Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.
The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.
When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.
The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.
Pair of Late 18th century Cerulean Blue painted Italian Cupboards
Located in Leesburg, VA
Anonymous Possibly Florence, Italy; 18th century Wood, iron Approximate size: 37 (h) x 48 (w) x 21 (d) in. each These Late 18th-century Italian cupboards stand as a captivating tes...
Pine
Petite 18th Century Venetian Painted Wood Rococo Vitrine with Carved Crest
Located in Atlanta, GA
A petite Venetian 18th century period Rococo painted wood vitrine with carved crest and glass door. Created in Italy during the Rococo period, this It...
Glass, Wood
Walnut Rococo Decorative Carved Barley Twist Step Back Cuboard, Circa 1750
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian walnut Rococo cupboard with a carved molded edge top, carved corner plinths with flanking barley twist columns, four centered drawers with wood knobs, and terminating on the ...
Iron
Painted Swedish Provincial Rococo Display Cabinet
Located in Washington, DC
Original blue paint, carved wood display cabinet with unique original display shelving. Very sturdy cabinet in two pieces. Original shelvin...
Brass
19th Century Rococo Style Glazed Cabinet
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
19th Century rococo style glass cabinet. With a decorative carved pediment, below two glazed doors opening to shelves and drawers, below two shor...
Wood
AMAZING Portuguese 18th Century CUPBOARD
Located in Madrid, ES
Portuguese 18th Century CUPBOARD built with gilded and painted elements from the 19th century. XVIII. With two doors, interior with shelves. Small defects. Dim.: 173 x 125 x 44 cm g...
Wood
Pair of Victorian Period Amboyna Cabinets with Sèvres Style Porcelain Plaques
By Hobbs & Co.
Located in London, GB
Pair of Victorian period amboyna cabinets with Sèvres style porcelain plaques English, late 19th century Dimensions: Height 108cm, width 77cm, depth 47cm This unusual and superb...
Ormolu
18th Century Swedish Rococo Display Cabinet with Arched Pediment
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo painted wood display and storage cabinet from the 18th century. This antique cabinet from Sweden, which stands just over 7 feet in height, features a gracefully arch...
Iron
Elegant 18th C. French Rococo Buffet à Deux-Corps
Located in Atlanta, GA
A tall, 18th Century Rococo wooden display and storage cabinet from France. This antique oak wood cabinet features a nicely arched and molded center top pediment and is designed throughout in nice molding with raised panels, and presented on a flat base. This buffet à deux-corps (which is the name for a French buffet consisting of an upper and lower case, "deux" referencing the two parts) has a pair of arched doors...
Wood
Italian Walnut Rococo Decorative Carved Cuboard, Circa 1750
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian walnut Rococo cupboard with a carved molded edge top, decorative incised carvings, upper single drawer and a lower cabinet with the original wooden knobs, original locking me...
Iron
19th Century French Louis XV Walnut Hutch
Located in Portland, OR
Absolutely Stunning! This French antique hutch is tres magnifique. The lovely carved embellishments and sweet cabriole legs supporting the top giv...
Walnut
20th Century Splendid Display Cabinet in the Antique Rococo Style Beech Carved
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid beechwood, finely carved and polished, poliment gilded. High-rectangular, one-armed, cambered and three-glazed corpus on high, oblique, volute-like, curly feet, connected with ...
Beech
A 19th Century Swedish Painted Armoire - Cupboard
Located in Basingstoke, Hampshire
An extraordinary early 19th century Swedish cupboard. Demonstrating a particularly striking and unusually exaggerated arched pediment sha...
Pine
Georgian 18th Century Mahogany Secretaire Cupboard
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A superb quality late 18th century Georgian mahogany secretaire cupboard having well figured and banded top over one secretaire drawer to frieze, enclosing attractive satinwood in...
Mahogany
Classic 19th Century Country French Paint Decorated Cabinet
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Retailed by Peter Roland, Westport CT. A lovely cabinet in a later pale Aqua Green paint with two carved short apron drawers with a diamond motif and later black painted metal figura...
Wood
19th Century English Olivewood and Brass Inlaid Cabinet
By Town & Emanuel
Located in London, GB
A William IV cabinet attributed to Town and Emmanuel Constructed in a strongly grained olivewood and dressed with gold brass inlays and an etched and engraved brass panel; rising from a plinth base, the lockable single door having an inset panel in the manner of Jean Berain, enclosing a shelved interior, and flanked by narrow vertical conforming panels; the apron being dressed with three bronze rosettes, and the Jura Jaune marble is dressed with a three quarter arcaded brass gallery, circa 1830 The cabinet is illustrated and discussed in Christopher Payne’s “British Furniture 1820 to 1920” published in 2023. Payne singles out the rarity of the olivewood timber used as well as the necessity for hand cutting the large marquetry panel. Literature: Payne, Christopher. British Furniture 1820 to 1920 : The Luxury Market. ACC Art Books, 2023, pp. 38-39 (illus. fig. 1.33). Town and Emanuel Recorded in the 'Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840', published by the Furniture History Society, as being situated at 103 New Bond Street between 1830 and 1840, and apart from being manufacturers of furniture, also dealt in 'curiosities and antiques'. The late renowned connoisseur Christopher Gilbert records in his 'Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture' London 1997, also published by the Furniture History Society, a writing table in the Transitional manner with similar plaques. Their label reads 'Town and Emanuel, manufacturers of Buhl Marquetrie, Resner (sic) & Carved Furniture, tripods, screens & c. of the finest and most superb designs of the Louis 14th. Splendid cabinets and tables inlaid with fine Sevres and Dresden china...
