Skip to main content

Louis XV Cabinets

LOUIS XV STYLE

The style of 18th-century French furniture was guided by the court. When Louis XV, who reigned from 1715–74, focused royal life on the smaller salons of Versailles rather than its grand chambers, it transformed the aesthetics away from the imposing and angular furniture that characterized the style of Louis XIV. A broader focus on comfort and more delicate forms define antique Louis XV furniture, with nature-inspired carvings, wood inlays, curved cabriole legs, asymmetrical shapes and rounded oval seat backs. The furnishings changed throughout the king’s life, as he ascended to the throne as a child and then grew to establish his own tastes.

Pieces like the bergère, an upholstered armchair with a wide cushion that fit the flowing dresses in fashion at the time, reflected this more informal court. Introduced at the start of Louis XV’s reign, bergère chairs in this style were deeper and broader than other chairs of the period.

Louis XV tapestries and carpets tended to be floral and colorful, and design elements were borrowed from Asia. Dutch-born cabinetmaker Bernard van Risenburgh brought lacquer techniques influenced by Japan and China into his luxuriously made furniture. Along with its fine details, the furniture of the era also featured new innovations including mechanical devices. Jean François Oeben, a royal cabinetmaker, created such intricate pieces as a mechanical table for Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s mistress. It involved a sliding top and a writing surface that extended from its marquetry panels.

During the later years of Louis XV’s reign, there was a shift from the ostentatious rocaille style, part of the exuberantly decorative Rococo movement in Europe for which designers such as Nicolas Pineau and Juste-Aurèle Meissonier are known. The style under Louis XVI would return to boxier forms, but with a neoclassical touch inspired by the ancient world.

Find antique Louis XV bedroom furniture, seating, tables and decorative objects on 1stDibs.

1
to
1
1
1
1
1
1
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
9
12
5
4
2
Style: Louis XV
Creator: Charles-Guillaume Diehl
19th Century, Louis XV Revival Ormolu-Mounted Bonheur Du Jour by Diehl
Located in London, by appointment only
Highly important and palatial Napoleon III Louis XV Revival Ormolu-Mounted Marquetry Bonheur Du Jour by Charles Guillaume Diehl, Designed by Jean Brandely, The Marquetry by E. Varlot, Paris. The rarity & importance of this magnificent piece cannot be overstated, it is without question one of the finest examples you will see. Originally commissioned for European nobility as a statement of love and marital grandeur. Incorporating the finest & rarest veneers and timbers of the time, including Harewood, Thuya, Purpleheart, palm wood and tulipwood. The beautifully shaped ormolu gallery on the top, gracefully curving outwards inset with fretted heart shapes highlight the incredible attention to detail that flow throughout this majestic piece. The upper section set either side with ormolu mounted fluted pilasters, aside two doors both individually set with masculine & feminine central marquetry panels of the most supreme quality, as you would expect from the master E. Varlot. The colors incorporated in the inlay are outstanding to behold, simply perfection. Opening to reveal the double top & bottom lock, engraved with Diehl's mark and address. Internally veneered in Rosewood of the richest color with one shelf. With two drawers below the doors, both veneered on the inside with Sycamore, one fitted for inkwells. The ormolu edged writing flap again centrally set with both a male & female figure now seated, holding hands with the lady holding a Mandoline, a true sign of happiness & love. The writing flap opening to reveal the original richly tooled velvet leather surface. The stand with one central frieze drawer, again lined inside with rosewood and with a top and bottom lock. On ormolu-mounted fluted legs. This grand Museum Quality masterpiece is in excellent condition for its age. Charles Guillaume Diehl (1811-1885) was of Germanic origins, he is considered among the most important & influential of cabinetmakers of the 19th century. He was born in Steinbach, Germany later moving to France, establishing his atelier in Paris in 1840, at the 3, Rue de Thorigny and then at the 170, Rue Saint...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Cabinets

Materials

Ormolu

Related Items
Antique French Marquetry Bonheur du Jour 19th Century
Located in London, GB
We are very pleased to be able to offer this rare antique French walnut and marquetry inlaid Bonheur du Jour, or Ladies Writing Desk, for sale. Our experts have dated it to around 1...
Category

1850s French Antique Louis XV Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Fine French 19th Century Louis XV Style Tulipwood and Ormolu-Mounted Ladies Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century tulipwood, mahogany and ormolu-mounted Bureau de Dame Lady's secretary desk, attributed to Maison Millet. The supe...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Cabinets

