Neoclassical Armchairs
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.
1980s American Vintage Neoclassical Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
1980s American Vintage Neoclassical Armchairs
Brass, Steel
1950s Danish Vintage Neoclassical Armchairs
Fabric, Rosewood
20th Century American Neoclassical Armchairs
Linen, Walnut
2010s Italian Neoclassical Armchairs
Velvet
1980s North American Vintage Neoclassical Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
1960s American Vintage Neoclassical Armchairs
Walnut
1950s Danish Vintage Neoclassical Armchairs
Fabric, Oak
18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Armchairs
Wood
1960s American Vintage Neoclassical Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Armchairs
Upholstery, Hardwood
1940s Swedish Vintage Neoclassical Armchairs
Birch
1960s Belgian Vintage Neoclassical Armchairs
Fabric, Wood
20th Century American Neoclassical Armchairs
Metal
1980s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Armchairs
Leather, Wood
1980s American Vintage Neoclassical Armchairs
Leather, Wood
1980s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Armchairs
Fabric, Wood, Lacquer
1980s American Vintage Neoclassical Armchairs
Oak