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.
1920s French Vintage Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
1920s French Vintage Rococo Furniture
Bronze
19th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Paint, Wood
18th Century European Antique Rococo Furniture
Silver
Mid-18th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Earthenware
21st Century and Contemporary American Rococo Furniture
Brass
Mid-18th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Metal
18th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Mirror, Oak
Late 19th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Giltwood, Gesso
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Giltwood
19th Century Antique Rococo Furniture
Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu
1770s Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Maiolica
18th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Furniture
Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Persian Rococo Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1780s Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Bronze
1780s German Antique Rococo Furniture
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Ormolu
19th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Late 19th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Italian Rococo Furniture
Giltwood
1780s Sicilian Antique Rococo Furniture
Marble, Brass
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Terracotta
1770s Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Maiolica
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Wood
19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Wool, Silk
18th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Furniture
Wood
1880s French Antique Rococo Furniture
Metal, Bronze
1890s French Antique Rococo Furniture
Ormolu
18th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
1770s Swedish Antique Rococo Furniture
Other
1920s English Vintage Rococo Furniture
Silver
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Rococo Furniture
Mirror, Wood, Paint
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Giltwood
19th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain, Meissen
Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Ormolu
18th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Moldovan Rococo Furniture
Ash
1750s German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood
19th Century European Antique Rococo Furniture
Silver
Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Bronze
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Marble
Mid-18th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Wood
Late 18th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Glass, Giltwood
Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Enamel, Ormolu
Mid-19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Giltwood
21st Century and Contemporary English Rococo Furniture
Steel
Early 20th Century Unknown Rococo Furniture
Walnut
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood
1860s British Antique Rococo Furniture
Pine, Giltwood
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Wood
18th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Giltwood
19th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Wood, Paint
1980s Italian Vintage Rococo Furniture
Metal
18th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Wood
19th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Walnut