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Antique French Empire Revival Ormolu Mounted Desk, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an exquisite French Empire Revival pedestal desk, circa 1880 in date. This desk has been beautifully crafted from flame mahogany. The top has a striking gold tooled black leather inset writing surface which has a decorative geometric inlaid satinwood and ebony border around it. It features beautifully cast gilded Ormolu mounts including angels, pharaonic herms above paw feet and swan escutcheons. It is further enhanced with male masks wearing nemes headress's on the sides, making it an incredibly imposing and impressive item of furniture. The desk features seven drawers for maximum storage, it is freestanding with a beautifully panelled back and comes complete with the original working locks and keys. This desk will soon become the centrepiece of your furniture collection, there is no mistaking the sophisticated quality and design and it is certain to enhance the style and elegance of any living area, bedroom, or reception. THE BOTANICAL NAME FOR THE MAHOGANY THIS ITEM IS MADE OF IS SWIETENIA MACROPHYLLA AND THIS TYPE OF MAHOGANY IS NOT SUBJECT TO CITES REGULATION. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, French polished, waxed and releathered in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 76 x width 150 x depth 80 Dimensions in inches: Height 29.9 x width 59.1 x depth 31.5 Empire style, is an early 19th century design movement in architecture, furniture, other decorative arts, and the visual arts followed in Europe and America until circa 1830. The style originated in and takes its name from the rule of Napoleon I in the First French Empire, where it was intended to idealize Napoleon's leadership and the French state. The style corresponds to the Biedermeier style in the German-speaking lands, Federal style in the United States and to the Regency style in Britain. The previous style was called Louis XVI style, in France. The Empire style was based on aspects of the Roman Empire. It is the second phase of neoclassicism which is also called "Directoire", after a government system. Furniture typically had symbols and ornaments borrowed from the glorious ancient Greek and Roman empires. The furniture was made from heavy woods such as mahogany and ebony, imported from the colonies, with dark finishes often with decorative bronze mounts. Marble tops were popular as were Egyptian motifs like sphinxes, griffins, urns and eagles and the Napoleonic symbols, the eagle, the bee, the initials "I" and a large "N." Gilded bronze (ormolu) details displayed a high level of craftsmanship. Flame mahogany Thomas Sheraton - 18th century furniture designer, once characterized mahogany as "best suited to furniture where strength is demanded as well as a wood that works...
Category

1880s French Antique Louis XV Cabinets

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Lady's Secretary Desk, Millet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very fine French 19th century Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Kingwood, Satinwood and Fruitwood Parquetry Kidney-Shaped secrétaire de dame (Lady's Desk) with an enamel dial clock and...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Cabinets

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

19th Century French Bonheur Du Jour Writing Desk
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pretty French Louis XV style writing desk or ‘bonheur du jour’, the serpentine case veneered in book-matched Kingwood and raised on elegant cabriole legs and accented with gilt tri...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XV Cabinets

Materials

Kingwood

Bonheur Du Jour Cylinder Desk Louis XVI Style
Located in SAINTE-COLOMBE, FR
Bonheur Du Jour cylinder desk Louis XVI Style This beautifully crafted Bonheur Du Jour Cylinder desk in mahogany is in the style of Paul Sorman...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XV Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Bonheur Du Jour Cylinder Desk Louis XVI Style
Bonheur Du Jour Cylinder Desk Louis XVI Style
H 35.44 in W 28.35 in D 17.33 in
French Bonheur-du-jour (Desk), Late 18th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French painted wood small-sized writing desk from the turn of the 18th and 19th century. This antique table from France has a rectangular-shaped top with a raised and beautifully s...
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XV Cabinets

Materials

Wood

French 19th Century Louis XV St. Kingwood, Tulipwood and Ormolu Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant French 19th century Louis XV st. kingwood, tulipwood and ormolu desk. The desk is raised by beautiful slender tapered cabriole legs with fine fitted foliate ormolu sab...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Cabinets

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Ebonised Boulle Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a fine quality 19th century ebonised Boulle Bonheur Du Jour writing table. The top, of arched form, has an ornate brass pediment, flanked by...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XV Cabinets

French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and large French 19th century Louis XV style ormolu-mounted mahogany and kingwood three-drawer bureau plat attributed to Paul Sormani (French-Italian 1817-1877). The shaped rectangular top enclosing a gilt tooled brown leather writing surface within a molded border above a long central drawer enclosing a fine modeled mask of Hercules wearing the Nemean lion pelt centered by flat cast encadrements and rosewood veneered a quatre faces flanked by two short drawers with reticulated escutcheons of scantly clad frolicking putti and doves over gadrooned "C" scrolls, trellis patterned panels on a stylized shell within similarly framed encadrements raised on elegant cabriole legs surmounted by bearded satyr masks ending in acanthus case hairy paw feet beneath sides centering bacchic masks. Lock mechanism stamped W S M, 6068, a key (lacking skeleton key), and 148. Veuve Paul Sormani Et Fils was the widow of the highly esteemed furniture maker Paul Sormani (French-Italian 1817-1877). After his death around 1877 she and her son took over the management of the company continuing the tradition of producing fine French furniture of the highest calibre. An escutcheon and several mounts were examined on the reverse, and each was found to have the bronze master model initials "SJ:. Blue chalk inscription on underside Glle 117, Paris, circa 1880. Paul Sormani (1817-1877): Born in Venice, Paul Sormani set up in Paris in the middle of the 19th century. He specialized in creating furniture and works of art and was known for his high quality reproductions of Louis XV and XVI furniture...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Cabinets

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Porcelain and Ormolu Mounted Bonheur Du Jour by Donald Ross
Located in London, GB
Porcelain and ormolu mounted bonheur du jour by Donald Ross. English, late 19th century. Measures: height 136cm, width 108cm, depth 62cm This beautifu...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Louis XV Cabinets

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Victorian Amboyna Inlaid Bonheur Du Jour
Located in London, GB
Believed by our experts to date from around 1860, this antique Victorian Bonheur Du Jour is an imposing and functional item of furniture that is so typical of the Victorian era. We ...
Category

1860s English Antique Louis XV Cabinets

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

Louis Xv cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Louis XV cabinets for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage cabinets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, more furniture and collectibles, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XV cabinets made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original cabinets, popular names associated with this style include François Linke, Romweber Furniture Co., Paul Sormani, and Gervais Durand. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for cabinets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $500 and tops out at $577,210 while the average work can sell for $6,757.

Recently Viewed

View All