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.
Mid Century Louis VIII Vanity, Flip Lid Mirror with Marquetry and Bronze Mounts
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous French vanity with a flip lid top which opens to reveal a divided tray atop a drawer. Great craftsmanship in the Marquetry with cross banding. Br...
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Small Vanity Desk, Work Table, Louis XIII style in walnut
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Elegant and pretty small 19th century Louis XIII dressing table or dressing table in walnut with the top all hand engraved with art nouveau motifs of the period. Also excellent as an...
Walnut
Early 20th Century Spanish Carved Walnut Console Table
Located in Miami, FL
Early 20th century Spanish carved walnut console table with two drawers and green marble top. This early 20th century Spanish Console tabl...
Marble
$2,380
H 23.63 in W 47.25 in D 12.6 in
Early 20th Century Catalan Spanish Hand Carved Walnut Console Table
Located in Miami, FL
Late 19th century catalan spanish hand carved walnut console table with three drawers. Very good quality carved Spanish console table, circa 1800-1900. Beautifully carved in walnut w...
Walnut
$495
H 5.625 in W 31.75 in D 12 in
1950s Retro Wall Mounted Salon Vanity with Mirror and Wooden Shelf with Drawer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wall-mounted salon vanity set from the 1950s comprising a frameless mirror and a coordinating wooden shelf with drawer. The mirror features scalloped concave notches at each corner, ...
Mirror, Wood
French Louis XV Vanity Table with Mirror and Side Drop Leaves
Located in BÉTERA, ES
Elegant French Louis XV–style vanity table, crafted in richly toned wood and distinguished by its refined cabriole legs and serpentine front. The piece features a central lift-up lid...
Brass
$2,900 / set
H 48 in W 27.5 in D 18.25 in
Vintage Mid Century Art Deco Vanity or Desk with Mirror in Pine
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A funky art deco vanity with mirror. Solid pine with period deco hardware. Mirror has some small dark spot from age. All in all very good condition. Price includes both vanity & mirr...
Mirror, Pine
$2,959 / set
H 31.5 in W 31.5 in D 15.36 in
Mid-Century Vanity In With Brass Details And Side-Panel Mirrors
Located in Roma, RM
Chair + Mid-Century Vanity In Wood, Bamboo, And Vienna Straw With Brass Details And Side-Panel Mirrors Product Details Vanity Dimensions: 80 W x 80 / 150 H x 39 D cm Chair Dimensions...
Brass
$1,585
H 29.53 in W 22.84 in D 15.75 in
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Antique Side Table or Vanity Table in Walnut
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We present this refined antique Italian side table dating back to the mid-19th century. It features the stylistic and construction characteristics typical of the Louis-Philippe perio...
Walnut
$3,995
H 52.5 in W 50.75 in D 26.25 in
Louis XV Style Vanity with Bronze Mirror & Frame Manner Maison Forest
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Elevate your interior with this stunning Louis XV style vanity, featuring an ornate bronze-mounted mirror and frame, crafted in the refined manner of Maison Forest, the renowned Pari...
Bronze
$2,301
H 55.12 in W 35.44 in D 17.33 in
Bamboo and Rattan Vanity / Dressing Table with Drawer and Mirror, 1970's Mid-cen
Located in Cork, IE
With an arched bamboo frame and rounded corners this vanity table is a great example of organic modernism often found in European furniture designs from the 1970's. Well crafted and...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
$3,475
H 28.35 in W 43.31 in D 19.69 in
Early 19th Century Walnut Wood Catalan Spanish Console, Desk or Vanity Table
Located in Miami, FL
A 19th century walnut console table with a slab top above a frieze with two drawers with front decorated with and edge in each drawer and a single original iron pull . The table is s...
Iron
French Louis XV Style Vanity or Poudreuse, 19th Century
Located in Belmont, MA
This gorgeous Louis XV style vanity or "poudreuse" dates back to the mid 19th century and comes from France. The woman's dressing table has a very pretty walnut veneer pattern. The m...
Walnut
Mid-Century John Stuart Mirrored Vanity Desk with Bench
By John Stuart
Located in Forney, TX
A rare Mid-Century Modern painted white mirrored vanity desk and bench by legendary American luxury designer John Stuart. Circa 1950 The sensational John Stuart designed demilune ...
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 55.91 in W 41.54 in D 16.54 in
ANTIQUE FRENCH EMPIRE HAND PAINTED 19TH CENTURY DRESSING TABLE + TRi FOLD MIRROR
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning original hand painted French Country dressing table which is part of a small suite Circa 1890-1910 I hav...
Mirror, Oak