Neoclassical Serving Pieces
NEOCLASSICAL STYLE
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.
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Style: Neoclassical
Cut Crystal Cake Patisserie Stand with Cover
Located in Miami, FL
This delightfully heavy, cut crystal cake or patisserie stand sits on a pedestal base. Perfect for displaying your culinary confections, this piece’s simp...
Category
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Crystal
Spode Pottery Neoclassical Greek Pattern Blue Printed Supper Set
By Spode
Located in Downingtown, PA
Spode pottery neoclassical Greek pattern blue printed supper set
Early-19th century
From a large collection of Greek pattern pieces in various colors ...
Category
Early 18th Century English Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Pearlware, Pottery
Wedgwood Jasperware Neoclassical Royal Blue Etruscan Pitcher
By Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood, a deep blue Neo-Classical style pitcher, in the Etruscan shape and pattern, date marked 1930s.
White sprigged figural decoration applied over a deep blue ground. The ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Stoneware
Wedgwood Royal Blue Jasperware Biscuit Barrel
By Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Wedgwood Jasperware Royal blue Biscuit Barrel with an EPNS lid and swing handle, England, circa 1910-1930.
The barrel shaped body shows a romantic white sprigged neoclassical ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
French Neoclassical Style Pewter and Indigo Blue Glass Centerpiece, Jardiniere
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Neoclassical style pewter and indigo blue glass centerpiece, jardiniere.
Splendid pewter and indigo blue glass centerpiece, finely decorated with acanthus and foliate motifs. ...
Category
1920s French Vintage Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Pewter
Vintage Lenox montclair tea cups and saucers set for 10
Located in Birmingham, AL
Preowned. Gorgeous Lenox Montclair Tea Cup & Saucer Set of 10 , 20 pieces : Presidential, Standard, ivory color Platinum Trim... Pattern Status: Discontinued. Actual: ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Bone
Red & Black FDR's Fala Scotty Dog American Glass Ice Bowl, circa 1930-1940
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A charming pre midcentury ice bucket or ice bowl, American clear glass, circa late 1930s-early 1940s. The Scotty dog glass collectible craze began when President Franklin D. Roosevel...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Glass
Regency Herculaneum Neo-Classical Greek Pattern Blue Printed Dish
Located in Downingtown, PA
Herculaneum neo-Classical Greek Pattern blue printed dish,
Early-19th century
The Herculaneum pottery underglaze blue central pattern shows a s...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Pearlware, Pottery
Two Russian Cut Glass and Silver Centrepiece Tazze
Located in London, GB
These exquisite tazze were created in Russia in the early 20th Century, between 1908-1917. The tazze can be used to serve canapés or sweetmeats, or enjoyed as purely decorative items...
Category
Early 20th Century Russian Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver
Tiffany Sterling Silver Engraved Round Footed Serving Tray Platter Centrepiece
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful Tiffany sterling silver finely engraved round and footed serving tray or platter centerpiece.
Category
1920s American Vintage Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Sterling Silver
Tommi Parzinger Mid Century Chaffing Serving Dish for Dorlyn Silversmiths
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A complete Parzinger serving dish or chaffing dish set including bottom tray, stand, burner, pot with lid and wood handles and the Pyrex glass insert. A ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Circa 1930s Silver Plated Tea Tray by International
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1930s silver plated tea tray by International. Handsomely decorated with swags of fruits & flowers decoration, bordered by cast grape & floral motifs. Good condition showing ex...
Category
1930s American Vintage Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver Plate
Collection of Rare 19th Century Granite and Pewter Goose Neck Coffee Pots
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine collection of enamel coffee pots are in pristine condition and come from one collection. The mix of pewter and enamel looks great with any collection of antique pewter serv...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Pewter
Vintage Portuguese Secla Majolica Lettuce Leaf Lunch Plates, Pair, Lemon Yellow
By Secla
Located in Chicago, IL
A pair of ceramic lemon-yellow color lettuce leaf plates by Secla. This wonderful pair of Portuguese plates will be a fabulous touch on your serving table. Each plate features a rais...
