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.
18th Century Swedish Rococo Card Table
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
18th Century Swedish Rococo card table with decorative carved cabriolet legs and pull out trays used for candlesticks. Repainted in soft grey.
Wood
19th Century Victorian Rococo Style Walnut Serpentine Fold-Top Tea Table
Located in Germantown, MD
A 19th Century Victorian Rococo Style Walnut Serpentine Fold-Top Tea Table. Measures 34" in width, 33.5" in depth open 30" in height.
Walnut
Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze and Marquetry Card Table
Located in London, GB
This fine antique table is crafted in the Louis XV style, which is synonymous with grace, elegance and exuberance of design. Made from luxurious materials and exhibiting fine marquet...
Ormolu
$10,300
Louis XVI Game Table
Located in New Orleans, LA
A Louis XVI painted off-white game table with one drawer, it would make a lovely side table. The top is silk covered under glass.
Silk, Wood
Louis XV Style Kingwood and Gilt Bronze Two-Tier Tea Table
Located in Montreal, QC
Louis XV style kingwood trellis parquetry two-tier tea table with twin handled rectangular trays, the serpentine borders banded in gilt bronze over ta...
Ormolu
19th Century English Rosewood Game Table
Located in High Point, NC
A fine 19th century rosewood game table from England. The curved front has a hand beaded edge and wonderfully grained as well. The table top is constructed ingeniously to fold open a...
Rosewood
Antique Folding Pedestal Card Table Mid 19th Century
Located in Tilburg, NL
Antique Folding Pedestal Card Table, Mid 19th Century. This is a wonderful folding card table with a very distinct pedestal base. Made in the middle of the 19th century, this is a t...
Brass
$22,103
H 30.71 in W 40.95 in D 20.48 in
Pair of Late 18th Century Irish Georgian Mahogany Demi-Lune Card Tables
Located in Dublin, IE
A fine pair of late 18th century Irish George III card tables, constructed in mahogany with crossbanded in satinwood, shaped in demilune outline with moulded frieze and fluted and ri...
Mahogany, Satinwood
$1,871Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.14 in W 35.44 in D 15.75 in
Quality Antique Victorian Mahogany Card/Side Table
Located in Suffolk, GB
Quality 19th century Victorian antique mahogany card/side table having a lovely mahogany top that lifts up and swivels to reveal a green baize interior, carved frieze supported by a ...
Other
$2,150Sale Price|55% Off
H 29.93 in W 39.38 in D 22.84 in
French Art Deco Card Table with Walnut and Maple Inlays, 1940
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Elegant Art Deco card table in walnut, the top has inlays and opens like a book, insides in maple with an inlaid wind rose.
Maple, Walnut
$2,975
H 29.93 in W 27.76 in D 15.56 in
19th Century Spanish Hand Carved Card Foldable Table with Bronze Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
19th Century Spanish Hand Carved Card Table with Bronze Mounts and red carpet. The bronze ashtrays are removable
Bronze
$6,556
H 30.32 in W 38.19 in D 19.3 in
Antique French Louis Revival Floral Marquetry Console / Card Table 19thCentury
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French Louis XV Revival ormolu mounted king wood, burr walnut and floral marquetry shaped rectangular console / card table, circa 1870 in date. The shape...
Walnut
Table Game English 18th Century Mahogany England
Located in New York, NY
Table Game English 18th Century Mahogany England. An English game table from the end of 18th Century. Squared and channeled legs with two folding out for when the table is open to it...
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Fold Top Side / Games Table
Located in Houston, TX
An elegant and versatile George III mahogany games or tea table, dating to the early 19th century. This piece features a figured mahogany fold-top with a molded edge, which opens to...
Mahogany
French Louis XVI Style Inlay & Ebonized Game Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An elegant and refined Louis XVI style game table from 19th Century France. This outstanding antique table can serve multiple roles: as a console, center or occasional table, but one...
Brass
18th Century Dutch Marquetry Inlaid Card Table
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 18th century Dutch marquetry inlaid card table. Having wonderful floral decoration around an urn, with cherubs and birds to the t...
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Table in Original Paint
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo folding table scraped to it's original paint. The table has a decorated tripod base and the table top has the typical Rococo form. A wonderful and ra...
Wood
Sold
H 28.5 in W 34.75 in D 26.5 in
1750s Swedish Rococo Gray Painted Tea Table with Tray Top and Ball and Claw Feet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo period tea table from circa 1750 with gray painted finish, tray top, cabriole legs and ball and claw feet. Exuding timeless elegance, this Swedish Rococo period tea ...
Wood
Pair of 20th Century Swedish Card Tables
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Pair of 20th Century card tables from Sweden. Repainted in light grey. Circa 1920.
Wood
18th Century, Rococo Card Table
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Unusual Swedish 18th century Rococo folding card table. Repainted in soft grey and beautifully distressed.
Wood
Sold
H 30.25 in W 30 in D 22.5 in
Swedish 1770s Rococo Period Ebonized Wood Tea Table with Painted Floral Decor
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo period ebonized wood tea table from the late 18th century, with painted floral décor and cabriole legs. Born in Sweden during the third quarter of the 18th century, ...
Wood
German Glass Bead Decorated Rococo Centre Table, circa 1760
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Oak and pine wood with historical paint and marbling. The rounded rectangular dished top with moulded edge and decorated with a mosaic made of glass beads depicting a parrot seated i...
Glass, Wood
French Gilt Bronze Mounted Parquetry Two-Tiered Tea Table
Located in London, GB
Featuring parquetry designs, exquisite curved gilt bronze mounts and a two-tier design, this beautiful tea table is the result of highly skilled craftsmanship. The upper tier of the ...
Ormolu, Bronze
Sold
H 29.53 in W 23.23 in D 23.23 in
French Antique Ormolu-Mounted Rococo Parquetry Folding Card Table
Located in London, GB
The top of this fine, antique folding card table features a parquetry pattern of acanthus leaves in contrasting rosewood, kingwood and fruit...
Ormolu, Bronze
18th Century Rococo Tiled Table with Curved Legs and One Drawer
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Rococo tea table in walnut with curved legs. 18th century tiles on the tabletop. One drawer. Presumably Achen Lüttich, Belgium, circa 1770.
Swedish Game Table
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Late 18th century chess and backgammon game table, signature attributed to Stockholm work.
18th Century Swedish Period Rococo Pedestal Table
Located in Charleston, SC
A large period Rococo oval, shaped top pedestal tray table, Sweden, circa 1760 with turned base supported by beautifully carved legs. Scrape back to traces of its original color. Vär...
German Marquetry Veneered Louis XV Style Games Table, Rosewood Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
Louis XV style games table, mid-19th century. The intricately veneered top with extended and rounded corners with concave seating areas placed atop a base with a shaped apron raised ...