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.
Late 19thC French Kingwood and Mahogany Bedside Cabinet
Located in Altrincham, GB
Late 19thC French Kingwood and Mahogany Bedside Cabinet - with variegated marble top with single drawer and cupboard modelled as drawers and raised on reeded tapering legs - 18" x 14...
Marble
Rare 18th Century Italian Tuscany Solid Walnut Antique Nightstand
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We present this rare and valuable Italian antique bedside table dating back to the first decades of the 18th Century. Made of solid walnut wood and featuring a front with decorative...
Walnut
Classic pair French 4-Drawer Night Stands, bronze mounts , Louis XIV
Located in Buffalo, NY
Magnificent Pair French nightstands Louis XIV Style . Finely crafted featuring dovetail joinery. ribbon mahogany..wonderful hardware and ornamental bronze adornments that are oh so ...
Brass
Pair French Bedside Lamp Chests of Drawers
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A very good pair of French three drawer marquetry chests of drawers , bombe shaped with ormolu mounts, in excellent overall condition. 29" high 14" wide 10.5" depth You are welcome...
Walnut
FIRST HALF OF THE 18th CENTURY PAIR OF LOUIS XIV SLAB BEDSIDE TABLES
Located in Firenze, FI
Refined pair of finely veneered solid wood and walnut burl bedside tables, embellished with filleted inlays. The nightstands feature a bracketed ba...
Bronze
French Kingwood and Floral Marquetry Inlaid Bedside Chest with Marble Top
Located in Crawley, GB
A beautiful 20th century French kingwood and floral marquetry inlaid bedside chest with marble top and oak-lined drawers height 72cm width 34cm depth 27cm. Don't hesita...
Marble
H 20.5 in W 17.5 in D 12.5 in
Pair Of Louis XVI Style Bedside Tables
Located in Atlanta, GA
This pair of Louis XVI–style bedside tables, dating from the 1960s, is crafted in warm-toned wood and designed with clean neoclassical lines. Each table opens at the front with two d...
Wood
H 33.86 in W 22.05 in D 11.82 in
A Pair of 19th Century Roman Bedside Tables with Marquetry and Marble Tops
Located in London, GB
A fine pair of Roman marquetry bedside tables, with inset red and white marble tops, opening with two drawers to the front, with brass mounts, all supported on cabriole legs.
Marble
H 28.3 in W 15 in D 12.5 in
French Pair of Night Stands
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Charming pair of night stands or side tables that can be placed anywhere at home.
Wood
H 32 in W 30 in D 18 in
Pair of Italian Neo Classic Bedside Chests
Located in Westwood, NJ
Italian Neo Classic bedside chest. A wonderful reproduction of fine 18th-century Italian cabinetry. Made with Fruitwood and geometric inlays to the drawers and side panels. With work...
Wood
H 25.4 in W 19.89 in D 17.33 in
PAiR OF MILIARY CAMPAIGN SIDE END LAMP WINE BEDSIDE TABLE CHESTS WITH DRAWERS
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of vintage hardwood & brass Military Campaign style side tables with drawers Please note t...
Brass
H 30 in W 30 in D 20 in
Pair of Federal Style Mahogany Bedside Chests
Located in Westwood, NJ
A mahogany and figured mahogany nightstand, the reeded edge bowfront top with protruding corners with leaf carved and reeded uprights, with three graduated drawers with verdigris bra...
Wood
H 18.9 in W 20.08 in D 14.97 in
Handcrafted Double Drawer Floating Night Stands
Located in London, GB
Hand-crafted pair of European oak double drawer wall mounted floating night stands with black walnut accents and exposed through jointing details. Each with two drawers and a shelf b...
Oak, Walnut
H 32.75 in W 17 in D 16.25 in
19th Century French Empire Style Mahogany Bedside Cabinet
Located in Forney, TX
A French Empire style marble-top mahogany bedside cabinet (nightstand - end table) with elegant beautifully aged warm rustic patina. circa 1870 Hand-crafted in France in the secon...
Marble, Brass
H 24 in W 30 in D 18 in
Stunning Pair of Modern Grasscloth Night Stands with Single Drawer
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Stunning pair of William Sonoma Home night stands or end tables having natural grasscloth covering and finished with silver nailheads. Single drawer and lower tier. Barely used.
