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.
Set of Ten Neoclassical Style Iron Garden Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stately set of ten wrought iron patio and garden dining chairs in the neoclassical taste. The set consists of all armchairs with a thick, heavy iron frame. The seats have a humped ba...
Wrought Iron
1970s Italian Steel And Glass Neoclassical Maison Jansen Style Coffee Table
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is an Italian steel and glass coffee table with neoclassical Maison Jansen styling. The glass is original, and the bottom of the hooves has the Italian stamp. This has timeless ...
Brass
$2,896 / item
Long Marble Top Console with Barley Twist Base
Located in Westwood, NJ
Capture the grandeur of traditional craftsmanship with a refined mix of natural stone and ornate woodwork. Its polished White Banswara marble top creates a luminous surface that cont...
Marble
Italian Carved and Painted Wood Balustrade
Located in Bradenton, FL
Italian Carved and Polychrome Painted Wood Balustrade in Faux Marble Finish. This large architectural fragment features turned baluster supports beneath a molded top rail, all hand-p...
Wood
Finest Quality Reuge Swiss 3.72 Note Grand Piano Inlaid Music Box Plays 3 Songs
Located in Tustin, CA
Astounding, finest quality, hand-made estate 3.72 note "Reuge" music and jewelry box grand piano with gorgeous instrumental motif marquetry on burl walnut wood case. The music box plays 3 songs. Flawless sound featuring a 72 note Swiss movement. The wood piano case is handmade in Italy by the world's best master artisans in marquetry. One cylinder; 3 melodies playing one after another. It plays for a very long time when fully wound. Reuge 72...
Burl
Italian Hand-Carved Tuscan Chest with Laurel Garlands in Antiqued Silver Leaf
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Italian Hand-Carved Tuscan Chest with Laurel Garlands in Antiqued Silver Leaf, Handmade in Italy This elegant hand-carved Tuscan-style chest is a finely executed example of traditio...
Hardwood
Large English Bronze Corinthian Column Lantern
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
A distinguished and substantial bronze lantern of impressive scale, finely cast and exhibiting exceptional architectural detail. The rectangular body is framed by four elegant Corint...
Bronze
Stickley Brothers Neoclassical Chaise Lounge, Mahogany Upholstery, USA
Located in Southampton, NJ
Elegant chaise lounge or Recamier sofa by Stickley Furniture in left or right wing options. Generous, lithe proportions, Neoclassical in style with bolster cushion. Seat: 16.5" H.
Upholstery, Mahogany
Italian Majolica Blue White Grotto Dolphin Shell Lavabo Wall Fountain Planter
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is an Italian blue and white terracotta grotto inspired dolphin and shell form lavabo or wall fountain or even a planter. It is 3 pieces suspended on a stain poplar wall plaque....
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Slate & Marble Mantle Clock
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Mid-19th century French slate & marble mantle clock. Drum head form. Black slate & green, black & white marble. Made by P. Marti et Cie. 8-day movement. History of clock repairs on b...
Marble, Slate
$556Sale Price|20% Off
19th C Original Painted Decorated Doll or Jewelry Chester Drawers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C original painted decorated doll or jewelry chester drawers. Decorated in the 20's or 30's.
Wood, Paint
12 Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Border Imari Pattern 8450 Bread & Butter Plates
By Royal Crown Derby Porcelain
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine set of 12 Royal Crown Derby porcelain bread & butter plates. In the Border Imari pattern (No. 8450). Consisting of 12 plates all with scalloped rims, gilt highlights, and im...
Porcelain
1990s Attributed to Ralph Lauren Round Tufted Brown Ottoman Coffee Table
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated 1990s with this exquisite ottoman/coffee table on castors. Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. The luxurious table is s...
Brass
French Neoclassical Style Amber Alabaster and Bronze Pendant Light, circa 1920s
Located in Barntrup, DE
A refined French Neoclassical pendant featuring a richly veined amber-toned alabaster bowl, elegantly suspended by ornate bronze chains and mounts. This elegant French pendant light...
