Antique Louis XIII furniture is not as lavish as that of his son Louis XIV, who transformed his father’s modest Versailles hunting lodge into a sumptuous palace. Yet the imposing forms of its chairs, dressers, tables and other pieces express grandeur and luxury.
When Henry IV was assassinated in the streets of Paris in 1610, his young son became the king of France. With Louis XIII too young to rule, the widowed Marie de' Medici — a native of Italy and member of the prominent House of Medici — became regent, instilling an Italian influence in the decorative arts. Even after Louis XIII exiled his mother and took power in 1617, this aesthetic informed his court style. As did the consolidation of power, established with his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, through his death in 1643.
From sturdy chests and tall cupboards to colossal four-poster beds, almost every piece of Louis XIII furniture was heavily carved or turned from dark-toned wood. Motifs of the period included scrollwork, foliage, fruits, grotesque masks and other images of abundance, often inlaid in marquetry of wood or tortoiseshell. Ornamental scenes, sometimes carved on cabinet panels and other pieces from rare ebony, oak or walnut, were borrowed from engravings by northern European masters like Peter Paul Rubens. Engravings also spread the Louis XIII style during the 17th century, particularly by printmaker Abraham Bosse, who depicted the popular Louis XIII chairs designed with upholstered seats and low, wide backs.
The lofty profiles of the French furniture complemented the architecture under the reign of Louis XIII, such as the Palais du Luxembourg by chief architect Salomon de Brosse and architect Jacques Lemercier’s chapel at the Sorbonne, which showcased the influence of Italian Baroque.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIII armchairs, storage cabinets, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
Antique French Louis XIII Style Buffet in Oak and Mixed Woods Older Restoration
Located in Highwood, IL
Antique French Buffet in the style of Louis XIII made in the mid-1800's. The Antique French Buffet was constructed from a mix of woods from beautiful French white oak to pine. Origin...
Steel
1900s Belgian Louis XIII Hand-Carved Oak Buffet with Ornate Design
Located in High Point, NC
1900s Belgian Louis XIII Carved Oak Buffet. This richly detailed buffet reflects the architectural strength and ornate carving characteristic of the Louis XIII style. Crafted in soli...
Oak
Small French Louis XIII Style Hand-Carved Oak Dessert Buffet, Console c. 1880
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This small scale Louis XIII style hand-carved oak dessert buffet from the late nineteenth century features carvings on three sides. Cartouches and scrolling in bas relief carving ado...
Bronze
French 19th Century Buffet 2 Parts
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This French 19th Century is made of walnut and has been refinished. It is a 2 parts buffet which is the top and the base.
Walnut
18th Century Country French Louis XIII Buffet in Stripped Oak
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century Country French Louis XIII Buffet in Stripped Oak provides the epitome of understated elegance while serving as a capacious storage piece for all your cherished family he...
Brass
$4,463Sale Price|20% Off
Louis XIII French Cabinet 17th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Small French buffet with two bodies from the 17th century. This old cabinet in carved walnut wood from the Louis XIII period has four doors, four d...
Wood, Walnut
$5,520Sale Price|21% Off
Louis XIII Walnut Buffet
Located in Madison, MS
This walnut buffet is a truly beautiful and one of a kind piece. The hand carved details are stunning and the finish of the stain gives this chest a dark and moody feel. There are 3 ...
Walnut
18th Century Country French Louis XIII Buffet in Stripped Oak
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century Country French Louis XIII Buffet in Stripped Oak captures the warmth, strength, and provincial charm of French craftsmanship at its finest. Hand-crafted from dense old-g...
Brass
Louis XIII Style French 19th Century Walnut Buffet with Carved Diamond Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XIII style walnut buffet from the 19th century with two doors, single drawer and carved diamond motifs. Showcasing the elegance of French design, this Louis XIII style...
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XIII Carved Oak Buffet with Parquetry Top
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring architectural presence and masterful craftsmanship to a dining room, library, or grand entry with this impressive antique French buffet cabinet. Crafted in France circa 1860 fr...
Oak
Provincial Buffet in Stripped Oak, France, Late 19th Century
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Provincial Buffet in Stripped Oak, France, Late 19th Century Channeling the softened contours of provincial Louis XV ornament An ode to rustic refinement, this late 19th-century Fre...
Oak
$5,750
H 41.25 in W 65.25 in D 24.5 in
Louis Philippe Buffet, Walnut Wood, Antique French Design, 1845
Located in Austin, TX
Buffet or credenza in the Louis Philippe style from France. It is made of solid wood construction, primarily walnut. It has been finished with a hand-applied French polish of museum-...
Wood
18th Century French Walnut Louis XV Provincial Buffet
Located in Southampton, NY
18th century French walnut Louis XV Provincial Buffet A period handcrafted buffet made of solid walnut with three drawers above two beveled doors opening to a single shelf open. Ori...
Walnut
19th Century French Carved Oak Buffet
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak buffet from France with a beautifully molded and hand carved lunette decorated edge around the top, following down to lovely and simple hand paneled sides and two dr...
Oak
French 19th Century Mahogany Empire Buffet
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French Empire (19th century) buffet made of rich flamed, bookmatched mahogany. The original Saint Anne marble top of charcoal stone with gray and white veining is removable. Below ...
