The style of 18th-century French furniture was guided by the court. When Louis XV, who reigned from 1715–74, focused royal life on the smaller salons of Versailles rather than its grand chambers, it transformed the aesthetics away from the imposing and angular furniture that characterized the style of Louis XIV. A broader focus on comfort and more delicate forms define antique Louis XV furniture, with nature-inspired carvings, wood inlays, curved cabriole legs, asymmetrical shapes and rounded oval seat backs. The furnishings changed throughout the king’s life, as he ascended to the throne as a child and then grew to establish his own tastes.
Pieces like the bergère, an upholstered armchair with a wide cushion that fit the flowing dresses in fashion at the time, reflected this more informal court. Introduced at the start of Louis XV’s reign, bergère chairs in this style were deeper and broader than other chairs of the period.
Louis XV tapestries and carpets tended to be floral and colorful, and design elements were borrowed from Asia. Dutch-born cabinetmaker Bernard van Risenburgh brought lacquer techniques influenced by Japan and China into his luxuriously made furniture. Along with its fine details, the furniture of the era also featured new innovations including mechanical devices. Jean François Oeben, a royal cabinetmaker, created such intricate pieces as a mechanical table for Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s mistress. It involved a sliding top and a writing surface that extended from its marquetry panels.
During the later years of Louis XV’s reign, there was a shift from the ostentatious rocaille style, part of the exuberantly decorative Rococo movement in Europe for which designers such as Nicolas Pineau and Juste-Aurèle Meissonier are known. The style under Louis XVI would return to boxier forms, but with a neoclassical touch inspired by the ancient world.
Find antique Louis XV bedroom furniture, seating, tables and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Amazing 19th Century French Antique Gilt Wooden Frame Wall Mirror with Bracket
Located in Lisse, NL
Louis Quinze style wall mirror with beautiful, hand carved details. If this beautifully handcrafted mirror is the right style to fit your interior and the size is correct for your n...
Mirror, Wood
An Early Louis XV Carved And Giltwood Wall Bracket
Located in Bradenton, FL
Louis XIV carved and giltwood wall bracket. The serpentine top with a gadrooned border, the pierced acanthus and c-scroll apron centred by a laughing satyr mask. Medium size will fi...
Wood
Large 18th Century French Rococo Étagère Wall Bracket in Sculpted Oak
Located in Dallas, TX
More information coming soon… Known as an étagère in France, this wall bracket was hand-carved in oak. Dating to the 1700s, this is a period Louis XV piece, as evidenced by the Roc...
Wood, Oak
Circa 1850 Hand Carved Giltwood Wall Bracket from France
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in France, circa 1850, this elegant etagere features elements inspired by nature, known as the Rocaille style. The opulent giltwood wall shelf...
Wood, Giltwood
18th Century Italian Hand Carved Giltwood Display Wall Bracket Console
Located in Dallas, TX
Display a bust or a vase on this elegant antique wall corbel; crafted in Italy, circa 1760, the large gilt wood wall bracket features hand carved scroll and acanthus leaf motifs thro...
Giltwood
Gold Giltwood French Louis XV Style Wood Acanthus Corbel Small Wall Shelf - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Gold Giltwood French Louis XV Style Wood Acanthus Corbel Small Wall Shelf - Pair. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 11.5" H x 6" W x 5" D.
Wood
set of four Italian early 19th century Louis XV st. Giltwood wall brackets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome set of four Italian early 19th century Louis XV st. Giltwood wall brackets. This elegant set displays a top double reverse of scrolled designs with a central fluted carvin...
Giltwood
Louis XV Style Giltwood and Chinoiserie Porcelain Wall Bracket
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The shaped top on a C-scroll and acanthus support inset with a porcelain plaque with a Chinoiserie decor. From the collection of celebrated interior designer Mario Buatta whose taste for Chinoiserie is well documented. Blue chip socialites, business tycoons such as the Newhouses and the Forbes, as well as pop stars (Mariah Carey...
Giltwood
Pair 19th Century Louis XV Carved Giltwood Wall Brackets Consoles from Provence
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall with this elegant pair of antique walnut corbels. Crafted in Southern France, circa 1860, each fruitwood wall bracket features a motif reminiscent of classical or Roc...
