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.
The Regal Convergence: A French Tapestry Masterpiece of Courtly Grandeur
Located in Dallas, TX
79397 Antique French Tapestry, 07'08 x 08'11. This exceptional handwoven wool tapestry transports you straight into the rarefied world of Renaissance pageantry—an era where nobility,...
Wool
Late 19th Century French Aubusson Tapestry in Rococo Revival Style
Located in Dallas, TX
53775 Late 19th Century Antique French Verdure Tapestry, 05'09 x 07'04. Woven with lyrical precision in the hallowed tapestry ateliers of Aubusson during the late 19th century, this ...
Wool
Mid-20th Century Mughal Style Arabesque Large Room Size Carpet in Marsala
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Indian Lahore large room size rug handmade during the mid-20th century with a Shah Jahan Persian Mughal style arabesque design over a marsala red ...
Wool
Vintage Turkish Silk Hereke Rug, Timeless Allure Meets Islamic Elegance
Located in Dallas, TX
78734 Vintage Turkish Silk Hereke Rug, 02'02 x 03'04. Introducing an exceptional masterpiece of cultural distinction, this one-of-a-kind hand-knotted silk vintage Turkish Hereke rug ...
Silk
1820's Antique French Aubusson Tapestry with Venus and Adonis, 07'00 x 14'06
By Peter Paul Rubens, François Boucher, Francesco Albani
Located in Dallas, TX
77237 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry with Venus and Adonis, 07'00 x 14'06. This magnificent handwoven wool and silk antique French Aubusson tapestry exudes the grandeur and elegance of the Early 19th Century, drawing inspiration from the works of Italian Baroque painter Francesco Albani...
Wool, Silk
The Royale Fleur Suite: Late-19th Century Spanish Savonnerie of Noble Provenance
Located in Dallas, TX
72167 Rare Antique Spanish Savonnerie Square Rug, 12'06 x 13'00. Woven in the twilight of the 19th century for the salons and royal apartments of Europe’s elite, this hand-knotted wo...
Wool
Signed Vintage Turkish Silk Hereke Rug, Flower of the Seven Mountains
By Hereke
Located in Dallas, TX
78733 Vintage Turkish Silk Hereke Rug, 02'02 x 03'04. The Hereke rug, born in the Turkish town of Hereke near Istanbul, epitomizes a legacy of exquisite craftsmanship and tradition. ...
Silk
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
The Royal Vista: Louis XIV Gobelins-Style Tapestry of Château Neuf Saint-Germain
By Charles Le Brun, Gobelins Royal Manufactory
Located in Dallas, TX
73692 New Gobelins Inspired Tapestry, 06'00 x 07'03. Steeped in regal grandeur and Louis XIV style, this handwoven wool Gobelins-inspired tapestry evokes the splendor and exclusivity of the French court at its zenith. Inspired by the iconic series The Months or Royal Residences, originally woven at the legendary Gobelins Workshop for the Sun King himself, this piece channels the vision of Charles Le Brun, the master artist whose designs defined the opulence of the French Baroque. To own such an exceptional tapestry is to partake in a lineage of privilege, artistry, and refinement once reserved for royalty and the aristocratic elite—a woven emblem of status and cultivated taste. The composition centers on the Château Neuf...
Wool
Antique Turkish Ghiordes Silk Prayer Rug, Timeless Allure Meets Tonal Elegance
Located in Dallas, TX
78738 Antique Turkish Ghiordes Silk Prayer Rug, 04'00 x 05'03. Hailing from the northeast of İzmir in western Anatolia (now in Turkey), Ghiordes prayer rugs are characterized by their distinct design elements and historical significance in carpet weaving. Ensuring durability and longevity, they are crafted from high-quality silk and feature an angular prayer niche, known as a mihrab, which indicates the direction of Mecca for Muslim prayers. Surrounding the niche are decorative spandrels, often adorned with geometric patterns or floral motifs. Ghiordes rugs are valued for their craftsmanship, intricate designs, and importance in facilitating the practice of Islamic prayer...
