As opposed to the styles that would follow from the other 18th-century French kings, Louis XV and Louis XVI, antique Louis XIV furniture is rigid and imposing. It expresses opulence — even its armchairs, with their upright backs, straight legs and lavish ornamentation, look like thrones. Authentic Louis XIV sofas, a then newly emerging iteration of seating, are fully upholstered and often feature decoratively carved frames of walnut, chestnut or oak.
When French King Louis XIV established his royal court at Versailles in 1682, he transformed what was once a hunting lodge into a palace that declared his wealth and power through its design. Until his death in 1715, he reigned with a spirit of excess and absolute political dominance. The “Sun King,” as he called himself, believed that France revolved around him as planets do the sun. Louis XIV adopted the sun as his emblem, decorating the grounds with symbols of the sun and Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. As he stated, “There is nothing that indicates more clearly the magnificence of great princes than their superb palaces and their precious furniture.” He was a child when he became king in 1643, only shaping his style after he became absolute monarch in 1661.
Reflecting trends in French Baroque art, Louis XIV furniture characteristics included exuberant decoration. There were gilded bronze details including shells, suns, grotesques, lions and classical references like acanthus leaves. The years of growth in the country’s manufacturing, such as the tapestries and cabinets made at Gobelins, led to design innovations. The commode replaced the chest as a storage device, with drawers and a surface that could double as a desk.
The materials were luxurious, such as the popular tortoiseshell veneer technique that leading cabinetmaker Pierre Golle used in his designs. André-Charles Boulle, who became royal cabinetmaker in 1672, was a masterful artist of marquetry, using inlays of ebony, exotic woods and mother-of-pearl.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIV bedroom furniture, chairs, tables and other pieces on 1stDibs.
French Empire Side Table in Carved Wood, circa 1850
Located in Meulebeke, BE
France / 1850 / side table / wood / Empire / Antique An exquisite mid-19th-century French Empire side table, crafted circa 1850, showcasing the refined grandeur and sculptural elega...
Wood
Rare 18th Century Italian Tuscany Solid Walnut Antique Nightstand
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We present this rare and valuable Italian antique bedside table dating back to the first decades of the 18th Century. Made of solid walnut wood and featuring a front with decorative...
Walnut
Louis XIV Style Gilt Metal Mounted Mahogany Parquetry Candle Stand Side Table
By Danby
Located in Germantown, MD
A Louis XIV Style Gilt Metal Mounted Mahogany Parquetry Candle Stand Side Table by Danby Furniture. Measures 13.5" in width, 13.5" in depth and 23" in height. Lower tier clearance i...
Mahogany
Antique French Marble Top Side Table
Located in London, GB
A wonderful antique French marble top side table, dating from around the 1890-1900 period. It is of very fine quality, with beautifully fluted legs joined by a shapely stretchered b...
Marble
$960Sale Price|20% Off
French Louis XIV Rosewood, Kingwood & Ormolu Rouge Marble Side Table 20thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Click on “Ask Seller” to Request a Quote*** French Louis XIV Rosewood, Kingwood and Ormolu Rouge Marble Top Side Table with Floral Marquetry and...
Marble, Ormolu
Louis XIV Style Mercury Glass Side Table
Located in New York, NY
Louis XIV style mercury glass side table. Vintage Venetian style silvered wood and mercury glass covered night stand side table with small drawer below shaped top with inlaid design ...
Mirror, Wood
Pair of Mid-Century French Empire Style Carved Walnut and Marquetry Side Tables
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of Mid-Century French Empire Style Carved Walnut and Marquetry Side Tables in good vintage and sturdy condition. Measure 17.5" wide, 17.5" deep and stand 25.5" tall.
Fruitwood, Satinwood, Walnut
Pair of Louis XIV Night Tables with Marquetry and Bronze Mounts on all sides
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and beautiful pair of Louis XIV style night tables in Satinwood with Marquetry and inlay & bronze mounts. Two drawers upfront and a little writing desk that slides out. ...
Brass, Bronze
Louis XVI style Two tier side table 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality late 19th Century Louis XVI style marble top, kidney shaped side table, having a a brass gallery to the top, a frieze drawer, an under tier and raised on cabriole supp...
Mahogany
Pair of Louis XIV Style Giltwood Side Table Made by La Maison London
Located in London, Park Royal
Pair of Louis XIV style Giltwood end tables or side tables with a Crema Marfill Marble top with a honed finish . Gilded with 23.75 K gold In Stock and available immediately.
Marble
French Louis XVI style tray top side table, after Zwiener.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality French Louis XVI style tray top side table, having wonderful scrolling foliate gilded ormolu mounts to the whole, handles either side and raised on elegant cabriole le...
