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.
French Neoclassical Style Brass and Clear Glass Round Hanging Lantern, 1920
Located in Barntrup, DE
French brass and cut clear glass round hanging lantern from circa the 1920s. This adorable three-light antique pendant lantern features an eleg...
Brass
$3,740Sale Price|44% Off
Charles Edwards Mews Ceiling Lantern Pendant Fixture Mahogany & Nickel, UK
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Charles Edwards Mews Ceiling Lantern, Mahogany and Nickel, UK. This handmade Charles Edwards piece has a 4-light candelabra inside a unique wooden frame with polished nickel accents....
Nickel
$2,337Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of neoclassical style brass lanterns wall lights, possibly Maison Jansen
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice and elegant pair of neoclassical style lanterns wall lights is made of brass with glass. This is a French work attributed to Maison Jansen. Circa 1940
Brass
Neoclassical Bronze & Etched Glass Ceiling Lantern Pen and Brush Club NYC
Located in New York, NY
1890s Neoclassical hall ceiling lantern with two etched glass panels and three lights. It features bronze detailed framing with a multi toned patina and silver wash. This originally ...
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Copper Lantern
Located in Chicago, IL
This mid-20th century hanging lantern light fixture is a stunning blend of rustic charm and architectural presence. Crafted from copper, it features eight glass-paneled sides, each w...
Brass, Copper
Late 19th century Silver Plated Caldwell Lantern
Located in New York, NY
A circa late 19 centuru Caldwell silver plated lantern with 6 interior lights, from Waldorf Hotel in NYC
Bronze
Vintage Gold and Brass 4 Light Lantern
By Moe Lighting
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a lovely vintage gold and brass 4 light lantern from circa 1955. Lovely restored Moe Lighting Lantern from circa 1955. Made in the U.S.A. 4 bulb Lantern in full functional condition and sympathetically restored to its original beauty. The Lantern is gilt metal and brass and is covered in gold leaf. It has been recently re-gilted. The top finial of the lantern is beautifully cast with scrolling arms and handles. There are 5 glass panels edged in brass. The interior working bulb platform is on a tilt central column or lever that tilts with the movement of the lantern in the wind. Both the top and bottom parts of the lantern have a pierced gallery and the base has a removeable plate with a final to access the bulbs on the interior. The interior has a label hidden from view under the bulb base (see photos) confirming that the Lantern was made by Moe Light of Fort Atkinson Wisconsin a Division of Thomas Industries. This helps us date the piece as Moe Lighting was acquired by Thomas Industries in 1953. We are of the opinion that this piece date from the mid 1950’s. A beautiful addition to any home of style !! Thomas Industries was formed in a 1953 merger of two companies–a lighting fixture manufacturer and the maker of electrical spraying machines–both of which came into being in the late 1920s. The unlikely marriage of these two product lines was the cornerstone of what would become the company’s two core businesses: lighting fixtures and air compressors/pumps. The lighting fixture side of Thomas Industries traces its history back to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and two brothers: Henrik and Ole Moe. The Moe Brothers, together with a number of other entrepreneurs, owned the Moe-Bridges Co., a lighting fixture manufacturer formed in 1919. As a result of friction among the Moe-Bridges management, however, the Moe brothers were frozen out of the company in the late 1920s by the majority owners. Deciding to stay with the industry they knew, the Moes formed another lighting fixture company called Moe Brothers Manufacturing. Henrik’s two sons joined the business in the early 1930s, and in 1938, the company moved its operations from Milwaukee to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. While the Moe brothers were building their lighting fixture business, the Electric Sprayit Company–the forerunner to Thomas Industries’ compressor and pump division–was also testing its wings. In 1928, the Electric Sprayit Company was formed in Chicago “to manufacture, buy, and sell electrical spraying machines, blowers, air compressors, mechanical, and mercantile devices.” In a curious twist of fate, in 1934 the Electric Sprayit Company acquired Moe-Bridges, the company that had forced out the Moe brothers, and moved from Chicago into the Moe-Bridges plant in Milwaukee. In 1939, Electric Sprayit moved its operations again, this time to Sheboygan, Wisconsin. During World War II, both companies stopped making their standard product lines in order to produce materials for the war effort. At the close of the war, in 1946, Moe Brothers received a large contract from Sears to produce household pressure cookers. Although the company had not previously manufactured pressure cookers, the large stamping presses they had obtained for the war gave them the production capabilities for the job. The brothers planned to use sales revenues from the pressure cooker contract to return to the lighting fixture business. Unfortunately, Sears rescinded the company’s contract due to a product malfunction. In the aftermath of the contract loss, pressured by the bank to repay existing debt, the Moe brothers decided to sell the company. Moe Brothers was purchased in 1948 by a Louisville investment group headed by Lee Thomas. Thomas, the former president of Ekco Products in Chicago, had recently purchased a small saw business in Louisville and was looking for further investment opportunities. His new purchase was renamed Moe Light, and a national advertising campaign was launched to promote residential lighting fixtures. Two years later, Moe Light expanded by opening a new residential lighting factory in Kentucky and acquiring the Los Angeles-based Star...
Brass, Gold Leaf
Pair of Antique Russian Neoclassical Ormolu and Cut Crystal Lantern Chandeliers
Located in New York, NY
A Fabulous Pair of Antique Russian Neoclassical Ormolu and Cut-Crystal Lantern Chandeliers. Each chandelier is centered by a frosted and etched glass lantern shade of bell-jar form, ...
