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.
French Provençal Estagnier, 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
A French Provençal estagnier in bleached walnut, 19th century. Good for use as a hanging, table top, or standing shelf. 29 ½ inches wide by 14 ½ inches deep by 47 ½ inches tall; ...
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut Wall Vitrine with Glass Door
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique vitrine was crafted in northern France, circa 1920. The wall cabinet with scalloped apron is decorated with carved floral and foliage motifs on the facade. The curio cabinet features a carved single door with the original glass panels over a bonnet top dressed with a carved crown; the cabinet is further embellished with two glass side panels. The inside is fitted with two curved shelves for ultimate display. The narrow wall cabinet...
Glass, Walnut
$1,650 / set
Pair of Louis XV Style Painted Wall Shelves
Located in Houston, TX
A 20th century carved wall shelves, each with one-drawer and lovely hand painted floral detail.
Wood
18th Century Wall Console in Wood
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant carved wall console in wood with acanthus leaf decoration from the 18th century Very beautiful patina and in very good condition Note: the upper part has been redone with a...
Giltwood
19th Century Louis XV Oak Wall Shelf with Cupid Heads, Stripped Finish
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XV style (19th Cent) stripped oak half round wall shelf with 2 cupid heads with wings.
Oak
$4,250 / set
Pair of French Louis XVI Ram Head Shelves
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Louis XVI style (19/20th Cent) carved walnut and gilt trimmed ram head wall shelves.
$15,200Sale Price|20% Off
Hand Carved Wood Walnut Panettiere Cupboard Wall mount Cabinet Rustic Bread Box
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Hand Carved Wood Walnut Panettiere Cupboard Wall mount Cabinet Rustic Bread Box . High End Chateau 18th century exquisite Louis XV Panettiere Originally used to store French baguette...
Metal
Louis XV Style Giltwood and Chinoiserie Porcelain Wall Bracket
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The shaped top on a C-scroll and acanthus support inset with a porcelain plaque with a Chinoiserie decor. From the collection of celebrated interior designer Mario Buatta whose taste for Chinoiserie is well documented. Blue chip socialites, business tycoons such as the Newhouses and the Forbes, as well as pop stars (Mariah Carey...
Giltwood
19th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut Panetiere with Cherub Hooks
Located in Dallas, TX
This exquisite antique panetiere, or breadbox, was crafted in Normandy, France circa 1860. Designed to hang on the wall above a buffet, the Louis XV–style piece is richly carved in s...
Bronze
French Louis XV Gilt Carved Wood Wall Shelf with Porcelain Stands
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French Louis XV Gilt Carved Wood Wall Self with 14 Porcelain Stands . Moveable closing glass door at the bottom. Interior wood supports for future wood shelves or glass shelves to yo...
Wood
French Desvres Faience Lavabo
Located in Winter Park, FL
A French Desvres faience Louis XV style lavabo with traditional colorful hand painted decoration. The lidded urn and large deep basin rest on a whitewashed chestnut wall mounted corner shelf...
Chestnut, Faience
A Pair of Louis XV Style Gilt Wood Wall Shelves
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An unusual pair of Italian made gilt wood wall shelves. The Louis XV style with a lattice work center with Demilune top and scrolling details. 11 inches wide, 10.5 inches tall, 6 in...
Giltwood
$3,150Sale Price|30% Off
Jardiniere, wall mounted louis XV carved with pewter accents
Located in Houston, TX
This charming piece is hand carved with a floral motif and has a shelf to hold a Jardiniere. The jardiniere is crafted out of pewter and inscribed by the French Maker. It has a scrol...
Pewter
$1,391
H 20.08 in W 15.75 in D 8.47 in
Antique 19th Century Neoclassical Wall Cabinet / Small Cabinet Carved Oak
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Lovely antique 19th century Neoclassical wall cabinet / small cabinet Germany 1880. This German Grunderzeit cabinet is made from hand carved oak & is richly decorated. A true display of craftsmanship & quality. This cabinet has 2 doors and comes with a working lock & key. Its interior has 2 oak shelves. The cabinet has a very nice old restoration to the right side dating from the 1940s. A piece of furniture history with the right antique charm...
