Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.
The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.
When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.
The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.
Italian Giltwood Bench with Exaggerated Legs
By Maison Baguès, Maison Jansen
Located in Houston, TX
Italian giltwood bench with exaggerated legs. Stunning Italian gilt wood bench with exaggerated legs. This 1920s Italian bench was taken down to...
Giltwood, Velvet
Pair of Italian Rococo-Style Stools in Clarence House Silk Velvet, Nailhead Trim
Located in Morristown, NJ
A striking pair of 20th-century Italian Rococo-style stools upholstered in rich red Clarence House Traviata silk velvet, as identified in the auction catalogue. Each stool features ...
Brass
Round Ottoman Wood Structure Fabric or Leather Matching fringes
By sicis
Located in London, GB
Upholstered in high quality velvet in a delicate pastel colour, this pouf has a refined design. The central band, decorated with an intricate geometric pattern reminiscent of the Tri...
Leather, Fabric, Wood
Navy Velvet Low Stool with Lucite Legs, Pair
Located in Wilton, CT
A pair of stunning square low stools with cushions upholstered in fine navy velvet and installed with solid lucite legs. These stools are new ...
Velvet, Lucite
$12,400 / set
H 22 in W 25 in D 17.5 in
Pair of Billy Baldwin Style X Stools in Black Cowhide & Ivory Leather c. 1970s
Located in Saint Louis, MO
This incredibly chic pair of 1970s Billy Baldwin style X base ottomans will stop you dead in your tracks with a killer combination of plush jet black cowhide upholstery and Italian i...
Cowhide, Leather, Upholstery
Pair of Silk Parsons Ottomans or Stools
Located in Redding, CT
Pair of Silk Parson Ottomans or stools. Gingham silk upholstery covers the pair. very good condition. In the Billy Baldwin style with button top. This ...
Fabric, Silk, Upholstery, Wood
$2,850 / set
H 16.5 in W 19.5 in D 19.5 in
Pair of George Smith English Upholstered Stools in Cut Velvet with Nailhead Trim
By George Smith
Located in San Diego, CA
A refined pair of upholstered stools by George Smith, handmade in England using traditional upholstery techniques. Each stool is upholstered in a luxurious cut velvet textile featuri...
Brass
$3,200 / set
H 19 in W 23.5 in D 17 in
Curule Ottoman Stools / Benches in Leopard Velvet, Mid 20th C., Italy
Located in Southampton, NJ
A superb pair of Neoclassical style curule ottomans /benches /stools, featuring sinuous X-form cross-curule bases, intricate turned stretchers with carv...
Fruitwood, Wood, Velvet
$2,795 / set
H 16 in W 21 in D 14 in
Neo-Classical Gustavian Style Painted Curule Stools / Ottomans In Velvet - Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of neo-classical or Gustavian style curule painted ottomans. The mushroom velvet upholstery is new. The carved frames are painted ivory with silver gilt rosettes and r...
Velvet, Poplar
Celina Decoracoes Rosewood Leather Bench with Storage
Located in Oakland, CA
Mid century rosewood ottoman/bench by Munis Zilberberg for Celina Decorações, Brazil. Crafted of Brazilian rosewood with a newly upholstered full-ani...
Leather, Rosewood
$1,256
H 18.9 in W 38.59 in D 15.75 in
Mid-Century Neoclassical Louis XVI Style Bench with Cream Upholstery and Fluted
Located in Opole, PL
Louis XVI Style Upholstered Bench with Fluted Legs Elegant rectangular upholstered bench in the Louis XVI style, raised on four slender, turned and vertically fluted wooden legs. It...
Upholstery, Oak
$6,800 / set
H 18.5 in W 24.5 in D 20 in
Pair of Dorothy Draper España X Stools / Benches in Leopard Velvet, circa 1955
By Dorothy Draper, Heritage Furniture
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Timelessly sexy and upper crust pair of Dorothy Draper Hollywood Regency benches or ottomans newly professionally upholstered in elegant leopard velvet. Stately X shape and lines. New leopard velvet tufted upholstery outlined in black piping for a more upscale finished look. Brass feet and emblems have a rich patina. Lacquered black wooden legs highlighted in gold draws the eye to that sophisticated X silhouette. These iconic Dorothy Draper benches...
Lacquer, Velvet
$2,970 / item
H 18.12 in W 55.12 in D 20.87 in
Saber Legs Walnut Wood Leather Milk Color Bench Customizable Upholstery and Wood
By Pescetta
Located in IT
Saber legs walnut wood milk light color seat bench, Customizable upholstery and wood. Other colors and upholstery are available. Italian artisanal production by Pescetta Home Decoration. Walnut wood bench...
Leather, Walnut
Kreiss foot stool or ottoman with Rose Tarlow striped velvet fabric
By Kreiss
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Kreiss ottoman, upholstered exclusively for THE TASTEMAKER SHOPPE, with Rose Tarlow green-and-gold striped cut-velvet fabric and cord trim. A tailored pleated skirt with contrasting gold-bronze trim adds understated luxury, a polished sophisticated finish. The velvet fabric is no longer being made making it more specialty and found. There's not one other like it. Whether used as a footrest or extra seating, this ottoman embodies casual Spanish Santa Barbara-style elegance. Rose Tarlow is an Interior Designer, tastemaker, antiquarian, and author, with an exclusive line of furniture and textiles; her Melrose House showrooms are based LA and NY. She's known for mixing traditional and modern aesthetics with casual elements like reclaimed wood, French oak beams...