Ormolu
19th Century Parquetry Inlaid Side Table, after Linke
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th century French Louis XVI style parquetry inlaid side table, having a hinged top, opening to reveal a compartment within. Three drawers beneath, raised o...
Mahogany
$5,792 / set
Pair of Louis XIV Style Side Tables
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of Louis XIV kingwood marquetry inlaid, ormolu-mounted side tables, having inset marble tops, three drawers, raised on cabriole legs, united by an inlaid shelve b...
Kingwood
Pair of Italian 18th Century Louis XIV St. Walnut Chests/Side Tables
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and very unique pair of Italian 18th century Louis XIV st. Walnut chests/side tables from Tuscany. Each chest is raised by elegant block supports with fine scrolled designs. One chest displays four drawers each decorated with beautiful mottled recessed designs while the other displays an exceptional and most unique door...
Bronze
Italian Walnut Louis XIV Side Table With Bobbin Legs
Located in Viterbo, VT
Side table hand-crafted in Italy in the mid 1700s using walnut. The table has fantastic character and patina, as well as beautiful proportions and small decorative elements that make...
Walnut
Louis XIV Style Center Table Painted by Artist Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic French Louis XIV style center table featuring a faux-marble top with a painted bust by artist Ira Yeager (American 1938-2022). T...
Wood
Mid-19th Century French Carved Oak Chest Trunk Side Table on Wrought Iron Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring a rustic look to home with this elegant antique side table. Crafted in France circa 1860, the sturdy, Baroque style trunk is dressed w...
Wrought Iron
Wonderful Concrete Faux Bois Garden Table
Located in Danville, CA
Gorgeous concrete faux bois table with tempered glass top with wonderful aged painted finish.
Concrete
$3,835Sale Price / set|35% Off
Pair of Louis XVI Jensen Style of White Painted Side Tables
Located in Huntington, NY
Pair of Louis XVI Jensen style of white painted side tables, spray matte was used for photo purposes.
Glass, Wood
19th Century French Oak Louis XIV Side Table
Located in Viterbo, VT
Side table hand-made in France in the late 1800s using oak. The table has beautiful proportions and color and because it is finished on all sides it will look great as a center table...
Oak
$5,520Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of French Louis XV-Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Mahogany Tables with Marque
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of French Louis XV-style gilt bronze mounted mahogany tables with marquetry inlay Measures: 29 x 23 x 23 inches (73.7 x 58.4 x 58.4 cm).
Bronze
French Provincial Louis XIV Period Os de Mouton Oak Side Table
Located in Troy, NY
Small 17th century side table or desk, charming country piece of nice proportion and warm color, three-board top above one drawer, wavy Os de Mouton legs joined by conforming stretch...
Walnut
Louis XVI style inlaid Side table, in the manner of Francoise Linke
Located in Brighton, Sussex
This exquisite Louis XVI style side table showcases intricate parquetry inlay and elegant ormolu mounts. Crafted from rich mahogany, the table features a rectangular top adorned with...
Ormolu
Antique French Inlaid Occasional Side Table
Located in London, GB
A fine and impressive antique French occasional side table. This was made in France, it dates from around the 1930’s. The quality is outstanding, this has stunning inlays on the top...
Bronze, Brass
Louis XIV Style Giltwood Side Table with Marble Top Made by La Maison London
Located in London, Park Royal
Louis XIV style Giltwood end tables or side tables with a Crema Marfill Marble top with a honed finish . Gilded with 23.75 K gold. Very Fine Carving made by Master Craftsman. We have...
Marble, Gold, Gold Leaf
French Louis XVI style side table, circa 1880
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th Century French circle marble topped occasional table, with gilded ormolu mouldings and mounts, raised on elegant cabriole legs, terminating in scrolling feet. In ...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Side Table, Signed Sormani
By Paul Sormani
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant French 19th century Louis XIV st. tulipwood, charmwood and ormolu side table, signed Sormani. The table is raised by fine square tapered ...
Ormolu
Finely carved gold side table with marble top, Louis XV white/gold
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely carved gold side table with marble top, Louis XV white/gold Excellent French Louis XV style table. High-quality, solid beech wo...
Marble
$5,792 / set
Pair of Louis XIV Style Side Tables
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of Louis XIV marquetry inlaid, ormolu-mounted side tables, having inset marble tops, three drawers, raised on cabriole legs, united by an inlaid shelve below.
Kingwood
French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu and Glass Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most unique French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu and glass side table. The low circular table is raised by striking and extremely...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Ormolu and Marble Center or Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu and fossilized black marble center/side table. The table is raised by a triangular shaped ormolu base with a fine mottled border. ...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Kingwood, Walnut, Ormolu and Marble Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely decorative French 19th century Louis XIV st. Kingwood, burl Walnut, ormolu, and Brèche marble side table. The table is raised by impressive square tapered le...
Marble, Ormolu