Giltwood
Pair of 19th Century Louis XV Carved Walnut Wall Brackets Consoles from Provence
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate an entry wall or living room with this elegant pair of antique brackets. Crafted in Southern France, circa 1860, each fruitwood wall ...
Walnut
Pair of Italian Early 19th Century Louis XV Style Corner Wall Brackets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning pair of Italian early 19th century Louis XV st. giltwood and white Carrara marble corner wall brackets. Each wall bracket displays a mag...
Carrara Marble
Pair of French 1760s Louis XV Period Walnut Wall Brackets with Rocailles Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of French Louis XV period mid-18th century walnut wall brackets from Lyon with Rocailles motifs. Created in Lyon during the third quarter of the 18th century, each of this pai...
Walnut
$1,250 / set
Ornately Carved Distressed Painted Wall Brackets
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Elegant pair of ornately carved wall brackets having a chippy off-white and natural patina. Mark on back reads Design Source, 1999.
Composition
$9,850Sale Price|34% Off
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze and Ebonized Wood Wall Barometer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French 19th century Louis XV style gilt-bronze and ebonized wood wall-mounting barometer - thermometer by Molteni Frères. The elongated ebonized body surmounted with gilt-bron...
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century Louis XV Carved Walnut Wall Brackets Consoles from Provence
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall with this elegant pair of antique walnut corbels. Crafted in Southern France, circa 1860, each fruitwood wall bracket features a motif reminiscent of classical or Roc...
Walnut
Pair 19th Century Louis XV Carved Giltwood Wall Brackets Consoles from Provence
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall with this elegant pair of antique walnut corbels. Crafted in Southern France, circa 1860, each fruitwood wall bracket features a motif reminiscent of classical or Roc...
Giltwood
$895
H 10.4 in W 10.4 in D 5.2 in
Pair of Italian Distressed White Gold Giltwood Brackets Corbels Shelves c. 1950
Located in Pearland, TX
A gorgeous pair of vintage Italian Neoclassical style gilt wood wall brackets or corbels with a lovely patina, circa 1950. These stylish brackets have a lovely aged white and gilt fl...
Giltwood, Paint
A sumptuous pair of George III carved giltwood wall brackets
Located in Reepham, GB
A sumptuous pair of George III carved giltwood wall brackets, the lavishly carved supports having highly detailed and delightful carving of rosa centifolia, the Rose of Provence ben...
Giltwood
$4,200 / set
H 12.25 in W 8.75 in D 3.25 in
pair of Italian early 19th century Louis XVI st. Giltwood wall brackets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A lovely pair of Italian early 19th century Louis XVI st. Giltwood wall brackets. Each beautiful wall bracket displays a finely carved bust of a cherub with palmettes atop his head a...
Giltwood
$1,450 / set
H 26 in W 10 in D 6.5 in
Antique Italian Mirrored Wall Brackets, Giltwood, Mid-19th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Antique wall brackets with water gilding & mirrored back.
Giltwood
18th Century Italian Rococo Pine Wall Brackets
Located in San Marino, CA
Pair of 18th century Italian Venetian Rococo painted and gilt pine wall brackets.
Pine
Pair Of 18th Century Italian Figural Angel Wall Brackets
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of 18th Century Italian figural carved Angel wall brackets. Brackets feature charming angel faces under small flat shelf. Giltwood and painted, brackets have a wonderful old pat...
Wood
19th Century Anglo-Indian / Burmese Wall Bracket / Shelf
Located in Hoddesdon, GB
An extremely rare intricately carved 19th-century Anglo-Indian wall bracket or shelf. This exquisite piece is beautifully made . Intricately carved throughout with breathtaking d...
Hardwood
19th Century Anglo-Indian / Burmese Wall Bracket / Shelf
Located in Hoddesdon, GB
Anglo-Indian wall bracket or shelf. Circa 1880s An extremely rare intricately carved 19th-century Anglo-Indian wall bracket or shelf. This exquisite piece is beautifully made . ...
