Baroque Armchairs
The decadence of the Baroque style, in which ornate furnishings were layered against paneled walls, painted ceilings, stately chandeliers and, above all, gilding, expressed the power of the church and monarchy through design that celebrated excess. And its influence was omnipresent — antique Baroque furniture was created in the first design style that truly had a global impact.
Theatrical and lavish, Baroque was prevalent across Europe from the 17th to mid-18th century and spread around the world through colonialism, including in Asia, Africa and the Americas. While Baroque originated in Italy and achieved some of its most fantastic forms in the late-period Roman Baroque, it was adapted to meet the tastes and materials in each region. French Baroque furniture informed Louis XIV style and added drama to Versailles. In Spain, the Baroque movement influenced the elaborate Churrigueresque style in which architecture was dripping with ornamental details. In South German Baroque, furniture was made with bold geometric patterns.
Compared to Renaissance furniture, which was more subdued in its proportions, Baroque furniture was extravagant in all aspects, from its shape to its materials.
Allegorical and mythical figures were often sculpted in the wood, along with motifs like scrolling floral forms and acanthus leaves that gave the impression of tangles of dense foliage. Novel techniques and materials such as marquetry, gesso and lacquer — which were used with exotic woods and were employed by cabinetmakers such as André-Charles Boulle, Gerrit Jensen and James Moore — reflected the growth of international trade. Baroque furniture characteristics include a range of decorative elements — a single furnishing could feature everything from carved gilded wood to gilt bronze, lending chairs, mirrors, console tables and other pieces a sense of motion.
Find a collection of authentic antique Baroque tables, lighting, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
1980s English Vintage Baroque Armchairs
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Armchairs
Fabric, Velvet
Mid-20th Century American Baroque Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-19th Century English Antique Baroque Armchairs
Walnut
1950s American Vintage Baroque Armchairs
Upholstery, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary French Baroque Armchairs
Brass
2010s English Baroque Armchairs
Wood, Mohair
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Baroque Armchairs
Leather, Faux Leather, Fabric
2010s British Baroque Armchairs
Alpaca, Beech
2010s British Baroque Armchairs
Alpaca, Beech
1860s English Antique Baroque Armchairs
Beech
1960s Vintage Baroque Armchairs
Fabric
20th Century Italian Baroque Armchairs
Upholstery