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Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

ROCOCO STYLE

Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.

The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.

When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.

The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.

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Style: Rococo
Color:  Gold
Bronze Vienes Miniature enamel
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Bronze Vienes miniature living room set Miniature with enamel Origin France Circa 1930 Materials Bronze and enamel in perfect condition Rococo style 7 pi...
Category

1930s Austrian Vintage Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Rococo Style Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock and Barometer
Located in London, GB
In their elaborate use of C-scrolls, putti figures, stylised acanthus leaves and flowers, this clock and barometer are clearly Rococo in their style. The Rococo came into fashion in ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel

French Rococo Style Gilt Bronze Clock and Barometer by Charpentier
Located in London, GB
Designed in the French Rococo style, this clock and barometer set have been beautifully ornamented with scrolling foliate gilt bronze forms. The two are diamond shaped, with symmetri...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze

Related Items
Large Antique French Rococo Gilt Bronze Candelabra Clock Set
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A stunning and large original antique French gilded bronze clock set. It is of the most beautiful Rococo style, waisted case decorated with ...
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19th Century French Antique Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

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Bronze

Rosy Top Clock, Gilded
Located in New York, NY
Clock rosy top gilded shell 3". Creel and Gow has been working with the same atelier in Rome, Italy for over 20 years to make our signature silvered shells. Our workshop has been ope...
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2010s Italian Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

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Gold Leaf

Rosy Top Clock, Gilded
Rosy Top Clock, Gilded
H 2 in W 3 in D 3.5 in
1970s British Bronze AC.GMT.Co. Industrial Wall Clock Chrome Bezel Black Dial
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Rescued from Industrial scrap yards and brought back to life in our UK workshop, our expert process allows us to create a high quality clock of luxury standards. At A.C GMT Co. we apply new paint finishes or lustrous copper and bronze to the clock case. Our high speed polishing machine restores the chrome bezel, which then frames one of our high definition screen printed dials. These clocks were originally slave or secondary clocks used on cargo ships and super tankers, they would have been controlled by a master clock...
Category

1970s English Vintage Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Chrome, Bronze, Steel

Late 19th Century Louis XV Rococo Style Gilt Bronze Cartel Wall Clock
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A small and elegant antique cartel clock, mounted on a wooden base with fabric. The richly decorated clock is made of bronze with refined details....
Category

1880s French Antique Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

French Pendulum Clock & Aneroid Barometer, circa 1960
Located in Labrit, Landes
Clock and aneroid barometer in walnut made circa 1960. The aneroid barometer (or holosteric barometer) was developed by the Frenchman Lucien Vidie who filed a patent for it in 1844 ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Brass

Antique Smith 8-Day Shipboard Clock
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A brass circular base with a central inset hinged glass panel that reveals a white metal face with black enameled Roman numerals hours and Arabic numerals seconds. The clock lacks a ...
Category

Early 20th Century English Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

1970s British Bronze and Chrome AC GMT Co. Industrial Wall Clock White Dial
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
Rescued from Industrial scrap yards and brought back to life in our UK workshop, our expert process allows us to create a high quality clock of luxury standards. At A.C GMT Co. we ...
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1970s English Vintage Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

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Bronze, Steel, Chrome

French Musical Automation Picture Clock
Located in New Orleans, LA
This incredible work of art blends the beauty of a painting with the mechanical complexities of both a cylinder music box and an automaton. A clock is integrated within the arched giltwood and gesso frame, and, when activated, this painting quite literally comes alive. As the cylinder mechanism within plays its lovely tune, every character in the farrier's shop becomes animated – from the group of farrier's toiling away at the forge and anvil forming the horseshoes, to the wagging of the charming terrier's tale. This musical automaton picture clock is attributed to Xavier Tharin of Paris who was the preeminent creator of these fantastical "moving pictures", especially this particular scene. His process mixed oil painting and hand-colored lithograph images that were layered starting from the back and into the middle and foreground to craft the complex series of movements throughout the painting. A look inside this particular work reveals the complex mechanism (with the three gongs, pendulum and cylinder components immediately visible) which run the timepiece, the cylinder musical component, plus the multitude of moving elements in the painting -- a truly incredible feat considering the technical prowess to create just one of these devices. Musical picture clocks...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood, Giltwood, Paint

French Musical Automation Picture Clock
French Musical Automation Picture Clock
H 48.5 in W 44 in D 10.25 in
Antique Gilt Bronze Enamel Travel Altar Triptych
Located in New York, NY
An antique Catholic gilt bronze travel altar triptych case featuring inside a crucifix cross set within malachite decorations and fine cast floral frami...
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Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Antique Gilt Bronze Enamel Travel Altar Triptych
Antique Gilt Bronze Enamel Travel Altar Triptych
No Reserve
H 26.25 in W 18.5 in D 4 in
Designs for Gilt Bronze Objects from the French Restoration 1814-1830, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Designs for Gilt Bronze Objects from the French Restoration 1814-1830: Clocks, Candelabras, Chandeliers, Sconces and Inkwells, by Charles Plante. Publis...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Antique Austrian Cast and Cold Painted Bronze Miniatures Cat Figurine Whimsy Lot
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Lot of three ornately cast and cold-painted antique Austrian bronze miniatures of whimsical cats. These highly detailed sculptures date from circa 1900-1920. Approximate dimensions of figurines: (L/W/H) Cat Porter/Bell Hop...
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Early 20th Century Austrian Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Rare Antique Gothic Revival Gilt Bronze Wall Cartel Clock with Griffin Sculpture
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning and perfect running Gothic architectural design bronze wall clock, from circa 1880. If you like rare antiques in general and one of a kind clocks in particular then this handcrafted specimen for wall mounting could be the perfect addition to your collection or Gothic (inspired) interior. This fine quality antique...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Previously Available Items
19th Century French Bronze Crucifix on Ornate Base with Angels and Cherubs
Located in Dallas, TX
For an eye-catching centerpiece in your home, look no further than this beautiful, antique bronze cross. Situated on an elaborate, architectural base, the tall cross is sculptural fr...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Stunning Pair of Rare Antique Rams Head Bronze Urns with Marble Bases Grand Tour
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of solid bronze with marble bases Italian Rams head urns An exquisite example in beautiful condition throughout, we have clea...
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19th Century Italian Antique Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Mid-19th Century Pair of French Gilt Bronze Four-Light Candelabras Rococo Style
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
Pair of French gilt art bronze four-light candelabras in Rococo style, richly decorated with fruits and vine. Measures: Height 20.50 in (52 cm) Width/depth 10.75 in (27 cm) Bas...
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Mid-19th Century Antique Rococo Collectibles and Curiosities

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Bronze

Rococo collectibles and curiosities for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Rococo collectibles and curiosities for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage collectibles and curiosities created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Rococo collectibles and curiosities made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original collectibles and curiosities, popular names associated with this style include Interi, Charpentier et Cie, Delft, and E. Gleizes Paris. 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. Prices for collectibles and curiosities differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $375 and tops out at $159,194 while the average work can sell for $2,868.

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