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 Desk with Raised Panels and Pencil Drawers by Dos Gallos Studio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Custom made to order desk or console with raised panels. Can be made with pencil drawers as per the photos, or with raised panels in the front (no k...
Mahogany, Oak, Walnut
$2,645 / item
Classic Rustic Console Table - Country Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Classic Rustic warm stained console table with a shaped top with incurved ends, on square tapered legs with a long frieze drawer and shelf stretcher base. Dimensions: 60" W x 14" ...
Wood
Italian Neo Classic Oak Console Table, Light
Located in Westwood, NJ
An Italian neo-classic style oak parquetry two-drawer console table accentuated with tapered legs. This beautiful two-tiered herringbone console table includes a rectangular oak parq...
Wood
Mid-Century Neoclassical Style Lacquered Marble Top Console Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning Mid-Century Modern lacquered console table featuring a Carrara marble top. Made in France in the neoclassical taste having a parcel gilt decorated case. Fronted by two stora...
Carrara Marble, Brass
$5,127 / item
French Provincial Console
Located in Westwood, NJ
A neoclassic style mahogany French Provincial Console table, the rectangular crossbanded top above four frieze drawers, on gently splayed legs joined by two under tiers. Dimensio...
Wood
$2,963Sale Price|24% Off
Maison Jansen Style Neoclassical Black & Gold Console Bronze Beveled Marble Top
Located in Miami, FL
Superb black & gold console table in the style of Maison Jansen. Features 4 ebonized turned wood pedestal base with gold gallerie decoration. Th...
Marble
Custom Gilt Metal Iron Base Console Table, Desk, or Ding Table Base
Located in Sheffield, MA
Contemporary and rustic at the same time, this custom made metal base has a gold finish but other finishes are available. Great as console or sofa table. The listing is for the table...
Iron
$3,807 / item
French Stretcher Base Console
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French neoclassic mahogany console table, the rectangular crossbanded and molded edge top above two frieze drawers, on square legs joined to the sides by wavy x stretchers and on s...
Wood
$2,645 / item
Classic Rustic Console Table, Mahogany Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
Classic rustic walnut stained console table with a shaped top with incurved ends, on square tapered legs with a long frieze drawer and shelf stretcher base. Dimensions: 60" W x 14" ...
Wood
French Maison Jansen Round Glass, Brass & Steel Coffee Table Neoclassical
Located in Miami, FL
French neoclassical Maison Jansen coffee table in Steel with Brass Details and round thick beveled glass top. The coffee table is in very good original condition. Glass measures: 27 ...
Steel, Brass
Italian Gilt Wood Marble Top Foliage Console Table with Fluted Legs, Circa 1770
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian gilt wood and gesso rectangular marble top console table with a articulated foliage medallion skirt, and resting on fluted spira...
Marble
Extraordinary French Style Carved, Gilt And Paint Decorated Console
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A Neoclassical Style Console with a sophisticated Painted and Gilt finish. Believed to be originally from Italy and re-imagined with fresh Gilding and Paint. The top in variegated paint on brown having intentional distressing over a painted and gilt frieze...
Wood
Period English Regency Desk or Sofa Table in Style of Thomas Hope
By Thomas Hope
Located in Essex, MA
Period English mahogany desk or sofa table in style of Thomas Hope Mahogany with figured mahogany inlays Original canopic figures in Egyptian Revival neoclassic Exquisitely carv...
Mahogany
A Pair of Italian Neoclassical Low Cocktail Tables, 1960
Located in North Canton, OH
An original Condition Pair of Neoclassical Italian Paint Decorated and partial guilt low cocktail tables with Glass Tops over Guilt Gold tops and a carved and guilt pedestal bases.
Giltwood
Italian Antique Wooden Bedside Table With Hidden Tray, Early 1900s
Located in Miami, FL
Italian antique Wooden bedside table with brass handle, early 1900s Bedside table or service table with rectangular top, entirely in solid wood. On the front it has two drawers and a...
Wood
Neoclassical Revival Marquetry and Ormolu Library Table by Howard & Sons
Located in London, GB
A magnificent library table in the style of Robert Adam By Howard & Sons. Of free standing form, constructed using a field of finely grained sycamore, with precise use of its close ...