Teak
$1,872Sale Price|52% Off
H 10.25 in W 17.63 in D 7.63 in
French Baroque Style Parcel-Gilt Carved Wood Wall Bracket, Sconce, or Shelf
Located in Kinderhook, NY
A large last half of the 19th century French Baroque style stained, painted, and parcel-gilt wall bracket of unusual bisected cornice form having stained chestnut shelf above compoun...
Wood, Giltwood
$2,308
H 19.69 in W 14.97 in D 12.21 in
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
$5,000
H 29 in W 42.5 in D 22 in
Italian 18th Century Richly Carved & Gilt Wood Rococo Style Wall Bracket
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian 18th century gilded bracket. This large size Italian Rococo style bracket features an abundance of decor associated to a very curvy Silhouet...
Wood
$3,484 / set
H 30.32 in W 23.63 in D 16.54 in
19th Century Rococo Revival Putti Wall Brackets made of Plaster, Set of 2
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A 19th-century unique pair of Rococo style consoles with putti heads. Carved from plaster and painted in polychrome. The consoles are open from the rear and the top. Most likely th...
Plaster
Sold
H 11 in W 16 in D 10 in
Pair of 19th Century Louis XV Carved Walnut Wall Brackets Consoles from Provence
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall with this elegant pair of antique walnut corbels. Crafted in Southern France, circa 1860, each fruitwood wall bracket features a motif reminiscent of classical or Roc...
Walnut
19th-C. French Carved Giltwood & Painted Celadon Wall Bracket / Shelf
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a large scale French 19th century carved giltwood and painted celadon wall bracket. Beautifully done!
Poplar
Sold
H 17.5 in W 9.5 in D 8 in
Gold Giltwood French Louis XV Style Wood Acanthus Corbel Large Wall Shelf Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Gold Giltwood French Louis XV Style Wood Acanthus Corbel Large Wall Shelf Pair. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 17.5" H x 9.5" W x 8" D.
Wood
Pair of large French ornate giltwood wall brackets
Located in Houston, TX
The gilding on this pair of brackets is original and beautifully executed The hand carving is well done and has many flourishing and scrolling Curves that make the presentation appe...
Giltwood
Sold
H 18.5 in W 21.5 in D 10.25 in
Pair of Large Louis XV Style Painted Wall Brackets, 19th Century France
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Large Louis XV Style Painted Wall Brackets, 19th Century France
Wood
18th Century Italian Hand Carved Giltwood Display Wall Bracket Console
Located in Dallas, TX
Display a bust or a vase on this elegant antique wall corbel; crafted in Italy, circa 1760, the gilt wood wall bracket features hand carved leaf motifs throughout. The small shelf co...
Giltwood
French Gilt Carved Crown/Canopy, with Foliate and Spiral Twists
Located in Houston, TX
Architectural French style carved gilt composition crown/cornice, with foliate and Spiral twists motif. Antique gold finish. It has a bracket for hanging in the back. Great centerp...
Composition
French Louis XV Console Giltwood Bracket, Mid-18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
The French large Louis XV giltwood console bracket with demilune top and carved acanthus leaf detail.
Giltwood
Pair of Louis XV Style Curtain Tie Backs
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of gilt bronze curtain tie backs in Rococo style. They are richly decorated with gadrooned foliage, scrolls, fantastic animals, and ova. French, Napoleon III period. These tie b...
Bronze
Sold
H 17 in W 20 in D 9.5 in
Pair of 18th Century Louis XV Carved Walnut Wall Brackets Consoles from Provence
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall with this elegant pair of antique brackets. Crafted in Southern France, circa 1780, each fruitwood wall corbel is heavily carved with shell...
Walnut
19th Century Louis XV Style Louis Carved and Parcel Gilt Valence
Located in Dallas, TX
Louis XV style carved and parcel gilt valence. Very nice carving with a shell, leaves and flowers at the top the valence.
Wood
Sold
H 44 in W 10.5 in D 2.25 in
Pair of Tall Carved Louis XV Style Giltwood Boiserie Scrolls or Wall Appliques
Located in Nashville, TN
Rococo and executed in water and matte gilding. Probably attached to boiseries panelling and later separated. Of Shell and floral motifs. Each with winged pixie at the bottom. Each...
Giltwood