As opposed to the styles that would follow from the other 18th-century French kings, Louis XV and Louis XVI, antique Louis XIV furniture is rigid and imposing. It expresses opulence — even its armchairs, with their upright backs, straight legs and lavish ornamentation, look like thrones. Authentic Louis XIV sofas, a then newly emerging iteration of seating, are fully upholstered and often feature decoratively carved frames of walnut, chestnut or oak.
When French King Louis XIV established his royal court at Versailles in 1682, he transformed what was once a hunting lodge into a palace that declared his wealth and power through its design. Until his death in 1715, he reigned with a spirit of excess and absolute political dominance. The “Sun King,” as he called himself, believed that France revolved around him as planets do the sun. Louis XIV adopted the sun as his emblem, decorating the grounds with symbols of the sun and Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. As he stated, “There is nothing that indicates more clearly the magnificence of great princes than their superb palaces and their precious furniture.” He was a child when he became king in 1643, only shaping his style after he became absolute monarch in 1661.
Reflecting trends in French Baroque art, Louis XIV furniture characteristics included exuberant decoration. There were gilded bronze details including shells, suns, grotesques, lions and classical references like acanthus leaves. The years of growth in the country’s manufacturing, such as the tapestries and cabinets made at Gobelins, led to design innovations. The commode replaced the chest as a storage device, with drawers and a surface that could double as a desk.
The materials were luxurious, such as the popular tortoiseshell veneer technique that leading cabinetmaker Pierre Golle used in his designs. André-Charles Boulle, who became royal cabinetmaker in 1672, was a masterful artist of marquetry, using inlays of ebony, exotic woods and mother-of-pearl.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIV bedroom furniture, chairs, tables and other pieces on 1stDibs.
Louvois by Puiforcat France Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 54 pcs Dinner
Located in Big Bend, WI
The Parisian silversmith Puiforcat is regarded as one of the legendary names in European silver craftsmanship. Superb Dinner Size Louvois by Puiforcat sterling silver flatware set, ...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set 12 Service 135 pcs Many servers
Located in Big Bend, WI
Celebrate all of your meals in style with this Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set. Founded in 1690 in Massachusetts, the elite artisans at Towle Silversmiths handcrafted...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service Dinner 65 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Celebrate all of your meals in style with this Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set. Founded in 1690 in Massachusetts, the elite artisans at Towle Silversmiths handcrafted...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set For 8 Service 50 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Celebrate all of your meals in style with this Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set. Founded in 1690 in Massachusetts, the elite artisans at Towle Silversmiths handcrafted...
Sterling Silver
Set of 6 Silver Plate Knife Rests Style Louis XVI, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Elegant set of 6 silver plate knife rests style Louis XVI, circa 1900. Laurel leaves.
Metal
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service, Huge 146 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set of 146 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 9 1/4", 12 forks, 7 1/4", 12 salad forks, 6 1/4", 12 teaspoons, 5 7/8", 12 flat han...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 70 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Celebrate all of your meals in style with this Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set. Founded in 1690 in Massachusetts, the elite artisans...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service Dinner 143 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Celebrate all of your meals in style with this Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set. Founded in 1690 in Massachusetts, the elite artisans at Towle Silversmiths handcrafted...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 91 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set, 91 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 9 1/4", 12 forks, 7 1/4", 12 salad forks, 6 1/4", 12 ...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Dinner Flatware Set for 8 Service 78 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Louis XIV by Towle dinner size sterling silver flatware set of 78 pieces. This set includes: Eight dinner size knives, 9 1/2", eight dinner size forks, 7 7/8", eight salad forks,...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 110 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Monumental LOUIS XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set, 110 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 9 3/8" 12 forks, 7 1/4" 12 salad forks, 6 1/4" 12 teaspoons, 5 7/8" 12 place so...
Sterling Silver
$270Sale Price / set|59% Off
H 0.79 in W 3.55 in D 0.6 in
Vintage Knife Rests, Set of Six Silver Plated Dachshund Dogs, Italy, 20th-C
Located in Valencia, VC
Set of Six Metal Dachshund Cutlery Rests with Original Box A set of six sculptural metal cutlery rests, each cast in the form of a dachshund. Nicely detailed and well-proportioned, ...
Metal
Set of 12 Dachshund Vintage Silver Plate Knife Rests
By Gallia
Located in Westport, CT
Set of twelve Dachshund dog silver plated knife rests, vintage in very good look to be unused from the 1950s.
Silver Plate
Victorian Sterling Silver Fish Service for Eighteen Persons
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver Lily pattern fish cutlery set for eighteen persons - boxed; an addition to our dining silverware collection This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver flatware...
Silver, Sterling Silver
$2,459 / set
H 7.29 in W 1.38 in D 0.99 in
19th Century French Silver Vermeil Flatware Dessert Set for Six, 18 Pieces
Located in Madrid, ES
This charming 19th century French 18-piece cased dessert silverware / flatware set, with its unique, slightly grotesque satyr mask motif and warm ve...
Vermeil, Silver
$74,975 / set
H 1 in Dm 10.8 in
Set of 12 Exquisite "Gilded Age" Sterling Silver Tiffany Charger Plates
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite set of 12 "Gilded Age" Sterling Silver Tiffany Charges was realized in America in 1905. Each plate has heavily detailed boarders featuring a Kylix cup amid scrolling s...
Sterling Silver
Chantilly Sterling Silver Flatware by Gorham, Service for Twelve
By Henry Birks
Located in Bronx, NY
This vintage stylish sterling silver service for twelve is designed in the Chantilly pattern, by Gorham. The signature is found in a groove on the back of each handle & dates the...
Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel
$4,568
H 0.4 in W 0.4 in D 0.4 in
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Cypres by Tias Eckhoff Cutlery Set for 8 Persons
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Georg Jensen silver Denmark Cypres cutlery set for 8 persons in sterling silver designed by Tias Eckhoff in 1952. The set includes: 8 dining knives, length 22.3 cm 8 dining fork...
Sterling Silver
Puiforcat (Hermes) - 306 pcs. Antique French Sterling Silver Flatware Set !
Located in Wilmington, DE
Direct from Paris: A magnificent antique French 950 sterling silver flatware set by Frances Premier Silversmiths “Puiforcat”, currently owned by Hermes. A gorgeous service for 24 which includes additional Mother-of-Pearl handled dessert and cheese knives, 4 salt cellars with serving spoons and custom-made storage chest, 306 pieces in total – circa late 1800s. The annals of French decorative arts reserve a distinguished chapter for the House of Puiforcat, a name that has become synonymous with the pinnacle of silversmithing excellence since its establishment in 1820. This Parisian firm emerged during a golden age of French craftsmanship, when the demand for luxury tableware among aristocracy and haute bourgeoisie created fertile ground for artistic innovation. Puiforcat distinguished itself through an uncompromising commitment to quality, most notably through its pioneering use of 950 sterling silver, a purer alloy than the conventional 925 standard. The firm's flatware sets, particularly those featuring the elegant filet and laurel garlands motifs, like this stunning set, represent not merely functional tableware but veritable works of art that continue to command admiration and premium prices in the collector's market. The Early Years: The Puiforcat story begins with Jean-Baptiste Fuchs, who established his silversmith workshop in Paris in 1820 before adopting his mother's surname, Puiforcat. This nominal change marked the beginning of a family dynasty that would dominate French luxury silverware production for generations. The firm initially specialized in ecclesiastical silver and ceremonial objects, but under Jean Puiforcat's leadership during the mid-19th century, it transitioned decisively into the production of luxury flatware...
Silver
$160 / set
H 0.75 in W 0.75 in D 5.25 in
Art Nouveau Hildesheim Rose Silver Plate Cake Fork Flatware Set German, 6 Pieces
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful Art Nouveau flatware set of 6 cake forks. Made of silver plate metal, it will make a nice addition to any table. Forks 5 1/4" high. The set included 6 flatware pieces and...
Silver Plate
$1,262 / set
H 1.38 in W 4.34 in D 1.58 in
Art Nouveau set of 6 Knife Rests Poppy Flowers Gallia Christofle Silver Plated
By Gallia
Located in Paris, FR
This set of 6 knife-rests with blooming poppy flowers is a very good and typical Art Nouveau design. They are silver-plated, made by Gallia famous french silversmith part of Christofle world well-known. Each one is stamped and signed in the crossbar: "GALLIA METAL...
Silver Plate
$10,519 / set
H 0.04 in Dm 0.04 in
Jean E. Puiforcat Art Deco Cutlery Flatware Set Menton Sterling Silver 48 Pieces
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Exceptional Art-Deco "Menton" cutlery set in solid sterling silver First Title 950/1000th by Jean E. Puiforcat - Circa 1940 Set for 12 people composed of 48 pieces: - 12 table forks...
Sterling Silver
$655
H 2.5 in W 10.25 in D 10.25 in
English Imari Style Porcelain Handled Silver Table Knives, a Cased Set of Eight
By Royal Crown Derby Porcelain
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A set of eight English Staffordshire porcelain Imari pattern handled table knives, circa 1849 - 1860, in the manner of Royal Crown Derby. In the origin...
Silver Plate
Sold
H 44.89 in W 39.38 in D 47.25 in
Meissen Partial Porcelain Dinner Service, of 50 Pieces, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
This Meissen hand painted exquisite service with fruits and flower seedlings is composed of 50 pieces. Typical 18th century style, delicate colors, exceptional work realized by Meiss...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Sold
H 1.7 in W 12.33 in D 6.89 in
Antique French Silver Louis XIV Écuelle / Bowl / Porringer c. 1705 18th Century
By Rene Briceau
Located in London, GB
A magnificent Antique French Louis XIV Silver Écuelle Bowl or two handled Porringer. The Écuelle has two impressive handles with a fluted and scrolled pattern. The Écuelle has a cres...
Silver
Sprig Decorated Set of Large Soup Dishes Made in England circa 1880
By Minton
Located in Katonah, NY
We are pleased to offer this lovely set of eight dishes decorated in the "Sprig" Pattern. These beautiful soup dishes have vibrant enameled colors in a design of two wreaths with lus...
Porcelain
Sold
H 0.1 in W 0.1 in D 0.1 in
Louvois by Puiforcat Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service France 248 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Exceptional Louvois by Puiforcat sterling silver flatware set. This set includes: 24 Dinner Knives, 9 5/8”, 48 Dinner Forks, 8 3/...
Sterling Silver
Joan of Arc Sterling 62 Pieces 2355 Grams Plus Ten Serving Pieces
Located in Soquel, CA
International silver company Joan of Arc pattern of 1940. Nice clean service. A large almost complete service for twelve, many pieces were new in package and the rest had little or no use. Most used were Dinner forks, knives and soup spoons. (HH=Hollow Handle) Ten HH 9.25" short blade knives- one HH- 9.5" Dinner knife, 11 dinner forks, 12 salad forks, 10 teaspoons, eight oval soup spoons, one serving spoon and one vegetable spoon, one cold meat fork, one shell sugar spoon...
Stainless Steel, Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.1 in W 0.1 in D 0.1 in
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for Eight Service of 50 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Celebrate all of your meals in style with this Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set. Founded in 1690 in Massachusetts, the elite artisans at Towle silversmiths handcrafted...
Sterling Silver