Category
20th Century Portuguese Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Ceramic, Clay
Silver Spices "Box", Stefano Olivero, Italy, Possibly 19th Century
By Stefano Olivero
Located in Madrid, ES
Silver spur raised on simple legs, located in the chamfered ends of the piece, decorated on the outside with garlands and other architectural elements of ...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver
Jug or Jar, Silver, Sellan, Juan. Madrid, 1847
By Juan Sellán
Located in Madrid, ES
Jug. Silver. SELLAN, Juan. Madrid, 1847.
With contrast markings.
Silver pitcher in its color that has a flat handle decorated with simple openwork plant elements between two smoo...
Category
1840s Spanish Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver
Brass Bottles Holder with Claw Feet by Maison Jansen
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This bottles holder is made of brass. This is a very straight and simple design with claw feet and finials that can received 6 bottles. This is a French work by Maison Jansen. Circa ...
Category
1940s French Vintage Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Brass
American Silver Plate Tureen with Ladle
By dsignedby 1
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Vegetable or soup old tureen with ladle: a good idea for Christmas gift!
Made and guaranteed by Meridien B.Company - USA -
Ladle by: A.H.&F.H.L.5.
ref. O/3564
Category
1920s American Vintage Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver Plate
Cheese Tray in Metal and Glass, France XX Century Silver Color
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This cheese tray is from France. It has been made in the XX eme century.
Silver Color.
Category
1970s French Vintage Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Robert Venturi Swid Powell Postmodern Serving Spoons Neoclassical Column
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful, chic, substantial, and iconic set of designer Postmodern sterling silver-plate serving, salad or platter spoons, with Neoclassical column handle design, designed by architect Robert Venturi for Swid Powell, circa 1990s. Each measure: 14.25" long. Pieces were manufactured by Reed & Barton for Swid Powell. All piece's bare designer and makers' mark's on back of spoon(s) as shown in close-up images #9 and 10. A great set for summer, holiday, home entertaining...
Category
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver Plate
Antique American Pressed Glass Punchbowl and Underplate
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique American pressed glass punchbowl and underplate. Plate is 12” wide x 2” tall. Overall height with plate and bowl is 9.5” tall.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Glass
Brass Platter with its Faux Bamboo Structure, Gold Color, France circa 1970
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Beautiful brass tray with its faux bamboo structure. It is gold in color and dates from the 1970s. It is a tray that was made in France with very good manufacturing quality.
Brass P...
Category
1970s French Vintage Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Brass
Cheese Tray in Ceramic and Wood France 1970s Brown and Green Color
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This cheese tray or platter is from France. It has been made in the 1970s.
Brown and Green Color.
Category
1970s French Vintage Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Ceramic, Wood
Brass Platter with its Faux Bamboo Structure, Gold Color, France circa 1970
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Beautiful brass tray with its faux bamboo structure. It is gold in color and dates from the 1970s. It is a tray that was made in France with very good manufacturing quality.
Brass Pl...
Category
1970s French Vintage Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Brass
Ladle in silver plate metal , France XX century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This Ladle is iin silver plate metal. It has been made in France during the Xxeme Century.
Category
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver Plate
Regency Period Spode Neo-classical Greek Pattern Blue Dessert Dishes- a Pair
By Spode
Located in Downingtown, PA
Regency Spode neo-Classical Greek pattern blue rectangular dessert dishes,
Four figures in battle,
Early 19th century
The Spode Greek pattern pott...
Category
Early 18th Century English Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Pearlware, Pottery
Veterans Administration 1930 Ceramic Restaurantware Gravy Boat in Blue and White
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A crisp white ceramic gravy boat with Veterans Administration 1930 in blue marked on the front. This piece is by Shenango China and is a well-known make...
Category
20th Century American Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Ceramic
Big Historistic Alpaca Serving Tablet, circa 1890s
Located in Wien, AT
Big Historistic alpaca serving tablet, circa 1890s
Polished and stove enameled.
Category
1890s Austrian Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Alpaca
Rare and Impressive Early 19th Century Wedgwood Creamware Breakfast Set
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This breakfast set consists of an oval serving bowl and four lidded entire dishes in a mahogany brass handled tray.
