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.
$1,462Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Louis XIV Style Coffee Table, Solid Walnut, Early 20th Century
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We offer this unique Italian coffee table from the early 20th century, crafted from solid walnut. This coffee table is inspired by the antique Louis XIV style. It features curved le...
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XIV Breton Carved Oak Sofa Table Desk, 1890s
Located in BÉTERA, ES
19th Century French Breton Carved Oak Sofa Table or Desk, Louis XIV Style. Direct from France, a superb quality, highly carved antique oak sofa table...
Hardwood, Oak
Charming Mid-20th Century French Table
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Charming mid-20th century French table.
Oak
Late 19th Century French Louis XIV Style Oak Dining Table
Located in Astoria, NY
A handsome late 19th-century French Louis XIV style dining table, crafted from solid oak and sourced in Provence, France. The rectangular tabletop is constructed from wide oak planks...
Oak
$1,200
H 20.87 in Dm 28.35 in
Danish Modern Round Coffee Table in Solid Pine, Rainer Daumiller Style, 1970s
By Hirtshals Savvaerk, Rainer Daumiller
Located in Odense, DK
A fine Danish Modern round coffee table in solid pine, made in the style of Rainer Daumiller in the 1970s by a Danish Cabinetmaker. This sculptural coffee / side table will complem...
Pine
19th Century Carved Oak Console Table
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak console table from England with a wonderfully detailed hand carved backsplash over the top of the table, which has a beveled and car...
Oak
Mid-20th Century elegant brass table
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th Century elegant brass table Dated from the mid-20th Century, this tall and elegant example of a display table would fit in well in any stylish interior setting. Made from re...
Brass
$1,072Sale Price|50% Off
H 17.33 in W 34.65 in D 34.65 in
F.Lli Saporiti Mid-Century Modern Italian Walnut Coffee Table, 1960s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Walnut coffee table, produced by F.lli Saporiti in Besnate Italy, this model is patented. " If you like it please make your offer and we will evaluate it, it couldn't be better than...
Walnut
$2,280
H 20.48 in W 53.15 in D 29.53 in
Mid Century Rectangular Marble Coffee Table, Made in Italy, 1970s
Located in Odense, DK
This beautiful rectangular coffee table, made in Italy during the 1970s, is an elegant example of mid-century design with a bold sculptural presence. The tabletop is crafted from war...
Marble, Iron
Ico Parisi Style Mid-Century Coffee Table, Italy, 1950s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful and extraordinary modernist coffee table with a lovely shape and exquisite details, including small conical brass feet. Made of wood with a top made of blackened glass. M...
Glass, Wood
$3,550
H 31.25 in W 35.5 in D 23.75 in
Antique French Breton Carved Oak Sofa Table Writing Library Desk Louis XIV
Located in Choudrant, LA
19th century French Breton Carved Oak sofa table writing desk Louis XIV. Direct from France, a highly carved, excellent quality antique oak sofa tabl...
Oak
$12,451
H 15.36 in Dm 42.13 in
Italian Mid-Century Yin Yang Coffee Cocktail Table, Willy Rizzo, circa 1970
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Vilnius, LT
Italian Willy Rizzo Yin Yang series mid-century coffee table from 1970s. This table is created ir round form with two levels. The surface is in black varnish combined with upper lev...
Brass
$2,700
H 45 in W 54 in D 23.5 in
Antique French Table Hall Entry Console Sofa Table Two Drawers Oak C. 1890s
Located in Tyler, TX
CHARMING Antique French Renaissance revival oak entry, hall table, sofa table or console with drawers ~~c. 1890s Charming table with two drawers and carved crown~~perfect for use ...
Oak
$2,380
H 16.54 in W 53.55 in D 46.07 in
Large Vintage Asian Coffee Table in Aged Teak, Early 20th Century
Located in Odense, DK
A beautiful and sculptural vintage coffee table crafted from the platform of a traditional bullock cart, originating from South Asia during the early 20th century. The table is craf...
