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.
18th Century Italian Agate Snuff Box, Gilt Metal, Four Compartments
Located in New York, NY
Agate and gilt metal snuff box. Rare and exceptional antique Italian four-compartment tabacchiera of sculpted agate and gilt metal in the manner of Valadier. Four lidded panels open ...
Agate, Metal
Early 19th Century Venezia Pair of Inlaid Walnut Tobacco Boxes on Stands
Located in Brescia, IT
This Early 19th Century pair of magnificent tobacco boxes on stand, beautifully marries functionality and aestetics, showcasing the excellent craftsmanship of Venetian cabinetmakers in theirs refined inlaid of figures of smoking men and women. The body of this rare tobacco boxes, embodies an exquisite inlaid in blondy pearwood, that runs all over the round surface giving a sense of fuidity. The corpus is devided into the boxes, that are the cases containing the tobacco, and the standing base in solid cheer...
Walnut, Cherry
French 19th Century Marriage Dome on Stand
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French 19th century handcrafted bridal, wedding, or marriage dome on stand. The uniquely 19th century (Victorian period) tradition of a “globe de Mariée” involved a glass cloche or d...
Metal
19th Century Majolica Palissy Tobacco Jar Thomas Sergent
Located in Austin, TX
Large Majolica Palissy tobacco jar attributed to Thomas Sergent, circa 1880 unsigned. Naturalistic movement of the end of 19th century. The jar have the shape of a trunk with a bir...
Majolica, Ceramic, Faience
$4,074Sale Price|25% Off
H 1.19 in W 1.78 in D 1.78 in
English 18th Century Gold-Mounted Agate Snuff-Box
Located in Paris, FR
Agate box or snuff-box in of circular form with gently bombé sides, the gold mounted lid is chased with scrollwork. Probably Georges II period. Unmarked gold...
Agate, Gold
19th Century Agate and Dore Bronze Snuff Box
Located in Tampa, FL
A refined 19th century agate snuff box from an important private collection. This elegant example is beautifully constructed with polished agate panels framed by finely finished dore...
Agate, Bronze
$1,950
H 56 in W 43 in D 18.75 in
C. Late 19th-Early 20th Century American Carousel Horse on Custom Stand
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Late 19th-early 20th century carousel horse on custom stand, American. A fine & fun example. Restored prior to the current owner's acquisition of it, it likely had handles to mount &...
Wood, Oak
19th Century Table Top Kaleidoscope On Wooden Stand
Located in Bridgeport, CT
19th-century antique table-top kaleidoscope mounted on a turned wooden stand. It represents a classic scientific parlor toy from the Victorian era. The horizontal viewing barrel is ...
Metal
Vintage Sajai Metal and Agate Scroll Box Coin Purse, Handmade in India
By Rajhastani
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Sajai metal and agate talisman box coin purse, Handmade in India, Handmade Sajai metal cross body purse with multi-colored agates and intric...
Stone, Agate, Metal
18th Century Beijing Enamel Snuff Box with Gilt Bronze Mounts
Located in Basildon, GB
An 18th Century Chinese Beijing enamel snuff box finely painted to the lid and sides with typical Chinese scenes, the base painted with a leafy gourd. The lid is mounted in gilt bron...
Bronze, Enamel
$2,754
H 1.5 in W 3.25 in D 2.5 in
18th Century South Staffordshire Snuff Box - 'Musicians in parkland'
Located in Basildon, GB
An 18th Century South Staffordshire Snuff Box, decorated with a couple and two seated musicians in parkland, the sides with small panels within rai...
Bronze, Enamel
Early 20th Century Pair of Mirror Witches Balls on Bronze Stands
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A matching pair of early 20th century mirrored witches balls, with pressed steel galleries and hanging hoops. They have later been associated to a pair of extremely well cast and he...
Bronze
Sensational Early 19th Century Chapeau De Gendarme Hat Box
Located in Round Top, TX
A sensational early 19th century French Chapeau De Gendarme - officer's hat box in leather. Such a nostalgic shape!! A great accent piece for any b...
Leather
$531
H 4.34 in W 5.12 in D 3.55 in
Victorian Cast Iron Tobacco Box, English, Brushed Finish, 19th Century
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Rare English tobacco cast iron box, Victorian time: for connoisseurs ! If You don't smoke, it serves as a paperweight and it's beautiful to admire on You...
Cast Stone
Sold
H 14.25 in W 8.125 in D 8.125 in
The Final Cut-Off With His Head: A 19th Century Guillotine Cigar Cutter
Located in New York, NY
This striking late-19th-century French guillotine cigar cutter exemplifies the period’s blend of functional engineering and sculptural desk design. Crafted from richly grained hardwo...
Wood
Off With Their Heads (Or Just the Cigar Tips): Brass Guillotine Cutter
Located in New York, NY
**Early 20th-Century Brass Guillotine Cigar Cutter** Why settle for a boring cigar cutter when you can channel the drama of the French Revolution every time you light up? This early 20th-century brass guillotine cigar cutter, crafted by masterful French artisans, brings a touch of history and a whole lot of flair to your smoking ritual. Featuring a miniature guillotine...
Brass
Late 19th-Early 20th Century Guillotine Cigar Cutter from France
Located in New York, NY
Guillotine cigar cutter, French late 19th-early 20th century, created when the guillotine was still in use in France.
Metal
Guillotine Cigar Cutter with Coffin Cigar Tip Box
Located in New York, NY
Guillotine cigar cutter with coffin cigar tip box, French late 19th-early 20th century. It was in 1789, when the physician Joseph-Ignace Guillo...
Metal