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.
French Sofa Louis XVI Style end 19th Century TOTAL RESTORED
Located in Madrid, ES
French Sofa Louis XVI Style end 19th Century Totally restored Length: 171cm seat: 0.63cm height: 121cm
Wood
20th Century French Sofa / Canape in antique Louis Seize Style beech hand carved
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid beechwood, carved, colored and gilded. Semicircular ascending backrest frame with perforated rocaille crowning. Passive curved frame with richly r...
Beech
LADY'S DESK WITH CYLINDRICAL TOP 20th Century French Louis XVI style
Located in Madrid, ES
LADY'S DESK WITH CYLINDRICAL TOP 20th-century French, Louis XVI style, mahogany wood. Lifted with three drawers, roller top, interior with drawers and compartments, and a sliding to...
Mahogany
French Cream painted Louis XVI style sofa, circa 1900
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality early 20th Century French cream painted three seater sofa, having carved scrolling foliate and fluted decoration, raised on turned taper legs. Batch 73 BYZKN
Beech
Fine Antique Napoleon III circa 1870 Gold Giltwood Bergere Louis XVI Sofa Settee
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this stunning original circa 1860-1870 Napoleon III Louis XVI style bergère settee which is part of a suite This sofa comes with a matching pair of parlour armchairs...
Giltwood
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Gilt-Wood Five-Piece Salon Suite
Located in London, GB
A fine 19th century salon suite comprising a canapé / sofa and four fauteuils / open armchairs, each with a rope-twist carved frame, oval padded bac...
Giltwood
$15,062 / item
21st Century Pegaso 2-Seater Sofa in Fabric
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
Soft lines and timeless design for the Pegaso line. The seats are characterized by a lateral opening which gives the furniture a special lightness. The fringes add a decorative note that enhances the sophisticated atmosphere that is typical of Jumbo Collection environments. Pegaso 2-seater sofa with structure in beechwood. Padding in foam. Upholstery in fabric MIL.21.09, MIL.21.23 with decorative fringe. N° 2 pillows 50 x 30...
Beech, Fabric
French Sofas mahogany and ormolu bronze signed by LINKE
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very rare sofas in mohagany ,ormolu bronze by F.LINKE louis xvi style . The quality of the bronze is simply top quality . the sofas need to be upholstered
Bronze
Late 20th-C. French Louis XVI Style Sofa By EJ Victor In Stripe Damask
By E.J. Victor
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a late 20th century French Louis XVI style sofa by E.J. Victor. The piece is done in a stripe damask. It is shown with and without the loose cushions. It is marked. The carve...
Upholstery, Fruitwood, Giltwood
$1,790Sale Price|30% Off
French antique Damask Canape-2 Seater Sofa-Settee-Louis XVI Style-1900s
Located in Bussiere Dunoise, Nouvel Aquitaine
Exquisite 19th-century French Sofa embodies the timeless elegance of Louis XVI-inspired Design – with perfectly balanced proportions and intricate carvings. Handcrafted from solid wo...
Cotton, Silk, Wood, Damask
French Mid-19th Century Louis XVI Canape
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This is a sofa Corbeille which means Basket because it wrapped you inside the sofa. Beautiful Louis XVI line with little pineapples on the frame. The fabric is in good condition. Won...
Walnut
Antique French Louis XVI Style Cream Distress Painted Petite Canape Settee Sofa
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Antique French Louis XVI Maison Jansen Style Cream Distress Painted Petite Canape Sma...
Fabric, Wood
1950s, Danish 3-seater sofa, furniture velour, ash wood, furniture mesh.
Located in Tarm, 82
1950s, Danish 3-seater sofa. Original cherry-red furniture velour, ash wood, furniture mesh. Double sided seat cushions with springs inside. Original very good condition: no smells, ...
Velvet, Rattan, Ash
19th Century Italian Louis XVI Style Lacquered Living Room Set or Salon Suite
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare complete Italian luxury Louis XVI style living room set includes: 1 large sofa 2 armchairs 4 chairs Refined living room set in lacquared wood. The living room comes from an ...
Wood
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
19th Century Italian Louis XVI Style Sofa
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century Italian Louis XVI Style Sofa. This unusual antique Italian Louis XVI style sofa , loveseat or canape has gorgeous exaggerated arms and is painted a gorgeous soft blue co...
Wood
Elegant Italian Neoclassical Louis XVI Sofa
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Elegant and classic 18th century authentic Italian Neoclassical sofa that's part of a salon set with two armchairs or fauteuils, selling sepa...
Upholstery, Wood
Italian Louis XVI style wood and blue stripes fabric sofa, 1930s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Louis XVI style wood and blue stripes fabric sofa, 1930s Sofa with a finely crafted wooden frame featuring decorative carvings on the backrest, armrests, and front panel. The...
Fabric, Wood
French 19th Century Walnut Louis XVI Hand Carved Sofa
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A French Louis XVI period Provençal carved sofa from the late 19th century, with new upholstery, lovely fluted legs and exquisite carving. Born in Provence during the reign of King L...
Upholstery, Walnut
$11,159Sale Price|20% Off
Elegant Nord Italian 18th Century Painted Sofa or Canapè
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant Nord Italian finely carved 18th century painted canapé. Measures: cm 210 x 60 x 90 Provenance from an aristocratic Piedmontese estate.
Wood
4 Louis XVI walnut settees from the second half of the 1700s.
Located in Cesena, FC
4 Louis XVI walnut settees; from the second half of the 1700s. Perfect, nice size and proportions and the typical choked foot. Healthy structure, original upholstery Measurements: ...
Canvas, Walnut