Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.
The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.
When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.
The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.
Antique Swedish Rococo Rustic Charming Pine Drop-Leaf Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Rococo drop-leaf table from Sweden, crafted around 1770. The table has one leaf, originally the table most likely had two but one has disappeared during the passage of time. ...
Pine
18th Century Swedish Rococo Folding Table with Tripod Base, Antique
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo folding table. With decorative tripod base. Scraped back to secondary paint.
Wood
18th Century Swedish Rococo Drop-Leaf Table with Salmon Pink Paint
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
A period Swedish Rococo table with two drawers and one short drop leaf. In completely untouched original Salmon pink paint.
Wood
Swedish Drop Leaf Gate Leg Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic Swedish style gate leg table with one drop leaf. The top can be separated from the base by pulling out a peg on each end. Table is 28.5" tall, 40" long and 36" wide when open...
Pine
$1,000
H 26.5 in W 21 in D 38 in
Antique Early American Pine Drop Leaf Farmhouse Dining Breakfast Table Console
Located in Dayton, OH
A quaint early 20th century farmhouse drop leaf breakfast table or console. A rectangular form made from pine with cut corners along the lea...
Pine
18th Century Portuguese Chestnut Drop Leaf Dining Console Table
Located in Round Top, TX
18th century Portuguese chestnut drop leaf dining table which may also serve as a console. This form includes a single drawer on each end, turned legs, 2 gate legs, and a trestle bas...
Chestnut
Swedish Karl Johan (Biedermeier), Drop-Leaf Center Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
Karl Johan drop-leaf center table of red mahogany gracefully shaped pedestal base. Dimensions: 52.5" Wide when the leaves are up and 32" Wide when they are down 28.25" Deep 28.75" High
Mahogany
19th Century Swedish Pine Drop-Leaf Gate Leg Table
Located in Round Top, TX
19th-century Swedish pine drop-leaf gate leg table with a versatile, functional design. The gate leg base allows the legs to adjust as the leaves are raised or lowered. A single draw...
Pine
$5,600
H 29.5 in W 70.25 in D 51.25 in
Early 19th Century Swedish Painted Pine Drop-Leaf Table Gate Leg Console
Located in Round Top, TX
Early 19th-century Swedish pine drop-leaf table with gate-leg construction and a narrow, highly versatile form. The table features a newer professionally applied layered soft green p...
Pine, Paint
Antique Cherry Shaped Drop Leaf Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine antique cherry dining table with a nice grain and shaped hinged leaves. The plain apron is raised on turned tapering legs on peg feet. ...
Cherry
$4,079
H 28.5 in W 19.5 in D 27.5 in
Antique Georgian Pembroke Table, Mahogany, Late 18th Century, England
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A late 18th century mahogany pembroke table having well figured top with oval drop flaps and one frieze drawer raised on elegant square tapering legs. H - 28.5in. W - 19.5in (f...
Mahogany
18th Century English Oak Gateleg / Drop-Leaf Table
Located in Southampton, NY
This is a 18-century English Oak Gate leg table. Crafted from solid oak, oval top is formed by two drop leaves supported by swinging gate legs. The turned legs and simple stretcher...
Oak
18th Century American Walnut Federal Drop-Leaf Table
Located in Charleston, SC
A Federal walnut drop leaf dining table with bold wood grain, tapered square legs terminating with brass and porcelain casters, and dovetailed construction. Very good overall conditi...
Brass
Antique Swedish Gustavian Drop Leaf Table, Pinewood, Circa 1830
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A late 19th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian drop leaf table made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The small kitchen table is standing one four tapered, blue-gr...
Pine
English 18th Century Gateleg Table
Located in Delft, NL
English 18th century gateleg table. An Oak drop-leaf gateleg table with folding sides, resting on turned column legs. On 1 side there i...
Oak
18th Century Swedish Baroque Drop Leaf Table
Located in Charleston, SC
18th century Swedish Baroque drop leaf table with leg support on each side- extending table to 59" wide. One leaf dropped to 39" wide and both leaves dropped only to 21" wide. Very...
Iron
Swedish Drop-Leaf Table, 18th Century
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautiful oversized 18th century rustic Swedish Rococo farmhouse table. Original paint with aged ochre patina. Two drop-leafs with single drawer offers many possibilities for uses. ...
Wood
18th Century Swedish Rococo Drop-Leaf Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Unusual drop-leaf table in Rococo from Sweden. The table is made circa 1770 and has double leafs and fold out legs. Dry scraped by hand down to the original first layer of paint. The...
Pine
Antique Swedish Rococo Drop-Leaf Table
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
This antique Swedish Rococo drop-leaf table still features traces of its original paint, and has a wonderful age-worn patina. Both sides can be ...
Wood
Swedish 18th Century Rococo Drop-Leaf Table, circa 1760
Located in New York, NY
Swedish Rococo drop-leaf table with elegant cabriole legs, circa 1760, Origin: Sweden, all original 18th century paint This 18th century Swedish, Rococo drop-leaf table is multifunc...
Pine, Paint
Fine George III Mahogany Pembroke or Supper Table
By Matthias Lock
Located in London, by appointment only
The rectangular twin-flap top above a mahogany-lined frieze drawer, the reverse with a simulated drawer, on carved cabriole legs headed by foliate carving, with a concave-sided shall...