height 21cm, width 26cm, depth 18cm Smallest...
Porcelain
Sold
H 0.4 in W 0.4 in D 0.4 in
Pair Antique French Silver & Glass Claret Jugs Wine Decanter Paris France c 1880
By A. Aucoc
Located in London, GB
A beautiful pair of Antique French solid Silver and cut Glass Claret Jugs in a elegant Rococo design. The Jug has ornate shell, scroll and foliate design on the neck complimented by ...
Silver
19th Century Georgian Silver Chinoiserie Tea Caddies, J & J Angell
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th century Georgian exceptional rococo style solid silver pair of tea caddies, of rectangular form, profusely embossed in the chinoiserie style, the panels depicting c-scro...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 1.5 in W 44 in D 13 in
English Sheffield Silver Plate Repro, Rococo Style Three-Section Mirror Plateau
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Finest quality reproduction English Sheffield silver-plate Rococo style three-section mirror plateau -Antique copy- Made in Sheffield, England. Fa...
Mirror