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Oak Buffet
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak buffet from France. The top is banded and has a beveled and hand carved decorated edge, following down to paneled sides, which...
Oak
Elegant, Louis XVI Style Buffet, Antique French, 1920s
Located in Austin, TX
Long buffet from France in the Louis XVI style. This piece is made of solid wood construction, primarily mahogany. It has been finished with a lustrous French polish of museum qualit...
Brass
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Buffet Cabinet in Cherrywood
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A beautiful 18th century French buffet/ sideboard in cherry wood with rounded bevel-edged, rectangular top resting on a base with two drawers over two cabinet doors. This graceful bu...
Steel
19th Century French Carved Oak Buffet
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak buffet from France with a beveled edge around the top with nice hand carved details on the corners and front, following down to raised paneled sides which have carve...
Oak
19th Century Walnut Buffet From France
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Lovely 2-door two-drawer walnut buffet from the 19th century from France Beautiful molding work on the door and drawers Very beautiful top with a beautiful patina Superb patina and i...
Walnut
French 19th Century Mahogany & Marble Buffet
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A transitional 19th century French mahogany and white marble buffet, combining Louis XVI elements with clean geometric lines to contrast the expressive wood grain patterns. The marbl...
Marble, Brass
A French Provincial Oak Two-Door Server Buffet, C. 1880.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Featuring a shaped top above carved paneled doors and an elegantly scalloped apron, this piece rests on short stile form legs. The oak has been stripped to a natural finish, revealin...
Oak
Sold
H 38.5 in W 26 in D 18 in
Small French Louis XIII Style Hand-Carved Oak Dessert Buffet, Console c. 1880
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This small scale Louis XIII style hand-carved oak dessert buffet from the late nineteenth century features carvings on three sides. Cartouches and scrolling in bas relief carving ado...
Bronze
French 18th Century Buffet Deux-Corps
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This is a wonderful 17th Century Buffet 2 corps, it comes in 3 parts, the cornice, the top and the buffet.
Oak
Antique French Louis XIII Style Carved Bleached Oak Enfilade Buffet
Located in Birmingham, AL
An antique French Louis XIII style carved enfilade buffet handcrafted of solid oak by talented atisans in the picturesque town of Honfleur, a commune in the Calvados department located on the Normandy coast on the southern bank of the estuary where the River Seine meets the English Channel, circa 1920s. This handsome bleached enfilade...
Oak
Sold
H 37.75 in W 74.5 in D 20.25 in
20th Century Antique French Country Louis XIII Style Chestnut Enfilade Buffet
Located in Birmingham, AL
An antique French Country Louis XIII style carved enfilade buffet handcrafted of solid chestnut in Normandy, circa 1920s, having an inset rectangular plank top over three doors with ...
Chestnut
Sold
H 38 in W 57 in D 22 in
19th Century Antique French Louis XIII Style Carved Oak Hunting Buffet de Chasse
Located in Birmingham, AL
A very nice 19th century Louis XIII style buffet de chasse or hunt buffet handcrafted by talented artisans near Lyon of solid oak, circa 1880s. This handsome French Renaissance buffet features carved gadrooning on the top edge above two carved drawers with carved grotesque...
Oak
French Louis XIII Style Carved Enfilade
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A gorgeous solid oak enfilade in the style of Louis XIII. The hardwood has gained a fantastic patina. The apron houses three drawers with deep paneling and worn metal pulls with flor...
Metal
18th Century Bleached Walnut 4 Door Buffet from Lyon, France
Located in Dallas, TX
When antique furniture is bleached, such as this 18th century walnut four door buffet from Lyon, France, it allows the wood grain and carved elements to become focal points. Notice t...
Walnut
Antique Country French Vaisselier ~ Buffet
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Country French Vaisselier ~ Buffet was crafted from solid oak and brass to last for generations! The large, spacious buffet below is over sev...
Brass
Sold
H 71.66 in W 39.77 in D 26.38 in
French Cabinet, Wardrobe, Hosiery - Louis XIII Period - 17th - France
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Cabinet from the Louis XIII period, in carved wood, opening with four paneled doors and a drawer in the central part, this one with a very beautiful ...
Wood
Sold
H 32.75 in W 52.25 in D 17.5 in
Mid-17th Century French Louis XIII Period Walnut Sideboard or Buffet
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This mid-seventeenth century French Louis XIII period walnut sideboard or buffet features hand pegged construction and solid panels on both front and sides. The buffet has a beveled ...
Walnut
Solid Elm Sideboard, Louis XIII style, France
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Brutalist Solid Elm Sideboard, Louis XIII style The buffet features stunning diamond carved door panels. It offers ample storage, with shelve behin...
Elm
Sold
H 34.25 in W 52.88 in D 26.25 in
Antique French Buffet C1700's in Natural Washed White Oak and Opening Lid Top
Located in Highwood, IL
Antique French buffet that dates back to the 1700’s and it has a most unusual feature, the top opens, which we have never witnessed before when combined with conventional doors. When you look closely at the hinges for the lid, you’ll notice that they were hand-forged and appear to be really old. I am sure there must be some logic behind this option on our French oak buffet, but it escapes me. That said, the antique French white oak buffet...
Steel