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.
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
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
$38,914Sale Price|30% Off
Andrea Brustolon Carved Venetian Baroque Walnut Settee Sofa Bench Brown Leather
By Andrea Brustolon, Valentino Besarel
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
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 decora...
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
$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
$5,433Sale Price|41% 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
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
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
$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
$6,291Sale 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
$19,850Sale Price|48% Off
In Manner of Andrea Brustolon Venetian 19th Century Carved Walnut Figural Settee
By Valentino Panciera Besarel, Andrea Brustolon
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
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
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
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.
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
$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
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
$1,850 / set
H 45 in W 17.5 in D 16 in
Pair of Italian Renaissance Style Walnut Side Chairs 19th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A PAIR OF ITALIAN RENAISSANCE STYLE WALNUT SIDE CHAIRS 19TH CENTURY, INCORPORATING EARLIER ELEMENTS In solid walnut with straight seats, gilt acanthus leaf finials, carved front st...
Walnut
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
Rustic Painted Hoop Back Bench
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Windsor style rustic painted hoop back bench with a triple arched back with turned slats and arms and turned uprights, the shaped seat above turned s...
Wood
Antique White Painted Gustavian Bench from Sweden
Located in Round Top, TX
Painted white with gold accents, this antique Gustavian bench has a removeable cushion seat and open back. Architectural elements such as turne...
Wood, Paint
$20,400
H 54.5 in W 106.13 in D 19.5 in
18th c. Italian Baroque Cassapanca Storage Bench in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A monumental Italian cassapanaca (storage chest and seat) from a palazzo in Cremona, southeast of Milan with storage in the seat. Original paint and hand-forged iron hinges. Subtle...
Iron
19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Style Walnut Settee
Located in Houston, TX
A stunning 19th Century settee featuring the clean lines and warm wood tones characteristic of Swedish Biedermeier design, with a silhouette influenced by French Neoclassical forms. ...
Walnut
Pair of 19th century carved walnut side chairs
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Pair of 19th century carved walnut side chairs circa 1870. Good quality pair of side chairs which would ideally suit a bedroom or dressing room. Cartouche shaped back rest surmount...
Fabric, Walnut
$2,675Sale Price|30% Off
H 42.92 in W 66.74 in D 26.38 in
18th Century Spanish Pyrenean Mountain Bench
Located in London, GB
A large late 18th century bench from the Pyrenees Mountains in northern Aragon. Primitively constructed from dark, heavily patinated pine timber - a one-off piece, likely built for a...
Pine
$3,127
H 52 in W 55.5 in D 22 in
19th C Jacobean Renaissance Carved Oak High Back Cane 3 Seater Hall Bench Settee
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
A decorative and well presented 19th Century Jacobean renaissance carved oak three seater high back bench settee. A superb quality piece with ornate arched back and cane inset panels. A lovely contrast with dark, almost ebonised wood frame, and light coloured cane seating. Gently curved arms, which are very inviting, are typical of this style. The bench sits on eight legs, all connected by their original turned stretchers with additional decorative arched mounded stretchers to the front. A good sized, well proportioned piece with generous seat. The three seat design provides a lovely balanced and symmetrical feel to the piece. Seat height = 46cm / 18" The piece is in excellent condition, there are a couple of historic repairs to the arched tops (see photos) but these are well made repairs and are in-keeping with the piece. The bench is sturdy with the cane seating also in excellent order. The item is clean and ready for installation. Provenance: This piece sat for many years at the famous London...
Cane, Oak
$8,900
H 36.63 in W 72.44 in D 28.75 in
18th c. Swedish Sofa Bench Settee in Original Paint, Gustavian Period
Located in Wichita, KS
A beautiful Swedish sofa bench from the Gustavian period dry scraped to it's original patina. The sofa frame is adorned with a lovely leaf motif and rests upon tapered and fluted leg...
Linen, Wood, Paint
19th Century Gustavian Sofa Bench
Located in Houston, TX
19th century Gustavian sofa bench with original paint. Exquisite carving on the front and side panels and along the perimeter of the upholstered a...
Wood
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 Houston, 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