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.
Italian Neoclassical Gilt Acanthus Foliage Wall Mirror, 18th Century
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian Neoclassical gilt carved wood and gesso wall mirror with scrolled acanthus foliage motif. Mirror retains the original looking glass. 18th century
Giltwood, Mirror, Gesso
French Brass Table Mirror with Adjustable Frame, Circa 1930s
Located in Paris, FR
A fantastic French circa 1930s table mirror framed in solid brass, featuring an adjustable tilting mechanism. Its refined design includes decorative finials making it a timeless addi...
Brass
French 19th century Neo-Classical Ormolu vanity mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming French 19th century Neo-Classical Ormolu vanity mirror. This elegant swivel mirror is raised by a square stepped Ormolu base with a square mottled pedestal below. The pede...
Ormolu
Mid 20th Century Gold Vanity Mirror French Ornamentation
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Antique Vintage Table Vanity Mirror French Ornamentation Double sided mirror; flat and convex mirror. No label present. In the style of Fred K....
Metal, Gold
$1,996Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Fine Neoclassical Gilt Bronze & Glass Vanity Mirror W/ Swan Supports
Located in Atlanta, GA
French, early to mid 19th century. A stunning French Neoclassical vanity mirror. Atop the beautiful beveled glass (double sided) mirror is ...
Bronze
Late 19th Century English Table Mirror in Patinated Brass
Located in Meer, VAN
Late 19th Century English Table Mirror in Patinated Brass A late 19th-century neoclassical table mirror of high quality in patinated sand cast brass. Most probably English, late 19t...
Brass
$2,191Sale Price|20% Off
Mirror Golden Wrought Iron, Neoclassical 1960s, Mid Century Art
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Golden wrought iron mirror, neoclassical 1960s, midcentury Art Measures: H 63cm, W 41cm, W 22cm. Contact us before ordering to confirm product ava...
Iron
French Silver Vanity or Standing Table Mirror with Beveled Glass
Located in Austin, TX
An elegant French vanity or tabletop mirror of fine silver, featuring a Neo-Classical relief design to the frame, enclosing a rectangular beveled mirror, back of wood with folding br...
Silver, Brass
French Neoclassical Style Bronze Dressing Tabletop Mirror
Located in Barntrup, DE
Gorgeous French dressing tabletop mirror, made of bronze and adorned with floral and leaf motifs. Beautifully shaped mirror. France, 1930s. Dimensions: height: 36 cm / 14.17 in; widt...
Bronze, Brass
$1,560Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Brass Table Mirror
By Ico Parisi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian brass beveled round mirror in style of Ico Paricsi. Adjustable position great for the vanity table or jewelry store. Base is 7.2 diameter.
Brass
Elegant Wood Vanity and Mirror with Drawer – Early 20th Century, Circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, ES
Elegant Wood Vanity and Mirror with Drawer – Early 20th Century, Circa 1940 This charming wood vanity and mirror, crafted in France around 1940, is an elegant and delicate piece tha...
Glass
Italian Gilt Shell Cartouche Acanthus Mirror. Circa 1730
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian gilt carved wood wall mirror with shell cartouche, flanking decorative scrolled acanthus carvings and resting on cross hatching rectangular base. Mirror retains the original ...
Gold Leaf
Antique French Ebony Dressing Table Mirror
Located in London, GB
This beautiful mirror will look wonderful placed on a woman’s dressing table. It features an ebony frame which is intricately carved with a variety of motifs, inspired by classical design. The item is composed of an oval mirror, which is set within a shaped rectangular wooden frame. The frame is crowned by a medallion containing a portrait of a woman’s head in profile. This is decorated with a ribbon bow and flower swags which are held by two female figures, positioned either side of the medallion. The women have classical style nude...