Ormolu
Italian Contemporary Black Wooden Side Table with Neoclassical Profile Print
Located in Scandicci, Florence
One of two beautiful side table with a neoclasssical man silhouette black profile print with white background, framed by a delicate grey passpartout and a round black frame with gla...
Glass, Wood, Paper
Pair of Spanish Classical Revival Style Oak Side Tables, Mid-20th Century
Located in BÉTERA, ES
Substantial pair of Spanish classical revival side tables crafted in solid oak, mid-20th century. Each table features two drawers with circular wooden pulls, fluted legs, and a dist...
Hardwood, Oak
Century Compositions Collection Neoclassical Inlaid Mixed Wood Sofa Conso Table
Located in Germantown, MD
Century Furniture Compositions Collection Neoclassical Inlaid Mixed Woods Sofa Table Console Table. Features rare 6 legs and a Stretcher Measures 55.5" in width, 14.25" in depth ...
Satin, Mahogany, Walnut
$956Sale Price|20% Off
19Thc Walnut Side Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Side table with pad feet and very nice finish /patina.The condition is very good.
Wood
Custom Walnut Console with Raised Panels by Dos Gallos Studio
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Custom console in walnut. As seen here with fixed panels, front and back but these can also be pencil drawers. Can be made in any size and finish, in walnut, oak or mahogany. Shown i...
Walnut, Oak
Baker Furniture Neoclassical Burl Wood and Mounted Brass Console or Sofa Table
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Neoclassical or Empire style console table or sofa table By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Stunning burled olive wood, with banded cherry wood top and mounted b...
Brass
Neo-Empire 5-Tier Tall Entry Hall Shelf Bookcase with One Drawer Storage
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Black and walnut narrow tall hall 5' console shelf with a one drawer storage compartment.
Walnut
Italian Neo-Classic Gilt Marble Top Console Table
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Neo-classic (Late 18th Century) grey painted & parcel gilt trimmed console table with a centered head in relief on the apron supporting a breche arquelino veneered marble...
Breccia Marble
Italian Contemporary Black Wooden Side Table with Neoclassical Profile Print
Located in Scandicci, Florence
One of two beautiful side table with a neoclasssical woman silhouette black profile print with white background, framed by a delicate grey passpartout and a round black frame with g...
Wood, Paper, Glass
Maison Jansen, Neoclassical, Console Tables, Marble Top, Paint Decorated, 1960s
Located in Manhasset, NY
Pair of Maison Jansen console tables, Neoclassical, marble top, paint decorated Pair of Maison Jansen console tables, Neoclassical, mar...
Marble
$9,000Sale Price|28% Off
Italian Design, Neoclassical, Console, White Wood, Gilt, Marble, Italy, 1920s
Located in Manhasset, NY
Simply stunning Italian Empire white painted and parcel-gilt decorated console table, circa 1825. The white marble rectangular top above an acanthus carved frieze, raised on female m...
Wood
$2,018 / item
Northern European Style NeoClassic Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Bring a touch of elegance to your space with our Northern European Style NeoClassic Console Table. This piece is a tru...
Wood
Neoclassical Modern 3-Drawer Beveled Mirrored Console Table
Located in New York, NY
Custom neoclassical modern 3-drawer beveled mirrored console table. Currently out of stock but available for custom order in different sizes, finishes, and hardware. Inquire with V...
Mirror, Wood
Baltic Neoclassic Parcel Gilt, Ebonized and Mahogany Sofa Table
Located in Queens, NY
Baltic neoclassic parcel-gilt, ebonized and mahogany sofa table with two drop leaves over a frieze drawer on eagle headed legs. Possibly Russian, early 19th century.
Giltwood, Mahogany
Silvered Iron Coffee Table with Glass Top, France, 1950s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Chic neoclassical style round coffee table. The thick clear glass top is supported by four C-form legs ending in finials and joined by a circular stretcher. We have four tables av...
Neoclassical Style Marble-Top Bowed Table Mirrored Back Gilded Dolphin Accents
Located in Manhasset, NY
Late 19th century, Continental, the shaped and bowed marble top with a molded edge, and raised on a mirrored back and scrolling acanthine-carved supports joined by gilt foliate garla...
Marble