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.
Pair of 19th Century Oval French Louis XVI Style Painted & Parcel Gilt Footstool
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of 19th Century Oval French Louis XVI Style Painted and Parcel Gilt Footstools
Upholstery
French Louis XVI Style Walnut Footstool with Linen Upholstery, 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XVI style walnut footstool from the 19th century with custom linen upholstery. This exquisite Louis XVI-style footstool, crafted in 19th-century France, showcases time...
Upholstery, Fabric, Linen, Walnut
$1,516Sale Price|20% Off
French Louis XVI Style Carved Walnut Petite Window Bench with Silk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This French Louis XVI style petite window bench, crafted in carved walnut, exudes elegance and refinement, making it a charming addition to any room. The bench is designed with grace...
Silk, Cane, Walnut
French 19th Century Louis XVI Painted Footstool
Located in Carmine, TX
A charming 19th-century French Louis XVI painted footstool, featuring a beautifully carved and painted wooden frame with classic fluted legs and decorative rosette corner blocks. The...
Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut, Paint
19th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Six Leg Oval Footstool
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming 19th century French walnut footstool featuring an elongated oval form supported by six fluted legs. Made in the grand Louis XVI taste with neoclassical carved rosettes on th...
Brass
18th Century French Louis XVI Diminutive Mahogany Footstool
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming diminutive or petite footstool from the French Louis XVI period. The stool features a hand-carved mahogany frame with neoclassical motifs. T...
Brass
19th c. French Louis XVI Carved Oak Stool
Located in Dallas, TX
This 19th century French Louis XVI carved oak stool is a luxurious and elegant piece of furniture perfect for adding a touch of sophistication to any room. The intricate detailing an...
Upholstery, Oak
French Louis XVI Style Footstool Gilt Gold
By Massant
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Louis XVI style footstool repose pied, gilt gold Large footstool, highly decorative, can also be used as extra seating or as an ottoman instead of a coffe...
Upholstery, Wood
Dutch Louis XVI Style Diminutive Footstool with Boucle
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Petite size Dutch mahogany carved footstool made in the grand French Louis XVI taste from Belgium. The stool features a newly upholstered frame with boucle fabric. The fabric is acce...
Brass
Louis XVI Carved Stool in Leather
Located in New York, NY
Louis XVI carved stool. Neoclassical Louis XVI period carved bleached white oval footstool with bead banded rim; foliate blocking above flute carved tapering legs, newly reupholstere...
Leather, Wood
French Louis XVI-Style Footstool, Cut Velvet Upholstery, 19th Century
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A beautifully proportioned, 19th century Louis XVI-style French footstool. The pillowy quatrefoil shape bows out on the sides to make for an comfortable vanity bench or even as an oc...
Upholstery
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Giltwood Footstool
Located in Houston, TX
19th century French Louis XVI style giltwood footstool. Unusual antique French Napoleon III gilt wood footstool, stool or tabouret with beautiful patina. This great French Louis XVI...
Giltwood
1890s French Louis XVI Footstool
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1890s Louis XVI carved wood footstool. Needs reupholstering.
Wood
Gustavian Antique, Round Stool, Swedish Cabinetmaker, Late 18th Century
Located in Odense, DK
Such a beautiful rare and original gustavian stool, made in giltwood with horsehair upholstered seat. Made in by a Swedish cabinetmaker in the late 18th century. A great vintage o...
Giltwood
Mid-Century Plastic Stool or Footstool, 1970, Hungary
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition. - New fabric. - Cleaned.
Fabric, Plastic
19th Century Biedermeier Footstool
Located in Darmstadt, DE
We present an authentic small Biedermeier footstool from around 1830. The piece features a solid walnut top resting on oak legs, displaying the w...
Oak, Walnut
Classic Antique Style Bench
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Elegant Empire style bench in walnut. Canes seat and sides, generous size-44" wide. Practical and sturdy.
Walnut
French 18th Century Louis XVI Painted Stool / Upholstery Seat
Located in Carmine, TX
An elegant French 18th-century Louis XVI stool featuring a beautifully carved and painted wood frame with fluted tapering legs and classic neoclassical detailing. The generously upho...
Fabric, Upholstery, Beech
French Louis XV Antique Carved Giltwood Window Bench
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A very attractive, exquisitely carved and incredibly useful "window bench" in the Louis XV taste, this form is often found at the foot of the bed, as a seating piece in the entryway ...
Giltwood
Louis XVI Style Upholstered Bench
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Louis XVI style bench with gesso and wood gilt construction, carved egg and dart trim, carved foliate fluted legs. The bench upholstered in silk fabric. Dimensions: 34 1/2" W, 15 1/...
