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.
Wall Decoration 'En Grisaille' by Dufour, Paris, France, 19th Century
Located in Rome, IT
Papiers peints 'En Grisaille' from the psyche´ series manufactured by Dufour, Paris, after designs by Merry-Joseph Blondel and Louis Lafitte. Depicting `the Reconciliation of Venus ...
Paper
Pair 19th Century French Chinoiserie Wallpaper Panels
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous pair of late 19th century French wallpaper panels made in the Chinoiserie revival period of Europe after Jean Pillement (French 1728-1808). The panels have amazing detail wi...
Giltwood, Paper
$1,799Sale Price|35% Off
H 24.02 in W 0.02 in D 0.04 in
19th Century French Hand Painted Wallpaper Frieze Second Empire Era
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century roll of wallpaper frieze in trompe-l'oeil ribbon on an 8-way roll. About 61 m/0.05 cm. useful. Second Empire era, polychrome printing. ...
Paper
$3,950
H 33.5 in W 25.5 in D 3 in
19th Century French Grisaille Painting of Cardinal Richelieu Signed Léon Fauret
Located in Dallas, TX
Executed in France circa 1890, this refined antique grisaille oil painting depicts Cardinal Richelieu seated in his study, reading a royal dispatch while attendants await his instruc...
Canvas, Giltwood
$2,448Sale Price|30% Off
H 1.78 in W 0.2 in D 0.01 in
19th Century French Hand Painted Wallpaper, Second Empire Era, E. Muller Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century roll of wallpaper, second Empire era, polychrome printing in the style of E. Muller enhanced with gold decorating cartridges with a floral cut of poppies and daisies. M...
Paper
$3,376
H 118.12 in W 120.08 in D 0.4 in
19th-Century Antique-Style Panoramic Wall Mural on Canvas – Baroque Interior
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This panoramic wall mural is inspired by the 19th century and the Baroque style, reflecting the trompe-l’œil and large-scale panoramic decorations typical of bourgeois interiors. Pri...
Canvas, Paper
19th-Century Antique-Style Panoramic Wall Mural on Canvas
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This panoramic wall mural is inspired by early 19th-century decorative traditions, echoing the trompe-l’œil and grand panoramic landscapes used in bourgeois interiors. Printed on ant...
Canvas, Paper
Panoramic Floral Wall Décor on Canvas, 19th Century Style
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Panoramic floral wall décor inspired by the 19th century, printed on antique-style paper and mounted on canvas. This decorative panoramic wall covering draws on trompe-l’œil effects ...
Canvas, Paper
Period French Empire Neoclassical Wallpaper Screen by Zuber of Dufour
By Jean Zuber
Located in Essex, MA
Period Empire neoclassical wallpaper screen. Either by Zuber of Dufour. Was always intended as a screen.
Paper
19th-Century Antique-Style Panoramic Wall Mural on Canvas
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This panoramic wall mural is inspired by the 19th century, reflecting the trompe-l’œil and large-scale panoramic decorations typical of bourgeois interiors. Printed on antique-effect...
Canvas, Paper
19th-Century Antique-Style Panoramic Wall Mural on Canvas
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This panoramic wall mural is inspired by the 19th century and the Baroque style, reflecting the trompe-l’œil and large-scale panoramic decorations typical of bourgeois interiors. Pri...
Canvas, Paper
Panoramic Grisaille Wall Décor on Canvas, 19th Century Style
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Panoramic grisaille wall décor inspired by the early 19th century, printed on antique-style paper and mounted on canvas. This panoramic wall covering belongs to the tradition of deco...
Canvas, Paper
$3,400
H 118.12 in W 140.16 in D 0.4 in
Antique-Style Panoramic Wall Décor on Canvas, 19th-Century Inspired
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This panoramic wall décor is inspired by early nineteenth-century designs and recalls the look of antique-style panoramic wallpaper and historical trompe-l’œil murals. Printed on ant...
