Antique Louis XIII furniture is not as lavish as that of his son Louis XIV, who transformed his father’s modest Versailles hunting lodge into a sumptuous palace. Yet the imposing forms of its chairs, dressers, tables and other pieces express grandeur and luxury.
When Henry IV was assassinated in the streets of Paris in 1610, his young son became the king of France. With Louis XIII too young to rule, the widowed Marie de' Medici — a native of Italy and member of the prominent House of Medici — became regent, instilling an Italian influence in the decorative arts. Even after Louis XIII exiled his mother and took power in 1617, this aesthetic informed his court style. As did the consolidation of power, established with his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, through his death in 1643.
From sturdy chests and tall cupboards to colossal four-poster beds, almost every piece of Louis XIII furniture was heavily carved or turned from dark-toned wood. Motifs of the period included scrollwork, foliage, fruits, grotesque masks and other images of abundance, often inlaid in marquetry of wood or tortoiseshell. Ornamental scenes, sometimes carved on cabinet panels and other pieces from rare ebony, oak or walnut, were borrowed from engravings by northern European masters like Peter Paul Rubens. Engravings also spread the Louis XIII style during the 17th century, particularly by printmaker Abraham Bosse, who depicted the popular Louis XIII chairs designed with upholstered seats and low, wide backs.
The lofty profiles of the French furniture complemented the architecture under the reign of Louis XIII, such as the Palais du Luxembourg by chief architect Salomon de Brosse and architect Jacques Lemercier’s chapel at the Sorbonne, which showcased the influence of Italian Baroque.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIII armchairs, storage cabinets, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
French Carved Oak Chess Game Top Carved Legs Etagere Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful French etagere table, characterized by the beveled edge chess game table top, raised on four stunning carved legs, a central shelf and side stretchers. Finished on all side...
Wood
Antique French Side Table Barley Twist Bleached Carved Oak Nightstand Louis XIII
Located in Shreveport, LA
Antique French Side Table Barley Twist Bleached Carved Oak Nightstand Louis XIII. Direct from Europe, a charming antique French side table, in solid oak, with a gorgeous patina--rec...
Oak
Antique Italian Carved Wood Bobbin Barley Twist Legs Sewing Table Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian sewing table ideal as side or end table, characterized by typical beveled edges top with the central drawer with round handles. The table is raised on four stunning...
Wood
Pair of 19th Century French Louis XIII Demi-Lune Oak Console Tables
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant pair of antique French demi-lune console tables was crafted in oak in the late 19th century, circa 1880, in the Louis XIII style. Designed to rest against a wall, each c...
Oak
Pair of Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Oak Bow-Front Side Tables
Located in Dallas, TX
Early 20th Century French Louis XIII revival side tables, crafted in France circa 1920 and inspired by the robust architectural forms of 17th-century furniture. Each antique table fe...
Oak
19th-Century Louis XIII French Carved Oak Side Table
Located in Fall River, MA
This exquisite 19th-century French carved oak side table showcases the grandeur of the Louis XIII style. It features robust barley twist legs, complete with a cleverly concealed hidd...
Oak
18th C. French Louis XIII Walnut Table Desk with Barley Twist Legs and Drawer
Located in Dallas, TX
Incorporate elegant, functional surface space into a living room, study, or den with this handsome antique French walnut writing table, crafted in France circa 1780. Executed in soli...
Walnut
17th Century French Walnut Side Table with Single Drawer and Barley-Twist Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French 17th century period Louis XIII walnut side table with single drawer and barley-twist base. This French side table features a rectangular planked top with rounded edges sitti...
Walnut
$721Sale Price|20% Off
French Oak Sellette or Plant Holder in the Louis XIII Style, circa 1900
Located in Labrit, Landes
Oak Plant holder or sellette. Made circa 1900 in the Louis XIII style. French antique dealers also call this style very fashionable in the seco...
Oak
$3,175Sale Price|20% Off
French Walnut Desk, Side Table or Writing Table, Louis XIII
Located in Labrit, Landes
French desk or side table, made circa 1660 Massive walnut and iron handles. Nice antique patina. The turned legs and bars are typical of the Louis XIII style. Legroom height and dept...
Iron
Mid-Century French Louis XIII Style Carved Oak Side Table with Drawer
Located in Dallas, TX
This handsome Louis XIII style side table was crafted in France circa 1960 and reflects the enduring appeal of traditional French furniture forms reinterpreted in the mid century per...
Oak
Mid-Century French Louis XV Carved and Painted Cane Pedestal Side Table
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique French pedestal table was crafted in the mid-century period, circa 1960, and draws its inspiration from classic Loui...
Oak, Cane
French Louis XIII Style 19th Century Walnut Table with Turned Legs and Stretcher
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XIII style walnut side table from the 19th century, with single drawer, bronze hardware, turned legs and H-Form cross stretcher. Created in France during the 19th cent...
