As opposed to the styles that would follow from the other 18th-century French kings, Louis XV and Louis XVI, antique Louis XIV furniture is rigid and imposing. It expresses opulence — even its armchairs, with their upright backs, straight legs and lavish ornamentation, look like thrones. Authentic Louis XIV sofas, a then newly emerging iteration of seating, are fully upholstered and often feature decoratively carved frames of walnut, chestnut or oak.
When French King Louis XIV established his royal court at Versailles in 1682, he transformed what was once a hunting lodge into a palace that declared his wealth and power through its design. Until his death in 1715, he reigned with a spirit of excess and absolute political dominance. The “Sun King,” as he called himself, believed that France revolved around him as planets do the sun. Louis XIV adopted the sun as his emblem, decorating the grounds with symbols of the sun and Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. As he stated, “There is nothing that indicates more clearly the magnificence of great princes than their superb palaces and their precious furniture.” He was a child when he became king in 1643, only shaping his style after he became absolute monarch in 1661.
Reflecting trends in French Baroque art, Louis XIV furniture characteristics included exuberant decoration. There were gilded bronze details including shells, suns, grotesques, lions and classical references like acanthus leaves. The years of growth in the country’s manufacturing, such as the tapestries and cabinets made at Gobelins, led to design innovations. The commode replaced the chest as a storage device, with drawers and a surface that could double as a desk.
The materials were luxurious, such as the popular tortoiseshell veneer technique that leading cabinetmaker Pierre Golle used in his designs. André-Charles Boulle, who became royal cabinetmaker in 1672, was a masterful artist of marquetry, using inlays of ebony, exotic woods and mother-of-pearl.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIV bedroom furniture, chairs, tables and other pieces on 1stDibs.
Antique Victorian Louis XIV Style Centrepiece by Barnard & Sons
Located in London, GB
Antique Victorian Louis XIV style centrepiece by Barnard & Sons English, 1850-53 Dimensions: height 63cm, width 132cm, depth 87cm. This magnificent centrepiece is wrought from s...
Silver
$960Sale Price|20% Off
Period Louis XVI Sterling Table Spoon, Paris, 1789
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Period Louis XVI sterling table spoon, Paris, 1789 A tour de force of the Louis XVI style with applied medallion handle. The oval flat edge gold-...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service Dinner 65 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Celebrate all of your meals in style with this Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set. Founded in 1690 in Massachusetts, the elite artisans at Towle Silversmiths handcrafted...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set 12 Service 135 pcs Many servers
Located in Big Bend, WI
Celebrate all of your meals in style with this Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set. Founded in 1690 in Massachusetts, the elite artisans at Towle Silversmiths handcrafted...
Sterling Silver
Puiforcat - Cutlery Flatware Set Elysee Sterling Silver & Vermeil - 165 Pieces
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Cutlery Flatware set "Elysee" made in 950/1000th solid sterling silver and vermeil by Puiforcat. Cutlery/Flatware set including 165 pieces: - 24 table forks - silver - 24 table kniv...
Gold Plate, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service Dinner 143 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Celebrate all of your meals in style with this Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set. Founded in 1690 in Massachusetts, the elite artisans at Towle Silversmiths handcrafted...
Sterling Silver
Louvois by Puiforcat France Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 54 pcs Dinner
Located in Big Bend, WI
The Parisian silversmith Puiforcat is regarded as one of the legendary names in European silver craftsmanship. Superb Dinner Size Louvois by Puiforcat sterling silver flatware set, ...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 70 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Celebrate all of your meals in style with this Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set. Founded in 1690 in Massachusetts, the elite artisans...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 91 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set, 91 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 9 1/4", 12 forks, 7 1/4", 12 salad forks, 6 1/4", 12 ...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Dinner Flatware Set for 8 Service 78 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Louis XIV by Towle dinner size sterling silver flatware set of 78 pieces. This set includes: Eight dinner size knives, 9 1/2", eight dinner size forks, 7 7/8", eight salad forks,...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service 110 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Monumental LOUIS XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set, 110 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 9 3/8" 12 forks, 7 1/4" 12 salad forks, 6 1/4" 12 teaspoons, 5 7/8" 12 place so...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set For 8 Service 50 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Celebrate all of your meals in style with this Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set. Founded in 1690 in Massachusetts, the elite artisans at Towle Silversmiths handcrafted...
Sterling Silver
Louis XIV by Towle Sterling Silver Flatware Set for 12 Service, Huge 146 Pieces
Located in Big Bend, WI
Louis XIV by Towle sterling silver flatware set of 146 pieces. This set includes: 12 knives, 9 1/4", 12 forks, 7 1/4", 12 salad forks, 6 1/4", 12 teaspoons, 5 7/8", 12 flat han...