Mirror, Wood, Ebony
Swedish Neoclassical Carved & Giltwood Console with Mirror by Johan Martin Berg
Located in Atlanta, GA
This is an exceptional period neoclassical finely carved and giltwood console with mirror, created by Johan Martin Berg (1772–1852) in Gothenburg, Sweden, circa 1820. This piece is of the highest quality for the period! It was a lucky find for us, coming from an estate in the Northeast US. This neoclassical Swedish piece consists of an elaborately carved and giltwood console with a rectangular-shaped inset white marble top, beautifully carved apron, raised upon a pair of scale-carved legs which terminate into clawed paws...
Marble
Italian Gilt Wood and Painted Floral Oval Dressing - Shaving Mirror, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian gilt and painted oval dressing - shaving mirror with decorative scrolled floral cartouche, flanking bell flowers, interior decorative lambs tongue frame resting on acanthus carved step back...
Gesso, Glass, Wood, Paint
19th Century Neoclassical Style Ormolu and Marble Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This endearing French mantel clock combines lustrous ormolu and sumptuous white marble, making for a light and yet majestic work that perfectly compliments the masterfully executed N...
Marble, Ormolu
$6,000
H 35.5 in W 31 in D 9.5 in
Fine French 1930s Silver-Plated Table Mirror by Luc Lanel for Christofle
By Luc Lanel, Christofle
Located in Long Island City, NY
Luc Lanel (1893-1965) for Christofle (Gallia collection) - A fine French Art Deco table mirror with a pyramidal base and two poles holding a tilting mirror. Stamped Gallia Bibliog...
Silver Plate
$713
H 11.62 in W 12.21 in D 6.3 in
Midcentury Brass French Adjustable Table Mirror with a Two-Sides Stand, 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful midcentury brass table mirror, the article was produced in France during the 1950s. This amazing piece is made of brass wit...
Brass
Late 19th Century French Vanity Bronze Mirror
Located in Plainview, NY
An exquisite late 19th century French Louis XV vanity mirror. The bronze carved mirror features impressive details with two cherubs. The mirror ...
Bronze
Maguire Hand-Crafted Bamboo Wall Mirror, 20th Century, USA
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Very nice mirror , artistically hand crafted from natural bamboo , great decorative addition to any room .
Bamboo, Glass
LATE 19th CENTURY SMALL MIRROR IN NEO GOTHIC STYLE
Located in Firenze, FI
Elegant small mirror made of wrought iron and hand-forged, in neo-Gothic style. Its "gate" shape evokes that of a Gothic window or stained glass window, characterized by an ogival pr...
Wrought Iron
$860
H 11 in W 7.75 in D 7 in
Petite Murano Glass Vanity Table Mirror 1900s, Antique Italy Venetian Venice
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous Murano glass vanity table mirror surrounded with handmade glass flowers. With minor signs of wear as expected with age and use. A nice addition to any dressing room. Found...
Mirror, Murano Glass, Wood
Barovier Murano Glass and Brass Vanity Mirror, 1930s
By Barovier
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A refined and sculptural Barovier Murano Glass vanity mirror, Italy, circa 1930s, executed in ribbed, hand-formed Murano glass with warm champagne undertones enhanced by the addition...
Brass
$700
H 10 in W 8.63 in D 6 in
Vintage Murano Glass Dressing Table/Vanity Mirror, Italy, Mid 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage - Murano glass - dressing table/vanity mirror - all original fittings with silver leaf backed mirror - finished and hinged wood easel back (can be wall mounted) - unsigned - ...
Art Glass, Mirror, Hardwood
French Art Deco Adjustable Chrome Table Mirror
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco chrome plated dressing table mirror characterized by a piece of round, frameless mirrored glass positioned above a smaller round chrome base with a stylish adjustable...
Mirror
18th Century Italian Baroque Period Giltwood Mirror
Located in Forney, TX
This exceptionally carved Baroque period Italian mirrored mercury glass giltwood wall hanging / mantel mirror captures the reason why we love Eur...