Bronze
17th Century French Louis XIII Period Walnut Side Table with Barley-Twist Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
A period Louis XIII French walnut side table with single drawer and barley-twist legs from the mid-17th century. Born at the end of the reign of King Louis XIII, father of the Sun King, this exquisite French walnut table features a rectangular top with beveled edges, sitting above a simple apron, adorned in its central part with a single fluted drawer...
Wood, Walnut
18th Century Spanish Walnut Single Plank Top Side Table with Carved Drawer
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in Spain circa 1760, this handsome side table is a fine example of 18th century provincial craftsmanship. The table features a thick, single-plank rectangular top with beauti...
Walnut
Antique Italian Burl Wood Carved Legs Sewing Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful antique Italian sewing table ideal as side or end table, characterized by typical beveled edge table top with the typical compartments in the central drawer with brass key ...
Wood
18th Century French Louis XIII Carved Walnut Turned-Leg Side Table with Drawer
Located in Dallas, TX
Incorporate extra, functional surface space into your living room or den with this elegant antique side table. Crafted in the Perigord region of France circa 1780, and built of walnu...
Beech, Walnut
Small Writing Table/side Table In Walnut-17th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
lovely little table in walnut from the 17th century from the Netherlands opening with a drawer in teh frieze resting on a very elegant base with turned legs connected by spacers and ...
Walnut
Louis XIII Table in Walnut, 17th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Lovely little table in walnut from the 17th century (from Italy) opening with a drawer on the front resting on a very elegant base with turned legs connected by a spacer and ending w...
Walnut
Antique Italian Inlay Veneer Wood Bobbin Barley Twist Legs Sewing Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful antique Italian sewing table ideal as side or end table, characterized by typical beveled edge table top with the typical compartments in the central drawer with brass key ...
Wood
$1,183Sale Price|45% Off
French Oak Writing Table Louis XIII Style and Shabby Finish, 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
This oak writing table in the Louis XIII style was made in France in the 19th century. The height between the floor and the top is 24.21 in. (61.5 cm). One drawer. The finishing h...
Oak
19th Century English Leather Suitcase on Walnut Stand Side Table
Located in Dallas, TX
This refined antique suitcase table features a 19th century leather traveling case mounted on a later walnut stand executed in the Louis XIII style, cr...
Brass
French Louis XIII Period Walnut Side Table with Baluster Legs and Carved Finial
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XIII period walnut side table from the 17th century, with single drawer, carved diamond motif, turned baluster legs, cross stretcher of similar style with carved finia...
Walnut
$1,996Sale Price|20% Off
Antique French Table Louis XIII Octagonal Barley Twist 1800s
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...
Oak
Italian Walnut Louis XIII Style Low Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
A low walnut side table with an H-stretcher and barley twisted legs ending on bun feet.
Walnut
French 1850s Louis XIII Style Cherry Table with Lateral Drawer and Turned Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XIII style cherry table from the mid-19th century with lateral drawer, turned legs and carved finial. Created in France at the beginning of the reign of Napoleon III's...
Cherry
Late 19th Century French Louis XIII Style Walnut Side Table or Console Table
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A small French Louis XIII style table from the late 19th century. Crafted from solid walnut with a very beautiful original patina. A quality piece of furniture, very stylish as a si...
Walnut, Pine
French Louis XIII Style Walnut Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A Louis XVIII style French side table made of solid walnut with carved decoration. Dovetailed drawer with small pull. Turned legs connected by an X-form stretcher with center finial....
Walnut
Louis XIII Style French Walnut Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A Louis XIII style French side table made of solid hand-carved walnut. Elaborately detailed in a Neo Renaissance style with fine turned legs forming an arched colonnade over the cent...
Walnut
French Louis XIII Style Hall Side Table, C.1900
Located in London, GB
A French Louis XIII style hall side table C.1900. Constructed in solid fruitwood. In excellent vintage condition commensurate of age.
Fruitwood
French Small Desk or End Table Unusual Open Barley Twist Legs c1800's Restored
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Very unusual Antique French “open barley twist” leg and stretcher Small Writing Table, that could be used as a Lady’s Desk, End or Side Table and of course a Nightstand. Our Old Plan...
Wood, Oak
18th Century French Louis XIII Walnut and Chestnut Side Table
Located in Viterbo, VT
Side table hand-made in France in the late 1700s using walnut for the base and chestnut for the top. The table has beautiful color, character and proportions. The legs are hand-turne...
Chestnut, Walnut
18th Century French Louis XIII Carved Walnut Turned-Leg Side Table with Drawer
Located in Dallas, TX
Incorporate extra, functional surface space into your living room or den with this elegant antique side table. Crafted in the Perigord region of France circa 1780, and built of walnu...
Walnut