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.
18th Century Swedish Rococo Period Corner Cupboard in Original Paint
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A wonderfully sculptural 18th Century Swedish Rococo provincial painted corner cupboard, circa 1760. Of two-part construction and strong architectural outline, designed to sit neatl...
Pine, Paint
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
$5,556Sale Price|20% Off
Fine Venetian Rococo Style Gilt-Wood Carved Étagère, Shelf or Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare Italian Venetian Rococo style four-shelved gilt-wood carved étagère book or display stand. The bowed front shelves, each surmounted with "S" scro...
Wood
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Charlotte Perriand Berger Wood Stool by Cassina, Mid-Century Modern
By Charlotte Perriand, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Stool model Berger designed by Charlotte Perriand in 1953-61. Relaunched by Cassina in 2011. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Reclaiming simple materials and basic shapes, with an eye to architecture and mountain life...
Aluminum
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
$5,975
H 62.8 in W 37.8 in D 16.93 in
Early 19th Century Rustic-Country Spanish Open Bookcase with Gothic Reliefs
Located in Miami, FL
Early 19th century Rustic Spanish open bookcase is a relic from the distant past, ready to serve your family for generations yet to come! Hand-hewn from old-growth timbers of solid w...
Iron
Very Large Painted 18th Century Estate Cupboard
Located in Jesteburg, DE
An impressive large painted cupboard with partly original paint. Found in a castle, where it had been installed in the dining room as part of th...
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
Large 18th Century French Painted Cupboard
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Impressive 18th Century French painted cupboard. Shelved with a wonderful top interior. Comes in two parts, top and bottom, for ease of placement. Circa 1780.
Oak, Paint
Early 19th Century Swedish Pine Corner Cabinet Cupboard
Located in Round Top, TX
It is the incredible aged patina of the pine that draws one to this traditional Swedish corner cupboard. The interior is painted a soft green, creating a contrast to whatever you cho...
Pine, Paint
Swedish Baroque Corner Cupboard, c.18th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
A Swedish baroque corner cupboard, mid-18th century. Two pieces with smaller glazed upper cabinet and large lower cabinet. Scraped back to cream white paint. 81 ½ inches tall by 2...
Wood, Paint
Mahogany English Étagère or Shelf
Located in Atlanta, GA
This elegant English étagère is crafted in rich mahogany, showcasing a refined balance of utility and classic form. The open, graduated shelving is supported by turned uprights with ...
Mahogany
19th century Swedish painted pine cupboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish painted pine cupboard circa 1870. Fine quality Swedish cupboard which can function in multiple rooms around the home, such as the kitchen, dining room or bedroo...
Pine, Paint
$4,690
H 29.93 in W 63.39 in D 15.75 in
19th Catalan Spanish Baroque Carved Walnut Tuscan Two Doors Cabinet with Marble
Located in Miami, FL
From Northern Spain, constructed of solid walnut, the rectangular top with molded edge atop a conforming case housing two doors paneled with solid walnut, raised on a plinth base. ...
Marble
Provincial Ebonized Display Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
Provincial-style pine painted display cabinet. The display case has remarkably subtle details such as slightly splayed legs that are tapered and encase the bottom shelf. Crown moldin...
Wood
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
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 Chireno, 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 Chireno, 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 Chireno, 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