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.
Italian 18th Century Neoclassical Demilune Walnut Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and most unique Italian 18th century neo-classical st. walnut, giltwood, and Sienna marble console, from Luca. The demi-lune shaped freestanding console is raised by eleg...
Siena Marble
Italian 19th Century Neoclassical Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive Italian 19th century Neo-Classical st. Mahogany, ormolu, and fossilized black marble center table. The table is raised by five elegantly curved legs adorned with beauti...
Marble, Ormolu
Italian 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Red Lacquered And Portor Marble Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning Italian early 19th century Neo-Classical st. red lacquered, Giltwood and Portor marble console, circa 1810. The demi lune shaped free standing console is raised on tapered...
Marble
Italian 19th Century Empire St. Oval Mahogany, Gilt and Patinated Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and most handsome Italian 19th century Neo-Classical st. Mahogany, polychrome, and giltwood center table. The oval table is raised by striking and most unique lion head...
Mahogany, Giltwood
Neoclassical Style Marble-Top Bowed Table Mirrored Back Gilded Dolphin Accents
Located in Stamford, CT
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
French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Bronze, Ormolu, and Marble Cocktail Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An outstanding and extremely decorative French 19th century Neo-Classical st. patinated bronze, ormolu, faux painted marble, and Sarrancolin marble cocktail/coffee table. The circula...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Italian 19th Century Neoclassical Style Solid Ormolu Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality Italian 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu and black Belgian marble center table. The rectangular shaped table is raised by handsome square t...
Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu
Italian Mid 18th Century Neoclassicism Cherry, Mecca and Polychrome Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive Italian mid 18th century neoclassicism cherry, Mecca and polychrome table from the Tuscany region. The table is raised by a triangular base with concave sides above Mec...
Wood, Cherry
French Early 19th Century Neoclassical Style Maple, Marble and Wedgwood Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive French early 19th century neo-classical st. birds eye maple, Bleu Turquin marble and Wedgwood freestanding console. The console is raised by a decorative concave bo...
Marble
French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Bronze and Marble Coffee Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very handsome French 19th century Neo-Classical st. patinated verdigris bronze and marble coffee table. The coffee table is raised by four striking verdigris bronze legs with impre...
Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Mahogany Demi Lune Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century neo-classical st. mahogany and maplewood demi lune console with ormolu mounts. The console is raised by three block feet below a demi lune bottom tier ...
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Mahogany and Ormolu Consoles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and impressive pair of French 19th century Neo-Classical st. Mahogany and ormolu consoles. Each freestanding mirrored console is raised by an elegant bottom tier with ...
Ormolu
Italian 19th Century Neo Classical Walnut, Giltwood and Marble Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and extremely decorative Italian 19th century Neo-Classical st. center table. The table is raised by three patinated dark green and giltwood ball and claw leg supports....
Marble
Italian 19th Century Neoclassical Style Marble and Ormolu Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most impressive Italian 19th century Neo-Classical st. white Carrara marble, Lapis Lazuli and ormolu freestanding console. The console is raised by square stepped mott...
Marble, Ormolu
Italian 19th Century Neoclassical St. Model of Francois Briot's, Temperantia
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most decorative Italian 19th century neo-classical st. ormolu side table, after a model by François Briot's, Temperantia, Temperance Dish. The table ...
Ormolu
Italian 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Giltwood and Marble Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A superb and most impressive Italian 19th century neo-classical st. giltwood and Vert Maurin marble center table. The circular table is raised by handsome paw feet below the striking...
Marble
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
Neoclassical Marble Top Oval Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant Neoclassical, fruitwood, oval side table with gilded bronze lions head and carved, ebonized paws. The door conceals a shelf and storage space. Veined marble top. From the ...
Marble, Bronze
Neoclassical Bronze Gueridon Maison Jansen Style, France
Located in Dallas, TX
Extremely detailed and well proportioned gueridon, occasional or side table attributed to Maison Jansen, France in the 1960s. Featuring a round shaped glass top sitting on top of a p...
Brass, Metal
Walnut Dining Table with Wrought Iron Fasteners, 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Walnut dining table with wrought iron fasteners. 18th centuey. Dining table with a rectangular and smooth tabletop supported on legs that follow, simplified, the most common example...
Wrought Iron
Mahogany, Brass, and Marble Nightstand, Italy, 19th C.
Located in New York City, NY
Stately mahogany nightstand with a tambour door, and brass and marble detailing.
Marble, Brass
Italian late 18th century Neo-Classical st. patinated Wood, Giltwood console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and wonderfully decorative Italian late 18th century Neo-Classical st. patinated Wood, Giltwood, Sienna and Breccia Pernice marble console. This truly stunning freesta...
Breccia Marble, Siena Marble
Italian 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Walnut And Marble Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fine Italian 19th century Neo-Classical st. Walnut and Vert de Patricia marble center table. The elegant circular center table is raised by five impressive 'S' scrolled legs ending...
Marble
French Mid 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Giltwood Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French mid 19th century Neo-Classical st. Giltwood, Faux Painted Marble and Mirror console. This wonderful console is raised on a solid platform with the original mirror b...
Mirror, Giltwood
French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Mahogany, Ormolu and Marble Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and extremely elegant French early 19th Century Neo-Classical st. mahogany, ormolu and Rosso Merling marble freestanding console. The console is raised by square tapered f...
Marble, Ormolu
Italian 19th Century Neoclassical Style Walnut & Ebonized Fruitwood Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking Italian 19th century neo-classical st. walnut and ebonized fruitwood center table, with its original and exceptional Scagliola top. The circular table is raised by ebonize...
Scagliola, Walnut
Pair of French Mid-19th Century Empire Style Mounted Pedestals
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and very high quality pair of French mid 19th century Neo-Classical st. mahogany and ormolu pedestal columns. Each circular pedestal is raised by three elegantly curved le...
Ormolu
Italian Late 19th Century Neoclassical St. Mahogany Marble Specimen Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An outstanding and extremely decorative Italian late 19th century Neo-Classical st. mahogany marble specimen side table. The table is raised on thr...
Marble
Scandinavian Modern Porto Dining Table Made with Walnut and Iron by Stylish Club
Located in Seroa, PT
The Porto collection is a captivating inspiration from the timeless elegance of Scandinavian design. Symmetry is a key feature of the Porto collection, with each piece designed to cr...
Iron