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
Antique French Louis XVI Style Carved Walnut Lyre Harp Corner Lounge Chair Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Antique French Louis XVI Style Carved Walnut Lyre Harp Corner Lounge Chairs - a Pair....
Walnut
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
$2,142Sale Price|26% 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
$2,020Sale 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
$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
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.
American Georgian Walnut Upholstered Corner Chair, Circa 1770
Located in Charleston, SC
American Georgian walnut corner chair with carved splat backs, carved decorative molded edge, scrolled arms, turned ringed columns, carved corner fret...
Upholstery, Walnut
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Giltwood Children's Chair
Located in Houston, TX
19th century French Louis XVI style giltwood children's chair. Antique French Louis XVI style gilt wood and cane children's chair or child's chair from the 19th century. This French ...
Giltwood
French 19th Century Oak Louis XVI Style Marquise Armchair
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A Louis XVI style fauteuil from the 19th century in scaled-up proportions known as a “marquise” for accommodating a lady’s voluminous skirt. This example features timeless sophistica...
Velvet, Oak
$24,850Sale Price / set|29% Off
H 58.5 in W 32.5 in D 29 in
Pair of Italian 19th Century Renaissance Style Carved Figural Throne Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine and palatial pair of Italian 19th century renaissance style carved walnut figural throne armchairs. The intricately carved Baroque frames with the backrests depicting a pair o...
Velvet, Walnut
$575Sale Price|52% Off
H 34 in W 23.5 in D 17 in
Chinese Export Oriental Hand Carved Rosewood Corner Chair
Located in Plainview, NY
A beautiful Chinese export oriental corner chair. The chair is finely hand-carved of quality rosewood with shiny lacquer finish and is made using...
Rosewood
$1,995
H 33.47 in W 22.25 in D 20.08 in
Antique Edwardian Style Triangular Corner Chair Rush Seat Knitting Armchair 1900
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Late 19th century Edwardian style wooden armchair with rush seat, ca 1900 Manufactured in U.K. Beautiful English antique knitting chair with t...
Wicker, Wood
Vintage Rosewood Hand Carved Oriental Corner Chair
Located in Germantown, MD
Vintage rosewood hand carved oriental corner chair Chic solid rosewood oriental corner chair hand carved in front and back. This charming piec...
Rosewood
$706
H 26.38 in W 16.54 in D 16.54 in
Mid Century Antique Provincial Hand Crafted Bobbin Corner Chair, France, 1940s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
A fine French Provincial corner chair in stained oak with a handmade cane seat. Classic bobbin turned legs and in a overall fine vintage condition. Made in the 19th century. Lovely ...
Straw, Wood
$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
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
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
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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...