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.
Antique Enclosed Light Box with Stained Glass Church Window
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Enclosed Free Standing Light Box with Stained Glass Church Window with Religious Scene This antique stained glass window is encased in a fr...
Stained Glass, Wood
Rare Small Child's Antique Baseball Glove Custom Mounted Display.
Located in Stamford, CT
A collection of 9 rare antique and vintage small child's baseball gloves. Each measuring aprox 6" wide and tall. These are not to be confused with adult size baseball gloves which ar...
Leather
$1,380Sale Price|20% Off
c1800 Antique Early American Hand Stitched Glass Shadow Box Scene Man & His Dog
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1800 Antique Early American Hand Stitched Glass Shadow Box Scene Man & His Dog. Man is saying his prayers in front of the cross. Doggie looking beautiful in fluffy hand stitched mat...
Wood
Gilt Framed Sèvres Bisque Plaque with Cornelian Cabochons and Gilt Bronze Mounts
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Norwood, NJ
Gilt framed 19th century Sèvres bisque plaque depicting cupid and zodiac with cornelian cabochons and gilt bronze mounts. Sèvres bisque rondel medallion ...
Stone, Gold Plate, Bronze
Pair of Framed Antique Intaglios
Located in East Hampton, NY
Pair of Antique intaglios newly framed on camouflage burlap.
Burlap, Glass, Plaster, Wood
$3,600
H 13 in W 12.5 in D 4 in
Vintage Ron Fritts Signed Chrome, Wood, Plexi Pop Art Shadow Box Wall Sculpture
By Ron Fritts
Located in North Miami, FL
This eye-catching and rare vintage Ron Fritts Pop Art shadow box wall sculpture has suspended resin or lucite balls floating in four different window vignettes that change. The background is black Mylar plexiglass and the exterior wood is newly ebonized. The original labels on the back that says RF studios Inc. and a number. The silver interior balls jump around as you pick it up and rotate it and even turn it upside down. The components of the resin have slightly yellowed from age and sun exposure. There is also glue residue from age and coming apart. It is what it is...
Aluminum, Chrome
$353
H 9.06 in W 24.81 in D 2.17 in
Antique Butterfly Collection Glass Shadow Box Wall Decoration, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Shadow box made in wood and glass containing a butterfly collection.
Glass, Wood
Museum Display of Exotic Butterflies
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Late 19th Century to early 20th Century museum display of exotic butterflies. An impressive shadowbox displaying a variety of pinned and preserved butterflies, most with paper labels...
Natural Fiber, Wood
$733
H 16.93 in W 13 in D 1.19 in
Victorian Pressed Flower Oddity, Botanical Art in Gilt Oval Frame, 19th Century
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Victorian Pressed Flower Oddity, Botanical Art in Gilt Oval Frame, 19th Century Antique botanical composition featuring a delicate array of hand-pressed flowers and foliage, artfull...
Fabric, Glass, Organic Material, Giltwood
$10,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 21 in D 7.5 in
Gothic Style Huge Triptych Shadow Box/Display Of Orthodox Church Silver Icons
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Gothic style huge triptych shadow box/display of an Orthodox Church silver icons. The triptych is a large ogee shaped arc closed display made of heavy wood and glass. When you open the doors, it features some icons painted on wood and covered by an embossed and chased silver oklads with some gilt areas. They are framed by some red velvet. In the center, there are two icons who represent St.Paul and St.Peter; above them is the Almighty God...
Silver
$650Sale Price|33% Off
H 28 in W 15 in D 2 in
Antique Sea Life Diorama Shadow Box, Walnut Frame, Shells, 1950
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
3-715 Beautiful sea life diorama including sea shells various crustaceans ,seahorse starfish encased in a walnut frame under glass. Brass hanging ring
Shell
Butterfly Taxidermy Entomology Display Cases
Located in Vienna, AT
Framed butterfly collection featuring 10 butterflies with type of butterfly underneath each. Mounted in a shadowbox frame. Price for both.
Glass, Hardwood
Original Monarch Butterfly Shadow Box Art, Paper, 21st Century, USA
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Original butterfly art depicting different sizes of Monarch butterflies in a lucite shadow box by Nadine Kalachnikoff.
