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.
French BaroqueStyle settee in gilt gold and silver finish, hand carved
Located in Houston, TX
This piece is unique because the design is very special due to the fine carving And the combination of gold and silver finishes incorporated. The piece is not Only beautiful but fun...
Giltwood
Danish Early 20th Century Two Seater Seater in Shearling Lambswool & Wood, 1930s
Located in Odense, DK
Presenting a charming Danish settee / 2 seater lounge sofa dating from the early 20th century, freestanding and fully upholstered, including a beautifully padded back, allowing the p...
Lambskin, Wool, Wood, Beech, Oak
$3,440Sale Price / set|20% Off
19th Pair of Carved Walnut Leather Savonarola Bench or Settee
Located in Miami, FL
19th century Italian hand carved walnut Savonarola chair, circa 1880. Having wonderfully carved frame with scrolling arms, aged black leather seat and back, accented with brass roset...
Walnut
19th Century Pair of Carved Walnut Leather Savonarola Bench or Settee
Located in Miami, FL
19th century Italian hand carved walnut Savonarola chair, circa 1880. Having wonderfully carved frame with scrolling arms, aged black leather seat and back, accented with brass roset...
Walnut
Andrea Brustolon Carved Venetian Baroque Walnut Settee Sofa Bench Brown Leather
By Valentino Besarel, Andrea Brustolon
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare finely carved Venetian Baroque style figural walnut throne settee or bench, attributed to Valentino Panciera Besarel (Venice, 1829-1902) in the manner of Andrea Brustolon...
Leather, Walnut
$6,122Sale Price|20% Off
Baroque Sofa, Germany 1750
Located in Leimen, DE
18th Century Baroque Sofa, Germany This exquisite Baroque sofa from Germany, circa 1750, features a finely hand-carved walnut frame with intricate details typical of the 18th century...
Walnut
$10,000Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Baroque Figural Bench/ Settee
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Italian Baroque Figural Bench/ Settee 18th century or older, some later support added A quietly stunning figural Italian Baroque Bench/ Sett...
Upholstery, Walnut
Pair of 18th Century Italian Renaissance Lion Carved Walnut Sgabello Hall Chairs
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of 18th century Italian Renaissance lion carved walnut Sgabello hall chairs. Pair of Flemish carved oak hall chairs, circa 1890. Profusely c...
Walnut
$19,850Sale Price|48% Off
In Manner of Andrea Brustolon Venetian 19th Century Carved Walnut Figural Settee
By Andrea Brustolon, Valentino Panciera Besarel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine and rare Italian 19th century Baroque style carved walnut figural settee (Sofa-Loveseat), attributed to Valentino Panciera Besarel (Venice, 1829-1902) in the manner of Andrea Brustolon...
Fabric, Walnut
$2,792Sale Price / set|20% Off
19th Century Pair of Carved Walnut Folding Scissors Savonarola Bench or Settle
Located in Miami, FL
19th century carved walnut folding scissors Savonarola bench or settee featuring a carved shields in the back leather. Typical of the Italian Renaissance with carved Florentine structure . This pair created in the 19th century, most likely 1840s-1850s, are in good condition, the wood restored but the leather is damaged. The Savonarola chair is a type of folding chair with an X-frame when viewed from the front or back. It was designed to fold so it was portable and used during campaigns or other outdoor pursuits. The title Savonarola comes from the name of Italian Renaissance Dominican friar, Girolamo Savonarola, who is renowned for his clash with tyrannical rulers and corrupt clergy. This pair would make perfect hallway or entryway chairs...
Walnut
19th Century Pair of Carved Walnut Folding Scissors Savonarola Bench or Settle
Located in Miami, FL
19th century carved walnut folding scissors Savonarola bench or settee featuring a gentleman in the back. Typical of the Italian Renaissance with carved Florentine backs (no shows in the picture) . This pair created in the 19th century, most likely 1840s-1850s, are in perfect condition. The Savonarola chair is a type of folding chair with an X frame when viewed from the front or back. It was designed to fold so it was portable and used during campaigns or other outdoor pursuits. The title Savonarola comes from the name of Italian Renaissance Dominican friar, Girolamo Savonarola, who is renowned for his clash with tyrannical rulers and corrupt clergy. To fold this interestingly beautiful chair you must first remove the back rail which simply slides upward out of slots in the arms, then push the arms together to fold. This pair would make perfect hallway or entryway chairs...
Walnut
$5,287Sale Price|43% Off
Fine Nord Italian 18th Century Walnut Settee
Located in Rome, IT
A fine Nord Italian 18'century walnut Settee with scrolled arm-support on 8 cabriole legs , covered with silk fabric of Rubelli. cm 220x115x70
Wood
Italian 18th Century Painted Baroque Hall Bench
Located in Troy, NY
Very decorative painted bench with a serpentine shaped high back, decorated with a scenic landscape and framed by leafy scrolls, foliate seat rail and remains of polychrome on the se...
