Reflecting the final era of royal opulence before the upheaval of the French Revolution, antique Louis XVI furniture features more angular shapes than the Rococo curves of the Louis XV style, harkening back to the imposing grandeur of Louis XIV.
Dating between 1750 and 1800, an era that overlapped with the last king of France whose reign was cut short by the guillotine, Louis XVI furniture, known as the goût grec, is emblematic of the neoclassical revision that French furniture underwent during the second half of the 18th century.
Authentic Louis XVI furniture characteristics include clean lines and carved details such as scrolls and acanthus flourishes that were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. This was informed by a burgeoning interest in antiquity in the 18th century, owing to new archaeological excavations at sites including Pompeii and Herculaneum. It largely eclipsed the more East Asian–influenced ornamentation of Louis XV for something more geometric and symmetrical.
The Louis XVI style was defined by what was being created for the palatial rooms at Versailles and Fontainebleau, particularly for the queen, with cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener being a favorite of Marie-Antoinette’s for his luxurious pieces accented with gilded bronze and marquetry. Furniture maker Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené was also a major designer of the period, with his pieces for the royal residences adorned with giltwood and neoclassical touches like tapered columns for chair legs and laurel leaf carvings. Cabinetmaker Adam Weisweiler occasionally incorporated into his furniture porcelain panels produced by Sèvres, a popular manufacturer of European ceramics that served the crown with serveware, vases and other decorative objects.
Find a collection of antique Louis XVI seating, tables, cabinets and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Early 20th Century Upholstered Walnut Corner Chair
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a highly carved Corner chair. It has a slat arm and an upholstered seat. The cabriole legs rest on brass casters.
Walnut
$2,064Sale Price / set|40% Off
19th Century French Pair of Hand Carved Chairs in Louis XVI Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century French pair of redecorated and cream coloured lacquered wood chairs with delicate golden painted finish. The chairs have round back in Louis XVI style and are in very go...
Wood
Antique French Louis XVI Style Hand-Carved Walnut Corner Chair, 1890
Located in Barntrup, DE
Antique French Louis XVI style hand-carved walnut corner chair from circa 1890. The richly carved walnut corner chair features a concave-shaped foliate-carved backrest rail with putt...
Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut
Early 20th Century Upholstered Walnut Throne Chair
Located in Pasadena, TX
This Louis styled throne chair is made of walnut. It has a hand carved back and cabriole legs. Its upholstered in a pink fabric and has brass casters.
Walnut
Antique French Louis XVI Style Carved Walnut Lyre Harp Corner Chairs - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Louis XVI Style Carved Walnut Lyre Harp Corner Chairs - a Pair. Blue upholstered seats with "bee" print, carved and tapered legs, very nice antique pair. Circa Early 1...
Walnut
$2,189Sale Price|24% Off
Louis XVI Napoleon III Marquise armchair with Tobacco Aligator Style Skin
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
An outstanding Louis XVI Napoleon III Marquise armchairs. A superb , ornately carved French armchairs with original paint and in the Louis XVI style, dating from the end of the 19th ...
Walnut
$2,723 / item
H 31.11 in W 26.375 in D 25 in
Teak Wood Armchair with Curved Seat and Back – Velo Collection
Located in Miami, FL
The Velo armchair by Uultis embodies sculptural simplicity, crafted entirely from sustainably sourced teak veneer. Defined by its dynamic silhouette, the Velo features an organically...
Teak
$24,000 / set
H 42 in W 33 in D 26 in
French Pair of Louis XVI Style Marquise Bergere Giltwood Armchairs
Located in Montreal, Quebec
French pair of Louis XVI style marquise bergère armchairs, gilt wood, 19th century. In the clean and classic Louis XVI style, the name Marquise is attributed due to their exceptiona...
Velvet, Wood
Chinese Hongmu Corner Chair, 19th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Chinese Hongmu corner chair, 19th century. The horseshoe-form back with molded crest above a pair of open carved splats with fruiting and fl...
Wood
$721
H 25.99 in W 16.93 in D 16.93 in
Antique Rural Dutch Carved Corner Bobbin Chair with New Rush Nr2
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Very charming oak Bobbin chair that fits perfect in a corner. The rush of the seat is new and therefore it is still a bit green but that will soon fade. This chair was made in the ...
Rush, Oak
Mid-18th Century Mahogany Corner Chair
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A large example of a mid 18th century mahogany corner chair with vase shaped back splat, good cpouor and patination.
