Rococo Furniture
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.
19th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Wood, Glass, Gesso
19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood
1860s Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century British Rococo Furniture
Composition
Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century French Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Rococo Furniture
Metallic Thread
2010s Chinese Rococo Furniture
Crystal
Mid-20th Century French Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
2010s English Rococo Furniture
Ceramic
Mid-19th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century French Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Early 18th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Ceramic
Late 20th Century European Rococo Furniture
Marble
19th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century German Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Late 20th Century American Rococo Furniture
Composition
1770s English Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Glass
Mid-18th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Glass
1730s Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Glass
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century European Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
1760s Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Paint, Paper
2010s American Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century American Rococo Furniture
Paint, Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
20th Century French Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Brass
20th Century Italian Rococo Furniture
Cotton, Silk, Down
Late 18th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Ceramic, Faience, Delft
1920s Italian Vintage Rococo Furniture
Glass, Murano Glass
Late 18th Century Antique Rococo Furniture
Marble
18th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
1760s German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Rococo Furniture
Wood
Late 18th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century Hungarian Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Late 18th Century Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
Late 19th Century Antique Rococo Furniture
Mirror
Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Steel, Metal
19th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Ceramic
19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Ormolu
Early 1900s German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Rococo Furniture
Wood, Mirror
1760s English Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
1790s French Antique Rococo Furniture
Pewter
1750s French Antique Rococo Furniture
Cotton
19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Late 18th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Mercury Glass
19th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain, Mirror
1880s Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Ceramic
Late 19th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
18th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Faience, Velvet, Paint
19th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain, Mirror