The decadence of the Baroque style, in which ornate furnishings were layered against paneled walls, painted ceilings, stately chandeliers and, above all, gilding, expressed the power of the church and monarchy through design that celebrated excess. And its influence was omnipresent — antique Baroque furniture was created in the first design style that truly had a global impact.
Theatrical and lavish, Baroque was prevalent across Europe from the 17th to mid-18th century and spread around the world through colonialism, including in Asia, Africa and the Americas. While Baroque originated in Italy and achieved some of its most fantastic forms in the late-period Roman Baroque, it was adapted to meet the tastes and materials in each region. French Baroque furniture informed Louis XIV style and added drama to Versailles. In Spain, the Baroque movement influenced the elaborate Churrigueresque style in which architecture was dripping with ornamental details. In South German Baroque, furniture was made with bold geometric patterns.
Compared to Renaissance furniture, which was more subdued in its proportions, Baroque furniture was extravagant in all aspects, from its shape to its materials.
Allegorical and mythical figures were often sculpted in the wood, along with motifs like scrolling floral forms and acanthus leaves that gave the impression of tangles of dense foliage. Novel techniques and materials such as marquetry, gesso and lacquer — which were used with exotic woods and were employed by cabinetmakers such as André-Charles Boulle, Gerrit Jensen and James Moore — reflected the growth of international trade. Baroque furniture characteristics include a range of decorative elements — a single furnishing could feature everything from carved gilded wood to gilt bronze, lending chairs, mirrors, console tables and other pieces a sense of motion.
Find a collection of authentic antique Baroque tables, lighting, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Beautiful Tole Toleware Gilded Wall Console Shelf Germany 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Offered is an absolutely stunning, 1890s or older wall console or shelf. Minor patina gives this piece a classy statement. Made of hand craft wood and gilded. Use just as a decorativ...
Wood
Antique Pair of Italian Grotto Style Wall Brackets or Ornaments with Seashells
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Lofty pair of Italian wall ornaments handcrafted in wood in a grotto style composition with coral and seashells carved and painted with gilt highlights. Stamped Made in Italy on the ...
Wood, Paint
$880Sale Price / set|60% Off
Antique French Baroque Style Wall Bracket, a Pair
Located in Plainview, NY
A pair of French Baroque style hand carved gesso and wood floral scroll design wall brackets featuring a scalloped gild painted shelving. This elegant...
Wood, Paint, Gesso
Silver Gilt Carved Wood Wall Shelf
Located in Bradenton, FL
Beautiful antique silver gilt hand carved wood wall shelf. Perfect for displaying art work or décor.
Giltwood
Pair Of Italian Carved And Giltwood Wall Brackets
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of Italian carved and giltwood wall brackets. Beautifully carved with acanthus leaves and scrollwork. Nice wide shelf atop a base that cumulates into a pineapple-like shape at b...
Giltwood
Portuguese Pair of 18th Century Pine Altar Consoles
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A magnificent pair of 18th century Portuguese carved pine wall consoles, also called brackets, originally part of the architectural program of a cathedral altar. They have been updat...
Travertine
Portuguese Eighteenth Century Decorative Wall Shelf
Located in Ballard, CA
Unique Baroque wall shelve from Portugal, adorned with beautiful gilt and faux marble, Having arrived in Portugal later than it did in the rest of Europe, baroque art was to take on ...
Fruitwood
Pair of Italian 18th Century Baroque Carved Mecca Decorative Wall Decor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful pair of Italian 18th century Baroque carved Mecca decorative wall decor. Each wall decor is in the shape of a family crest and displays wonderful richly scrolled designs ...
Wood
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
Monumental Carved Giltwood Baroque Wall Bracket
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Monumental carved giltwood baroque wall bracket, with carved foliate scroll and putti motif. An unusually large wall bracket.
Gesso, Giltwood
Vintage Regency Hand Carved Putti Bracket
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This charming vintage wall bracket exemplifies the exuberant ornamentation of Baroque design, often seen in grand European homes. Expertly hand-carved from wood, the corbel structure...
Wood
Pair of 19th Century Italian Painted and Giltwood Wall Brackets
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 19th Century Italian Painted and Gilt wood Wall Brackets. Stunning large pair of Italian Baroque style painted and gilt wood wall brackets, wall shelves or wall consoles to d...
Giltwood
Italian Baroque Style Painted And Gilt Wall Bracket
Located in Houston, TX
Large Italian Baroque Style Painted And Gilt Wall Bracket. This stunning Italian Baroque style carved wood has a beautiful painted and parcel gilt finish and a large top surface area...
Wood
$9,500 / set
Pair Large Italian Gilt-Carved Brackets
Located in New York, NY
Pair large Italian gilt-carved brackets. Pair of gilt-carved brackets with rich silvered-gold patina and faux marble tops, Italy, circa 1770s Dimens...
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Venetian Hand Painted and Gold Gilded Console/Bracket
Located in Doha, QA
A fabulous early 19th centruy Italian Console, wall Bracket is an incredible example of venetian crafstmanship of that time. The top has a very good and spacious size. Gold gilded an...
Gold
18th C. Italian Baroque Pair of Putto Motif Carved & Painted Wall Brackets
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Baroque pair of carved and painted wood decorative wall brackets from the 18th century. These antique decorative wall brackets from Italy each feature a carved putto head ...
