The style of 18th-century French furniture was guided by the court. When Louis XV, who reigned from 1715–74, focused royal life on the smaller salons of Versailles rather than its grand chambers, it transformed the aesthetics away from the imposing and angular furniture that characterized the style of Louis XIV. A broader focus on comfort and more delicate forms define antique Louis XV furniture, with nature-inspired carvings, wood inlays, curved cabriole legs, asymmetrical shapes and rounded oval seat backs. The furnishings changed throughout the king’s life, as he ascended to the throne as a child and then grew to establish his own tastes.
Pieces like the bergère, an upholstered armchair with a wide cushion that fit the flowing dresses in fashion at the time, reflected this more informal court. Introduced at the start of Louis XV’s reign, bergère chairs in this style were deeper and broader than other chairs of the period.
Louis XV tapestries and carpets tended to be floral and colorful, and design elements were borrowed from Asia. Dutch-born cabinetmaker Bernard van Risenburgh brought lacquer techniques influenced by Japan and China into his luxuriously made furniture. Along with its fine details, the furniture of the era also featured new innovations including mechanical devices. Jean François Oeben, a royal cabinetmaker, created such intricate pieces as a mechanical table for Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s mistress. It involved a sliding top and a writing surface that extended from its marquetry panels.
During the later years of Louis XV’s reign, there was a shift from the ostentatious rocaille style, part of the exuberantly decorative Rococo movement in Europe for which designers such as Nicolas Pineau and Juste-Aurèle Meissonier are known. The style under Louis XVI would return to boxier forms, but with a neoclassical touch inspired by the ancient world.
Find antique Louis XV bedroom furniture, seating, tables and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
19th Century French Kingwood and Ormolu Revolving Bookcase
Located in London, GB
A French revolving library bookcase Constructed in kingwood, amaranth and goncalo alves, and dressed with high quality gilt bronze work; rising from quadripartite swept and hipped...
Bronze
High Quality French Chest of Drawers in antique Louis Quinze Style Marble Top
Located in Berlin, DE
Parquet from kingwood on solid softwood. With two forward-looking, imposing Espagnolettes in the style of Charles Cressent. In the front two drawers, in the front and on the side wal...
Wood
$1,697Sale Price|34% Off
19th Century French Hand Carved Four Shelves Open Bookcase in Louis XV Style
Located in Sofia, BG
French walnut hand carved four shelves open bookcase in Louis XV style. Massive and stable in very good condition. France, circa 1890.
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Transition Tall Boy or Shelf
Located in Berlin, DE
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Transition Tall Boy or Shelf Rectangular slight bow front Tall Boy or shelf standing on four small cabriole feet. The lower part opening with two...
Marble, Bronze
Castle Quality French Commode / shelve in antique Louis XV Style Bronze
Located in Berlin, DE
Exotic veneer and shaded precious woods, veneered. In the front two drawers, in the front and on the side walls wide framed fillings with richly inlaid flower bundles of different pr...
Wood
$1,830
H 33.47 in W 18.12 in D 18.12 in
Vintage Sheraton Revival Hardwood & Satinwood Revolving Bookcase Side End Table
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning vintage Sheraton Revival Mahogany & Satinwood revolving bookcase table A very good looking well ma...
Satinwood, Hardwood
Late 18th or Early 19th Century French Enfilade
Located in High Point, NC
Late 18th/Early 19th century oak enfilade from France. The top is made from three boards, and have a beveled edge surrounding the top and a plate rail across the back. Hand runs na...
Brass
$5,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 44 in W 39.5 in D 17 in
Antique French Louis XV Style Marble Top Commode Cabinet
Located in North York, ON
Exquisite antique king wood with bronze mounts in Louis XV style. This Commode is in excellent original condition. Featuring beautiful brass or...
Marble, Brass
Pair of French Mahogany and Bronze Open Bookcases
By Adam Weisweiler
Located in London, GB
A pair of Petit Bibliotheques in the manner of Adam Weisweiler constructed using a finely patinated mahogany, brass and bronze; rising from bronze shod turned and tapering circular ...
Brass, Bronze
Antique French Louis XV Style Bombe Chest of Drawers
By Charles Cressent
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning French Louis XV bombe marble-top chest of drawers commode from the 19th century, styled in the manner of Charles Cressent (France, 1685–1768), finished in luxurious Rocco ...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique English Victorian Oak Revolving Bookcase 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an elegant antique oak revolving bookcase, circa 1890 in date. It is made of solid oak with slats to each side with fixed shelves on a plinth base and revolves on a solid ca...
Iron
$5,086
H 28.35 in W 28.35 in D 28.55 in
Victorian Antique Howard & Son's Revolving Library Bookcase Side End Wine Table
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this really very nice and highly collectable Howard & Son’s Berner street Library revolving bookcase table I have never seen one of these made ...
