Neoclassical Wall Decorations
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.
1980s Vintage Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Canvas, Giltwood
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Wood
1970s American Vintage Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paint, Paper
1880s German Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paint
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paper, Wood
Mid-19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paint
Early 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paper
1990s Italian Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paper
Early 2000s American Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paint
Mid-19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paper
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Hardwood, Lacquer
1880s American Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paint
Late 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Canvas, Giltwood, Paint
1940s North American Vintage Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Glass, Paper
Early 2000s American Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paint
20th Century Unknown Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Hardwood
Late 18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paper
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
19th Century Belgian Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paper
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Giltwood
Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Plaster, Wood
1940s North American Vintage Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Brass
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Brass
19th Century Belgian Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paper
1810s German Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paper
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Canvas, Paint
19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Canvas, Giltwood, Paint
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Composition
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Glass, Giltwood, Paper
1970s American Vintage Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Glass, Wood, Paper
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Brass, Bronze
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paint
1990s North American Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Canvas, Wood
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Glass, Giltwood, Paper
1970s American Vintage Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Glass, Wood, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary French Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Stone, Cast Stone, Cement
20th Century American Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Masonite
Late 18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paper
1710s Dutch Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paper
20th Century American Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Wood, Paint
1960s American Vintage Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Parchment Paper
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Wood, Giltwood
1710s Dutch Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paper
1990s American Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Plastic, Paper
Early 20th Century German Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Israeli Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Plaster
19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Canvas, Paint
19th Century Belgian Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paper
Early 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Canvas, Giltwood
1920s German Vintage Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Canvas, Paper
1990s American Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paper
19th Century Spanish Antique Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Other
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Glass, Giltwood, Paint, Paper
20th Century American Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Plaster
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Giltwood
2010s American Neoclassical Wall Decorations
Paint
Neoclassical wall decorations for sale on 1stDibs.
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