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.
Antique French Louis XVI Alpaca Mohair Love Seat Sofa with Carved Details
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique French Louis XVI Alpaca Mohair Love Seat Sofa with Carved Details Country: France Materials: Carved Wood, Alpaca Mohair Condition: Newly...
Alpaca, Wood
French Louis XVI Giltwood Corner Settee Loveseat C. 1890s Era
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Measures: 59.75 wide x 31.5 tall x 38 deep and seat height 18 inches. It was made for a corner — and yet it refuses to be hidden. This rare and distinctive French Louis XVI giltwo...
Upholstery, Walnut, Giltwood
18th Century Italian Louis XVI Sofa
Located in Houston, TX
18th Century Italian Louis XVI Sofa. Offered is a stunning Italian Louis XVI style painted and giltwood sofa from the late 18th to early 19th century. This sofa has been professional...
Velvet, Wood
Elegant Louis XVI French Painted Carved Sofa Loveseat Upholstered in Mohair
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Antique French Louis XVI painted and carved loveseat/sofa from a 3 piece living room set having original paint and blue mohair upholstery with brass tacking. Two matching bergeres a...
Mohair, Wood
Antique French Exquisitely Carved and Newly Upholstered Sofa or Loveseat
Located in Hopewell, NJ
French Louis XVI sofa or loveseat from the 19th century in carved walnut. Features a gently bowed back, fluted legs, and intricate neoclassical carving throughout. New upholstery in ...
Upholstery, Walnut
19th Century Venetian Loveseat
Located in Houston, TX
19th century Venetian loveseat. This antique Venetian walnut loveseat, canape or divanetto has a beautiful shapely back, scrolled arms and cabrio...
Velvet, Walnut
Pair of Louis XVI Style Carved and Laqué Gilded Bergère Settees or Loveseats
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of Louis XVI style carved and Laqué gilded bergère settees. The elegant pair of carved loveseats, upholstered in a blue velvet, with padded backs and sides and a cushion seat,...
Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Loveseat
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Loveseat Lovely antique French Louis XVI style painted and giltwood loveseat or canape. This stunning sofa is a beautiful gray color with gilt tr...
Wood
Fancy Louis XVI Giltwood Sofa Loveseat with New Silk Upholstery
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Louis XVI style sofa having carved gilded wood and beautiful new upholstery. The lovely frame displays fluted columns topped by acanthus leaves. The base is composed of fluted and ta...
Upholstery, Giltwood
Elegant French Style Carved Sofa
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A large and deep French Style sofa with elaborately carved and shaped frame with a floral basket crest. The arm ends with carved acanthus leaves and bell flowers along the front frame and skirt. Raised on short fluted tapering legs in front and square in back. Upholstered in a very pleasing Aqua tweed fabric. Along with two matching pillows and two complementary machine embroidered pillows with leaves...
Wood
Vintage French Louis XVI Style Hollywood Regency Green Blue Settee Loveseat Sofa
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Louis XVI style Hollywood Regency green blue painted settee loveseat sofa. Item features green blue distress painted frame, solid wood construction, upholstered arm re...
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Fine Carved Antique French Settee with High Arms
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A notable early French settee in a custom fabric treatment. The frame with high arms and canted back corners. Carved ribbon and leaf motifs on the crest rail, ribbon motif on the sea...
Wood
French 19th Century Louis XVI Tall Back Settee
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A beautifully constructed French settee from the 19th century incorporating Louis XVI decorative motifs and proportions that would also fit with Empire or Directoire tastes as well. ...
Velvet, Fruitwood
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Giltwood Marquise or Bergere
Located in Houston, TX
19th century French Louis XVI style giltwood marquise or bergere. This stunning antique French Louis XVI style gilt wood chair, marquise, loveseat or bergere chair is most comfortabl...
Giltwood
Louis XVI-Style Antique Daybed with Pink Upholstery, 20th Century
Located in Queens, NY
Louis XVI-style (early 20th Century) white antique painted daybed with rounded sides and leaf finials having restored pink upholstery.
Fabric, Wood
French Louis XVI Cushioned Loveseat
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI style (19th Cent) grey painted loveseat with rounded sides and carved back crest with upholstered back, sides and seat with cushion Condition consistent with age of...
Paint
Lovely Antique Louis XVI Style Newly Upholstered French Settee Loveseat
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Lovely small Louis XVI style French settee having carved and painted gilded frame and new cotton duck upholstery. Finished with nailheads.
Upholstery, Wood
French Carved Walnut 19th Century Louis XVI Sofa, Settee or Loveseat
Located in Hopewell, NJ
French elegant and well-made antique carved walnut sofa, loveseat or settee. Classic example of the French Louis XVI style: the quality is superb, the frame has crisp and intricate ...
Upholstery, Walnut
Louis XVI Antique Design French Carved Walnut Buttonback Love Seat
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Charming Louis XVI Design 19th Century French Carved Walnut Button Back Love Seat With Leaf Carved Rococo Frame
Upholstery, Walnut
Regal Louis XVI Style Painted Wood and Velvet Loveseat
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Classic French loveseat having painted carved frame and wonderful velvet upholstery with luxurious down filled seat cushion. Finished front and back.
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of 19th Century French Louis XV-XVI Style Walnut Marquise
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 19th century French Louis XV-XVI style walnut Marquise. Marquises are oversized bergeres, loveseats or large chairs. This stunning pair of matching French Louis XVI style wal...
Velvet, Walnut
18th Century Italian Louis XVI Painted and Parcel Gilt Loveseat
Located in Houston, TX
18th century Italian Louis XVI painted and parcel gilt loveseat. 18th century Italian Louis XVI painted and parcel gilt loveseat, sofa, settee or divanetto. This stunning Italian lo...
Wood
$17,500 / set
Pair of 2 French Louis XVI Striped Loveseats
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Louis XVI style (1st half 19th Cent) grey painted loveseats (Marquise) with carved frame and bow-knot on back with striped upholstery and cushion. (PRICED AS Pair) So...
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Painted Loveseat
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Stunning elegant and rare early 19th century Swedish Gustavian style loveseat, sofa or settee with exquisite carving and original paint. Frame with beautifully carved decor of acanth...
Upholstery, Wood
Newly Upholstered Carved Wood Louis XVI Style Canape
Located in New York, NY
Newly upholstered 1950's Louis XVI style carved wood sofa with columnal legs and carved ornamental details to corners. Single welting and arm cushions. Down wrapped seat. Age appropr...
Wood
French Louis XVI Velvet Loveseat
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI style cream painted loveseat with bow knot carved back crest and velvet upholstered seat and back Antique condition. Shows wear and tear
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood
French Louis XVI Green Striped Upholstery
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI style (19/20th Cent) gilt loveseat with a carved oval back and green striped upholstery Vintage condition with a visible stain on seat upholstery.
Gold Leaf
$1,785Sale Price|38% Off
Louis XVI Style Settee/Love Seat, Polychromed with New Upholstery, 19th Century
Located in Houston, TX
19th century settee with new upholstery, polychromed in pale cream color hue. Scrolled arms with a slightly arched crest rail. Reeded straight legs.
Hardwood
$2,551
Basket Love Seat
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A basket love seat style Louis XVI.
Mahogany
French Louis XVI Style Aubusson Upholstered Loveseat
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI-style, 19th century gilt oval back Aubusson upholstered loveseat.
Upholstery, Giltwood