Neoclassical Decorative Art
NEOCLASSICAL STYLE
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.
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Item type: New and Made To Order
Style: Neoclassical
Italian Contemporary Print of Ancient Profile with Mirror and Gold Wood Frame
Located in Scandicci, Florence
One of two etching printed ancient profile print with gold leaf background hand-gilded and enhanced with a square frame made of mirrors and gilded with gouache and burnished with a s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Contemporary Italian Hand Coloured Vase Print in Villa Lante G.B Piranesi 1 of 2
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Extra large Roman marble vase on a porphyry pedestal printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umber highlights, and matte bla...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Contemporary Italian Hand Printed Antique Roman Emperor Bust " Settimio Severo"
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Beautiful reproduction of the most famous illustration made by Giovanni Battista Leonetti ("Giov Batta Leonetti incise Roma") depicting the bust of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus.
This extra large print...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Contemporary Italian Hand Printed Antique Roman Emperor Bust "Nerone"
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Beautiful reproduction of the most famous illustration made by Pietro Fontana ("Pietro Fontana incise Roma") depicting the bust of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus.
This extra la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Italian Contemporary Print of Ancient Profile with Mirror and Gold Wood Frame
Located in Scandicci, Florence
One of two etching printed ancient profile print with gold leaf background hand-gilded and enhanced with a square frame made of mirrors and gilded with gouache and burnished with a s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Italian Contemporary Print of Neoclassical Profile with Round Black Wooden Frame
Located in Scandicci, Florence
One of two beautiful rinascimental woman profile print with black background, framed by a delicate taupe passpartout and a round black frame.
Each print is entirely printed in Ital...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Italian Contemporary Print of Neoclassical Profile with Round Black Wooden Frame
Located in Scandicci, Florence
One of two beautiful neoclasssical woman profile print with black background, framed by a delicate taupe passpartout and a round black frame.
Each print is entirely printed in Ital...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Large, Painted Neoclassical Style Panel from Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-painted in Italy, this large, wooden wall panel features white and gray Neoclassical motifs over a black background. The images are surrounded by a thin white rectangular border...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Contemporary Italian Hand Coloured Antique English Mansions Vase Print 5 of 5
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Very original reproductions of decorative vases from important English mansions, printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umb...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Contemporary Italian Hand Coloured Antique English Mansions Vase Print 2 of 5
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Very original reproductions of decorative vases from important English mansions, printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umb...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Contemporary Italian Hand Coloured Antique English Mansions Vase Print 4 of 5
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Very original reproductions of decorative vases from important English mansions, printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umb...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Contemporary Italian Hand Coloured Antique English Mansions Vase Print 1 of 5
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Very original reproductions of decorative vases from important English mansions, printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umb...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Contemporary Italian Hand Coloured Antique English Mansions Vase Print 3 of 5
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Very original reproductions of decorative vases from important English mansions, printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umb...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Contemporary Italian Hand Coloured Vase Print in Villa Lante G.B Piranesi 2 of 2
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Extra large Roman marble vase on a porphyry pedestal printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umber highlights, and matte bla...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Contemporary Italian Hand Coloured Roman Vase Print " in Villa Giustiniani"
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Extra large Roman vase printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umber highlights, and matte black details.
Light brown mat...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Contemporary Italian Hand Coloured Antique Roman Vase Print "in Villa Mattei"
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Extra large Roman vase printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umber highlights, and matte black details.
Light brown mat...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Contemporary Italian Hand Coloured Antique Roman Vase Print " in S.Agostino"
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Extra large Roman vase printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umber highlights, and matte black details.
Light brown mat...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Italian Contemporary Print of Ancient Profile with Round Gold Wooden Frame
Located in Scandicci, Florence
One of two etching printed botanical print with gold leaf background hand-gilded and with a round golden gouache frame burnished wiyh stone.
Each print is entirely printed in Italy...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Contemporary Italian Hand Coloured Antique Roman Vase Print " Museo Clementino"
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Extra large Roman vase printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umber highlights, and matte black details.
Light brown mat...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Contemporary Italian Hand Coloured Roman Vase Print " in Galleria Giustiniani"
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Extra large Roman vase printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umber highlights, and matte black details.
Light brown mat...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Contemporary Italian Hand Coloured Antique Roman Vase Print "in S.Agostino""
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Extra large Roman vase printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umber highlights, and matte black details.
Light brown mat...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Italian Contemporary Print of Ancient Profile with Round Gold Wooden Frame
Located in Scandicci, Florence
One of two etching printed botanical print with gold leaf background hand-gilded and with a round golden gouache frame burnished wiyh stone.
Each print is entirely printed in Italy...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Contemporary Italian hand coloured Roman vase print with handcrafted black frame
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Extra large Roman vase printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umber highlights, and matte black details.
Light brown mat...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Contemporary Italian Hand Colored Roman Vase Print with Handcrafted Black Frame
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Extra large Roman vase printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely hand painted with a cream wash, umber highlights, and matte black details.
Light brown mat...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Contemporary Italian hand coloured Roman vase print with handcrafted black frame
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Extra large Roman vase printed on a hand press on 100% cotton engraving paper.
Completely handpainted with a cream wash, umber highlights, and matte black details.
Light brown mat...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
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Framed Print of Dogs Playing Rugby, Boris O' Klein
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Hereby a scene of a rugby tackle where the little one escapes direction goal.
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Louis Vuitton Art Print in Vintage Italian Rustic Wood Frame
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Victor Vasarely Geometric Print with Purple Frame, 1970s
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Vintage Print Illustration of Various Types of Trees, framed
Located in Opole, PL
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Original Antique Print of the Ancient City of Petra After David Roberts c 1850
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Wonderful image of Petra, Jordan
Fine steel engraving after David Roberts
Published circa 1850
The measurement given is the paper size
Unframed.
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No Reserve
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Neoclassical decorative art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical decorative art for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Neoclassical decorative art made in a specific country, there are England, Europe, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative art, popular names associated with this style include François Boucher, John James Audubon, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, and Sir William Hamilton. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for decorative art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,875 and tops out at $2,500 while the average work can sell for $2,188.