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.
$5,750 / set
Venetian Silver Gilt Day Bed
Located in Riverdale, NY
Venetian daybed of hand-carved wood with silver gilt accents on a Venetian grey blue ground. Ornate Rococo carving, highlighted by silver gilding and l...
Wood
French Baroque Style Chintz-Upholstered Daybed, circa 1940s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Rather theatrical and glamorous daybed with a sweeping S-shaped top, raised on large turned baluster legs. The structure is painted in an elegant light green, and has been newly upholstered in vintage chintz.
$2,800
H 18.12 in W 74.02 in D 33.08 in
Art Deco Daybed, Reupholstered in Vintage Fabric, Danish Cabinetmaker, 1940s
By Josef Frank
Located in Odense, DK
Rare Art Deco daybed / sofa, reupholstered in colorful vintage gobelin fabric from the 80s. Made by a Danish Cabinetmaker in 1940s. This beautiful vi...
Fabric, Oak
$8,500
H 48.04 in W 42.13 in D 81.11 in
Sculptural form brass day bed by Osvaldo Borsani, Arredamento Borsani, circa 1958
By Arredamenti Borsani, Osvaldo Borsani, Arnaldo Pomodoro
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Beautiful and important sculpturakl form brass single bed or day bed circa 1958-1963 by Osvaldo Borsani for 'Arredamento Borsani', Varedo , Italy. The small series of Borsani beds designed were produced in several different designs ,each in very limited numbers and all hand made by the Arredamento Borsani in Varedo, italy. This series of beds never went into serial industrial production , a fact confirmed to me by the Arredamento Borsani archives. Beginning in the late 1950s,Osvaldo Borsani went on to collaborate with many great artists such as Lucio Fontana, Fausto Melotti, Agenore Fabbri, Aligi Sassu and Arnaldo Pomodoro, amongst others entrusting each to provide decorative elements to his designs. The brass headboard features a series of heavy cast solid brass interlocking geometric elements each featuring a beautiful organic three dimensional surface finish creating a supremely elegant and timeless repetitive motif . The bed still retains all its original decorative brass nuts ,bolts and finials which feature the same three dimensional decorative finish as the decorative sculptural forms contained in the headboard. We have had a new bespoke mattress and bolster pillow made with a natural latex foam surface as they would have originally had which also has the benefit that latex breathes. The mattress has an opulent decorative buttoned finish . Botht the mattress and pillow have been finished in 100% wool 'PLOEGWOOL' fabric by the high quality Dutch fabric manufacturer DE PLOEG. MATTRESS DIMENSIONS : Width 100cm x length 200cm / 3ft 3.37inch x 6ft 6.74inch BOLSTER PILLOW DIMENSIONS: Width 100cm diameter 24cm / 3ft 3.37inch x 9.45inch The mattress is supported on a 20mm ( 0.75 inch ) thick plywood board ,with breathing holes, which spans across the transverse brass plated steel frame elements. When used as a day bed SEATING...
Brass
Modern Outdoor Hanging Swing Chair White Vegan and Eco Friendly
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
Our sling hanging chair which is crafted with Spradling Silvertex material – a highly- sustainable environmentally-friendly vegan material. The Slings can be ordered as a single bu...
Stainless Steel
Dovetailed Platform Bed in Ash, Queen Size
Located in Princeton, NJ
This bed is designed to accommodate a contemporary aesthetic. This design is carefully handmade, featuring detailed construction and traditional technique which utilizes the interloc...
Ash
$3,275 / set
H 27.17 in W 36.23 in D 81.11 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Pair of Bamboo and Wicker Sofa Beds, 1960s
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian pair of bamboo and wicker sofa beds or single beds. The beds need a mattress of cm. 85 x 190 (Standard Italian single bed size).
Bamboo, Rattan
A French Painted Louis XVI-Style Daybed, C. 1920.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Elegant white-painted frame with teal upholstery, featuring arched footboards flanked by turned posts topped with decorative finials. A refined example of Louis XVI-inspired design, ...
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
Fine French 1950's Solid Elm Bed by Pierre Chapo
By Pierre Chapo
Located in Long Island City, NY
A fine French Mid-Century solid elm bed by Pierre Chapo.
Elm
Upholstered Daybed Chaise Longues
Located in Sheffield, MA
Graceful and inviting, the recamier chaise with arched back and rolled arm. The fainting couch is upholstered but it does show some ware. Although made in the Victorian period, it ...
Upholstery
Franz Köttgen for Kill International Leather Daybed
By Franz Köttgen, Kill International
Located in Long Island City, NY
A simple and wonderful design from the 1960s produced by Kill International, a furniture maker of outstanding quality. Three leather cushions can be removed to form a very comfortabl...
Steel
1940s French Art Deco Settee
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Art Deco settee with rosewood arms and frame from France, 1940s. Striking large circular arms and newly woven seat and back with trestle style feet.
Cane, Rosewood
Chinese Woven Top Canopy Bed, c. 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
A Chinese canopy bed was typically part of a bride's dowry or a gift to a courtesan. It grew to be an important household status symbol, and the sub...
Rattan, Elm
Dovetailed Platform Bed in Ash, Full
Located in Princeton, NJ
This bed is designed to accommodate a contemporary aesthetic. This design is carefully handmade, featuring detailed construction and traditional technique which utilizes the interloc...
Ash
19th Century Venetian Polychromed Daybed Chaise Longue
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Spectacular 19th century Venetian daybed or chaise longue featuring a Venetian gondola style wooden frame. The bed is decorated with colorful floral re...
Fabric, Wood
Late 19th Century Swedish Carved Pine Bench
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice carved pine bench or settee or daybed with beautiful patina Came from Sweden, and late 19th century work Reupholstered in green velvet fabric Measures: 165 x 69 cm - H ...
Velvet, Pine