Sterling Silver
$775 / set
H 0.5 in W 9 in D 2 in
Rare Pair of Exeter Sterling Silver Parcel-Gilt Georgian Berry Spoons
By William Woodman
Located in New York, NY
Rare pair of Georgian, sterling silver, parcel-gilt berry spoons, Exeter, England, 1830, William Woodman - maker. Measures: 9" long x 2" wide (at widest point). Vacant cartouche. Bea...
Sterling Silver
$1,730Sale Price|30% Off
H 0.08 in W 0.99 in D 5.12 in
Exclusive Tea COFFEE SPOONS, 12pcs. Sterling Silver & Box Cake Spatula & TONGS.
Located in Wembley, GB
A Rare case set of 12 gilded inside antique valuable floral handle sterling silver Spoons. An elegant Vintage Sterling Silver Tea / Coffee Spoon Set. A cased set of 1915 12 x silver ...
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
$1,196Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 0.75 in W 8.25 in D 1.75 in
Christian F. Hiese 18 Piece Danish Arts & Crafts Sterling Silver Flatware Set
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This eighteen piece set of flaware was made by the well known Christian F. Hiese of Denmark in approximately 1905 in the period Arts and Crafts style. This hand hammered set is compo...
Sterling Silver
$1,500 / set
H 0.5 in W 0.75 in D 9.25 in
Twenty-Two Piece Set of Sterling Silver and Ebony "Contrast" Flatware by Lunt
By Lunt Silver
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous twenty-two piece set of sterling silver and ebony nylon "Contrast" flatware by Lunt Silver Co.., circa 1950s. The set is in very good vintage condition and is stamped on the...
Sterling Silver
$74,975 / set
H 1 in Dm 10.8 in
Set of 12 Exquisite "Gilded Age" Sterling Silver Tiffany Charger Plates
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite set of 12 "Gilded Age" Sterling Silver Tiffany Charges was realized in America in 1905. Each plate has heavily detailed boarders featuring a Kylix cup amid scrolling s...
Sterling Silver
$3,674
H 7.09 in W 5.91 in D 5.91 in
'Queen Anne' Design Victorian Antique Sterling Silver Biscuit Box by Barnards
By Barnards
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1889 by Barnards, this attractive Victorian, antique, sterling silver biscuit box, has swirled and sunken half fluting, in the Queen Anne style. It has a flus...
Sterling Silver
$2,380 / set
H 7.29 in W 1.38 in D 0.99 in
19th Century French Silver Vermeil Flatware Dessert Set for Six, 18 Pieces
Located in Madrid, ES
This charming 19th century French 18-piece cased dessert silverware / flatware set, with its unique, slightly grotesque satyr mask motif and warm ve...
Vermeil, Silver
$9,500 / set
H 18 in W 18 in D 18 in
Bougainville by Puiforcat Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 37 Pcs in Box
By Puiforcat
Located in Big Bend, WI
Exquisite Bougainville by Puiforcat France sterling silver flatware set, 37 pieces. This set includes: 12 dinner size forks, 8 3/8" 12 teaspoons, 5 1/2" 12 large dinner spoons, ...
Sterling Silver
$37,004
H 14.97 in W 20.08 in D 18.12 in
Neoclassical Victorian Antique Sterling Silver Centrepiece or Epergne, 1892
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1892 by D. & J. Wellby, this impressive, nine basket, Edwardian, Antique Sterling Silver Epergne, is a fine example of Adam style design, featuring pierced work throughout, neoclassical decoration, four round baskets, four oval baskets and a larger oval basket...
Sterling Silver
$3,150
H 1.97 in W 9.85 in D 13.78 in
1920s England by Reid & Son Antique Silver and Mother of Pearl Cutlery Flatware
Located in Brescia, IT
Silver Flatware, England 1920s A set of 12 knives and 12 forks with real mother of pearl handles. Original wooden box. Knife 20 cm. Fork 16 cm Exce...
Silver
Art Deco Towle Sterling Silver Pen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A unique vintage Towle sterling silver ballpoint pen, circa 1920s. The oval-form body is detailed with incised vertical lines, giving it ...
Sterling Silver
$1,778
H 4.5 in W 3.3 in D 2.2 in
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Tea Caddy by Edward Barnard & Sons Ltd
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver tea caddy made by Edward Barnard & Sons Ltd; an addition to our silver teaware collection. This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver tea caddy has an octagonal panelled form. The surface of this fine silver tea caddy box is plain and unembellished. This antique sterling silver tea caddy retains the original hallmarked domed hinged cover surmounted with the original cast sterling silver scroll decorated loop handle/finial. The anterior edge of the cover features a plain rounded thumbpiece. This exceptional example of Victorian silverware retains the original gilded interior. This impressive box was crafted by the renowned London silversmith Edward Barnard & Sons Ltd. Condition This antique silver tea...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Puiforcat - Set Of Plates Dishes Elysee Sterling Silver - 13 Pieces
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Set of 13 (thirteen) serving plates and dishes "Elysée" made in sterling solid silver by Puiforcat. Set including 13 plates / dishes: - 3 plates of 22.7 cm diameter - 2 plates of 2...