Alabaster, Bronze
Neoclassical Style Brass Psyche Mirror In The Style of Maison Jansen
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice and elegant neoclassical style swinging psyche mirror. is all made of brass with a beveled mirror. This is a French work in the Style of Maison Jansen. Circa 1940
Brass
SUPER DESIGN Pendant Light with Stunning Sculptural ARTISTRY Alabaster Shade
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare and majestic, three-light alabaster pendant light with gilt bronze ram head mounts. This rare fixture comes with a stunning design and a superbly polished alabaster shade. This...
Alabaster, Brass, Bronze
Neoclassical Style Wall Mirror by Metz, circa 1960s
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous neoclassical style framed wall mirror By J.L. Metz USA, circa 1960s Painted cream solid wood frame, with gold gilt trim and details. Measures: 28.75" W x 52.25...
Mirror, Wood, Paint
Italian Neoclassical Female Sculpture Statue
Located in New York, NY
An Italian reproduction female resin and alabaster marble statue, in the Neoclassical design style, circa mid to late 20th century, Italy. Statue is an off-white/antique white resin ...
Alabaster
Late 18th Century Carved and Gilded Wood Trophy of Armour Coat of Arms
Located in Hastings, GB
Exceptional later 18th / early 19thcentury Trophy of Armour, in the Neoclassical style, hand carved with areas of gilt finish, to the centre a Romanesque plumed helmet, overlaid on c...
Oak
Fantastic Hand-Painted 4 Panel Classical Romantic Screen Room Divider
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This hand-painted 4 panel Classical Romantic screen room divider is a true statement piece that brings timeless elegance and charm to any interior. Each panel is beautifully decorate...
Walnut
Pair Of Mid Century Gilt Faux Bamboo Glass Top Side or End Tables
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Beautiful and Diminutive pair of faux bamboo Gilt end tables. Simple and elegant in their non intrusive appearance. Square glass tops can be changed out to meet your needs.
Iron
Bridgewater Style Club Chair with Linen Button Closure Slipcover with Drop Skirt
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Coteau club chair is a comfortable and relaxed look - the slipcover has special button closure which also gives a distinct view from back of club chair - hair filled scroll back and saddle arms with a feather and down loose seat cushion. Shown with tan linen slipcover...
Linen
Wonderful Vintage Large Brass Bronze Glass Edwardian Hexagon Lantern Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Extremely Large Vintage Brass / Bronze Regency 6 Candelabra Light Lantern Neoclassical Hexagon Shaped Fixture Having Glass Panels Inset And Finished With Finials In The T...
Brass, Bronze
Italian Carved Alabaster Urn Table Lamp, Acanthus Leaves
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage Italian hand-carved Alabaster accent or table lamp features baluster urn form with a wreath of leaves (most probably acanthus leaves) accentuating the top of the urn. The bo...
Stone, Alabaster, Brass
1960's Original Signed Watercolor Cityscape of Venice Italy
Located in San Diego, CA
Nicely framed original watercolor signed and dated , nice Venice Italy cityscape , very nice subject and condition.
Brass
$4,290Sale Price|25% Off
Brass Rectangular Coffee Table in the Style of Maison Jansen, circa 1940
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This rectangular two tiers neoclassical style coffee table is made of brass with twoglass shelves. This is a French work in the style of Maison Jansen. Circa 1940.
Brass
Andje Pietrzyk - Monumental golden bronze horse
Located in BARSAC, FR
Andje Pietrzyk Monumental golden bronze horse Beautiful creation made of finely polished bronze and covered in gold leaves worth 24 carats, it represents perfectly the beauty ...
Bronze
Neoclassical Sculptural Fountain in Stone with Mythological Figures
Located in Marbella, ES
An elegant, neoclassical garden fountain carved from stone, featuring a sculptural composition of reclining mythological figures. The scene depicts a bearded river god accompanied by...