Silk
Bobyrug’s Wonderful Antique French Aubusson Fine Tapestry
By Royal Manufacture of Aubusson
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very beautiful late 19th century French Aubusson tapestry with a nice gallant decor, hunting and beautiful colors, extremely finely hand woven with silk and wool. ✨✨✨ "Experience th...
Wool, Silk
Vintage Turkish Silk Hereke Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful vintage Turkish Hereke rug made from 100% silk, and woven with a beautiful multi-colored tree-of-life pattern in the center surrounded by a wide borer containing multiple...
Silk
Bobyrug’s Nice Vintage Turkish Silk Kayseri Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Pretty Mid Century Turkish Kayseri rug with beautiful mihrab design and nice colors, entirely hand knotted with silk and cotton on cotton foundation. ✨✨✨ "Experience the epitome of ...
Cotton, Silk
Early 20th Century Bokhara Runner
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful early 20th century Pakistani Bokhara runner with an all-over pattern of small medallions amidst field of floral medallions, all woven in cri...
Wool
Gorgeous Mid-20th Century Bokhara Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Pakistani runner with an all-over stylized flower pattern woven in orange and white colored wool, on an intense crimson colors background. The border is wonderf...
Wool
Nice Vintage Turkish Hereke Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Beautiful late 20th century Hereke rug with nice floral and central medallion design and beautiful colors, entirely hand knotted with wool velvet on cotton foundation.
Wool
$910
H 45.67 in W 36.62 in D 0.28 in
Nice French Aubusson Style Jacquard Tapestry « Romance of the Rose »
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
"Exquisite Aubusson-style mid century tapestry featuring a captivating medieval design. A magnificent tapestry depicting the Romance of the Rose, an iconic work of medieval literatur...
Wool, Cotton, Acrylic
Vintage Silk Hereke Rug
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
An Exquisite Early 20th Century Hereke Silk Prayer Rug This extraordinary vintage Hereke silk rug, dating from the early 20th century, is a magnificent example of Turkish weaving art...
Silk
20th Century Silk Hereke Rug - Vintage Turkish Silk Rug, Hereke Silk Rug
Located in Sultanahmet, 34
20th Century Silk Hereke Rug - Vintage Turkish Silk Rug, Hereke Silk Rug This 20th century antique silk Hereke carpet is an eye-catching work of a...
Silk
$4,220Sale Price|20% Off
H 48 in W 60 in D 0.2 in
Antique French Tapestry 4X5 Handmade Tapestry Verdure Tapestry 122cm x 153CM
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent antique French tapestry depicting a hunting scene set within a lush verdure background. It features a beautiful colorway that enhances its artistic detail and timeless...
Wool
Pretty antique French Aubusson style Jacquard Tapestry.
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Elevate your space with a stunning antique Aubusson-style tapestry from the early 20th century. Meticulously woven on a jacquard loom using a blend of luxurious wool and cotton, this...
Wool, Cotton
Wonderful Antique Fine silk French Aubusson Tapestry
By Royal Manufacture of Aubusson
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very beautiful and fine Aubusson tapestry with a nice design in style of Louis XVI, featuring flower, birds and parrots, with beautiful natural colours, with a yellow background , pi...
Silk
The Gilded Heraldry: A Late 19th Century French Masterpiece of European Elegance
Located in Dallas, TX
79418 Antique French Tapestry, 02'05 x 02'06. Woven for interiors that celebrated lineage and cultivated taste, this late 19th century French tapestry commands attention with unapolo...
Metallic Thread
Antique Turkish Silk Hereke Prayer Rug, Louis XVI Style Tapestry, Wall Hanging
Located in Dallas, TX
77154 Antique Turkish Silk Hereke Prayer Rug, Louis XVI Style Tapestry, Wall Hanging. This antique Turkish Hereke silk rug and/or tapestry beautifull...
Silver
Antique French Savonnerie Carpet
Located in New York, NY
An antique French Savonnerie carpet from the early 20th century. Measures: 9' 7" x 15' 11"
Wool