Neoclassical Folk Art
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.
to
34
67
14
82
2
1,989
1,069
982
308
199
181
162
89
84
78
53
42
37
32
24
21
7
10
40
32
2
6
10
4
1
1
1
2
37
26
16
15
13
49
44
31
17
5
84
82
83
1
1
1
1
1
Style: Neoclassical
19thc Eight Point Star Quilt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine eight point star quilt is in pristine condition with a couple minor tiny spots. Mostly posted on the back side. This is a very large quilt.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Antique Iron & Wood Fire Engine Large Model or Sculpture
Located in Plainview, NY
An antique fire engine model or sculpture, crafted from iron and wood, representing a fire engine from the 18th or 19th century.
The model is moun...
Category
Late 19th Century North American Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Iron
19th Century Rare Hand-Painted Stick Spatter Plate with Rabbits
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a fine example of an unsigned hand-painted stick spatter plate with painted rabbits surround the border. The condition is very good with old craz...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Mid-Century Hand-Crafted and Hand-Painted American Duck Decoy
Located in Germantown, MD
An Mid Century, large, Hand-crafted and Hand-Painted American life size Duck Decoy measuring 21" in width, 9" in depth and 9.5" in height.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Plaster
Early 19th Century Wall Box from Pennsylvania
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This handmade wall box is made of walnut and is all hand-cut square nail and dovetailed construction. The drawer is dovetailed and retains the original handbl...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th C Spongeware Tooth Brush Holder / Dish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare 19th C spongeware tooth brush holder/dish.
Toothbrush holder - 3.5 x 5 Dish- 5 x 1.5.
Category
19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Antique Painting on Copper, "The Mockery of Christ”
Located in Milano, IT
Painting on copper. Italian school of the late 17th century. The scene, which recounts a moment in the Passion of Christ, is filled with the charac...
Category
17th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Copper
Antique French Limestone Medicine Bowl
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Designed and produces, 18th century
Limestone
Measures: 8" height, 14.5" diameter
Provenance: Flea Market Paris.
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Limestone
American Oil on Board Portrait of Horse, NY, James Weiland, Circa 1900
By James Weiland
Located in Charleston, SC
American oil on board portrait of horse landscape in the original gold gilt floral frame. Signed James Weiland, (1872-1968) New York, Early 20th cent...
Category
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Framed Portrait Painting of a Man with Beard by American Artist Genie Brock
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Vertical portrait painting of a man by American artist Genie Brock. (Oklahoma, circa early 20th century) The subject is of an older gentleman with a gray head of hair and beard. He s...
Category
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Venetian Hand Painted and Gilt Figural Pagoda Two Drawer Commode, Circa 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
Venetian hand painted and gilt figural pagoda two-drawer commode with scalloped edge top, gilt carved shell form handles, and resting on a scalloped edge floral skirt with the origin...
Category
1780s Italian Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Rectangular Still Life Framed Painting of a Stagecoach, Oklahoma
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A small American Classical framed painting of a stagecoach. This piece is framed in a deep wooden frame, with gilt gold around the edges and brown and black on the inside and outside...
Category
20th Century American Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Gold
Early Still Life Trompe L'oeil Painting
Located in Garnerville, NY
Trompe l'oeil oil on board painting. Trick of the eye still life of a hand towel, a folding ruler, envelope and an almanac dated 1831. Most likely, the mundane everyday items used in...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Fine 19th Century White Marble Sculpture of “Rebecca at the Well”
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Fine 19th century white marble sculpture of “Rebecca at The Well” depicting a Classical maiden wearing a robe, with one breast semi-exposed, stan...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Marble
Pair of Italian Painted and Gilt Urn Vitrines. Circa 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of Italian painted and gilt vitrines with hinged glass tops, carved intertwined decorative floral vine motif, corner floral medallions, and terminating on bulbous fluted legs su...
Category
1780s Italian Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Gold
Scalloped Round Decorative Souvenir Plate in Emerald from Kingfisher Oklahoma
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Round circular scalloped souvenir plate or dish from Kingfisher Oklahoma. This beautiful plate features a lovely emerald green ombre around the edges an...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Paint
Antique Americana Quilt with Fan Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
An antique hand-made quilt circa 1890-1900s originated from Ohio. The quilt features a striking patched square pattern with fan motifs, all hand stitched with colorful cotton appliqu...
Category
1890s American Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Antique Rare Room Size American Hooked Rug 9'6" x 11'7"
Located in New York, NY
Hooked Rug, American, Early 20th Century – Size: 9 ft 6 in x 11 ft 7 in (2.9 m x 3.53 m)
This sophisticated vintage American rug features a handsome allover pattern that incorporates a rich variety of monochromatic and variegated stripes arranged in staggered rows. The polychromatic field is further divided into a triad of distinct compartments that create a graphic stripe-within-a-stripe pattern. Each narrow segmented stripe is set against a variety of contrasting colors that create a harmonious low-key pattern comprised of varied hues. The motley assortment of bold colors creates a tonal blend that is superseded by the dark hues and enlivened by the vibrant accent colors. Reminiscent of piled books...
Category
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Swedish Armchair
Located in Vosselaar, BE
19th century Scandinavian armchair in beech and linnen. This charming armchair was made in Sweden in the local neoclassical style. As common practice in this region the chair is pain...
Category
Late 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Beech
Italian Gilt Carved Wood Floral Window Bench. Circa 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian gilt carved wood window bench with scrolled floral medallion arms, carved floral skirt , and terminating on scrolled fluted legs. Bench has b...
Category
1780s Italian Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
The four Jorissen brothers 332 years old Together
Located in UTRECHT, UT
Obverse: OPRECHTE DANKBAARHEIT – WORD GOD HIER TOEGEWEIT, brothers behind burning altar under beaming cloud with the name of God in Hebrew
Reverse: DRIE EEUWEN TEIDS, EN TWEENDERTIG ...
Category
1760s Dutch Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Silver
American Folk Art Hook Rug, Wall Hanging, Multi-Color Paisley Design
Located in Buffalo, NY
Amazing Folk Art American hook rug, wall hanging. Multi-color repeating paisley. Stunning black background. Amazing, whimsical piece of art.
Category
20th Century American Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Spinning Wheel, Walnut Wood, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Spinning wheel. Walnut wood carved and turned. XIX century.
Vertical spinning wheel made of carved walnut wood decorated with fine lines in certain areas and the use of balustrade...
Category
19th Century European Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Other
Painted 19th Century Armchair by Jean-Joseph Chapuis
Located in Troy, NY
Neoclassical green painted and gilt armchair with caned seat.
After a model by Jean-Joseph Chapuis.
The front legs retain their brass casters, the rear legs are missing the casters.
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Cane, Wood
21st Century Oklahoma Ranch Framed Burl Wood Print with White Matte
By Scout Studios
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Original photo of cattle feeding on the Stevens ranch, circa 2018 in Nowata County, Oklahoma. This piece is made to order and could take up to 2 weeks from order to doorstep. Other f...
Category
2010s North American Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Burl, Paper
1800s Parisian realism/ naive portrait of Madame de Graffigny
Located in DARLINGTON, WA
Incredible early 1800s Parisian realism/ naive portrait of Madame de Graffigny. Measures 65 x 53.
Françoise de Graffigny, author of the famous novel ‘letters from a Peruvian woman...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Neoclassical folk art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical folk art for sale on 1stDibs. 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.