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.
Original Antique Print After Jean-Baptiste Greuze. 1912
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Beautiful image by Greuze Photogravure On good quality wove paper Published by Hutchinson & Co. , London. 1912 The measurement is the paper size Unframed
Paper
Original Antique Print After Jean-Baptiste Greuze. 1912
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Beautiful image by Greuze Photogravure On good quality wove paper Published by Hutchinson & Co. , London. 1912 The measurement is the paper size Unframed
Paper
Original Antique Print After Jean-Baptiste Greuze. 1912
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Beautiful image by Greuze Photogravure On good quality wove paper Published by Hutchinson & Co. , London. 1912 The measurement is the paper size Unframed
Paper
19th Century French Louis XV Carved Giltwood Canapé de Lit Crest
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a bedroom or wall with this elegant antique French carved giltwood canapé de lit, crafted circa 1870. Originally designed as a bed canopy crest, the long, gently arched form...
Giltwood
$11,960Sale Price|20% Off
French 19th Century Oil on Canvas Portrait of Lady, Style of Jean-Marc Nattier
By Jean-Marc Nattier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 18th-19th century oil on canvas portrait of a posing lady with flowers, in the style after Jean-Marc Nattier (1685-1766) within an ornate gilt wood carved frame, c...
Canvas, Giltwood
August Stephan Sedlacek (Austrian, 1868-1936) Oil on Canvas Violin Presentation
By Stephan Auguste Sedlacek
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Attributed to August Stephan Sedlacek (Austrian/German, 1868-1936) "The Violin Presentation" Oil on Canvas depicting an interior 18th century scene of...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood
French 18th Century Louis XV Period Pewter Lavabo Mounted on Walnut Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XV period pewter lavabo on walnut stand from the 18th century, with hand-carved shell motifs and volutes. Born in France during the reign of "The Beloved", king Louis ...
Pewter
pair of Italian early 18th century Louis XV st. patinated Wood plaques
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and most decorative pair of Italian early 18th century Louis XV st. patinated Wood plaques. Each wonderfully detailed oval wall panel is set within a mottled Wood fram...
Wood, Paint
18th Century Italian Gilt Iron Plaque with Foliate Scrolls on Custom Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
This ornate Italian wall plaque was crafted circa 1780 from hand-worked iron and finished in rich gilt, showcasing intricate openwork scrolls and foliate motifs in high relief. Likel...
Iron
A Fine French 19th Century Oil on Board "A Standing Beauty with Spring Roses"
By Charles Baptiste Schreiber
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century oil on board titled "A Standing Beauty with Spring Roses" by Charles Baptiste Schreiber (French, 1845-1903)...
Wood
Two pierced silver relic holders, 19th century - objects of historical interest
Located in Vicenza, IT
Two oval silver relic holders of nineteenth-century production, made for private devotion and now offered as objects of historical, artistic and collector's interest.The mounts featu...
Marble, Brass, Iron, Wrought Iron
$28,950Sale Price|32% Off
French 18th Century Oil on Canvas Mother and Twin Babies Fecundity after Lemoyne
By François Lemoyne
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 18th century oil on canvas "Fecundity" After Francois Lemoyne (French, 1688-1737) Depicting a young mother holding her twin her infant babies on her arms, within a...
Canvas, Giltwood
Silver hanging reliquary with three relics, Italy, 18th century
Located in Vicenza, IT
Baroque-rocaille style cast and chiseled silver pendant-reliquary with openwork frame and glass front. On the back is a transparent glass with red wax seal crossed by original cords,...
Stone, Silver
$12,649Sale Price|25% Off
19th Century Pair of Three-Light Gilt Bronze French Louis XV Style Appliques
Located in IT
Important pair of gilt bronze three-light wall appliques finely chiseled with rich rocaille decoration of foliage stylized. Style Louis XV, late 19th century. These appliques are sty...
Bronze
Large Painted Canvas, Figures At The Fountain, Late 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Large painted canvas, decorated with a fountain or waterfall where several figures and goats are drinking. Canvas painted in the style of 17th century tapestries, with a floral bo...
Fabric
pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu plaques
By Foundry Valsuani
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A superb and extremely decorative pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu plaques. This stunning pair of 19th century plaques is signed by French poet Charles-Joseph de Lign...
Ormolu
$23,263Sale Price|20% Off
Important 18th Century French Horn and Gilt Bronze Bracket Clock Signed Marchand
Located in Rome, IT
An early Louis XV green stained horn and gilt bronze-mounted bracket clock, the clock second quarter of 18th century, the dial inscribed 'Causard Her du Roy a l...
Bronze
$1,200
Interior Print
Located in New York, NY
A framed print of an elegant traditional bed chamber featuring a formal canopy bed; matted and finished in a gilt wood frame.
Paper
Original Antique Print After Jean-Baptiste Greuze. 1912
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Beautiful image by Greuze Photogravure On good quality wove paper Published by Hutchinson & Co. , London. 1912 The measurement is the paper size Unframed
Paper
Original Antique Print of The Garden After Antoine Watteau. C.1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful image after Watteau Fine Steel engraving. Published by Virtue C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
Original Antique Print, Portrait of Ignatius Loyola, circa 1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of Ignatius Loyola Fine steel engraving by Holl Published C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
Original Antique Print After Jean-Baptiste Greuze. 1912
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Beautiful image by Greuze Photogravure On good quality wove paper Published by Hutchinson & Co. , London. 1912 The measurement is the paper size Unframed
Paper
Original Antique Print After Jean-Baptiste Greuze. 1912
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Beautiful image by Greuze Photogravure On good quality wove paper Published by Hutchinson & Co. , London. 1912 The measurement is the paper size Unframed
Paper
French Louis XV Style Mirror, Pinewood with Gesso Finish, Circa 1840
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A French 19th Century Louis XV style mirror, carved in Pinewood with Gesso finish and gilded, in good condition. The frame has the typical Rocaille décor. The antique mirror has its ...
Mirror, Pine, Giltwood
Original Antique Print of A French Aristocratic Gentleman After Lebrun. C.1900
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Beautiful image by Elisabeth Lebrun Photogravure Published by Connoisseur. C.1900 The measurement is the paper size Unframed
Paper
$9,850Sale Price|33% Off
Franco-German 19th Century Oil on Canvas "Portrait of a Lady" in Giltwood Frame
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine Franco-German 19th century oil on canvas "Portrait of a Lady" depicting an 18th century young beauty posing with a profile gaze and cur...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood
French Louis XV Gold Gilt Bronze Ribbon Drape Large Wall Plaque Sconces - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Louis XV Style Gold Gilt Bronze Ribbon & Drape Ormolu Large Wall Plaque Sconces - a Pair. Item features stunning gold gilt bronze ormolu, mounted on custom distress pa...
Bronze
3-Piece French Louis XV Bronze Dore Mirror and Brush Set
Located in Queens, NY
3-Piece French Louis XV style (19th cent) bronze dore vanity set composed of 2 brushes and 1 hand mirror with handles (priced as set).
Bronze
19th C. French Louis XV Hand-Painted Majolica Charger with Fête Champêtre Scene
Located in Dallas, TX
Dress a dining room, breakfast nook, or kitchen wall with this vibrant antique French Majolica charger crafted in France circa 1860 and decorated in the Louis XV taste. Circular in f...
Faience
$1,200
Interior Print
Located in New York, NY
A print featuring a charming dining room decorated in the Louis XV style, matted and finished in a gilt wood frame.
Paper