Walnut
Vintage Oak Bookcase Folding Desk Shelves French Midcentury
Located in Labrit, Landes
Bookcase folding desk vintage shelves, mid-20th century Massive oak Depth of the shelves: 8.46 in. (21,5 cm) Dimension of the foldable desk: D 19.29 x L 24.41 x H 25.98 in. (D: 49 L:...
Oak
$1,840Sale Price|20% Off
H 34.25 in W 40 in D 10.5 in
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Style Kingwood Bronze Mounted Open Bookcase
Located in Middleburg, VA
Mid-20th century French Louis XV style Kingwood bronze mounted open front bookcase. Beautiful inlay work on the sides. France, circa 1940. Measures: 34.25" H, 40" W, 10.5" D.
Bronze
19th Century British Colonial Shelf
Located in High Point, NC
19th century British Colonial shelf made from teak. There are tall hand turned finials on the top over three shelves, all with scalloped galleries...
Teak
English 19th Century Mahogany Revolving Bookcase
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A very practical and fun design, this square revolving bookcase would have been made in England circa 1870 using mahogany decorated with an inlaid satinwood medallion on top and fine...
Mahogany, Satinwood
Petite Louis XV Style Commode
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This exquisite petite Louis XV style commode captures the elegance and charm of French Rococo design in a smaller, versatile size. Featuring a graceful serpentine bombe silhouette, t...
Wood
Antique French Louis XV Style Etagere
Located in London, GB
A beautiful and very useful antique French Louis XV style etagere, dating from around the 1890-1910 period. It is of extremely fine quality, with beautiful inlaid patterns. There ar...
Brass
Sold
H 52.75 in W 43.5 in D 18 in
Antique French Louis XV Style Vitrine with Ormolu Mounts, circa 1900
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Louis XV vitrine offers pierced rail gallery over curved glass case with painted wood frame having double doors opening to sh...
Ormolu
Pair of French Wall Consoles, c1950s Paris
Located in Trensacq, FR
Pair of French wall consoles, c1950s Paris A gorgeous pair of French wall consoles from mid-century Paris. Two gilt wood table shelves, beautifully decorated with hand-painted ...
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Sold
H 58.75 in W 46 in D 14.25 in
Antique French Louis XV Kingwood, Marble & Ormolu Bookcase by E. Poteau, c1870
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Louis XV by Edouard Poteau (Paris, France - late 19th century) bookcase offers marble top surmounting kingwood bookmatched case having double doors with shaped glas...
Marble, Ormolu, Metal
19th Century French Louis XV Étagère Console
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Louis XV étagère console is an unusual find, perfect for entryways, hallways, landings, or anywhere a shallow piece with three sur...
Walnut
Sold
H 47.25 in W 35.5 in D 10.25 in
Small Scale Early 20th Century French Louis XV Elm Bookshelf, Adjustable Shelves
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This small scale French Louis XV style bookshelf from the early 20th century is constructed of hand pegged elm with paneled sides. It features...
Pine, Elm
Sold
H 79 in W 54 in D 18 in
19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Parquetry Vernis Martin Vitrine
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This magnificent French Louis XV style vernis martin vitrine or display cabinet features a kingwood and satinwood parquetry body adorned by richly detailed ormolu or gilt bronze moun...
Bronze
18th Century French Vaisselier or Sideboard with Clock
Located in Winter Park, FL
An 18th century Country French vaisselier from Burgundy comprised of a large buffet and a china hutch with clock. Made of solid cherry and walnut and highly decorated with hand-carve...
Enamel, Brass, Iron, Wrought Iron
19th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut Étagère Shelf
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Hand-carved fruitwood "Estanier" was crafted in Southern France, circa 1880. An estanier was originally used as a hanging shelf to display a "etains" collection (pewter decorative pi...
Walnut
18th Century Brittany Vaisselier or Hutch
Located in Winter Park, FL
A late 18th century Country French vaisselier, or hutch, from Brittany made of walnut and oak with beautiful hand carved floral decoration. The plate rack has two small drawers and t...
Oak, Walnut
Pair of Louis XV Style Corner Cabinets
Located in Winter Park, FL
A pair of Country French Louis XV style corner shelves made of walnut with hand-carved decoration and scroll toes. A versatile pair of side table...
Walnut
Sold
H 60 in W 27 in D 14 in
Small French Louis XV Style Curio Vitrine Display Case Curved Glass and Inlaid
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Louis XV style demilune Curio cabinet. Item features a carved mahogany case with satinwood floral inlays, three curved glass panels, mirror glass interior backing, two...
Glass, Satinwood, Walnut