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 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 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 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
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 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 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
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
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
$1,500 / set
H 0.5 in W 0.75 in D 9.25 in
Twenty-Two Piece Set of Sterling Silver and Ebony "Contrast" Flatware by Lunt
By Lunt Silver
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous twenty-two piece set of sterling silver and ebony nylon "Contrast" flatware by Lunt Silver Co.., circa 1950s. The set is in very good vintage condition and is stamped on the...
Sterling Silver
$2,415 / 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
$1,196Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 0.75 in W 8.25 in D 1.75 in
Christian F. Hiese 18 Piece Danish Arts & Crafts Sterling Silver Flatware Set
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This eighteen piece set of flaware was made by the well known Christian F. Hiese of Denmark in approximately 1905 in the period Arts and Crafts style. This hand hammered set is compo...
Sterling Silver
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
$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
$265Sale 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
$150 / set
H 1.25 in W 3 in D 0.5 in
Vintage Art Deco Small Silver Plated Metal Figural Cat Knife Rests - Set of 5
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Art Deco Small Silver Plated Metal Figural Cat Knife Rests - Set of 5. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 1.25" H x 3" W x 0.5" D.
Silver Plate
$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
$4,475 / set
H 3.25 in W 17.5 in D 11 in
Exquisite Early Victorian Silver Plate Flatware Set for Dessert, Fruit and Nuts
Located in New York, NY
Elaborate silver and mother-of-pearl, silver plate flatware set. Original box with shield crest and fittings and was originally commissioned...
Silver Plate
$4,500
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
$16,500 / set
H 8.63 in W 1 in D 0.3 in
75 Pc. Georg Jensen Caravel Sterling Silver Flatware Dinner Service for 12
By Georg Jensen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine 75-piece Georg Jensen sterling silver flatware set. Designed by Henning Koppel. In the Caravel pattern. Set comprises: 12 Dinner Forks (7 3/8") 12 Salad Forks (6 1/2") 12 Tea Spoons (5 15/16") 12 Place Spoons...
Sterling Silver
$899 / set
H 2.75 in W 14 in D 10.75 in
Antique English Silver Plated & Ornately Engraved Boxed Fish Set: 24 Pieces
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique boxed set of silver plated flatware is hallmarked, but the specific maker could not be identified. It is presumed this fish set was made in England in approximately 1920...
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