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.
Fine & Palatial French 19th/20th Century Louis XIV Style Gilt-Bronze Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine and Palatial French Belle Epoque 19th/20th Century Louis XIV Style Twelve-Light Gilt-bronze Figural Chandelier with frosted glass shades. The ovoid shaped body with scrol...
Bronze
Monumental Pair of 18th Century Venetian Silver Giltwood Sconces
Located in Houston, TX
Monumental pair of 18th century Venetian silver giltwood sconces. Large pair of Italian or Venetian silver gilt wood candle sconces from the 18th century (can easily be wired if desi...
Silver Leaf
Pair of French Candelabra Lamps Made from Hand Wrought Iron and Antique Elements
Located in Dallas, TX
Made from hand wrought iron and repurposed antique elements, this pair of French candelabra lamps has a total of six sockets and a total height ...
Wrought Iron
$2,650 / set
Superbe French Pairs of Iron Sconces
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Superbe French pairs of iron sconces.
Iron
Large Baroque Style Gilt Bronze Eighteen-Light Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This impressive, eighteen-light chandelier—which measures 1.7 metres (67 inches) in height—will bring grandeur and majesty to a room. It is crafted in a bold Baroque style, which was...
Ormolu, Bronze
20th Century French Chandelier in Louis XIV Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid, engraved bronze. 9 curved light arms. Very heavy.
Brass
$2,850 / set
Pair of French Louis XIV Style Bronze Sconces
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of French Louis XIV style bronze sconces. These beautiful French bronze 3 light sconces are currently unwired. Could be used with candles or easily wired if desired. Great patina!
Bronze
$2,776Sale Price / set|38% Off
Large Pair of Louis the 14th Style Bronze and Mirror Wall Lights
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice large pair of 3 arms Louis the 14th wall lights is made of chiseled bronze with a mirror on its center. These sconces ar every impressive...
Bronze
Pair Of Grand 19th C. French Bronze Five Candle Light Sconces
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A pair of large and heavy five arm antique bronze candle sconces with elaborate sinuous leafy arms, back and a tall top socket. The Pair retain the original Copper tubing presumably once utilized for gas...
Bronze
French Maison Baguès Style Gilt Bronze Sunburst Sconces
Located in Houston, TX
French Maison Baguès style gilt bronze sunburst sconces. Stunning French Maison Bagues style gilt bronze 2-light sunburst sconces. These fabulous Fren...
Bronze
Pair of Marble and Gilt Bronze Table Lamps, Signed F. Barbedienne
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of marble and gilt bronze table lamps, signed F. Barbedienne. France, circa 1880-1890. The dimensions are without the shade. Doesn't include Lampshade
Marble, Bronze
Pair of French 19th C. Hand Tooled Brass Candlesticks
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of French 19th C. hand-tooled brass candlesticks. Size: 12" H x 5" diameter. Nice very heavy handcrafted and hammered with some designs. Great brass decorative art objects.
Brass
Pair of French Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze and Cut Rock Crystal Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Louis XVI style gilt bronze and cut rock crystal double light wall sconces embellished with a central cut rock crystal vase embellis...
Rock Crystal, Ormolu
Gilt Bronze and Glass Attributed to Maison Jansen, France, Early 20th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Gilt Bronze and glass attributed to Maison Jansen. France, early 20th century.
Bronze
Baroque Applique in antique Louis 14th Style brass bronzed
Located in Berlin, DE
Six flamed light corpus. Polished and engraved bronze. Round, reliefed, wall-shield. There from, six-light arms composed of spirals. Measures: Width:45 cm, height.55 cm.
Brass
Pair of Gilt Iron Sconces with Black Candle Covers
Located in Redding, CT
Pair of gilt iron sconces with black candle covers.( Price is for thte pair of 2). Extremely elegant and sophisticated pair of Hollywood Regency sconces...
Iron
Exceptional Early 19th Century Waterford Crystal Eighteen-Light Chandelier
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Exceptional Early 19th Century Gilt Bronze and Waterford Crystal Eighteen Light Chandelier An etched crown above a crystal string body leading to a beaded basket with drop crysta...
Crystal, Bronze
$507Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 14.17 in Dm 6.29 in
Pair of French Art Deco Lamps in Wrought Iron with Colored Glass Shades Signed
Located in Verviers, BE
A wonderful pair of French lamps. The stands are handmade in wrought iron with black finish patina and hammered with floral pattern. The metalwork is of excellent quality. They are ...
Wrought Iron
$16,500 / set
H 42 in W 24 in D 18 in
Pair of 18th Century Italian Gilded and Hand-Carved Angel Sconces
By Interi
Located in Columbia, SC
Pair of 18th century Italian gilded and hand-carved angel lighting sconces. The pair of angels are originally from an angelic depiction in a historical Italian church. They were plac...
Metal, Wire, Gold Leaf
$18,000 / set
H 19 in W 10.25 in D 5.25 in
Pair of Venetian Bronze & Decorative Etched Mirrored Wall Sconces, C. 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of Venetian two-arm bronze mirrored wall sconces with etched decorative floral, bird, and butterfly motif. Sconces retain the origina...
Bronze
$3,500Sale Price / set|61% Off
H 13.8 in W 11 in D 4 in
Wall Sconces Gilt Bronze French Rococo Louis XV 18th Century France
Located in New York, NY
Wall Sconces Gilt Bronze French Rococo Louis XV 18th Century France. A pair of wall sconces made during the louis XV period in France. Two candleholding arms - can be wired if wanted...
Ormolu
$2,958
H 28.35 in W 24.41 in D 24.41 in
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Style Twelve Branch Ormolu Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This is a highly decorative French Louis XIV style twelve branch ormolu chandelier, circa 1900 in date. Emanating from a central column, the upper part is dressed with three female ...