Louis XV Style Walnut and Caned French Provincial Bergere
Located in Montreal, QC
This shapely corner armchair has unusually positioned legs. The curving arms ,legs and caned sides and seat all contribute a sense of lightness , the carving is excellent.
Cane, Walnut
$3,250 / set
H 36.5 in W 24.75 in D 20.5 in
Pair of Antique Swedish Monk's Corner Chairs in Oak, Circa Early 20th Century
Located in Peabody, MA
Pair of rustic Swedish munkstolar, or monk’s chairs, ca. 1910-1920. Their three legged design has its origins in the medieval monasteries of Northern Europe where it was considered a...
Oak
$4,200 / set
H 33.5 in W 19.25 in D 16.5 in
Pair of 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Giltwood Chairs
By Georges Jacob
Located in Houston, TX
Fabulous pair of Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI style giltwood side chairs. These highly detailed French gilt chairs have beautifully detailed identical front and rear legs (super...
Giltwood
$395
H 27 in W 16.5 in D 16.5 in
Early 20th Century Cottage Style Bobbin Corner Chairs with Rush Seating
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Corner chair by Stefanus Collé from the 1920s features cottage style bobbin turnings and carved wood frame with original rush seating. Decorative spindles create characteristic verti...
Rush, Wood
Pair of 19th Century Carved Oak Corner Chairs
Located in High Point, NC
Pair of 19th century carved oak corner chairs from England with a wonderfully carved back, supports and arms, all depicting acanthus leaves and scrolls. The seats have wonderful carv...
Oak
$697
H 34.85 in W 23.63 in D 19.69 in
Louis XVI style "à la reine" Armchair - carved beech - France Napoleon III 19th
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Magnificent "à la reine" armchair with flat back in Louis XVI style beech with rows of pearls. This beautiful armchair is made of molded and carved beech. The square-shaped backrest ...
Wood, Upholstery, Velvet
$1,445
H 32 in W 28 in D 27 in
Antique English Carved Oak Corner Chair Renaissance Arm Throne Chair Upholstery
Located in Shreveport, LA
Direct from England, a gorgeous 19th century carved oak corner chair. Thick, hand carved foliate back rail, with turned and carved lyre shaped supports, ending in dimensional mask handholds. Fully carved straight legs to the sides, with a wide carved apron having carved foliate and lion masks. Front carved cabriole leg with large ball and claw foot. Removable slip seat cushion features a crest flanked by rampant lions on a floral background. Skillfully hand carved design, with a rich, dark patina, this 19th century English oak corner chair...
Oak
Sold
H 41.25 in W 52 in D 22.5 in
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Carved and Painted Bergere Bench Chair
Located in Dallas, TX
Enhance a study, office, or elegant corner with this exquisite antique corner bergère. Handcrafted in France circa 1920, this unique wing back chair is designed in the Louis XVI styl...
Fabric, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Brass Campaign Style Corner Chair
Located in Peabody, MA
19th C. French campaign style corner chair in tubular brass.
Brass
Sold
H 26.75 in W 26.5 in D 21.5 in
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Giltwood Corner Chair with Needlepoint Seat
Located in Birmingham, AL
Lovely 19th century French Louis XVI style giltwood corner chair from Paris having a low curving back that's centered with columnar splats and ends in gracefully scrolling arms with carved acanthus plumes, circa 1850s. Carved seat rail standing on stop-fluted tapering legs headed by rosettes, raised on toupie feet. The original needlepoint upholstery is intact but has some wear. A sturdy antique French...
Giltwood
Louis XVI Occasional Easy Chair by Hickory Heirloom
By Hickory Chair Furniture Company
Located in Southampton, NJ
A beautiful Louis XVI style easy chair by Hickory Furniture Company for their Heirloom line having carved mahogany frame with overstuffed seat cushion...
Wood
Sold
H 27.5 in W 20 in D 20 in
19th Century Louis XVI Corner Chair or French Walnut Arm Bench, circa 1870
Located in Dallas, TX
An intriguing variation on the basic armchair or vanity bench, this 19th century Louis XVI neoclassical corner chair - armbench is perfect for stashing in, well, a corner! Normally c...
Walnut
French 19th Century Painted Louis XVI Corner Chair
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A fantastic carved and painted Louis XVI corner chair from 19th century, France. Carved acanthus leaves embellish the tops of the arms, from which extend delicate, turned spindles th...