Rococo Decorative Art
Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.
The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.
When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.
The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.
1870s French Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Porcelain, Wood
19th Century German Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Porcelain, Glass, Wood
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Canvas, Paint
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Gold Leaf
19th Century European Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Bronze, Other
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Lava, Metal, Gold Leaf
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Quartz, Agate, Rock Crystal, Metal, Gold Leaf
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Gold Leaf
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Agate, Coral, Gold Leaf
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Rock Crystal
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Coral, Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Rock Crystal
20th Century French Rococo Decorative Art
Textile
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Agate, Coral, Gold Leaf
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Ash, Canvas, Wood, Paper
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Rock Crystal
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Agate, Coral, Gold Leaf
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Canvas, Wood, Ash, Paper
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Rock Crystal
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Crystal, Gold Leaf
19th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Rock Crystal
19th Century French Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Wood, Giltwood
Early 1900s French Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Wood
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Oak
17th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf
1840s French Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Paint
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Rock Crystal, Gold Leaf
Mid-19th Century French Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Canvas, Giltwood
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Glass, Wood
1920s French Vintage Rococo Decorative Art
Acrylic
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Quartz
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Porcelain
19th Century French Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Porcelain
18th Century Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Gold Leaf
1890s French Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Gold Leaf
18th Century English Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Gold Leaf
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Poplar
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Rock Crystal, Silver Leaf
18th Century Irish Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Agate, Coral, Gold Leaf
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Walnut
Early 1900s Spanish Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Wood
19th Century French Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Enamel
18th Century Russian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Gold Leaf
1890s Austrian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Porcelain
18th Century French Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Wood
19th Century French Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Masonite, Gesso, Canvas, Giltwood
19th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Gesso, Canvas, Wood
18th Century German Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary North American Rococo Decorative Art
Giltwood, Walnut
Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Canvas
18th Century American Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Terracotta, Canvas, Plaster, Wood, Ash
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Paper
18th Century French Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Canvas
Late 19th Century Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Giltwood, Porcelain
Early 20th Century English Rococo Decorative Art
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century British Antique Rococo Decorative Art
Paper