Marble
$3,400 / set
1930's Pair Italian Carved Alabaster Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair 1930’s Italian carved alabaster table lamps
Alabaster
Mid-Century Neoclassical Brass Shell Platter, Circa 1970s, 11.5" W
Located in Elkhart, IN
A mid-20th century brass clam shell platter.
Brass
$3,800 / item
1920's Caldwell Flush Mount with Opaline Glass
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1920's Caldwell gilt bronze flush mounted light fixture with Opaline glass inset. From Waldorf Hotel NYC.
Bronze
$1,188Sale Price|20% Off
19Thc Cherry Side Table or Night Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Cherry side table or night stand from Pennsylvania.The fine one drawer table is in pristine condition and has the original brass drawer pull.
Wood
Pair of Red lacquer 2 tier Maison Baguès Side Table
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Red lacquer 2 tier Maison Baguès Side Table
Brass
18th Century Silver Monstrance c. 1797–1799 Augsburg Neoclassical Gilt Lüders
Located in Epfach, DE
Augsburg silver sunburst monstrance, c. 1797–1799. Master: Jakob Hermann David Lüders This impressive late 18th century sunburst monstrance was crafted in Augsburg between 1797 and...
Silver
Neoclassical Style Lacquered Five Panel Screen Fragment
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dramatic Asian five panel screen fragment of a larger painted screen. The screen features a lacquered canvas over a wood frame depicting neoclassical style column architecture with f...
Canvas, Wood
Wedgwood Jasperware Bowl Sage Green and White in the Neoclassical Style
By Wedgwood
Located in New York, NY
An English sage green and white Jasperware matte stoneware small footed bowl by Wedgwood, in the Neoclassical style, circa mid-20th century, 1960, Engl...
Stoneware
19th Century American School Nautical Painting
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century American School Nautical Painting. Wonderful oil on panel maritime painting of steam yacht with American flag. Signed by A Benson in lower right corner. Framed in ornate...
Wood
Early 20th Century Tiffany Furnaces Patinated Bronze and Favrile Glass Vase
Located in Tarry Town, NY
A finely crafted early 20th century American decorative vase by Tiffany Studios, circa 1920. This trumpet-form vase combines hand-blown Favrile glass with a patinated gilt bronze dec...
Bronze
Philippe Deshoulieres for Sophie d’E Limoges Signed Porcelain Horse Trinket Box
By Deshoulières Limoges, Limoges
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Philippe Deshoulieres for Sophie d’E Limoges Signed Porcelain Horse Trinket Box – Estate Provenance From the private estate of a prominent American desi...
Porcelain
Large French Neoclassical Style Plaster Hand Sculpture
By Sirmos, John Dickinson, Dorothy Draper, Serge Roche
Located in Houston, TX
Large French Neoclassical Style Plaster Hand Sculpture. Unusually large and well detailed Neoclassical Roman plaster hand sculpture. This vintage French academic plaster hand sculpt...
Plaster
$4,800 / item
1930's Leaded Glass Light Fixture
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's leaded glass light fixture with 2 interior lights
Bronze
Custom Walnut Wood Table with Wishbone Stretcher by Dos Gallos Studio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Custom walnut wine tasting table with narrow profile wishbone trestle base. Beautiful patina, breadboards on each end. Delicate and beautiful. As show in medium-dark walnut. Can be ...
Walnut
A French Carved Limestone Circular Center/Dining Table on a Baluster-form Base
Located in San Francisco, CA
this classically styled table hand-crafted in France with thick circular top with bullnose edge; raised on a robust and shapely baluster-form base; overall even wear and patina to su...
Limestone
Fine Antique Pair Of Painted Cast Iron Garden Urns On Bases
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An understated and exceptional pair of Antique Garden Urns in the original worn green paint. In two sections, the footed urn with foliate decorated rims and gadroon decorated lower b...
Iron
Antique Wedgwood Blue Jasperware Neoclassical Plaque
By Wedgwood
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine Wedgwood large blue and white jasperware plaque with the company impressed mark on verso. Four of the nine Greek Muses are shown standing in their classical poses with their i...