Paper
$425 / set
H 13.5 in W 11.5 in D 0.75 in
Antique Suzani Wall Hanging, Hand-Embroidered Textile, 1920s, Mounted
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Exceptional antique intricate hand embroidery Suzani textile, professionally mounted on hand painted wood shadow box , to make beautiful objects of art for wall hanging. Even though ...
Wool, Cotton, Glass, Wood
Framed Antique Coptic Textile Fragment from Byzantine North Africa
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small piece of antique Coptic textile woven as a horizontal band with two linear scallop borders flanking three central medallion design. Each medallion has a concentric pattern wi...
Wood, Wool
Collection of Walking Sticks in Shadow Box
Located in Peekskill, NY
There is a nice variety of canes in this early collection and display case. The case looks to be 1800 with wavy original glass. The whole display has a very rich look.
Glass
Vintage Harley Davidson Shadow Box 3D Wall Art
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Harley Davidson Shadow Box 3D Wall Art Collectible, great gift for a rider. Live to Ride! Circa: 1936 Dimensions: H: 13” W: 41.5” D...
Metal
Sold
H 53.5 in W 4 in D 53.25 in
Antique WWII B24 Liberator Bomber Airplane Aviation Fuselage Shadowbox
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique World War II era United States Army Air Force airplane fuselage segment, mounted in a shadowbox frame and featuring the stars and bars decal ...
Metal
Antique Wooden Spinning Top Collection Custom Display
Located in Manhasset, NY
A collection of 104 antique wooden toy spinning tops in a custom made white painted maple shelved display. Tops can be moved to any configuration y...
Wood
Sold
H 16.25 in W 13.25 in D 1 in
Set of Four Italian Neoclassical Red Intaglios Mounted in Custom Gold Frames
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of four neoclassical Italian red intaglios from the mid-20th century, displayed nicely within gold custom frames. This set of red colored vintage I...
Glass, Wood
Nine Finely Framed Dried Flowers Each Under Glass Framed
Located in Manhasset, NY
Nine finely framed dried flowers each under glass and framed. These custom laid and framed works are simply stunning and are all in fine condition.
Glass, Wood, Paper
Set of Seven Framed Under Glass Botanicals
Located in Manhasset, NY
Set of seven framed under glass botanicals. Each finely laid floral arrangement sits under glass in an ebony frame. Matted and labeled.
Glass, Wood, Paper
Large Botanical in Antique Frame Under Glass Prov. Parc Monceau
Located in Manhasset, NY
Large Botanical in a fine antique frame under glass Prov. Parc Monceau. The frame parcel gilt and paint decorated having eighteen botanicals inside. This ...
Wood, Paper
Sold
H 10.5 in W 12.25 in D 1.5 in
Pair of 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Plaster Intaglios in Gilt Oval Frames
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of 19th century Italian Grand Tour carved plaster intaglios in gilt oval frames. Neoclassical cameos are in spectacular condition. Intaglios were intended to preserve the ar...
Giltwood, Plaster
Italian Grand Tour Intaglios in a Custom Frame
Located in Stamford, CT
The giltwood inner frame surrounded by a velvet mat, all enclosed under glass in a mahogany outer frame. The intaglios themselves of the highest quality, each numbered and wrapped in...
Italian Grand Tour Framed Intaglio Collection
Located in Stamford, CT
A beautifully framed collection of Italian Grand Tour plaster intaglios mounted on antique parchment. The gilt wood inner frame surrounded by a velv...
Sold
H 16.25 in W 13 in D 1 in
Rare Italian Early 20th Century Red Intaglios Set into a Pair of Gold Frames
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of neoclassical Italian red intaglios from the early 20th century in custom frames. This set of red colored antique Italian intaglios (which were purchased by us in Sweden) ha...
Glass, Wood
Sold
H 16.25 in W 13 in D 1 in
Rare Italian Early 20th Century Red Intaglios Set into a Pair of Gold Frames
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of neoclassical Italian red intaglios from the early 20th century in custom frames. This set of red colored antique Italian intaglios (which were purchased by us in Sweden) ha...
Glass, Wood