As opposed to the styles that would follow from the other 18th-century French kings, Louis XV and Louis XVI, antique Louis XIV furniture is rigid and imposing. It expresses opulence — even its armchairs, with their upright backs, straight legs and lavish ornamentation, look like thrones. Authentic Louis XIV sofas, a then newly emerging iteration of seating, are fully upholstered and often feature decoratively carved frames of walnut, chestnut or oak.
When French King Louis XIV established his royal court at Versailles in 1682, he transformed what was once a hunting lodge into a palace that declared his wealth and power through its design. Until his death in 1715, he reigned with a spirit of excess and absolute political dominance. The “Sun King,” as he called himself, believed that France revolved around him as planets do the sun. Louis XIV adopted the sun as his emblem, decorating the grounds with symbols of the sun and Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. As he stated, “There is nothing that indicates more clearly the magnificence of great princes than their superb palaces and their precious furniture.” He was a child when he became king in 1643, only shaping his style after he became absolute monarch in 1661.
Reflecting trends in French Baroque art, Louis XIV furniture characteristics included exuberant decoration. There were gilded bronze details including shells, suns, grotesques, lions and classical references like acanthus leaves. The years of growth in the country’s manufacturing, such as the tapestries and cabinets made at Gobelins, led to design innovations. The commode replaced the chest as a storage device, with drawers and a surface that could double as a desk.
The materials were luxurious, such as the popular tortoiseshell veneer technique that leading cabinetmaker Pierre Golle used in his designs. André-Charles Boulle, who became royal cabinetmaker in 1672, was a masterful artist of marquetry, using inlays of ebony, exotic woods and mother-of-pearl.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIV bedroom furniture, chairs, tables and other pieces on 1stDibs.
Antique Pair Large French Louis XIV Revival Walnut Stools 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a very elegant pair of antique French Louis XIV Revival walnut stools, Circa 1880 in date. The freestanding stools feature serpentine shaped seat cushions on carved walnut ...
Fabric, Walnut
Os de Mouton Louis XIV Style Walnut Stool or Bench
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish Louis XIV style Ottoman, Beautiful Louis XIV style bench or stool raised on four Os de Mouton hand carved walnut legs with stretcher, Spain, 1930s. This stylish banquette ha...
Fabric, Velvet, Wood, Leather, Walnut
$3,598Sale Price / set|30% Off
Pair of Carved Walnut Stools in Louis XIV Style, Paris, Circa 1880
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Important pair of carved walnut stools, Louis XIV style Paris, Faubourg Saint-Antoine, in the style of Fourdinois circa 1870–1890 This important pair of finely carved walnut stools r...
Beech
19th Century French Louis XIV Carved Giltwood Stool with Aubusson Tapestry
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a den, living room or master bedroom with this elegant antique stool. Crafted in Versailles France circa 1870 and rectangular in shape, the elegant ottoman stands on tapered...
Tapestry, Giltwood
Louis XIV Style Giltwood Folding Stool Made by La Maison London
Located in London, Park Royal
Based on a LXV model at Versailles, these versatile folding stools have been crafted with attention to detail. The hand carved stools have been finished with a hand applied leaf that...
Wood
$1,242
French Gilt Window Seat
Located in Swadlincote, GB
Good quality X framed gilt window or duet seat, covered in gold damask, in overall great condition. You are welcome to view this item at our showroom, please phone ahead of visiting...
Gesso
19th Century French Louis XIV Giltwood Vanity Bench with Tapestry
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis XIV Giltwood Vanity Bench with Tapestry is a special find, indeed! Sculpted in the bold scrollwork and prominent carved ...
Tapestry, Giltwood
$14,000 / set
Pair of giltwood stools
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of regency style stools ,gilded wood, one of the most beautiful models of the regency elegant and refined ,cushions on the top decorated with pom-poms the quality and the workma...
Fabric, Giltwood
SECOND HALF OF THE 17th CENTURY PAIR OF TURNED WALNUT STOOLS
Located in Firenze, FI
Refined pair of solid walnut stools, finely carved and turned. This pair of stools is characterized by four elegantly turned legs, with crossed crosspieces in the center from which a...
Fabric, Nutwood
19th Century Stool, Maison Jeanselme
Located in Stockbridge, GA
19th century stool, Maison Jeanselme, France.
Walnut
$1,385
French Gilt Duet Stool
Located in Swadlincote, GB
Very nice French gilt duet or footboard stool, with bergere cane top and green silk seat pad, in very good overall condition. 21" high 40" length 15" depth You are welcome to view ...
