Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Neoclassical furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms.
Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.
The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.
Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.
Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
As you can see from the furniture on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep neoclassicism fresh.
Find antique neoclassical furniture today on 1stDibs.
Custom Walnut Classic Trestle Table with Low Profile Trestle Bases by Dos Gallos
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful custom walnut trestle table. Shown here in dark walnut with a medium distressed finish. Top is 1 5/8 inches thick. Perfect proportions, low profile, simple and elegant. Can...
Oak, Walnut
Early 20th Century "Possum Belly" Baker’s Table
Located in San Francisco, CA
Imagine a time back before bread came in a plastic bag and pies arrived home frozen. Time traveling, with an aged patina to show for it, is this antique American “possum belly” baker’s table...
Metal
Vintage Pennsylvania House Farm House Style Drop Leaf Dining Table, Circa 1970s
Located in Germantown, MD
Pennsylvania House attributed Vintage drop leaf farm house style table. Dining table/ Kitchen. This is a great piece for a dining table, coffee table, craft table given it's a great ...
Metal
1920s Antique Folding Wood Table Rustic French Farm
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, an antique solid wood folding farm table. Clever collapsible set up. Dimensions: Open: 25.5" H x 43.75" W x 23.25" D Closed: 2.75" H x 43.75" W x 23.25" D 2...
Wood
19th Century Solid Oak Farm Table
Located in Brecht, BE
a french oak farmhouse table, closed the dimensions are 148 x 79 x 74 cm high, open 300 cm x 79 x 71 cm high, as pure as it gets, ready to ...
Oak
Antique French Louis XVI Style Walnut Cobbler's Work Table
Located in Houston, TX
Antique French Louis XVI style walnut Cobbler's work table. Handsome 19th century French Louis XVI walnut work table or cobbler's table with fluted legs and a single drawer. This ve...
Walnut
Evy Trestle Table Made from Reclaimed Pine (custom)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This reclaimed pine farm table is seen here in 96" x 48", however it can be ordered in any size. Because each table is bench-made in our own Los Angeles workshop you can influence a...
Reclaimed Wood
$5,168
H 29.14 in W 78.75 in D 29.53 in
19th Century French Provincial Oak Farmhouse Dining Table, Rustic
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Rustic Trestle Dining Table, 19th Century Monastic simplicity and hand-hewn character — a table shaped by use and time. This 19th-century dining table is built around a powerful tre...
Oak
English Farm House Table
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
19th century English farm house table with a good thick scrubbed pine top and a painted base. 1850. Clearance: 63cm Overlay: 3cm Internal reference: H Code: 9024 Dimensions:...
Pine
$7,200
H 29.53 in W 78.75 in D 31.5 in
20th Century Spanish Baroque Carved Walnut Lyre Legs Trestle Dining Farm Table
Located in Miami, FL
A monumental 20th century Spanish trestle table, having a rectangular framed solid walnut inset board top, resting on hand carved, classical lyre legs joined by four beautifully iron...
Iron
Rustic White Painted Long Narrow Farm Table
Located in Southampton, NY
Rustic white painted long narrow farm table, 20th Century Turned legs and a rustic worn top. This table has a great look and patina. White paint is ...
Wood
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.25 in W 78.75 in D 33.5 in
Country French Provincial Oak Farmhouse Trestle Dining Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming country French provincial farmhouse dining table or harvest table crafted from solid oak hardwood. The country table features a massive 2 inch thick solid plank top supporte...
Oak
$3,400
H 30.32 in W 55.12 in D 15.75 in
20th Century Spanish Console Fold Out Farm Table with Wood Stretcher
Located in Miami, FL
20th century Spanish console fold out farm table Works as both a dining table and console. Measure extended : 31.49 in.
Iron
20th Century Scrubbed Oak Farmhouse Table with Turned Legs
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
20th Century great example of an early scrubbed oak farmhouse table. French, Circa 1920. Standing on turned legs united by an H stretcher, will seat 8/10 people . Having been washed ...
Oak
Early 20th Century French Scrubbed Elm Farmhouse Table
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Early 20th Century French scrubbed elm farmhouse table. The two-planked top has wonderful figuring. Will seat eight plus people and has been washed and scrubbed to bare raw wood to g...
Elm
Early 20th Century French Fruitwood Refectory Table
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Early 20th Century French fruitwood dining refectory table.Unusually having four drawers on& one side. Circa 1910.
Fruitwood
Sold
H 30.5 in W 78 in D 69 in
18th Century French Antique, Neo-Classical Style Provencal Walnut Dining Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique massive rectangular dining room table made of hand crafted Walnut, in good condition. This French Provincial farmhouse table has a strong and sturdy construction. Neo-Clas...
Walnut
19th Century Italian Neoclassical Style Venetian Painted Dining Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Impressive late 19th century/early 20th century Italian lacquer painted dining table made in the neoclassical Venetian taste. The rectangular table has a weathered, aged, and distres...
Wood, Glass
Sold
H 31.89 in W 14.97 in D 14.97 in
Neoclassical Style Brass Side Table with 3 Marble Shelves, French, Maison Jansen
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This neoclassical style side table is made of 3 marble shelves. This is a French work by famous Maison Jansen. Circa 1920.
Marble, Brass
Antique Neo Classical Style Pine Dining Room Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique neo classical style pine dining room table, circa 1900. With a 1.5" thick distressed oval pine top resting on a directoire style base wit...
Pine
Sold
H 30 in W 62.5 in D 35.5 in
French Light Walnut Neoclassic 1-Drawer Center Table, 2nd Quarter 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a removable (connected with dowels) rectangular top with molded edges above a conforming case housing a single drawer with turned and ebonized pull, the tapering legs of sligh...
Walnut
Sold
H 32.63 in W 111.63 in D 44.63 in
Large 19th Century Richly Carved Trestle Table in Original Paint from Tuscany
Located in Wichita, KS
An extraordinary, rare size early 19th century Italian trestle dining table in original blue paint with hand painted detail on the top, ci...
Wood, Paint
Oozing with Character Super Long Antique Pine Farm Table
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A rare find oozing with homey charm, a super long (almost 9 ft) pine farm table in original condition having wonderful scalloped apron, a drawer at each end, tapered legs, and great ...
Pine
Sold
H 30.75 in W 84 in D 46 in
Ralph Lauren Scroll Pedestal Base Jack Phillips Design Caroline Dining Table
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Manhasset, NY
Ralph Lauren scroll base Jack Phillips design Caroline dining table. This is one solid table having a tripod double pedestal base supporting a solid wood...
Sold
H 28.25 in W 49.25 in D 37.25 in
Italian Late Neoclassic Walnut Folding Tavolo Vigna, Second Quarter 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Constructed entirely of solid walnut and having an oval top above a trestle base with turned columns, the V-shaped central pivoting support resting on a flat stretcher, on bracket feet.
19 c New England Sawbuck Table - Original Paint
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 19th century sawbuck table is in untouched condition with original sage green paint. Base is pinned on both ends and has a scrubbed three board top. The table top shows orig...
Wood
Sold
H 28.5 in W 71 in D 32.75 in
French Late Neoclassical Provincial Pinewood and Walnut, Two-Drawer Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
having an overhanging rectangular pinewood top with rounded corners above a conforming walnut apron housing two drawers with turned wooden pulls, raised on square tapering walnut legs
Pine, Walnut