Neoclassical Furniture
Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Neoclassical furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms.
Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.
The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.
Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.
Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
As you can see from the furniture on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep neoclassicism fresh.
Find antique neoclassical furniture today on 1stDibs.
1940s French Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
Late 18th Century English Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Marble
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
Early 1900s American Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
1880s Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Plaster
1950s French Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Sandstone
1930s English Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Furniture
Stone, Concrete
Mid-19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Pine
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Furniture
Brass, Steel
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 1900s American Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Nepalese Neoclassical Furniture
Wool
20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
1980s Philippine Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Stone, Bronze
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Zinc
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
Early 2000s American Neoclassical Furniture
Leather
1940s Czech Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
1890s Austrian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
1920s American Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Marble
Late 20th Century North American Neoclassical Furniture
Glass
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
Late 20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
20th Century Neoclassical Furniture
Glass, Plaster
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Furniture
Majolica, Pottery
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Crystal
20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Marble, Brass
Late 20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
1930s French Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Moldovan Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Giltwood, Wood
1940s French Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Wood, Giltwood
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Carrara Marble
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
Mid-19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Upholstery, Mahogany
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Metal
Late 19th Century Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Stone, Marble, Metal, Bronze, Copper, Ormolu, Tin
1910s British Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Gold, Enamel
1830s Austrian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Sterling Silver, Steel
20th Century Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Stone, Bronze
1960s French Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Marble, Bronze
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
19th Century European Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Lava
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Metal
1940s French Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Furniture
Marble
18th Century American Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Silver