Giltwood
19th Century French, Louis XIV Painted Stool/Bench with Lion's Paw Feet
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis XIV Painted Stool features tailored architecture and masculine adornment, plus an original painted finish that makes it more compatible with today's casual ...
Hardwood
$2,640Sale Price|20% Off
Early 18th Century French Louis XIV/Régence Carved Oak Stool or Tabouret
Located in Berlin, DE
Early 18th Century Louis XIV/Régence Carved Oak stool or Tabouret Square and upholstered seat resting on a shaped apron with c-scrolls, leafs and central shell motifs. The four legs are carved as square balusters decorated with flower garland carving and joined by a x-shaped stretcher with curvy braces and a central square with a paterae motif. Carved oak. Upholstered with modern gobelin fabric...
Oak
19th Century Louis XIV Style Walnut Os De Mouton Stool, Upholstered
Located in Montreal, QC
Louis XIV style walnut "os de mouton" stool with recently upholstered seat on serpentine apron over carved legs joined by conforming stretcher.
Fabric, Wood
Louis XIV Style Giltwood folding stool made by La Maison London
By Francois I Foliot
Located in London, Park Royal
Giltwood Folding stool (Ployant) in the manner of Foliot . the original is a model found in Versailles . We have pairs available if needed.
Giltwood, Wood
Louis XIV style giltwood stool
Located in London, Park Royal
Louis XIV Style giltwood Stool with foliage baluster feet joined by stretchers with Acanthus leaves Upholstered with a white Coton. Can be recovered with customer own fabric on request
Wood
19th Century French Walnut Stool
Located in High Point, NC
19th century walnut stool from France with a wonderfully thick top which has a handle design cutout of the top and a multi-level beveled edge, following down to a lovely hand scallop...
Walnut
19th Century English Oak Window Seat
Located in High Point, NC
19th Century oak window seat from England. This piece has lovely hand carved decorated arms attached to the seat, which is made from a single board. Th...
Oak
$210Sale Price|30% Off
H 11 in W 13.5 in D 9 in
Antique French Louis XV Style Carved Walnut Needlepoint Stool Foot Rest Ottoman
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique French Louis XV stool, foot rest or ottoman. Made of walnut featuring serpentine form with carved floral, scalloped, and acanthus accents, and a Neoclassical floral rose and ...
Fabric, Walnut
Modern Leather and Steel Sling Stool or Bench
Located in East Hampton, NY
Great looking modern polished steel and leather sling stool or bench.
Steel
19th Century Gothic Revival Oak Stool
Located in Martlesham, GB
19th century Gothic revival oak stool, the shaped rectangular top above Gothic supports and stretcher, circa 1860.
Oak
$4,500 / set
H 20.5 in W 18 in D 17 in
Pair of Enrique Garcel Bone-Clad Stools or Benches, Karl Springer Style, 1980s
By Karl Springer, Enrique Garcel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Stylish pair of Enrique Garcel tessellated bone benches. Use them in the living room, or a bedroom. Separate them and use one in a foyer and another in the ...
Bone, Fabric, Resin
19th Century Oriental Carved Wood Stool
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderfully stylish 19th century Oriental style stool, with pierced fretwork decoration to the frieze, stuff over upholstered seat, raised on classical carved cabriole legs with my...
Mahogany
On Hold|$5,895
H 19.75 in W 48 in D 14 in
Large Hall Bench or Window Seat of Patinated Oak from England
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English hall bench or window seat or stool of oak from the William IV period, featuring turned bolsters at opposing ends over a long plank seat and set upon four turned legs. ...
Wood, Oak
Pair of giltwood stools
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of regency style stools ,gilded wood, one of the most beautiful models of the regency elegant and refined ,cushions on the top decorated with pom-poms the quality and the workma...
Fabric, Giltwood
Pair Of 19th Century French Louis XIII Style Stools
Located in High Point, NC
This charming pair of 19th century French Louis XIII style stools exemplifies the robust yet refined character associated with the period. Crafted in solid wood, each stool features ...
Wood
Pair of Italian Walnut Art Deco Stools, circa 1930
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Italian Art Deco walnut stools with robust angular legs, wide banded apron and square tops. Newly re-upholstered with Maharam cream colored textured cotton fabric. Italy, c...
Fabric, Walnut
Artist’s Stool in Hand Carved Walnut
By Andrew Brant Studios
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Designed & made of the finest craft by Andrew Brant of Santa Fe, New Mexico, this three legged stool is hand carved to be organic, warm, and inviting in t...