Ormolu
$1,335
H 21.5 in W 11.5 in D 11.5 in
French Mid-20th Century Single Light Scrolled Iron Chandelier in Gold Bronze Hue
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French single light iron chandelier from the mid-20th century. This vintage French chandelier features a delightful iron-shaped body adorn in scrolled accents, and a small balled bottom finial. There is a nicely sized single light, with painted candle sleeve, caged within the center of the lantern-shaped armature. The chandelier has wonderful aging and patina throughout and is a golden-bronze color. The light fixture has been rewired for the US and comes with a complimentary 3-foot chain and canopy painted to match. This French midcentury lantern...
Metal, Iron
$9,000 / set
H 16.93 in W 7.49 in D 8.67 in
Pair of Wrought Iron and Glass Sconces, Art Deco Period, France, circa 1930
By J. Robert
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of wrought iron and glass sconces. Art Deco period, France, circa 1930. Glass signed "J. Robert".
Wrought Iron, Silver Leaf
Wedgwood and Gilt Bronze Six-Light Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Wedgwood and gilt bronze six-light chandelier Circa 1890 Measures: Height 55 in. (139.70 cm.), diameter 30 in. (76.20 cm.).
Bronze
$5,896
H 33 in Dm 31 in
Marvelous & Large Art Deco Style Alabaster & Bronze Chandelier / Pendant Light
Located in Lisse, NL
Striking and exclusive, 1970s made light fixture for the perfect Deco atmosphere. If you are looking for a remarkable light fixture to grace your living space then this vintage Art Deco style...
Alabaster, Brass, Bronze
$2,227Sale Price|30% Off
H 43.31 in Dm 39.38 in
20th Century Modern Venetian Murano Glass Chandelier "Ca'rezzonico" Style, 1960s
Located in Puglia, Puglia
An elegant eight-light chandelier in milk-colored Murano glass and sophisticated fuchsia pink finishes. With a centered bulbous column that emits branches and flowers and finely cuts...
Murano Glass
Pair of 18th Century Italian Giltwood Altar Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
This pair of stunning 18th century candlesticks from Italy features bountiful hand-carved foliate and floral details. The candlesticks sit on a tripartite base, with the form continuing throughout the giltwood columns, indicating that they once graced a church altar. Altar candlesticks of this era typically had unadorned backsides, as this side was always hidden from the congregation. In the case of our candlesticks, the backs have been carved without detail and painted gold to match the gilding. Both candlesticks are topped by a crinkled iron bobeche and a cylindrical capital above a thick rim embellished with egg and dart. The necks have a foliate margent set between two rings of lanceolate leaves. In the center of the column are two curled leaves that extend beyond a foliate cup and quarter round knop below. Under the molding is the three-legged base with large flowers above the front two feet. The ball feet are connected by a bracket-shaped apron adorned with a ball finial noix and a fluted front with a foliate garland affixed by a roundel. Our pair of Italian giltwood altar candlesticks...
Metal, Iron
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Candlesticks
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A pair of French 19th century Louis XIV Style Ormolu Candlesticks The faceted nozzle on a baluster shaped shaft decorated with portrait medallions within scrolling foliage With its...
Ormolu
Ceiling Candelabra in antique Louis XIV Style brass bronze
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid, engraved brass. Fifteen curved light arms. Very heavy quality.
Brass
Antique Gilt Bronze Louis XIV Style Foliate Three Arm Chandelier, c1900
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Louis XIV style chandelier offers gilt bronze frame with torchiere form shaft and three foliate form arms terminating in floral frosted glass shades, c1900 Measu...
Bronze
Rare Pair of Louis XIV Period Gilt Wood Carved CandleSticks
Located in Montreal, QC
Rare pair of Louis of XIV period gilt wood carved candlesticks carved with lions head and birds resting on a tri pod feet.
Wood
Sold
H 8.5 in W 5.75 in D 5 in
Fine French Cast Iron Oil Betty Rooster Lamp 18th Century France Louis XIV
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Oil Lamp Fine French handcrafted cast iron oil Betty lamp with decorative rooster 18th century French Louis XIV Known as a 'Betty Lamp' features a circular...
Iron
19th Century French Louis XVI Empire Style Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Plainview, NY
A rare 19th Century bonze and crystal French Louis XVI Empire style chandelier with 8 arms supported by a bronze ring and beaded crystal strands in a dome form top converging on a bo...
Crystal, Bronze
Sold
H 22 in W 18 in D 11 in
Pair of Late 19th C. Silver Plated Louis XIV Style 3-Light Wall Sconces light LA
Located in West Hollywood, CA
High end pair of late 19th century silver plated Louis XIV style 3-light wall sconces. It's a beautiful pair of decorative wall light, to add elegance and the magic of the old world charm to any room. Bedroom hallway living room dining room or even a bathroom . Mood wall light ornamental bracket Candle...
Metal, Silver Plate
Pair of French Bronze and Glass Lamps
Located in Barntrup, DE
A pair of small and very nice bronze night lamps, made in France in 1950s. Each lamp has an E14 socket with new wiring, European plug. Measures: Height 20 cm / 7.8 in; width 16 cm / ...
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century French Sconces
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Pair of 19th century French giltwood sconces.
Tôle
Pair of Early 18th Century Carved Candlesticks in Mecca, Italy
Located in Atlanta, GA
Carved and silver gilt, most of the gilt faded to show the bole. Excellent condition
Gilt Hand Carved Five Arm Wooden Chandelier
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This beautifully aged giltwood chandelier in the style of Louis XIV will add warmth and old world elegance to any space. Adjustable chain length height.
Gold Leaf, Iron