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 French Antique Rococo Furniture
Giltwood
Late 17th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Wood
20th Century French Rococo Furniture
Ormolu, Bronze
Late 19th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Ormolu
Late 18th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
Late 18th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
1770s Swedish Antique Rococo Furniture
Wood
19th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Glass
19th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
18th Century German Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Swedish Rococo Furniture
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Crystal, Ormolu
19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Bronze
1760s English Antique Rococo Furniture
Glass, Giltwood
20th Century French Rococo Furniture
Bronze, Ormolu
2010s British Rococo Furniture
Ceramic
19th Century Belgian Antique Rococo Furniture
Marble, Ormolu
18th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Furniture
Wood
19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Silver, Bronze
18th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Furniture
Canvas
18th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Furniture
Wood
1770s English Antique Rococo Furniture
Sterling Silver
1780s Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Marble, Iron, Ormolu
1770s Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
Early 1800s Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
Late 18th Century Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Carrara Marble
19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Ormolu
19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Ormolu
1750s English Antique Rococo Furniture
Mercury Glass, Giltwood
Late 18th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
Mid-18th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Ormolu
18th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Furniture
Pine
Late 18th Century Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
19th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Sterling Silver
19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Ormolu
Late 18th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
18th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Furniture
Silver
Late 18th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
20th Century European Rococo Furniture
Vermeil, Silver
Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
Mid-18th Century Portuguese Antique Rococo Furniture
Rosewood
19th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Gesso, Giltwood
Late 18th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century Italian Antique Rococo Furniture
Gesso, Giltwood
1750s English Antique Rococo Furniture
Sterling Silver
18th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Giltwood
1830s Antique Rococo Furniture
Ironstone
Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
Mid-18th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Furniture
Delft
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Rococo Furniture
Silver
Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Furniture
Gold