Walnut
Antique French Carved Giltwood Stool
Located in London, GB
An absolutely stunning antique French carved gilt wood stool of the highest order. This was made in France, it dates from around the 1880-1900 period. It is of amazing quality, with...
Fabric, Giltwood
French 19th Century Oak Tapestry Stool
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Outstanding French 19th century Louis XIV style bench (or footstool) with needlepoint upholstery, raised on four Os de Mouton legs with stretcher...
Natural Fiber, Wood, Walnut
19th Century French Louis XIV Carved Walnut Stool with Silk Fabric
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a den, living room or master bedroom with this elegant antique stool. Crafted in southern France circa 1870 and almost square in shape, the elegant ottoman stands on turned ...
Silk, Walnut
A French 19th Century Pair of Louis XIV Style Stools
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A French 19th Century Pair of Large Rectangular Stools natural and carved wood. The 4 sheaths feet carved and linked by a stretcher. Louis XIV Style Napoléon III Period Circa 1880 Used Petit Point Tapestry Upholstery If the stool played a great role at the court of Louis XIV, it was also the pretext of a war... that of the stools precisely, recounted by Saint-Simon. The Duchesses fought and the Duchesse became a seat with very curious forms. There were benches and chairs, then armchairs, not to mention stools. A seat dear to the duchesses. Some fought for one, to sit in the presence of the queen. Standing, while others, sometimes cousins, were seated, was intolerable. The Duke of Saint-Simon was pleased to recount the «war of stools». This one was provoked by Mme de Chevreuse who sat, without any way, before Queen Anne of Austria...
Beech
Sold
H 23 in W 17 in D 17.5 in
Mid-Century French Hand Carved Chestnut Piano Grotto Stool with Shell Motif
Located in Dallas, TX
This carved antique fruitwood grotto stool was created in France, circa 1950. Perfect as a piano stool or simply a statement piece, the bench, built of chestnut wood, stands on cabri...
Chestnut
Louis XIV Oak Stool
Located in Essex, MA
D shaped seat with turned legs and conforming D shape stretcher.
Oak
French Louis XIV Kingwood & Satinwood Inlaid Stool with Tapestry Seat 20th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
A French Louis XIV stool offers floral needlepoint upholstered seat with kingwood frame having satinwood marquetry and raised on cabriole legs, 20th century Measures - 19"height x...
Upholstery, Kingwood, Satinwood
Antique French Carved Oak "Os De Mouton" Tabouret Stool, circa 1900
Located in Dallas, TX
Easily recognized by its highly shaped legs and stretchers, os de mouton is an elegant style of carving that was first seen during the reign of Louis XIV. Although typically used for chair frames, it was not uncommon to find tabouret stools, such as this oak one from France (circa 1900), carved in the same manner. Four concave legs with scrolled feet are joined by an H-shaped stretcher with arbalete-like curves. The wood has a rich patina that is accentuated by a highly colored upholstery affixed with numerous iron nailheads. Golden and cream flowers with red, brown, green, and orange leaves can be seen amongst the gray and beige background arranged in a geometric pattern. Our os de mouton tabouret...
Metal
Sold
H 21.5 in W 29 in D 17.5 in
Pair of Early 20th Century French Carved Giltwood Stools with Cross Sword Motif
Located in Dallas, TX
Embellish your formal living room with this elegant pair of antique curule stools. Crafted in France circa 1920, these stools feature an ornate carved base decorated with two hand carved crossed swords ending with scroll leaf feet. The seats are dressed with a blue silk upholstery, further embellished with decorative trims and fringes around the perimeter. Both stools are in excellent condition commensurate with age and use and adorn a rich patinated gilt finish. Use these 'one of a kind benches...
Fabric, Giltwood
Sold
H 17.5 in W 20.5 in D 18 in
Pair of 19th Century French Dagobert Black Leather Carved Walnut Curule Stools
Located in Dallas, TX
Embellish your formal living room with this elegant pair of antique curule stools. Crafted in France circa 1860, these stools known as "Dagobert" st...
Leather, Walnut
Antique French Carved Gilt Wood Stool
Located in London, GB
A beautiful little antique French stool in carved gilt wood, dating from around the 1910-20’s. This is very well made and has a gorgeous design...
Giltwood, Fabric
Sold
H 20 in W 22 in D 22 in
19th Century French Louis XIV Carved Walnut Stool with Needlepoint Tapestry
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique fruitwood stool was crafted in Southern France, circa 1870. Square in shape, the stool stands on heavily turned legs decorated with hand carved diamond shape med...
Tapestry, Walnut