The style of 18th-century French furniture was guided by the court. When Louis XV, who reigned from 1715–74, focused royal life on the smaller salons of Versailles rather than its grand chambers, it transformed the aesthetics away from the imposing and angular furniture that characterized the style of Louis XIV. A broader focus on comfort and more delicate forms define antique Louis XV furniture, with nature-inspired carvings, wood inlays, curved cabriole legs, asymmetrical shapes and rounded oval seat backs. The furnishings changed throughout the king’s life, as he ascended to the throne as a child and then grew to establish his own tastes.
Pieces like the bergère, an upholstered armchair with a wide cushion that fit the flowing dresses in fashion at the time, reflected this more informal court. Introduced at the start of Louis XV’s reign, bergère chairs in this style were deeper and broader than other chairs of the period.
Louis XV tapestries and carpets tended to be floral and colorful, and design elements were borrowed from Asia. Dutch-born cabinetmaker Bernard van Risenburgh brought lacquer techniques influenced by Japan and China into his luxuriously made furniture. Along with its fine details, the furniture of the era also featured new innovations including mechanical devices. Jean François Oeben, a royal cabinetmaker, created such intricate pieces as a mechanical table for Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s mistress. It involved a sliding top and a writing surface that extended from its marquetry panels.
During the later years of Louis XV’s reign, there was a shift from the ostentatious rocaille style, part of the exuberantly decorative Rococo movement in Europe for which designers such as Nicolas Pineau and Juste-Aurèle Meissonier are known. The style under Louis XVI would return to boxier forms, but with a neoclassical touch inspired by the ancient world.
Find antique Louis XV bedroom furniture, seating, tables and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Antique French Louis XV Style Giltwood & Aubusson Tapestry Canapé Sofa
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique French Louis XV Style Giltwood & Aubusson Tapestry Canapé Sofa.
Textile, Giltwood
Antique 19th C Louis XV Style Canapé Sofa in Schuyler Samperton Fabric
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique 19th C Louis XV Style Canapé Sofa in Eden Serene Fabric by Schuyler Samperton
Linen, Giltwood
19th Century Swedish Sofa
Located in Chireno, TX
Gray painted Swedish sofa circa 1860. 19th century sofa beautifully hand-carved with exceptional decoration. Newly upholstered in off-white ticking with down-wrap cushion. Joined con...
Upholstery, Down, Wood
A Large Louis XV Period Carved Beech and Tapestry Canape, French Circa 1750
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Large and Impressive Louis XV period carved beech and tapestry canape, French circa 1750 Height: 109 cm Width: 202 cm Depth: 72 cm Provenance: Private Australian Collection acqui...
Tapestry, Beech
French, 19th Century Louis XV Style Wooden Three-Seat Canapé à Oreilles h88a
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XV style three-seat wooden winged sofa from the 19th century with carved crest, scrolled arms, cabriole legs and new upholstery. This French wooden canapé à oreilles f...
Upholstery, Wood
Maison Jansen Stamped Sofa, Louis XV Style, France
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Rare Maison Jansen stamped French Louis XV style sofa with original grey patina, and clean lined cream upholstery. Lovely classical Louis XV shape, good width, seats three comfortabl...
Wood
A Louis XV Style Carved And Painted Salon Canapé, 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Louis XV Style Carved And Painted Salon Canapé, 19th Century The frame painted in muted celadon colours with carved details picked out in gilt, lavishly upholstered in antique sty...
Wood
Early Louis XV Period Canape in Carved Beechwood, c. 1730
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine early Louis XV period Canape, with crisp carved designs throughout the exposed beechwood frame, and with upholstered seat & back flanked by open arms in meandering form. The back with serpentine apron featuring carved designs and moulded borders throughout, and the seat with similar design themes. The Canape mounted atop 8 cabriole legs, each with rocaille carving at top, and moulded form that ends in scroll-form feet. Reference: The Antiques Directory...
Upholstery
$7,200Sale Price|20% Off
Louis XV Style Glitwood & Red Silk Canapé
Located in Ross, CA
This Louis XV style giltwood "canapé à corbeille" features a comfortable curving backrest with an elliptical central panel topped by carved ribbons,...
Silk, Giltwood
A large and richly carved French 18th century Louis XV period Walnut settee
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational French early 19th century Louis XV st. walnut canapé. Raised by eight impressive scrolled cabriolet legs with floral carvings. Each centered with a carved acanthus leaf...
Walnut
18th Century French Louis XV Carved Giltwood Canapé with Aubusson Tapestry
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a living room, grand entryway, or salon with this exceptional antique Louis XV sofa from the annexes of the Château de Versailles. Craft...
Tapestry, Giltwood
Late 19th C. Louis XV Style Carved and Painted Canapé — Iris Apfel Collection
Located in Morristown, NJ
Graceful French Louis XV-style carved and painted canapé, circa 1880–1900, upholstered in striped velvet, possibly Old World Weavers. From the Iris Apfel Collection, capturing the le...
Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Wood, Paint
French Louis XV Style Cane Back Settee
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Large French Louis XV style cane back settee, also called canapé or sofa. Sofa in a very good state, no damage to the cane, rare find. Double-caned s...
Velvet, Cane, Wood
20th Century, French Sofa / canapé in antique Louis Quinze Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid beechwood, carved, colored and gilded. Semicircular ascending backrest frame with perforated rocaille crowning. Passive curved frame with richly r...
Beech
18th Century Italian Louis XV Carved Painted Eight, Leg Upholstered Canape
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, antique painted settee was crafted in Italy, circa 1780. The classic Italian, Louis XV style sofa features a shaped back with ear ...
Tapestry, Wood, Paint
Louis XV period settee, circa 1750–1770.
Located in PARIS, FR
Elegant Louis XV period settee, circa 1750–1770, carved and waxed beechwood, newly upholstered “in the white” with natural linen. The triple-arched backrest, serpentine seat rail and...
Beech
$3,399Sale Price|20% Off
Luxurious Sofa, Canapé, Couch in Rococo or Louis XV Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Luxurious sofa, canapé, couch in Rococo or Louis XV style. Solid beech wood, carved and gilded. Rising backrest framing with openwork rocaille crowning. Appropriately curved frame w...
Wood
$1,485Sale Price|61% Off
French Louis XV Style Settee or Canape with Floral Upholstery in Red & White
Located in Plainview, NY
A lovely French Provincial Louis XV style settee or canapé recently upholstered in a gorgeous floral red and white fabric with 4 matching pillows two square and two tufted round pill...
Upholstery, Wood
$1,596Sale Price|20% Off
Fine Cane French Louis XV Gilded Settee Canape circa 1900
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This fine French Louis XV gilded settee, or canape, circa 1900, is a remarkable example of the elegance and craftsmanship associated with the Belle Époque period. Featuring a delicat...
Walnut
$2,712Sale Price|40% Off
19th Century French Walnut Hand Carved Three Seated Canapé Louis XV
Located in Sofia, BG
A fine example of Louis XV époque this French three seated canapé is made of hand carved walnut and is still wearing and original upholstery. The piece could be placed in a center of...
Walnut
$804Sale Price|30% Off
20th Century French Hand Carved Canape in Louis XV Style
Located in Sofia, BG
French large three-seated canape in Louis XV style with wooden walnut frame and original upholstery.
Textile, Wood
18th C. Louis XV Sofa Set with Armchairs, Hand-Carved Giltwood, Original Silk
Located in Madrid, ES
Three piece set, late 18th century French Louis XV canapé / sofa / settee with two matching armchairs. The sofa is able to accommodate three sit...
Silk, Giltwood
Vintage French Country Louis XV Style Double Cane Italian Canopy Porter Chair
Located in Southampton, NJ
An exquisite vintage French Country / Louis XV style double caned canopy Porter's chair with hand painted faux distressed finish, loose seat cushion with goose down bolster cushion. ...
Upholstery, Cane, Wood, Down
$767Sale Price|20% Off
Louis XV Bench in Carved Oak, France, circa 1880
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
3-seater bench / sofa with carved oak structure and original off-white / beige fabric. Louis XV style, France, circa 1880-1920. In good general condition: - structure in excellent ...
Fabric, Wood, Oak
Fine French Carved Leather Paint Decorated Louis XV Settee Canape 1950s Era
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Infuse your interior with timeless elegance using this exquisite 1950s French-made Louis XV-style settee, expertly crafted from solid walnut and finished in a distressed painted fram...
Leather, Walnut
Louis XV Style Fauteuil
Located in Sheffield, MA
Distinctive vintage Louis XV style hand carved armchair having open and down swept arms and elegant cabriole legs. Upholstery shows wear and some staining. M...
Wood
$9,600Sale Price|20% Off
Fine French 18th Century Walnut Canape
Located in Rome, IT
A FINE FRENCH 18th CENTURY CARVED WALNUT CANAPE WITH A SHAPED BACK , SCROLLING ARMRESTS ON A SERPENTINE SEAT ON CABRIOLE LEGS ENDING IN SCROLL FEET. CM 165X90X65
Wood
Elegant Yale Burge Louis XV Style Even-Arm Sofa
By Yale Burge
Located in Chicago, IL
Yale Burge high quality reproduction Louis XV style even-arm canape. Hand-carved beech frame, distressed and stained walnut with a single seat down filled cushion. Upholstered in a y...
Early 20th-C. French Louis XV Style Painted Canapé Settee Or Sofa In Velvet
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is an early French carved and painted fruitwood canapé in vintage velvet. The frame has peg construction. There is wear throughout the piece that does not detract from its beaut...
Velvet, Fruitwood
$10,395
Louis XV Canape in Walnut
Located in Vista, CA
Louis XV period canapé in walnut with antique petit-point covering.
Fabric, Walnut
Canape and Pair of Louis XV Style Chairs French 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
CANAPE AND PAIR OF LOUIS XV STYLE CHAIRS French 19th Century in mahogany wood with gilded and relief bronzes. Upholstered seats and back...
Wood