Glass, Mirror, Giltwood
Seguso Vetri D'arte, Table Mirror, Glass, Brass, Italy, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
A pink murano glass and brass table mirror produced by Seguso Vetri D'arte, Italy, c. 1930s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 12.5"H x 11.0"W x 8.5"D Measured as it sits with stand out...
Brass
$536
H 9.85 in W 8.27 in D 5.91 in
Late 19th Century Table Mirror / Picture Frame - Empire Style - Gilt Bronze
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Charming French gilt bronze mirror, late 19th century, in Empire style. The rectangular frame is richly decorated with acanthus leaves and classical motifs, crowned with a laurel wre...
Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 19.4 in W 18.25 in D 7.2 in
Antique American Empire Dressing Table Mirror Highly Figured Maple Early 1800s.
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
This is a lovely dressing table mirror from early 1800. It is made in highly figured American maple veneer and solids. Parts of the frame are American spruce. Because of the unique ...
Brass
Italian Early 20th Century Carved Giltwood Dressing Table Mirror
Located in London, GB
This very decorative dressing table mirror was made in Italy in the 1920s. Have a look through all our photographs to see the intrica...
Mirror, Giltwood
19th Century English Chinoiserie Dressing Mirror
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great condition with its original mirror. Beautifully detailed. Has key.
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Antique Silvered Bronze Table Mirror from France, circa 1890
Located in Dallas, TX
A unique production from the Napoleon III period, this silvered bronze table mirror features Neoclassical motifs that were prevalent during the “Second Empire”. The mirror rests upon a symmetrical two-legged easel stand with pierced elements. Two fluted S-scrolls wrapped in acanthus leaves terminate in hoof feet on the front. The irregular shaped mirror...
Metal, Bronze
French Empire Style Table Mirror
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire style mahogany dresser table mirror of pedimental form with applied brass mounts, the mirror on a mechanism above a drawer. Dimensions: 33" H x 23" W x 9.5" D.
Mahogany
Pair of Neoclassical Style Mirror
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A pair of mirrors in neoclassical style. Patinated pine wood frame in aedicule motif. Mirror with facet cut. Hanging on the back. Dimensions: 124 cm high / 48.8 inch high, ...
Pine
Antique Brass Table Mirror
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage petite "psyché" from the mid-20th century.
Brass
Sold
H 41.5 in W 25.5 in D 2 in
Neoclassical Style Carved Giltwood Wall Mirror in the Manner of La Barge
Located in Plainview, NY
This exquisite French Rococo carved giltwood mirror in the manner of La Barge features fine floral basket details on top and a beveled glass. With it is timeless style, this mirror ...
Mirror, Giltwood
19th Century French Painted Ceramic Freestanding Beveled Vanity Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a counter with this elegant freestanding ceramic table mirror. Crafted in France, circa 1860, the colorful mirror features an eagle figure at the pediment sited over a woman...
Ceramic, Faience, Mercury Glass
Sold
H 28.55 in W 19.69 in D 8.86 in
Mahogany Table Mirror with Verre Églomisé Inlays, St. Petersburg, circa 1800
Located in Greding, DE
Classicist table mirror in mahogany with verre églomisé inlays in blue and gold. The mirror is mounted between fluted columns with straight architrave and pivots.
Mahogany, Glass
Sold
H 50.01 in W 37.01 in D 11.42 in
Giltwood and Mahogany Mirror with Marble Top, Piedmont / Italy, 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Mirror mounted on a wide drawer with silver handles in an oval black frame and rich tendril and flower decoration made of giltwood. The mirror is flanked by figurative bronzes in ant...
Mahogany, Giltwood
Vanity-Top Venetian Mirror
Located in Chireno, TX
Vanity-top Venetian mirror dating from the late 19th century. Beautiful openwork crest and embellishments. Can sit upon a tabletop free-standing or be wall-mounted. Listed measuremen...
Mirror, Wood