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood
$4,800
H 20.5 in W 22.5 in D 14.5 in
1930s Art Deco Nickel Silver Bench Of Griffin Designs With Customs Cushion
Located in North Miami, FL
This versatile vintage Art Deco nickel silver over iron bench has griffin and gargoyle designs at each end. It is signed Verona and from the 1930s. We have restored it by the expensi...
Iron, Nickel
Unavailable|$3,300 / set
H 18 in W 23 in D 19 in
Pair, McGuire Bamboo Wood Bouclé Fabric Upholstery Ottomans Mid-Century Modern
Located in Miami, FL
Fully Restored McGuire Furniture Pair of rectangle upholstered Ottomans, known for blending natural materials with refined craftsmanship. The Ottomans, Stools feature lightly textur...
Bamboo, Wood, Leather, Bouclé
Tufted Leather Round Ottoman
Located in Westwood, NJ
Tufted leather round ottoman with antiqued brown full-grain leather. Dimensions: 36" W x 36" D x 16" H Color variation is common and accept...
Leather
$2,800
H 18 in W 20 in D 20 in
Ralph Lauren 'Florence' Ottoman in Buckthorn Paisley Fabric with Nailhead Trim
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A richly detailed and beautifully tailored storage ottoman by Ralph Lauren, upholstered in the iconic Buckthorn Paisley fabric. The piece features a vibrant crimson ground adorned wi...
Velvet, Wood
1970s Venetian Style Heavily Carved Tufted Velvet Ottoman / Coffee Table
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a Venetian style heavily carved ottoman. The tufted velvet upholstery is original and shows light wear but is free from tears or stains. The piece is unmarked.
Velvet, Fruitwood
Sold
H 15.75 in Dm 25.99 in
Impressive Circular Embroidered Pouffe by Designer Marcel Wanders for Moooi
By Moooi, MARCEL WANDERS
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Jester Pouf by Marcel Wanders for Moooi From The Boutique Jester Range Made of Fabric and Steel 2005 Fabric is teflon treated and has a fire retardant coating. "It is only the jest...
Silk
Handsome Oversized, Theodore Alexander Upholstered Rococo Style Ottoman
Located in Allentown, PA
This is an oversized newly upholstered Rococo inspired ottoman by Theodore Alexander. This ottoman has an ornate hand carved Rococo style frame with soft curved feet. The Ottoman is ...
Wood
Sold
H 18 in W 16.5 in D 16.5 in
Late 18th C. North Italian Wonderfully Carved Upholstered Rococo Style Bench
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This great looking late 18th century Italian bench features an upholstered seat covered with nail head trimmed tasteful brokade above the exceptionally detailed carved frame and the ...
Brass
Italian Rococo Walnut Upholstered Bench, Mid 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a drop-in upholstered cushion atop a solid walnut frame, the bench Rococo inspired shaped legs.
Walnut
19th Century French Napoleon III Upholstered Ottoman Stool
Located in Vero Beach, FL
19th century French Napoleon III upholstered ottoman stool. Unusual French ottoman stool in black lacquer with fine gilt decoration. It dates from the 19th century Napoleon III pe...
Textile, Wood
Italian Walnut and Upholstered Rococo Footstool, Mid 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a brown velvet upholstered top trimmed in patinated nailheads, the shaped apron supported by cabriole legs terminating in upturned raised pad feet.
Walnut
Sold
H 7 in W 14 in D 12 in
Pair of Italian Provincial Late 18th Century Rococo Carved Walnut Foot Stools
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This pair of Italian provincial 18th century foot stools are fashioned in a transitional rococo style dating to around 1780, They feature carv...
Leather, Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut
Pair of Italian Hand Carved and Silk Upholstered Ottomans, circa 1950s
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of Italian hand carved and silk upholstered ottomans, circa 1950s Finely carved and upholstered benches / ottomans. Each seat is covered in a beautiful peach silk upholste...
Silk, Walnut
Sold
H 19 in W 21 in D 21 in
1950s Vintage Italian Rococo Style Ottoman with Cabriole Legs and New Upholstery
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian vintage Rococo style pinewood ottoman from the mid-20th century, with cabriole legs, cross stretcher and new linen upholstery. Born during the midcentury period, this exquisite Italian ottoman / stool features a square shaped seat, upholstered with a new linen fabric with single button. The stool is raised on four cabriole legs, ornately carved with volutes, and connected to one another through a curving cross stretcher. With the light color of its pinewood and elegant rococo style silhouette, this Italian midcentury ottoman...
Upholstery, Pine
Louis XV Style Carved and Gessoed Bench
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful piece, with great proportions and style. Fully carved as only the French can do it. The height makes this a great item as a window bench, to use at the foot of a bed...
Cowhide, Gesso, Wood
Italian Giltwood Lamps
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Highly decorative pair of Italian 19th C carved gilt wood alter sticks in the shape of urns which were later converted into table lamps with custom painted tin shades. There is some ...
Metal
Louis XV StyleCarved and Gilded Bench
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful piece, with great proportions and style. Fully carved and gilded fruitwood as only the French can do it. The height makes this a great item as a window bench, to u...
Fruitwood
Hand-Carved Wood Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand-carved wood with 22-karat gold leaf on base. Leather upholstery with faux crocodile look in a dark brown.
Gold Leaf
Napoleon III Giltwood And Paint Pouf
Located in Nashville, TN
A floral carved stool or pouf with an overall terra cotta colored gesso. The black paint and red bole then applied and lastly the gold leaf . Significant chipping (as shown ) but rat...
Wood