Porcelain
Set of 8 Rose Tarlow Solid Wood & Cane Back Armchairs, Made in Los Angeles, USA
By Rose Tarlow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of eight Rose Tarlow Melrose House armchairs, designed and handcrafted in Los Angeles, California, USA, exemplifying the timeless elegance and quality for which Rose Tarlow is in...
Leather, Wood
$685Sale Price|50% Off
Italian Neoclassical Gilded Wooden Candleholder, Circa 1780-1800
Located in Buisson, FR
Great wooden candleholder with its original gilding. Original period piece and rare to find. Italy, circa 1780-1800. Weathered and small losses. Measurements include the metal peak ...
Wood
American Mahogany Drop Leaf table
Located in Huntington, NY
Late 18th Century Mahogany Drop leaf Table each side with Gate leg Carved edge & legs
Mahogany
Maitland Smith Neoclassical Style Iron Brass Tessellated Marble Lion Pedestal I
Located in Houston, TX
Maitland Smith neoclassical style tessellated marble lion pedestal featuring painted iron legs with lion's paw feet and lion head finials, painted iron rope and tassels.
Marble, Metal, Iron, Brass
Richard Frinier for Brown Jordan Venetian Garden Dining Suite
By Richard Frinier, Brown Jordan
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Amazing patio and garden dining suite consisting of four dining armchairs and one stone top round dining table designed by Richard Frinier for Brown Jordan...
Granite, Aluminum
Early 20th Century Nichols and Stone Barrel Back Windsor Armchair
Located in Germantown, MD
An early 20th century Nichols And Stone Barrel Back Windsor stained ArmChair. Very sturdy. Good vintage condition. Measures 25" in width, 23" in de...
Hardwood
A Very large And Substantial English Stone Urn And Pedestal
Located in London, GB
A very large substantial and organically well weathered Classical recon stone urn and pedestal. The egg and dart rim with gadrooned urn sitting on a tapering socle. The urn is stood ...
Cast Stone
Vintage English Country Iron Garden Sundial "Grow Old Along With Me"
Located in Elkhart, IN
A stunning vintage iron garden sundial reading "Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be." USA, Late 20th Century Measures: 8.13"W x 8.13"D x 3.25"H Very good vintage conditi...
Iron
1900s Antique Viennese Scalloped Silver Wall Mirror, Austria, ca. 1900
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful and elegant wall mirror dating from around 1900, featuring a lovely curved shape in the Neo-Rococo style transitioning into early Viennese Art Nouveau (Jugendstil). The f...
Silver
$6,800Sale Price / set|22% Off
Richard Frinier for Brown Jordan Florentine Garden Dining Suite
By Brown Jordan
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Exceptional wrought aluminum patio and garden outdoor furniture dining suite designed by Richard Frinier for Brown Jordan. From the Fl...
Aluminum
Vintage Iron and Wood Birdcage Terrarium, Maitland Smith Style
Located in Waxahachie, TX
Dr. Livingstone, I presume? Made in the Philippines. In the manner of Maitland Smith. Would bring character and flare to any room. Lift top. Gorgeous architectural features. Wood ...
Iron
Luxurious Caramel Leather Wingback Chair with Mahogany Legs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Luxurious large caramel leather wingback chair having mahogany carved legs and arms with enveloping interior elbow rests. Handsome ball and claw feet. Arm height 26.5 Between Interi...
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century Italian Neoclassical Console Table
Located in Essex, MA
Early 19th Century Italian Parcel Gilt Neoclassical Console Table. Wonderful small size. Reeded legs, rosettes and bellflower swags. Original faux marble top.
Pine, Giltwood
1920's Gilt Bronze Flush Mounted with Opaline Leaded Glass
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1920's leaded glass light fixtures with 2 interior lights, from Waldorf Hotel in NYC
Bronze
French Wrought Iron Brown Painting Set of Garden Bistro Outdoor
Located in Miami, FL
New French wrought iron painting set of garden bistro outdoor Indoor & Outdoor The price includes two chairs and one white marble top table. Available ...
Wrought Iron