Marble, Brass
18th Century Swedish Baroque Cupboard Cabinet
Located in San Angelo, TX
Stunning 18th century baroque Swedish cabinet. This amazing piece has been dry scrapped down to showcase traces of the original paint. Lots of neutral tones run through out this uniq...
Pine, Paint
18th/19th Century English/Welsh Oak Cupboard
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An Antique English Hutch with fine age patina, soft timeworn hand and fantastic traditional form. A nicely patinated oak cupboard with scalloped...
Wood
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Armoire Cupboard Cabinet
Located in San Angelo, TX
A beautiful Swedish Gustavian cabinet that has been painted and dry scrapped over its lifetime. It dissembles into two parts. This beautiful piece shows the original paint job with p...
Pine, Paint
18th Century Swedish Rococo Vitrine
Located in Huntington, NY
A beautiful Rococo vitrine with original brass hardware and locks. The upper cabinet has four shelves under a bonnet top with glass doors. The lower cabinet has two shelves behind ra...
Brass, Iron
Gustavian 19th Century Cabinet with Original Paint
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A Swedish Gustavian cabinet from the 19th century or earlier with its original vibrant paint, reeded doors, and an open shelf. The top portion is removable and features a sharply mol...
Metal
18th Century English Housekeepers Cupboard
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Stunning 18th C painted English housekeepers cupboard. 1790. Reference: 7581 Dimensions 78 inches (198 cms) Wide 23 inches (58 cms) Deep 85.5 inches (217 cms) High.
Pine
Late 18th Century Georgian Oak Cabinet / Cupboard
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Late 18th century oak cupboard, The top part has two doors with fielded panels. The lower part has four drawers with brass handles. The cabin...
Brass
Oak Cupboard - 18th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Lovely two-part oak cupboard or buffet from the early 18th century. Interesting cupboard due to its unusual size, consisting of a lower part with 5 drawers and an upper part opening...
Oak
18th Century Swedish Rococo Cupboard-on-Chest
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Charming 18th Century Swedish Rococo cupboard-on-chest. With original painted finish on the exterior. A superb piece which provides masses of s...
Pine, Paint
Rococo Original Paint Swedish Cupboard
Located in Houston, TX
Rococo original paint Swedish cupboard, dated 1797. Swedish rococo style cupboard with five lower drawers. Upper doors open to reveal shelving. Working lock and key for upper doors. ...
Metal, Iron
Rococo Period Swedish Cupboard
Located in Houston, TX
Rococo Swedish Cupboard circa 1770-1780. Scraped back to original paint. Sturdy, stable. Includes key and working locks. Interior painted soft blue. Simple, classic shape and lines m...
Steel, Iron
Late 18th Century Rococo Cupboard
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Late 18th Century Rococo writing cupboard. Repainted with later outside hardware. Except for the front piece, two of the six boxes are later manufactu...
Wood
19th Century Blue Rococo Cupboard
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
19th Century Rococo cupboard from the region of Fryksdalen Sweden. Below the decorative carved pediment are two large doors opening to useful storage and then further below are two d...
Wood
18th Century Painted Dutch Cupboard
Located in Houston, TX
18th century painted Dutch cupboard with 3 wide lower drawers. Upper cabinet doors swing open revealing a space divided by four shelves and two small dra...
Brass, Iron
Swedish Rococo Painted Cupboard
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th century Swedish Rococo cupboard in Manor House quality. Cupboard has decorative carved deep pediment with two doors that open to two shelv...
Wood
A unique cupboard from around 1870, France.
Located in Chorzów, PL
A historic cabinet from the second half of the 19th century. We offer a second identical serviette. Dimensions: height 220 cm / width 85 cm / depth 38 cm
Walnut
Small 19th Century Period Rococo Cabinet
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Small proportion period Rococo cabinet. With a carved pediment, below to carved doors, opening to useful storage. Below sits two short drawers and two long drawers. Repainted in ...
Wood
Sold
H 75.25 in W 46.25 in D 14.5 in
Original Painted Swedish Country Rococo Wedding Cabinet from Jämtland Dated 1806
Located in Round Top, TX
The highly decorative original painted finish is captivating in this rococo country cabinet from Jämtland in northern Sweden. The cabinet is dated 1806 and combine woodworking craf...
Wood, Paint
18th Century Swedish Rococo Period Cabinet
Located in Charleston, SC
18th century Swedish Rococo Period Cabinet in two pieces with wonderful arched cornice and original hardwares .Upper unit features three shelves in blue patina. All resting on two sm...
Bronze
Period Rococo Swedish Cabinet, Sweden, circa 1760
Located in Charleston, SC
18th century period Swedish rococo cabinet in two parts with bonnet top, raised panel doors, two shelves and a notched spoon shelf, supported by sturdy four drawer base with original...
Bronze