Sterling Silver
Lapparra - Vegetable Dish And Sauce Boat In Solid Silver Circa 19th Century
By Lapparra - Gabriel
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Pair of solid silver sauce boats, oblong in shape, adorned with a frieze of gadroons on the neck, the pinched ribbed body is engraved with a Bérain decoration on a matte background, ...
Sterling Silver
Leroy Auguste Et Cie (1912/1935) -Cruet Vinegar Cruet In Solid Silver Regency 19
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Solid silver vinegar cruet in Regency style, octagonal in shape with sides, bordered at the top and bottom with a line of gadroons. The sockets are mascaron heads. Two overlay blue g...
Silver
Puiforcat, Cutlery Flatware Set Mazarin Sterling Silver, 141 Pieces
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Cutlery Flatware set "Mazarin" made in 950/1000th solid sterling silver by Puiforcat. Cutlery set for 12 people including 141 pieces: - 12 table forks - 12 table knives - 12 table s...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Puiforcat, Cutlery Flatware Set Medicis Sterling Silver, 139 Pieces
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Cutlery Flatware set "Medicis" made in 950/1000th solid sterling silver by Puiforcat. Cutlery set for 12 people including 139 pieces: - 12 table forks - 12 table knives - 12 table s...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.04 in Dm 0.04 in
Puiforcat - Cutlery Flatware Set Elysee Sterling Silver & Vermeil - 127 Pieces
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Cutlery Flatware set "Elysee" made in 950/1000th solid sterling silver and vermeil by Puiforcat. Cutlery set for 12 people including 127 pieces: - 1...
Gold Plate, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Puiforcat, Cutlery Flatware Set Louvois Sterling Silver, 96 Pieces
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Cutlery Flatware set "Louvois" made in 950/1000th solid sterling silver by Puiforcat. Cutlery set for 12 people including 96 pieces: - 12 table fo...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.04 in Dm 0.04 in
Puiforcat, Set of Elysée Vermeil Gold Sterling Silver Serving Dishes, 7 Pieces
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Suite of 7 (seven) "Elysée" serving dishes made in vermeil (gold-plated solid sterling silver) by Puiforcat. Set of 7 serving dishes including : - 1 round plate 27.5 cm diameter (excellent condition) - 2 rectangular dishes 22 cm x 28.5 cm (very good condition - some very slight scratches) - 2 round cups of 20, 5 cm diameter (very good condition - some very slight scratches) - 2 oval dishes of 42 cm x 29 cm (one in very good condition with some very slight scratches - one in used condition with scratches) All pieces are signed and stamped. Puiforcat still offers this model for sale, only on request. The price changes every month depending on the price of gold...
Gold Plate, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.04 in Dm 0.04 in
Puiforcat, Elysée Vermeil Gold Sterling Silver Flatware Cutlery Set, 70 Pieces
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Exceptional "Elysée" flatware cutlery set in vermeil (950/1000th solid sterling silver gold-plated) by Puiforcat. Flatware cutlery set of 70 pieces including : - 12 table forks - 12 table knives - 12 table spoons - 12 dessert forks - 12 dessert knives - vermeil blade - 10 coffee spoons All the pieces are signed and hallmarked. Very good condition - some light scratches from use. Some cutlery has been used more than others. Puiforcat still offers this model for sale, only on request. The price changes every month depending on the price of gold...
Sterling Silver, Gold Plate, Vermeil
Sold
H 0.04 in Dm 0.04 in
Puiforcat, Cutlery Flatware Set Louvois and Turenne Sterling Silver 162 Pieces
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Important "Louvois" cutlery set made in solid sterling silver 950/1000th by Puiforcat. Turenne" model for knives. Cutlery set of 162 pieces including : - 18 table forks - 12 ta...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.04 in Dm 0.04 in L 0.04 in
Puiforcat Paris Richelieu Cutlery Flatware Set Solid Sterling Silver 108 Pieces
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Exceptional "Richelieu" cutlery flatware set by Puiforcat Paris in solid sterling silver. Presented on its original box signed Puiforcat. Set including : - 18 table forks - 18 t...
Sterling Silver
Emile Puiforcat Paris Elysée Cutlery Set Sterling Pure Silver, 293 Pieces
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Exceptional "Elysée" cutlery set by Emile Puiforcat Paris in sterling pure silver. Presented on sheathed trays signed Puiforcat. Set composed of 293 pieces (258 pieces and 35 serv...
Sterling Silver