Known as the “Citizen King,” Louis Philippe reigned from 1830 to the Revolution of 1848 with the support of the upper bourgeoisie. Whereas the monarchs of 18th-century France, including Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI, dictated aesthetics through the decadence of the aristocratic court, Louis Philippe had a more down-to-earth presence. He could be seen walking the streets like an ordinary person, carrying his own umbrella and shaking hands with subjects. Antique Louis Philippe–style furniture reflects a sense of simplicity and the sovereign’s passion for the country’s history, such as his establishment of a Museum of the History of France at Versailles, which had been mostly disused since the French Revolution.
Middle Ages, Gothic and Renaissance design informed a nationalist style that celebrated this heritage, with the hodgepodge of influences becoming prevalent in the homes of the bourgeoisie. Cabinetmakers Guillaume and Jean-Michel Grohé created reproductions of historic pieces for the king as well as royal houses abroad. Louis Philippe commissioned sculptor François Rude to create patriotic monuments that paid tribute to military heroes, while designs for furniture published by Claude-Aimé Chenavard, an ornamentalist who conceived widely loved objects for the Sèvres manufactory, further helped spread a revival of Renaissance style.
The rounded profiles of authentic Louis Philippe tables and chairs were preferred in the apartments rather than palaces being furnished by the affluent middle and upper classes. Ornamentation was minimal on the finely crafted pieces, such as large rectangular mirrors adorned with gold and silver leaf finishes and subdued carvings. The popular Louis Philippe commodes were solidly made with clean lines that showed off the grain of the wood and were often topped with marble surfaces.
Find a collection of antique Louis Philippe seating, dining tables, bedroom furniture and other items on 1stDibs.
Louis Philippe Rafraichissoir Table, Mahogany & Marble, France, 1845
Located in Austin, TX
Rafraichissoir table from France in the Louis XVI style. This beautiful antique side table features two metal bucket holders and a small drawer for bar accessories. The mahogany has ...
Carrara Marble
19th Century French Louis Philippe Marble Top Walnut Rafraichissoir Dry Bar
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a den or living room with this elegant antique "Rafraichissoir" table (the design was originally created as a refreshing station to keep champagne or white wine chilled...
Marble, Zinc
19th Century French Louis Philippe Marble Top Walnut Rafraichissoir Dry Bar
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a den or living room with this elegant antique "Rafraichissoir" table (the design was originally created as a refreshing station to keep champagne or white wine chilled...
Marble, Zinc
Italian Design Mid-Century Bar Cart, 1950s
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare 1950s Italian desgin serving bar cart. Made of beech wood equipped with two glass shelves and brass wheels for convenient movement. Perfect for serving drinks to your guests. Vi...
Glass, Beech
French Mahogany 19th Century Louis Philippe Bedside Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A columnar, French mahogany and marble top bedside table from the 19th century in the Louis Philippe style, that has the scale and storage to suit practically any room around the hom...
Marble
Midcentury Chrome Glass and Marble Bar Cart
Located in Houston, TX
A midcentury two-tiered chrome, glass, and marble bar cart on casters.
Marble, Chrome
$2,000
H 31 in W 37 in D 17.25 in
Antique French Louis Philippe Provincial Maple Wash Table W/ Carrara Marble
Located in Astoria, NY
A charming late 19th-century French Provincial wash table or vanity, made in the style of Louis Philippe and sourced directly from Provence, France. Beautifully hand-crafted from sol...
Carrara Marble
Louis Philippe Mahogany Center Table with Marble Top, Belgium, 1840
Located in Montreal, QC
Louis Philippe period mahogany center table with original shaped conforming marble top, with beaded frieze, raised on turned, beaded and gadrooned urn-form pedestal, on acanthus car...
Marble
Antique French Mahogany Console Table Louis Philippe
Located in SAINTE-COLOMBE, FR
Antique French mahogany console table Louis Philippe. This impressive console table features a variegated black, white and grey Brèche marbl...
Breccia Marble
$2,495
H 30 in W 30 in D 16 in
20th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Champagne Table, Rafraichissoir, Server
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This mid twentieth century Louis XVI style walnut side table features a marble top surrounded by a bronze gallery. Two removable zinc buckets that rest in the marble top serve to chi...
Marble, Zinc
French 19th Century Louis Philippe Mahogany Bedside Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome 19th century French bedside cabinet made of vibrant mahogany accented with marble surfaces. The dark, turquin type marble top is naturally beautiful and a luxurious contra...
Marble, Metal
Mid-Century Modern Bar Cart by Cesare Lacca, Walnut & Glass, Italy
By Cassina, Cesare Lacca
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian bar cart made of hand crafted polished Walnut, designed by Cesare Lacca and produced by Cassina, enhanced by detailed wood carvings, in good cond...
Metal, Chrome
19th Century Iron and Marble Top French Pastry Table
Located in San Angelo, TX
A gorgeous 19th century French marble top pastry table featuring old white painted patina on the iron base. This beauty features decorative brass hardware with patina and a white vei...
Marble, Brass, Iron, Wrought Iron
Mid-Century Bar Cart by Cesare Lacca, Walnut & Glass, Italy, 1940-1950
By Cassina, Cesare Lacca
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-brown, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian bar cart made of hand crafted polished Walnut, designed by Cesare Lacca and produced by Cassina, enhanced by detailed wood carvings,...
Metal, Chrome
$6,750 / item
H 32 in W 36 in D 16 in
Blackened Steel, Cast-Concrete and Solid Walnut Wood Handsome Bar Cart
By Stefan Rurak
Located in Biddeford, ME
This bar cart is composed of a welded steel frame with lower steel shelf. Upper shelf is a mix of cast-concrete with a removable walnut surface that is finished to be food safe and u...
Concrete, Steel, Cut Steel
French 19th Century Rafraichissoir
Located in Austin, TX
French antique solid walnut Rafraichissoir, turned legs, gilt brass trim and hardware, side drawer, Sainte Anne marble top has openings for two tin ice buckets with handles. A classy...
Walnut