Iron
20th Century Louis XIII Style Walnut Coffee Table
Located in Puglia, Puglia
20th Century Louis XIII style solid walnut round coffee table, fully restored and shellac polished.
Walnut
$3,392
H 12.01 in W 35.44 in D 35.44 in
Mid Century Modern Marble Glass Coffee Table Style Mangiarotti Italy 1970s
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage coffee table or sofa table style Angelo Mangiarotti from marble and smoked glass Italy 1970s. While the base features three geometric elements from dark gr...
Marble
Early Jens Risom Low Profile Walnut Coffee Table, circa 1948
By Jens Risom
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Danish modern design is predominantly known for two features - sculptural design and quality construction meant to last and last. And this early Jens Risom table...
Walnut
$6,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 14 in W 72.25 in D 22.25 in
Early Walnut and Marble Curvy Coffee Table by Vladimir Kagan
Located in Atlanta, GA
An early and rare model of curvy coffee table by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., circa 1950. Constructed from walnut and inset with a piec...
Marble
Sold
H 31 in W 43.5 in D 23 in
Antique French Console Sofa Table Louis XIV Carved Walnut Lyre Scroll c1880
Located in Choudrant, LA
19th Century French console sofa table Louis XIV style carved walnut w Lyre Scrolls. Direct from France, a highly carved 19th century sofa table, opulently carved on both the exter...
Oak, Walnut
19th Century French Henri II Stripped Console, Sofa Table
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Henri II stripped console ~ sofa table is a handsome piece, with boldly carved relief across the upper tier depicting a Norseman f...
Oak
17th Century Basque Country Writing Table with Inset Star
Located in Dallas, TX
This small table comes from the present day area of Southwestern France and Northern Spain, also known as the Basque country. Due to its size and drawers present on the front, we can consider it a writing table. Though the table has evidence of old green paint (not original), it is now back to its original, natural color. The wood is beautiful worn and has a warm patina. Along the front of the apron, is a carved palmette, and the top has a large inset star in the middle of the plank. The baluster shape legs are thick and impressive, in line with robust lines of 17th century Louis XIV style furniture...
Wood
French Early 20th Century Pair of Sofa Tables
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French early 20th century pair of sofa tables.
Slate
Sold
H 32.25 in W 63.75 in D 29.25 in
French LXIV Period Carved Walnut Two-Drawer Library Table, 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
isn't this table amazing!? the rectangular top housing two drawers with original hardware, the legs of exaggerated baluster form and very unique 1st Quarter 18th Century
French Oak and Chestnut Monastery Table, Early 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
The thick rectangular top resting on straight legs atop shaped bracket feet, joined by a simple stretcher.
Sold
H 29 in W 60 in D 28 in
Antique French Louis XIV Style Carved Walnut and Burl Sofa Table, circa 1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique French Louis XIV style sofa table features top with carved foliate border surround of bookmatched quarters and burl inset, reeded a...
Walnut, Burl
Sold
H 33.5 in W 92 in D 21 in
Long French Hand-Carved Walnut Two-Pedestal Legs Console Table with Stretcher
Located in Dallas, TX
This long, elegant fruitwood table has a slim profile and is in the Baroque style of Louis XIV. The console is made with antique fruitwood, has nicely hand-carved legs with a wide st...
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 31 in W 68.5 in D 33.5 in
French Louis XIV Period Library Table with Hand-Forged Iron Accents and Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French late 17th century library table with original hand-forged iron accents, two drawers and six turned legs with side stretchers. This ...
Iron
Sold
H 36.5 in W 44 in D 22 in
French Louis XIV Style Console Table With Thick Marble Top by Maison Jansen
Located in Stamford, CT
French Louis XIV style console table, the rectangular marble atop a narrow frieze fitted with two drawers, decorated with parcel-gilt car...
Marble
French Louis XIV Style Painted Console Table
Located in Stamford, CT
A white distress painted and parcel-gilt console table in the style of French Louis XIV, the rectangular top over a narrow frieze decorated with silver glass panels, raised on four s...