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.
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
Viennese Imperial Porcelain Collecting Cup, Shell Cup With Silver And Gold, 1824
By Viennese Imperial Porcelain Manufactory
Located in Vienna, AT
Finely decorated porcelain cup with saucer: Bell-shaped, flared cup on a stepped foot, with a fully ribbed wall, the upper section featuring a white ground with delicate coloured mar...
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
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
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
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
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
Venini Idria Large Glass Vase in Red
By Venini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Idria glass vase series, designed and manufactured by Venini, features three different shaped vases. Indoor use only. Dimensions: Ø 26, H 36 cm.
Glass
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
$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
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
Shells Table Cups in Porcelain and Bronze
Located in Paris, FR
Table cups shells in hand-painted porcelain and with structure in bronze.
Bronze
$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
Roberto Cavalli Set of Porcelain Box and Tray
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Roberto Cavalli Casa Dark Lady series set of round porcelain box and tray decorated with rose / Made in Limoges France Original mark on the underside box: diameter 4.5 inches, height...
Porcelain
18th Century George III Mahogany Footed Knife Boxes
Located in New Orleans, LA
An exceedingly rare and important pair of George III-period mahogany knife boxes of exceptional quality and condition. The boxes are of serpentine form with refined crossbanded and c...
Serpentine
18th Century Pewter Charger
Located in High Point, NC
18th century pewter charger from England with London marks on the back of the rim, which is pictured. Gorgeous patina.
Pewter
19th Century Viennese Porcelain Plate, Napoleon III Period.
By Viennese Imperial Porcelain Manufactory
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
19th century Viennese porcelain plate, Napoleon III period. A 19th century Viennese porcelain plate, Napoleon III period, representing a woma...
Porcelain
Sold
H 3.75 in Dm 5.79 in
Viennese Imperial Porcelain Collecting Cup, Acanthus Relief, Marble & Gold, 1821
By Viennese Imperial Porcelain Manufactory
Located in Vienna, AT
Finely decorated porcelain cup with saucer: Porcelain cup with a curved, flared wall and a footring flaring outwards at the bottom, featuring incised gilded tongues and gold rims; th...
Porcelain
Sold
H 3.75 in Dm 5.71 in
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
Sold
H 3.75 in Dm 5.71 in
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
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 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