Gesso, Fabric, Wood
$1,600
H 8 in W 25.75 in D 11.5 in
19th Century French Louis XV Painted Footstool with Aubusson Tapestry
Located in Dallas, TX
Add authentic French character and rich textile color to an interior with this elegant antique footstool. Crafted in France circa 1880, the long rectangular stool features a carved b...
Tapestry, Oak
$2,190 / item
H 20 in W 58 in D 16.5 in
White Oak Carved French Louis XVI Style Bench Upholstered in Linen with Cushion
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Introducing the exquisite Louis Bench for Bloom Home, elegantly upholstered in Belgian linen for a touch of sophistication and luxury. Its solid white oak legs are meticulously carve...
Linen, Oak
French Louis XVI Style Footstool Gilt Gold
By Massant
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Louis XVI style footstool repose pied, gilt gold Large footstool, highly decorative, can also be used as extra seating or as an ottoman instead of a coffe...
Upholstery, Wood
$1,850
H 19 in W 24 in D 17 in
Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Decorated Footstool With Queen Anne Legs
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Early 19th century English footstool decorated in the chinoiserie style with detailed gilt and polychrome figures, floral sprays, and geometric motifs on a black lacquer ground. Rais...
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
Louis XVI Style Yellow Silk Upholstered Footstool
Located in Astoria, NY
Louis XVI Style Yellow Silk Upholstered Oval Foot Stool, ebonized wood frame, fluted tapering legs. 18.5" H x 21" W x 16" D. Provenance: From an East 74th Street Estate.
Silk, Upholstery, Wood
Louis XVI Style Upholstered Footstools, Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of Louis XVI Style Upholstered Foot Stools, blue-grey cushion with tassels, carved wood frame with floral motif, fluted legs. 18" H x 20" W x 15" D. Provenance: From an East 7...
Upholstery, Giltwood
Louis XVI French Carved Foot Stools, Set of Two
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of French Louis XVI Style Carved Footstools. Footstools feature wonderfully aged painted and gilt frames. Each stool displays classic Louis XVI detailing such as fluted tapered ...
Textile, Wood
French Louis XVI Period Carved Foot Stool
Located in Bradenton, FL
Charming Late 18th Century Louis XVI Period Carved and Painted Footstool with floral silk upholstery. The rectangular frame is finely carved with beaded and fluted details. Stool re...
Silk, Wood
Louis XVI Style Carved Foot Stool
Located in Bradenton, FL
Charming Louis XVI Style Carved and Painted Footstool with floral silk upholstery. The rectangular frame is finely carved with beaded and fluted details. Stool rests on classic, tap...
Silk, Wood
Antique Louis XVI Gilt Wood Long Foot Stool 18thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Louis XVI Gilt Wood Long Foot Stool 18thC. Measures - 13.5"H x 36.5"W x 12.5"D. An 18th-century Louis XVI style long foot stool, crafted from gilt wood and upholstered....
Upholstery, Giltwood
Sold
H 8.25 in W 15 in D 12 in
French, Louis XVI Period, Carved Giltwood and Upholstered Footstool, ca. 1780
Located in Atlanta, GA
having an oval upholstered top on a carved giltwood frame, the apron with a repeating circular pattern, raised on round tapering fluted legs
Giltwood
Sold
H 7.25 in W 12.75 in D 10.25 in
Small French Walnut Pied de Tabouret Foot Stool, Pierre Frey Upholstery, C. 1900
Located in Dallas, TX
More information coming soon… A small, yet beautiful pied de tabouret, this French foot stool, which dates to circa 1900 is upholstered with Pierre Frey floral print. The frame, wh...
Upholstery, Wood, Walnut
Sold
H 20 in W 54.5 in D 30 in
Large French Louis XVI Style Raymond Waites by Lane Upholstered Stool Ottoman
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic ottoman or footstool of scale made by Lane Furniture and is in good condition with stains on upholstery that may be able to be removed. The frame is easy enough t...
Walnut
Sold
H 16 in W 29.5 in D 16 in
Louis XVI, Gustavian Style Tufted Ottomans, Footstools, Distressed Paint, 1950s
Located in Stamford, CT
Maison Jansen Style, Swedish, Tufted Ottomans or Gout Stools, Distressed Paint, Pink Fabric, 1950s A stunning pair of Maison Jansen Style footstools or ottomans each in a fine fabri...
Fabric, Wood
A pair of petite French Louis XVI style upholstered foot stools.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Each with carved wooden rosettes on the knees, fluted legs, and beautiful new blue and white upholstery. A perfect addition for putting up your feet and enjoying your bedrooms or rea...
Upholstery, Wood
Sold
H 15 in W 29 in D 39 in
20th C. Louis XVI Style Tabouret Upholstered in Velvet with Brass Nailhead Trim
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., a Louis XVI style tabouret with concave sides to a rectangular upholstered seat, raised on turned wood legs with brass casters. The seat is upholstered in a small scale jewe...
Silk, Velvet, Wood