Canvas, Paper
Sold
H 35.04 in W 23.63 in D 2.76 in
Important Painting French School of the 19th Century "Academic Nude"
By Francesco Solimena
Located in Madrid, ES
Important Painting French School of the 19th Century "Academic Nude" Oil on canvas 79 x 50 cm without frame 89cm x 60cm with frame good condition
Paint
Sold
H 352.8 in W 27.6 in D 0.004 in
'Étoiles de Seine‘ wallpaper by Papier Français, collection BNF N°1
Located in New York, NY
Repeat: 17,4 cm / 6.9 in Founded in 2019, the French wallpaper brand Papier Francais is defined by the rediscovery, restoration, and revival of iconic wallpapers dating back to the ...
Paper
Zuber Wallpaper Panel Screen the War of American Independence
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Amazing wallpaper four panel screen by Zuber and Cie. Panel numbers 29, 30, 31, 32 from the War of American Independence scenic wallpapers. The iconic pa...
Canvas, Wood, Paper
Dufour & Blondel 'Psyche & Venus' Wallpaper Scene
Located in Astoria, NY
Dufour after Merry-Joseph Blondel, French Neoclassical Empire scene from the 'Psyche' wallpaper series depicting lengths 18 to 20: 'Psyche Bringing Venus a Jug of Water from the Foun...
Wood
19th Century French Hand Painted Framed Wallpaper Panels, a Pair
Located in Bradenton, FL
Early 19th century hand painted gouache or tempura on paper wall panels in the manner of Zuber or Dufour. Polychrome rococo design featuring maidens, foliate scroll, tassels, and she...
Paper
Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Grisaille Wallpaper Panel
Located in Dallas, TX
This neoclassical grisaille wallpaper is from the early 1800’s (shortly after 1816). The panel is one of 12 that comprise the Joseph Dufour set dep...
Wood, Paper
Zuber and Cie Wallpaper Panels American Independence Screen
By zuber
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Two-sided Zuber and Cie screen that features a heavily distressed painting of a lush forest landscape. Intentionally aged, worn, and distressed with a be...
Canvas, Paper, Wood
Zuber and Cie Eight Panel Wallpaper Harbor Scene
By zuber
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Magnificent eight panel wallpaper screen by Zuber and Cie depicting an American harbor scene. The screen consists of 2 four panel screen sections that ca...
Brass
French Empire Neoclassical Wallpaper Screen Attributed to Zuber
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic French four-panel wallpaper screen attributed to Zuber and cie featuring pair of Empire style neoclassical scenes with grand tour style themes....
Masonite, Paper, Wood
Five Early 19th Century Neoclassical Paper Peint Wallpaper Murals
Located in Essex, MA
Five framed French Papier Peint wallpaper murals, early 19th century, figural country landscapes with riders on horseback, neoclassical hand-painted Sight sizes 75 x 135 3/4, 75 x...
Paper
Grisaille Wallpaper Quadriptych Depicting The Bath of Psyche
By Desfosse & Karth
Located in Dallas, TX
This striking set of 4 grey monochrome wallpapers depicts the mythological scene of the princess Pysche in her bath. The scene is called “Psyche Au Bain” or Psyche Bathing, and it is based off of a collection of murals by the neoclassical artists, Louis Lafitte and Merry-Joseph Blondel. Lafitte and Blondel collaborated together from 1814-1816 to design these panels telling the mythological story of Cupid and Psyche. In 1816, they were manufactured by the famous French wallpaper company...
Wood, Paper
Sold
H 71.26 in W 23.82 in D 0.4 in
Manufacture Dufour, Pair of Greyness Wallpapers Figuring Psyche and Cupid, Vers
By Joseph Dufour Et Cie
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Manufacture Dufour, author. Pair of greyness wallpapers by the Manufacture Dufour figuring two scenes from the history of Psyche and Cupid. One repr...
Paper