Reflecting the final era of royal opulence before the upheaval of the French Revolution, antique Louis XVI furniture features more angular shapes than the Rococo curves of the Louis XV style, harkening back to the imposing grandeur of Louis XIV.
Dating between 1750 and 1800, an era that overlapped with the last king of France whose reign was cut short by the guillotine, Louis XVI furniture, known as the goût grec, is emblematic of the neoclassical revision that French furniture underwent during the second half of the 18th century.
Authentic Louis XVI furniture characteristics include clean lines and carved details such as scrolls and acanthus flourishes that were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. This was informed by a burgeoning interest in antiquity in the 18th century, owing to new archaeological excavations at sites including Pompeii and Herculaneum. It largely eclipsed the more East Asian–influenced ornamentation of Louis XV for something more geometric and symmetrical.
The Louis XVI style was defined by what was being created for the palatial rooms at Versailles and Fontainebleau, particularly for the queen, with cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener being a favorite of Marie-Antoinette’s for his luxurious pieces accented with gilded bronze and marquetry. Furniture maker Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené was also a major designer of the period, with his pieces for the royal residences adorned with giltwood and neoclassical touches like tapered columns for chair legs and laurel leaf carvings. Cabinetmaker Adam Weisweiler occasionally incorporated into his furniture porcelain panels produced by Sèvres, a popular manufacturer of European ceramics that served the crown with serveware, vases and other decorative objects.
Find a collection of antique Louis XVI seating, tables, cabinets and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Gilded Wood Overdoor or Canopy, Louis XVI Style, circa 1900
Located in Nashville, TN
A gilded architectural element, possibly an Overdoor with uses as bed crown canopy or pelmet. In the Louis Xvi style of carved wood and gilded ,having...
Giltwood
A French 19th century Louis XVI st. patinated Wood and Giltwood bed canopy
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. patinated Wood and Giltwood bed canopy. This stunning canopy displays a patinated off white body accented with Giltwood ...
Wood, Giltwood
French 19th Century Louis XVI Pair of Walnut Nightstands
Located in Carmine, TX
Elegant pair of 19th-century French Louis XVI nightstands crafted in richly grained walnut, featuring three dovetailed drawers with brass pulls, fluted corner details, and tapered le...
Bronze
20th Century Louis XVI Style Bed
Located in Berlin, DE
Unusual bed in Louis XVI style. Solid beechwood, finely engraved, with colored handpainting and gilded. Low feet and high head-part. (H-Kw-7).
Wood, Beech
A French Louis XVI Style Painted Bed, C. 1920.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Elegant painted and carved frame with scrolled top headboard and footboard, upholstered in classic red and white toile fabric. The bed features carved details and fluted supports, re...
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
$6,400
H 47.75 in W 78 in D 44 in
Antique French Louis XVI Style Painted Bed with Toile Panels, 19th Century
Located in Astoria, NY
Antique French Louis XVI style painted bed sourced in Provence, dating to the late 19th century, defined by a restrained neoclassical form with fluted uprights, carved rosette blocks...
Cotton, Hardwood, Paint
French Giltwood Louis XVI Style Full Size Bed, C 1900
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French giltwood Louis XVI style full size bed C 1900. Interior Dimensions : 52.5' W x 81.25" D.
Giltwood
$958Sale Price|31% Off
H 9.26 in W 66.34 in D 14.97 in
Antique French Walnut Bed Canopy in the Louis XVI Style Late 19 th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Antique canopy bed in the Louis XVI style. Ideal for hanging curtains on the bed wall. Carved motifs enhanced with gold paint. Hooks are set insid...
Walnut
French 19th Century Louis XVI Solid Walnut Nightstand
Located in Carmine, TX
Elegant French Louis XVI nightstand crafted from solid walnut, featuring a single drawer, fluted tapered legs, and a lower shelf. The restrained neoclassical design is complemented b...
Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XVI Marble Top Walnut Nightstand
Located in Carmine, TX
French 19th Century Louis XVI Walnut Marble-Top Nightstand — Elegant French Louis XVI nightstand crafted in richly figured walnut, featuring a marble top, single drawer, turned legs,...
Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XVI Solid Walnut Nightstand
Located in Carmine, TX
Elegant French nightstand crafted from solid walnut, featuring three drawers with raised-panel fronts, delicate brass pulls, tapered legs, and a lower shelf. The refined rectangular ...
