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.
Mid 20th Century French Empire Style Mahogany and Glass Top Insert Side Table
Located in Germantown, MD
A Mid 20th Century French Empire Style Mahogany and Glass Top Insert Side Table / Candle Stand. Dimensions: 21.5" in width, 15" in depth, 21" height.
Glass, Mahogany
Marble top Gueridon /side table, after Weisweiler.
By Adam Weisweiler
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th century French inset Rouge marble Gueridon / side table. Having gilded ormolu mounts, cluster column quiver like legs tapering legs with leaf decoration...
Breccia Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Empire Style Mahogany Pedestal Side Table W/ Marble Top
Located in Astoria, NY
An exquisite late 19th-century French Empire-style guéridon side table, sourced directly from Provence and meticulously restored. Handcrafted from solid mahogany, the table features ...
Marble
19th Century Mahogany Wood Pedestal Table
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Early 19th century mahogany wood Regency style pedestal stand / table. The pedestal features hand carved design details resting on a squared based. The pedestal table is in good anti...
Mahogany
Vintage French Guéridon Table after Adam Weisweiler
By Adam Weisweiler
Located in Forney, TX
A very fine quality French gueridon, exceptionally executed in the manner of the original design by Adam Weisweiler (1744-1820). Finished in sophis...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$2,450
H 27.25 in W 20 in D 19.5 in
Tilt-Top Tripod Pedestal Table/ Candlestand in Mahogany, North Shore, MA
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
In the style of Thomas Chippendale, a lovely American 18th century tilt-top table in mahogany that, historically, doubled as a candlestand. The square top is cut in curves at the cor...
Mahogany
19th Century Victorian Mahogany Tripod Pedestal Candle Stand
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Add a touch of Victorian elegance to your home with this exquisite 19th Century Mahogany Tripod Pedestal Candle Stand. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and built to last, ...
Mahogany
$560Sale Price|30% Off
H 27.5 in Dm 27 in
Mersman Mid Century Mahogany Scalloped Fluted Pie Crust Pedestal Stand Table
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid Century Mersman matchbook mahogany pie crust pedestal table featuring a serpentine gallery top supported by fluted columns and flared Duncan Phyfe style legs with brass caps. Di...
Mahogany
$1,560Sale Price|67% Off
H 30 in W 13 in D 13 in
18th Century Antique English Chippendale Mahogany Urn Candle Stand Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This 18th Century Antique English Chippendale Mahogany Urn Candle Stand Table is a superb example of Georgian-era craftsmanship and refined design. Made from richly grained mahogany,...
Mahogany
Victorian Marble Top Side Table
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a charming tripod side table with a rectangular marble top. The upper wood base depicts a carving frieze with oval medals adorned in the center by " fleurs de lis ". The uppe...
Wood
Late 20th Century Mahogany Pdestal Tripod Marble Top Candle Stand
Located in Germantown, MD
A mahogany pedestal Tripod stand with round marble top. Measure 12" in diameter and stands 23.5" tall.
Marble
1940s Mahogany Oval Tilt-Top Tripod Candle Stand Side Table
Located in Germantown, MD
1940s Mahogany Oval Tilt-Top Tripod Candle Stand or Side Table. Measures 21.75" in width, 15" in depth and stands 22" tall flat and 33" tall tilted.
Abalone, Mahogany
18th to 19th Century American Curly Maple Tilt Top Candlestick Table
Located in San Francisco, CA
18th to 19th Century American curly maple tilt top candlestick table Handsome early American candlestick table Measures: 20" wide x 15" deep x 28" hig...
Maple
$1,092Sale Price|30% Off
H 26 in Dm 21 in
Antique 18th Century Queen Anne Mahogany Candle Stand Pedestal Table Tripod Base
Located in Dayton, OH
A fine and impressive late 18th century candlestand. Made from mahogany with an oval form top over a baluster turned center support leading to a tripod base with cabriole and blocked...
Mahogany
Louis XV Candelabra in Gilded Bronze
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Beautiful Louis XV style candelabra with three arms of light in gilded bronze with floral decorations. Napoleon 3 period 19th century.
Bronze
Sold
H 21.66 in W 22.45 in D 13.78 in
Pair of French Style White Bedside Tables in Wood and Orange Gilt Glass, 1940s
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant pair of French style bedside tables of the 1950s. The bedside tables are in white lacquered wood with gold painted wood inserts in the var...
Opaline Glass, Wood
Pair of Petite Louis XV Transitional-Style Side Tables
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of petite Louis XV Transitional-style side tables of fruitwood with delicately shaped legs and apron with intricate inlaid design on tops and sides. Small single drawer front ...
Fruitwood
Sold
H 28 in W 21.5 in D 15 in
Charming French Provincial Painted and Bronze-Mounted Kidney Shape Accent Table
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This charming late 19th century table features a kidney shaped and bronze edged marble top above a scalloped bronze-mounted frieze raised on for round slender cabriole legs joined by...
Marble, Bronze
Painted French Louis XV Occasional Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Table, having a round molded top with serpentine edge in faux mabre, on foliate-carved, scalloped apron, raised on delicate cabriole legs, each with festooned knees and feet. Sto...
Sold
H 27.56 in W 12.21 in D 10.63 in
Louis XV Style Marquetry Side Table in the Manner of A. Gosselin, 1731–1794
By Antoine-Louis Gosselin
Located in Berlin, DE
A 19th century Louis XV style side table or 'Table en Chiffonie`re' in the manner of Antoine-Louis Gosselin (1731 – 1794, maitre 1752). A marquetry side table, the serpentine top e...
Exquisite 19th Century Louis XV Satinwood Marquetry Table
Located in Essex, MA
Louis XV Inlaid and Ormolu Mounted Satinwood Table --original marble top --original ormolu
Satinwood
19th Century Giltwood Plant Stand
Located in Hixson, TN
19th Century Giltwood Plant Stand. This plant stand is in the Louis XV style and wonderful carvings.
18th c. Provenzal Candle Stand
Located in Madrid, ES
Small Provencal table Louis XV period, in oak. France, 18th c.
Oak