Crystal, Ormolu
French Neoclassical Style Brass and Beveled Clear Glass Hexagonal Lantern, 1920
Located in Barntrup, DE
French brass and beveled clear glass hexagonal hanging lantern from circa the 1920s. This adorable three-light antique pendant lantern features...
Brass
Pair of French Neoclassical Style Brass and Glass Two-Light Wall Lanterns
Located in Barntrup, DE
An adorable pair of French Neoclassical-style wall lanterns. These elegant wall lamps feature a polished brass frame and three curved clear glass panels. Each wall light has two sock...
Brass
$16,000 / item
Pair of Large Neoclassic Lanterns, Sold Individually
Located in New York, NY
Pair of large circa 1940s English neoclassic style patinated bronze lanterns with acanthus leaf detail along the top edge and eight interior lights. Sold individually. Measurement...
Bronze
20th Century Hexagonal Wrought Iron Ceiling Lantern with Three Lights
Located in Madrid, ES
A hexagonal shaped lantern in cast iron and gilded metal decoration, with six glass panels and three candle-shaped light points, the top in gilded metal.
Crystal, Wrought Iron
Italian Neoclassical Figural & Foliage Gilt Bronze Hanging Hall Lantern, C. 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian Neoclassical decorative figural and foliage gilt bronze hanging hall lantern with beaded rope borders, three light interior cluster, and resting on scrolled figural foliage f...
Bronze, Wire
"Extra Large Silver Plated Bell Jar Lantern with Hand Cut Design, 1998"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extra Large Custom made with hand cut Circle design at top and bottom of the glass jar . Metal hardware was plated in Silver with an Antique finish . This one and one more are the l...
Metal, Silver Plate, Wire
A Pair of Neoclassical Cranberry glass & Gilt Bronze Lantern Chandeliers
Located in New York, NY
A pair of magnificent and large neoclassical cranberry glass & gilt bronze lantern chandeliers. Each lantern is formed around a large cranberry glass bell...
Crystal, Bronze
French 19th-20th Century Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze Figural Hanging Lantern
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine and rare French 19th-20th century neoclassical style gilt bronze and color-glass figural hanging lantern, the hexagonal shaped body with an orange glass paneling background, each panel centered with a gilt bronze Royal Crest depicting two-winged dragons above a Royal shield...
Bronze
Antique French Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Mounted Figural Porcelain Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
An extremely rare antique French neoclassical gilt bronze mounted figural porcelain chandelier. The chandelier is suspended from a circular gilt canopy by four blackened rods adorned...
Bronze
Wonderful French Bronze Filigree Frosted Swirl Beveled Glass Lantern Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful French bronze filigree frosted swirl beveled glass lantern fixture. Measures: 22" H x 9" W.
Bronze
Monumental Bronze Entrace Lantern
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful, large-scale, Neoclassical-style bronze octagonal entrance lantern with acanthus leaf detail, 1920s U.S.A.
Bronze
A Very Fine Four Light Modern Lantern
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine Modern Four Light Cylindrical Lantern. Original Curved Glass Panels. Brushed Steel Finish. 20th Century. Dimensions: Height 26 1/2" Diameter 15" CW5657 & CW5658
Bronze
Neoclassical lantern in lacquered and gilded metal circa 1950
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Neoclassical lantern in lacquered and gilded metal circa 1950 etched glass with star pattern. Measure: height with chain: 131 cm (52 in).
Metal
$20,800Sale Price|20% Off
Spectacular Antique Italian Neoclassical Patinated Bronze Figural Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A spectacular and large antique Italian Neoclassical patinated bronze chandelier composed with a central sculptural figure and elaborate classical detailing. The chandelier is suspen...
Bronze
Early 19th Century Swedish Painted Wooden Neoclassical Chandelier
Located in Essex, MA
Period early 19th century Swedish painted wooden 8 light chandelier. Neoclassical bowl with 8 carved candle holders. Mostly retains original paint and ...
Fir
$3,950 / item
Elegant Bronze Lanter featuring curved glass panels.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Fine & Elegant Bronze Lantern having conical shape, featuring an elegant pierced gallery on top. Orginal curved glass panels. Pair Available. France, circa 1940. 4 lights Dimension...
Bronze
$3,850 / item
Monumental Gothic Style Lantern
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine and decorative gothic style lantern, primed and ready to be painted. Acrylic panels. Needs rewiring. 6 available Measures: 15" D; 15...
Aluminum
Italian Bronze and Tin Hanging Decorative Lantern, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian bronze and tin hanging lantern with decorative filigree, foliage motif, elliptical chain and original canopy. Chandelier is candle powered and can be electrified. Early 19th ...
19th Century Brass Hexagonal Hall Lantern
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century brass hexagonal hall lantern heavily decorated with neoclassical style figureheads, sea creatures and mermaids to the upper section, and terminating with naturalistic sc...
Brass
Bronze and Curved Glass Lantern, France, circa 1930
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Bronze and curved glass lantern. France, circa 1930.
Bronze
$4,750
Neoclassical Lantern
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Fine, Elegant and very simple cylindrical lantern, gilt bronze with curved glass panels. 4 lights. France, circa 1930. Dimensions: Height 37 1/2" Diameter 14" CW5325
Bronze
Very Fine Bronze Lantern with Frosted and Cut Crystal Globe
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine bronze lantern with frosted and cut crystal globe, France, circa 1930. 2 lights Dimensions: Height 24", diameter 14 CW2387.
Crystal, Bronze