Grasscloth
H 31.5 in W 16 in D 16 in
19th C. French Renaissance Revival Walnut and Marble Top Bedside Table
Located in Germantown, MD
19th Century French Renaissance Revival Walnut and Marble Top Bedside Table , Nightstand, side table. Measures 16" in width, 16" in depth a...
Marble
H 23.63 in W 24.02 in D 13.78 in
Pair of Mid-Century Italian Art Deco Nightstands Bedside Tables Walnut Glass Top
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant and refined Italian 1950s Mid-Century Modern design, pair of bedside tables with double front door, glass top and beautiful wood veneer burl decors on the sides and door...
Brass
H 28 in W 14.5 in D 16.5 in
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian Walnut Nightstands, Circa 1940-1960
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian pair of nightstands made of hand crafted polished Walnut, in good condition. Each of the rectangular bed...
Metal, Brass
H 29.75 in W 16 in D 11.5 in
Super Pair Beside Lamp Chests of Drawers
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A very good pair of French three drawer bombe shaped tulipwood bedside lamp chests of drawers, with superb marbles, ormolu mounts, oak interiors, in excellent overall condition. 29....
Marble
H 15.5 in W 15.5 in D 35 in
Super Pair French Bedside Lamp Cabinets
Located in Swadlincote, GB
Super pair French walnut bedside lamp tables, drop down fronts, white marble interiors, rouge marble tops, in very good original condition. 35" high 15.5" square You are welcome to...
Walnut
H 69 in W 44 in D 83 in
Outstanding Pair of Oversized Louis X1V Single Beds
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A super pair of French walnut oversized single beds which join together to make a kingsized bed, in excellent original condition, come with pine slatted bases and superb mattresses. ...
Walnut
H 25.4 in W 21.66 in D 12.8 in
Italian Louis XIV Style Pair of Nightstands or Bedside Tables
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We present this beautiful pair of Louis XIV style bedside tables made in Italy in the second half of the 20th century. Made of walnut veneer with briar and maple decorations that cre...
Walnut
H 27 in W 18.5 in D 12 in
Pair of Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Style Oak Nightstands
Located in Fayetteville, AR
Found in the region of Normandy, France, this pair of early twentieth century rustic oak nightstands or bedside cabinets features solid hand pegged paneled sides in the Louis XIV sty...
Oak
H 33.47 in W 24.02 in D 14.18 in
Rare 17th Century Italian Venetian Veneer Walnut Antique Nightstand
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare and fine quality Italian Venetian 1680 antique nightstand in walnut veneer. The veneering of the wood is very thick as was used in ancient times. Particular wavy shape on the fr...
Walnut
H 45 in W 84 in D 38 in
French Double Caned & Carved White Twin Bed with Rose Swags
Located in Malibu, CA
Stunning French Antique Cane long twin beds featuring caned headboard embellished with floral swags & a central medallion with rare circular caning. The footboards in Berger style wi...
Cane, Hardwood
H 27 in W 19.5 in D 14 in
Pair of Mid-Century Italian Carved Walnut Bombe Bedside Cabinets Nightstands
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a bedroom with these elegant antique bedside tables. Crafted in Italy, circa 1950, each fruitwood chest stands on bracket feet over a s...
Walnut
H 34 in W 16 in D 16 in
19th Century French Louis XIV Walnut Marble Top Nightstand
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis XIV Walnut Marble Top Nightstand was crafted from select French walnut and features an elegant yet somewhat restrained design that will add subtle distincti...
Marble
H 31.89 in W 21.26 in D 10.24 in
Rare Early 18th Century Italian Walnut Antique Small Chest of Drawers
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare and fine quality Italian Louis XIV 1710 antique small chest of drawers in solid walnut. On the front four comfortable drawers. Geom...
Walnut
H 29.93 in W 25.2 in D 11.82 in
Rare 17th Century Italian Tuscany Carved Walnut Antique Nightstand
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare and fine quality Italian Tuscany 1680s antique nightstand in carved solid walnut. On the front one comfortable drawer. Geometric decorations on the door panels and sides. Origin...
Walnut
H 20.48 in W 33.86 in D 26.78 in
Italian Throne Corona Early 18th Century Louis XIV Gilt Wood Crown Bed Canape
Located in Milano, MI
A monumental and rare Italian early 18th century Louis XIV period giltwood bed canape in the shape of an oval crown. This antique, luxury bed throne corona, from which the Baldacchin...
Wood, Giltwood