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.
$129Sale Price|20% Off
Ewer Early 20th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very nice ewer, carafe from the early 20th century. The body is made of smooth glass while the foot, handle and spout are made of pewter, a very rare element and one of the oldest kn...
Tin
Pair of Antique French Decorative Bronze Pitchers
Located in London, GB
A gorgeous pair of antique French solid bronze pitchers. They were made in France, and date from around the 1890-1900 period. They are of stunning quality, and are purely decorative...
Bronze
Antique Meissen Covered Pot or Jar with Flower Handle & Hand-Painted Fruits
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique covered jar or pot was made by the well known Meissen factory of Germany in approximately 1750 in the period Louis XV style. This lidd...
Bronze
$3,900 / set
Pair of Antique French Copper Bath Warmers
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare pair of 18th Century French bath warmers handcrafted with copper and iron in utilitarian yet sculptural form, still functional and miraculously retaining the original lids.
Copper, Iron
Unglazed Chinese Clay Pot or Jar with Handles
Located in Sheffield, MA
The Chinese clay jar is handcrafted and has two small handles. Shallow en relief bands encircle the upper part of the vessel. The organic rich dark clay is from a Chinese river basin.
Clay
Meissen Cabinet Vase with Applied Fruits and Flowers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Meissen cabinet vase with applied fruits and flowers, exquisite gourd bottle shape with numerous applied fruits and flowers, and painted with insects. ...
Porcelain
Pair of Painted Tin Coasters, Italy, Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Pair of painted Tin Coasters is an original decorative object realized in the 1950s. Made in Italy. Dimensions: Ø 11 cm. Fair Conditions. Both the pieces are decorated w...
Tin
Pear Shaped Meissen Vase with Cover and Vines with Flowers and Fruits
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful early 19th century pear shaped Meissen covered vase with raised fruits, vines and flowers. The vase is finely hand painted with pink ...
Porcelain
$876Sale Price|20% Off
H 2 in W 20 in D 30.25 in
Early-20th Century Hand-Painted Chinoiserie Toleware Tray
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Exquisite Early 20th Century hand-painted toleware tray featuring a charming Chinoiserie scene with figures, a pagoda, and lush floral details on a warm Goldenrods background. The sc...
Metal
$325
H 5 in W 4.75 in D 4.75 in
Antique I &EC Co Japan Hand Painted Porcelain Cobalt Blue Covered Ginger Jar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique I &EC Co Japan Hand Painted Porcelain Cobalt Blue Covered Ginger Jar. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 5" H x 4.75" Diameter
Porcelain
Pair of Antique French Neoclassical Style Urns
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of antique French Neoclassical style Urns. Great pair of 19th century French Neoclassical style bronzed metal urns on marble bases. These stunning antique French Grecian style u...
Marble, Spelter
19th Century Copper Bed Warmer
Located in Pomona, CA
19th-century copper bed warmer with a brass cap.
Brass, Copper
Antique French Gilt Bronze Cachepot Planter
Located in Norwood, NJ
Fine quality French 19th century gilt bronze cachepot planter. Louis XV style with figural panels with women and putti. Lion and eagle. Venus in shell ...
Bronze
Pair of Snake Handled Meissen Urns
By Ernst August Leuteritz, Meissen Porcelain
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Stylish and chic pair of Meissen urns in Classic glazed white porcelain with gold accents. These urns are classical in form and feature entwined snakes as ...
Porcelain
$2,200
H 4 in W 24 in D 21.5 in
Massive Early 20th Century Italian Majolica Bacchanalian Scene Platter
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A massive tin glazed earthenware platter from the Deruta region of Italy. The plater depicts a bacchanalian scene and dates to the early part of the 20th Century. The platter is sign...
Pottery
$2,400 / set
H 14 in Dm 6.5 in
Antique French Neoclassical Patinated Bronze Decorative Urn / Red Marble Base
Located in Tarry Town, NY
This distinguished 19th-century French neoclassical bronze urn, with its beautifully aged patina, is crafted in a classic krater form adorned with intricate reliefs of ancient Greek ...
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Earthenware Potpourri in the Louis XV Style.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
19th century earthenware potpourri in the Louis XV style. Nineteenth century earthenware potpourri in the spirit of the eighteenth century, the work of Samson of very fine quality. ...
Porcelain
19th Century, Four Blue and White Lacquered Wood Florentine Apothecary Jars
Located in Catania, Sicilia
Four apothecary jars hand-crafted and lacquered in Florence in the late 19th century. they are in original conditions with signs of use and age visible on the photos. They are sold i...
Fruitwood, Lacquer
Sold
H 18.5 in W 7 in D 6 in
Pair of 19th Century French Blue and White Faience Delft Vases with Parrot Lids
By Delft
Located in Dallas, TX
These Classic antique Delft vases were created in France, circa 1860. Each elegant porcelain jar is decorated with finely painted, romantic scene me...
Ceramic, Faience
Sold
H 19.5 in W 8 in D 6 in
Pair of Mid-19th Century French Blue and White Faience Delft Vases with Lids
By Delft
Located in Dallas, TX
This Classic blue and white Delft vases were created in France, circa 1860. Each porcelain jar is decorated with finely painted, romantic scene medallions and embellished with floral...
Ceramic, Faience
Louis XV Style Amethyst Cassolettes
Located in New Orleans, LA
The bodies of this pair of Louis XV style cassolettes are formed from stunning examples of amethyst. Their graceful design showcases the qualities for which this gemstone is so loved...
Amethyst, Bronze
Blue and White Porcelain Jars Set of 3 Antique by Saint-Cloud, France
By Saint-Cloud Porcelain
Located in Katonah, NY
We are proud to offer this set of three small Saint Cloud blue and white porcelain jars. According to W.B.Honey the typical blue-painted Saint-Cloud Porcelain "is one of the most distinct and attractive of porcelains and not the least part of its charm lies in the quality of the material itself.” We can date these jars to the period between 1720- 1740 as circa 1720 the Saint-Cloud factory began to produce this type of blue and white soft-paste porcelain wares. After 1740 the factory cut back entirely on production of blue and white and concentrated on production of white wares without blue decoration. The early porcelain produced in Saint-Cloud was influenced by late Ming blue and white porcelain, and the Saint Cloud motifs were based directly on Chinese originals. These Saint-Cloud blue and white jars are marked with the painter's marks "A" and "W". For two images of Saint-Cloud jars...
Porcelain
Porcelain Pot-Pourri Vase in the Style of Saint-Cloud by Didier Gardillou
By Didier Gardillou
Located in New York, NY
White porcelain pot-pourri vase in the style of the 18th century Saint-Cloud soft paste porcelain production, just outside of Paris, France. The va...
Porcelain
Pair of 19th Century French Gien Faience Urns
By Gien
Located in Winter Park, FL
A pair of 19th century French Gien faience urns with hand-painted floral decoration. Nice form with double handles and square pedestal base. Lids with str...
Faience