Wood
Antique Baroque Style Wall Bracket
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique baroque style painted and gilt decorated wall bracket, 18th century. With a mid to late 20th century marble top, a gilt decorated cupid face with wings.
Marble, Gold Leaf
Monumental 19th Century Solid Oak French Convent Wall Bracket, 55cm
Located in Lincoln, GB
A Monumental 19th Century Solid Oak French Convent Display Shelf An exceptionally rare and imposing architectural wall bracket, masterfully hewn from solid French oak and sourced fro...
Oak
Pair of Highly Carved Partially Stripped French Oak Cherub Brackets, C. 1850
Located in Dallas, TX
This pair of oak cherub brackets, or “consoles murale” originate from France and date to the mid-19th century. The intricate carvings adorning these mar...
Wood, Oak
Pair Of Italian Late 18th Century Baroque St. Mecca Wall Brackets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most decorative and large scaled pair of Italian late 18th century Baroque st. Mecca wall brackets. Each wonderful wall bracket is centered by a bottom sc...
Wood
Antique 19th Century Louis XVI Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces
Located in Doha, QA
This stunning set of antique 19th Century Louis XVI Wall sconces/mounted on mahogany wood (most likely during Art Noveau era ). The wood can be easily removed if necessary. The quali...
Gold, Bronze
pair of Italian 17th century Baroque period Giltwood mirrored wall brackets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and finely detailed pair of Italian 17th century Baroque period Giltwood mirrored wall brackets. Each wall bracket is centered by an impressive richly carved bottom foliat...
Mirror, Giltwood
Pair of Giltwood Angels Shelves 19th Century Winged Cherubs Italian Brackets
Located in Milano, MI
A charming pair of Italian winged putti pinewood wall brackets, exquisitely carved and gilded. the two angel figures have their arms raised and they are topped by a shell-shaped top...
Pine, Giltwood
Vintage Plaster Clamshell Bracket
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This ornate architectural wall bracket is a masterful expression of Neoclassical design, bringing a sense of historic grandeur to the modern interior. Expertly cast with intricate ac...
Plaster
Vintage Cast Resin Baroque Brackets - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exquisite pair of vintage Baroque-style brackets brings architectural depth and Neoclassical elegance to any interior. Masterfully cast with intricate acanthus leaf motifs and s...
Resin
pair of Italian 19th century Baroque st. glazed patinated wood wall brackets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A whimsical and finely detailed pair of Italian 19th century Baroque st. glazed patinated wood wall brackets. Each most decorative wall bracket is centered by a berried foliate botto...
Wood
Pair Of 19th Century Italian Giltwood Wall Brackets
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of 19th Century Italian Giltwood Wall Brackets. Stunning large pair of Italian Baroque style painted and gilt wood wall brackets, wall shelves or wall consoles to display your p...
Giltwood
French Baroque Style Hand-Carved Walnut Bracket with Putti and Foliage, 1800s
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Baroque style French walnut bracket with hand-carved putti, circa 1800. Born during the tumultuous years of the early 19th century, this French bracket features a semi-circular sha...
Walnut
Italian Baroque Style Late 19th Century Fruitwood Wall Bracket with Carved Putto
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Baroque style fruitwood wall bracket from the late 19th century, with carved putto figure. Born in Italy during the later years of the 19th century, this fruitwood bracket...
Fruitwood
Petite French Baroque Style 1885s Silvered Wood Wall Bracket with Oval Mirror
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A petite French Baroque style wall bracket with mirror made of carved and silvered wood from the 19th century. The scalloped top rests on a scrolling leaf designed support above a small oval-shaped mirror. Unusually placed below the shelf, the mirror is set within a pierced Baroque cartouche...
Mirror, Wood
Antique 18th Century Pair of Bronze Curtain Brackets with Pair of Tassels
Located in Doha, QA
Unique Rare 18th century Pair of French Bronze Curtain Brackets with matching Pair of Gold and Silver threaded Tassels of Louis XI Period. Paris ca 1780-1800.
Gold, Bronze, Metallic Thread
Antique 19th Century French Abbey Set of Four Large Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces
Located in Doha, QA
These fantastic unusual four sconces have an incredibly detailed design. Each of them fit large candles with a diameter 7 to 9 cm. The Sconces are sold as they are, no wall mountings...
Gold, Bronze
$564Sale Price / set|31% Off
Set of 4 Antique French Bronze Curtain Tiebacks, Circa 1860
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Rare set of 4 French tiebacks for curtains: a touch of elegance to the curtains of your home. It's a special price because one of them is without an a...
Bronze
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Marble Topped Gilded and Silver Leafed Corner Bracket
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A finely carved partially Italian gilded corner bracket, silver leafed and painted with a dark green veined marble top bordered in gilded bronze. The rounded top supported by two carved palm frond...
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Large Mid-18th Century George II Rococo Gilt Corner Brackets
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An exceptionally fine pair of Baroque wall brackets. Water gilded with excellent patina with the gold subtly transparent showing its rich red bole, the brackets are rare both for their complexity and large size. An oyster shell shaped cartouche surrounded by theatrical garlands flowers...
Giltwood
18th Century Carved Giltwood Shelf / Wall Bracket / Architectural Corbel
Located in Madrid, ES
This hand carved giltwood shelf / wall bracket or architectural corbel clearly displays the strength, drama and beauty of Spanish Baroque style. The cen...
Wrought Iron