Pine, Walnut
Period Italian Baroque Ebonized Bench
Located in Essex, MA
Period Italian Baroque carved panel incorporated into a bench or settee. Carving used as back is 17th century/seat and legs early 19th...
18th century North Italian Baroque Style Green-Painted and Parcel-Gilt Settee
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A North Italian green-painted and parcel-gilt settee from the mid-18th century. The serpentine padded backrest displays foliate scrolls on the top rail flanked by two scrolls above a...
Upholstery, Wood
$3,967Sale Price / set|25% Off
19th Century Pair of Carved Walnut Tooled Leather Savonarola Bench or Settee
Located in Miami, FL
19th century Italian hand carved walnut Savonarolas chairs, circa 1880. Having wonderfully carved frame with scrolling arms, aged black tooled leather seat and back, accented with br...
Leather, Walnut
Italian Baroque Burgundy Tufted Settee
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Baroque style 20th century large settee with giltwood filigree frame & button-tufted burgundy & cream upholstery with embroidered flowers and burg...
Upholstery, Giltwood
19th Century Pair of Carved Walnut Tooled Leather Savonarola Bench or Settee
Located in Miami, FL
19th century Italian hand carved walnut Savonarolas chairs, circa 1880. Having wonderfully carved frame with scrolling arms, aged black tooled leather...
Leather, Walnut
19th Century Pair of Carved Walnut Folding Scissors Savonarola Bench or Settle
Located in Miami, FL
19th century carved walnut folding scissors Savonarola bench or settee featuring a lion shield in the back. Typical of the Italian Renaissance with carved Florentine backs (no shows in the picture). This pair created in the 19th century, most likely 1840s-1850s, are in perfect condition. The Savonarola chair is a type of folding chair with an X-frame when viewed from the front or back. It was designed to fold so it was portable and used during campaigns or other outdoor pursuits. The title Savonarola comes from the name of Italian Renaissance Dominican friar, Girolamo Savonarola, who is renowned for his clash with tyrannical rulers and corrupt clergy. To fold this interestingly beautiful chair you must first remove the back rail which simply slides upward out of slots in the arms, then push the arms together to fold. This pair would make perfect hallway or entryway chairs...
Walnut
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.
$46,979 / set
H 31.5 in W 54.73 in D 24.81 in
Pair of 1970s Trix & Robert Haussmann for Knoll Black Leather Mirror Sofa Settee
By Knoll, Robert and Trix Haussmann
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of 1970s Trix & Robert Haussmann for Knoll 2-seat sofa settee. This pair is made in black leather and mirror. All original collectors condition. The Mirror Sofa...
Mirror, Leather
Victorian Carved Wood Settee
Located in San Francisco, CA
C. 20th century Victorian carved wood settee w/ light blue ribbed velvet.
Velvet, Wood
Austro-German 19th Century Biedermeier Sofa
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A fabulous Biedermeier style settee from 19th century Bavaria made from exceptionally beautiful, solid maple in a sheltering design like a banquette to enclose the upholstery. Some a...
Upholstery, Maple
$4,398
H 48.82 in W 53.35 in D 53.35 in
Vintage Giltwood Love Seat Conversation Settee Mid 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fantastic English vintage giltwood love seat or conversation "Sociable Settee" mid 20th century in date. It is of clover leaf outline and has four individual seats with...
Velvet, Giltwood
19th century Tuscan settee
Located in Vosselaar, BE
Beautiful 19th century Tuscan settee with remains of the original paint. Nice proportions with elegant subtle curves. Very sturdy and practical dimensions.
Pine
$12,460Sale Price|30% Off
H 44.5 in W 47 in D 36 in
"17th Century Louis XIV Settee, Hand-Carved Walnut, Leather Upholstery"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Elaborately carved walnut frame with Upholstered in embossed and hand painted leather, Original Aged Finish and Leather look very good, Settee is in very good condition
Foam, Walnut, Hardwood, Upholstery, Wood, Leather
19th Century Empire Walnut Upholstered Settee
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a lovely tailored walnut Empire settee. The top rail is flanked by two graceful sloping arms, joining two brass classical female heads crowing two front straight tapering le...
Brass
Vintage Caned Italian Settee with Pickled Finish
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Settee, having a painted frame showing natural wear. Its crestrail carved with swags, over oval caned backrest, centered with an oval rosette. Downswept arms ending in scrolls, on fo...
Upholstery, Cane, Wood
French Louis XV Style Carved-Wood & Upholstered Settee
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XV style sofa from the mid-19th century. This antique settee from France upholstered features a gently arched top rail at back, carved acanthus leaves decorated the sk...
Upholstery, Wood
Italian Mohair Settee Sofa, Brown, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful mohair upholstered curved sofa with wooden legs. Perfect shape and size. In excellent condition, 1950s, Italy. Same era as: Ch...