Creamware is a cream colored re...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Pottery
Plum Red-Ground Saltglaze Stoneware Teapot and Cover, circa 1940
Located in Miami, FL
Plum red-ground saltglaze stoneware teapot and cover, circa 1940.
Category
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Ceramic
19th Century Flemish Pewter Chocolate Pot
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century Flemish Pewter Chocolate Pot was created during the ascendancy of the popularity of chocolate, and many would say the popularity has only increased in ensuing centuries! Cleverly designed for the bulk of the liquid chocolate to be concentrated at the base of the vessel for keeping warm...
Category
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Pewter
1890's French Neoclassic Repoussé Sterling Silver Serving Meat Fork and Knife
Located in Van Nuys, CA
The Neoclassical style, originating in the late 18th century, was marked by a return to classical principles of order, symmetry, and simplicity, inspired by ancient Greek and Roman a...
Category
Late 18th Century Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Sterling Silver
Pair Neoclassical Mercury Silver Salts
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Neoclassical silver salts. Pair of exquisite French silver salts with open work mercury medallions and leaf and bead detailing at rim and b...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Sterling Silver
Van Kempen & Begeer Silver BonBon Basket
By Van Kempen
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This an oval shaped bon bon silver basket. It has a serpentine shaped upper border. Its rim is decorated with a chain of beads. Its sides are adorned with reticulated vertical line a...
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver
Ancient Italian Neoclassic Sterling Silver Coffee Pot, Milan, circa 1850
Located in Milano, IT
Embossed and engraved sterling silver coffee pot
Tommaso Panizza (1805-1868)
Milan, circa half of the 19th century
It measures 13.97 in (cm 35.5) in height x 8.66 in (22 cm) x 4.7...
Category
1840s Italian Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Sterling Silver
Etched Glass Domed Plate with Greek Key Border and Sterling Knob
Located in Troy, MI
Found in England, this circa 1940s domed glass plate has an acid etched Greek key border and solid sterling knob on the lid. Great neoclassical style.
Category
Mid-20th Century European Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Sterling Silver
Wine Cooler English 19th Century England
Located in New York, NY
Wine Cooler English 19th Century England. An English early 19th century wine cooler made in mahogany with a brass insert. Gilt bronze handles and...
Category
19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Plate. Silver in its colour. Madrid, Spain, 1731-1738.
Located in Madrid, ES
Plate. Silver in its colour. Madrid, Spain, 1731-1738.
With contrast marks.
Circular plate made of silver in its colour with smooth mouldings on the outside and contrasting and e...
Category
1730s Spanish Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver
Sterling Silver Vintage "Twist and Ball" Cocktail or Serving Forks S/10 Barware
Located in North Miami, FL
These wonderful vintage hallmarked sterling cocktail or serving forks add beauty to any table. They have a twist and ball with a gold wash. Elegant and timeless! They are by the comp...
Category
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Sterling Silver
Wonderful French Neoclassical Bronze Crystal Round Centrepiece Cake Ormolu Stand
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French neoclassical bronze and scalloped etched crystal round centrepiece, cake ormolu stand with star centre.
Category
1940s French Vintage Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Some Silverware : Cake Scoop, Fork, Spoon for Ice
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Some ideas for your gifts: USA silver cake scoop cm. 18 x 2.5 - ref. A/2733 -
USA silver fork cm. 18 x 2 - ref. A/2766 -
USA silver spoon for ice cm. 17.5 x 2.5 - ref. A/2991 -.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver
Set of 4 Late 19th Century Ormolu Ruby Glass Comport Dessert Stands
Located in London, GB
On three lines paw feet the dishes attach to the stands via a decorative threaded screw.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Serving Pieces
Materials
Ormolu
Neoclassical serving pieces for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical serving pieces for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage serving pieces created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, silver and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Neoclassical serving pieces made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original serving pieces, popular names associated with this style include Spode, Antonio Martinez, Coalport Porcelain, and dsignedby. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for serving pieces differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $75 and tops out at $9,291 while the average work can sell for $825.