Bronze
$1,516Sale Price|20% Off
H 46.07 in W 86.62 in D 39.38 in
French Padded Louis XV Style Single Bed or Banquette, circa 1900
Located in Labrit, Landes
French antique single bed, made circa 1900 Louis XV style and padded, with an ecru fabric. This bed was used very few, so the fabric is very clean, like new (it has been redone few years ago), a very light stain on one of the bed rails (please see last photo) This bed or banquette needs a custom bedding...
Fabric, Wood
19th Century Chinese Canopy Wedding Bed
Located in Marbella, ES
This is a wonderful example of a canopy bed from Shanghai Province, China. Made of Chinese Northern Elm, this bed features hoofed feet and multiple floral carvings. The exterior ...
Gold Leaf
$5,542Sale Price|50% Off
H 62.21 in W 59.06 in D 84.65 in
19th Century Hand Carved and Hand Painted Queen Size Bed Frame Louis XVI Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century exquisite queen size beautifully hand carved bed frame in the elegant Louis XVI style. The headboard and footboard frames are raised on si...
Cane, Wood
Sold
H 11.75 in W 66 in D 15 in
Louis XVI Style Giltwood Architectural Element Mounted as Corona or Canopy
Located in Nashville, TN
A gilded architectural element , probably an Overdoor ( window) now mounted as a corona or bed canopy . A central floral bouquet against a stepped and moulded cornice , the curved en...
Giltwood
Sold
H 23 in W 23 in D 23 in
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Giltwood and Gilt Pressed Leather Dome É
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. giltwood and gilt pressed leather dome é. The top acanthus leaf finial is above the gilt pressed leather with a design of rosettes within...
Giltwood
20th Century Inlaid Wood Italian Louis XVI Single Bed, 1950
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Italian bed from the mid-20th century. Furniture richly inlaid in Louis XVI style in walnut, maple, rosewood, beech, burl and fruitwood. Single bed that can accommodate an internal s...
Beech, Fruitwood, Maple, Rosewood, Walnut, Burl
Sold
H 6 in W 61 in D 16 in
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Gilt Wood Valance or Window Cornice
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This stunning late 19th century window cornice of hand carved giltwood was originally used as a drapery valance in a French chateau. It features a Class...
Giltwood
Glamorous Diminutive Antique Gilt Metal Bed Crown Corona
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Sleep like royalty with this sweet little gilt metal bed crown. A close relative of the four poster canopy bed, the corona is meant to drape curtains ov...
Metal
French Giltwood Bed Corona
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French giltwood bed corona, with vintage silk interior. 24"D to the edge of the corona, the rim of the corona is 4.5" H with a height of 8.5" H at the center.
Silk, Giltwood
Louis XVI Style Giltwood Window Cornice, Four Available
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Louis XVI Style Giltwood Window Cornice, Four Available, each one finely decorated with carved floral garlands and a centre cartouche of putti Three cor...
Giltwood
Sold
H 50.4 in W 72.84 in D 80.71 in
20th Century Lacquered and Gilt Wood Louis XVI Style Italian Double Bed, 1950
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Italian double bed from the mid-20th century. Furniture in carved, lacquered and gilded wood in Louis XVI style. Bed of great size and impact that can accommodate an internal structu...
Cane, Wood
Sold
H 44.1 in W 67.33 in D 85.44 in
Italian Lacquered Double Bed in Louis XVI Style from 20th Century
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Italian bed in Louis XVI style of the 20th century. Furniture in richly carved and lacquered wood of fabulous decor. Headboard decorated with cane in excellent condition, footboard a...
Cane, Wood
18th-19th Century Louis XVI Gilded Carved Cornice
Located in New Orleans, LA
Tara Shaw Antiques - Regal gilded antique white cornice piece with intricate carved details. Would complement any traditional bedroom space. Pairs ...
Giltwood
Sold
H 6 in W 14 in D 66 in
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Giltwood Window Cornices Valances Coronas
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This stunning pair of 19th century window cornices of hand-carved giltwood was originally used as drapery valances in a French chateau. Featuring a Clas...
Giltwood
Pair of Gold Leaf Wooden Cornices
Located in Fayetteville, AR
Pair of nineteenth century Louis XVI style gold leafed wood and plaster cornices with floral wreaths, holly leaves, and berries.