Mohair, Wood
Stunning 20th Century Beech Wood Sofa with Dual Designs
Located in London, GB
This stunning sofa features a blue velvet textile that is soft to the touch and adds a touch of luxury to any room. One side of the sofa features a playful design of lion and swan, w...
Beech
$3,850
H 41 in W 75 in D 33.5 in
Refined and Chic French Louis XV Carved Walnut Settee Sofa Canape Circa 1920
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This refined French Louis XV carved walnut settee, circa 1920, embodies the elegance and sophistication of classic French design. With its graceful serpentine back, scrolled arms, an...
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Gilt Wood Velvet Navy Blue Settee
Located in New York, NY
This is a newly reupholstered Antique 19th Century French Gilt Wood Settee in Navy Blue Cotton Velvet. It is in excellent condition. Provenan...
Velvet, Giltwood
Sold
H 41 in W 81 in D 33 in
French Baroque Style Velvet Upholstered Knole Style Settee, 2nd half 20th cen.
Located in Atlanta, GA
Upholstered in green velvet with applied embroidered tape/trim with matching braid and fringe, adjustable padded wings controlled by roping. The original Knole Settee (also known as the Knole Sofa) is a couch chair that was made in the 17th century, probably around 1640.[1] It is housed at Knole in Kent, a house owned by the Sackville-West family since 1605 but now in the care of the National Trust.[2] It was originally used not as a comfortable sofa but as a formal throne on which the monarch would have sat to receive visitors. It was wide enough that a monarch and consort could be seated side by side. As of 2021, it is kept at Knole House...
Velvet
Sold
H 28.38 in W 24.63 in D 19.5 in
19th Century Pair of Carved Walnut Folding Scissors Savonarola Armchair, Settees
Located in Miami, FL
19th century carved walnut folding scissors Savonarola armchair or settee featuring hand carved armrests. Typical of the Italian Renaissance with carved Florentine backs, this pair has none. The Savonarola chair is a type of folding chair with an X frame when viewed from the front or back. It was designed to fold so it was portable and used during campaigns or other outdoor pursuits. The title Savonarola comes from the name of Italian Renaissance Dominican friar, Girolamo Savonarola, who is renowned for his clash with tyrannical rulers and corrupt clergy. To fold this interestingly beautiful chair you must push the arms together to fold. This pair would make perfect hallway or entryway chairs...
Metal
18th C Italian Hand Painted Orange Cassapanca Bench
Located in Hastings, GB
A wonderful 18th century Italian Cassapanca, the tall back is carved as Florentine fleur de lis, and the seat and back have hand painted decoration,...
Wood
Pair of 18th Century Venetian Sofas
Located in Essex, MA
Near pair of Venetian 18th century painted sofas or settees.
Walnut
Catalan Walnut Bench
Located in Chireno, TX
Catalan walnut bench dating to the 19th century. Simple shape and nice patina.
Walnut
Sold
H 49.22 in W 49.22 in D 24.02 in
Settee, Sofa, Double-Chair Back, Brussels Tapestry, X-Stretcher, Walnut, 1700
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
An exceptionally, rare, transitional, double-chair, settee, circa 1700, upholstered in fine, 17th century century Brussels tapestry Just purchased, more information and images avail...
Walnut
Sold
H 34.26 in W 25.79 in D 21.66 in
19th Century Pair of Folding Carved Walnut Leather Savonarola Bench or Settee
Located in Miami, FL
19th century Italian hand carved walnut Savonarola chair, circa 1880. Having wonderfully carved frame with scrolling arms, aged black leather seat and back, accented with brass roset...
Walnut
Sold
H 49.61 in W 54.53 in D 24.93 in
Settee Sofa 3-Seat Upholstered Spanish Leather Polychrome Gilded Walnut
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
A unique, late-19th century, Spanish walnut & gilded, 3-seat, settee upholstered in exceptionally, rare, 18th century, polychrome & gilded leather panels - A beautiful statement &...
Leather
Italian, Tuscany, Baroque Walnut and Iron Bench with Folding Backrest
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a rectangular backrest and seat, both with molded edges, connected by three large iron hinges, the top folding to flat or raised positions, raised on carved trestle-form legs ...
Walnut
19th Century Venetian Baroque Style Carved and Painted Bench
Located in Houston, TX
Stunning antique Venetian Baroque style carved and painted cassapanca or bench with a tall scrolled back and a scrolled lower frame. This lovely 19th century Venetian bench is painte...
Wood
Sold
H 51 in W 90.75 in D 17.5 in
Italian, Toscana, Late Baroque Walnut Hall Bench Paneled Back, 17th-18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a tall rectangular back with two panels and raised moldings above a long rectangular seat raised on 6 turned legs.
Walnut