Brass
Carved shelf in gilded wood - Florence, mid-19th century
Located in Vicenza, IT
Fine Florentine shelf dating from the mid-19th century, entirely hand-carved in solid wood and finely gilded with gold leaf. The work features very rich sculptural work, with phytomo...
Gold Leaf
$1,520
H 22.45 in W 13 in D 6.3 in
Antique French Renaissance Revival Richly Carved Wall Cabinet 19th Century Brass
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Luxurious & romantic French Renaissance revival Wall cabinet / small cabinet , richly carved & decorated with brass. Very nice craftsmanship with impressive carvings. When opened...
Brass
Paul McCobb Wall-Mounted Floating Console
By Paul McCobb
Located in Culver City, CA
Introducing an extraordinary mid-century wall-mounted floating three-tier console, a sought-after piece designed by the esteemed Paul McCobb for Bryce Originals in the 1950s. With it...
Steel, Cut Steel
Biomorphic Wall Console by Jacques Jarrige
Located in New York, NY
This biomorphic wall-mounted console from Jacques Jarrige’s Carnac series distills the artist’s sculptural vocabulary into a compact, functional form. Hand-carved from layered MDF, i...
Wood
A Pair of Carved Gilt Wood Wall Shelves
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A pair of giltwood wheat motif wall shelves, Italy, mid 20th Century, the good size measuring 15 inches high, 12.5 inches wide, and 6 iches deep.
Giltwood
Italian Mid-Century Pair of Wooden Shelves, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century pair of wooden shelves, 1980s. Pair of black painted wooden shelves with steel finishes in different sizes. 1980s. Go...
Steel
$1,699Sale Price|44% Off
H 11.82 in W 11.03 in D 9.85 in
18th Century French Gilt Wood Sculptured Wall-Consoles
Located in Sofia, BG
18th century wall suspended consoles from France. Beautifully constructed in gilt wood and ornamented with a Rococo influence. The quality of th...
Giltwood
$8,250
H 16 in W 49 in D 10 in
Plump Floating Wall Console in Mantis Green, Translucent Resin, by Ian Cochran
By Ian Cochran
Located in New York, NY
Plump Resin Floating Wall Console, Ian Cochran This resin console by Ian Cochran is mounted into the wall to give the piece an overall floating effect. A continuation of the Plump s...
Resin
$2,300
H 37.5 in W 33.5 in D 11 in
Antique English Plate Rack Wall Shelf Hanging Wall Decor Carved Oak 19th C
Located in Tyler, TX
CHARMING Antique English Oak Hanging Wall Shelf Plate Rack~~19th Century The perfect decorative accent piece for displaying your favorite Imari, Majolica, Staffordshire or other an...
Oak
Large Vintage Carved Walnut French Wall Shelf
Located in Germantown, MD
Large 47 inches Vintage, hand carved walnut French wall shelf. Numbered item made in France exclusively for Bloomingdale in the 1960s. Very good ...
Walnut
Pair 19th Century Japanese Wall Shelves
Located in Houston, TX
Late 19th Century Japanese carved wood wall shelves with inlay and painted foliage motifs.
Wood
Sold
H 56.5 in W 27.5 in D 11 in
19th C. French Louis XV Fruitwood Estanier with Carved Urn & Velvet Shelves
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautifully carved étagère murale or “Estanier” was crafted in southern France circa 1880. Traditionally designed to display pewter (étains), this graceful wall cabinet embodies...
Velvet, Walnut
Sold
H 53 in W 25 in D 11 in
Mid-Century French Louis XV Walnut Estanier with Carved Basket and Urn Motifs
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in Provence, France circa 1950, this mid-century "Etagère" or "Estanier" is inspired by the Louis XV style and made of richly grained walnut. Traditionally used to display "E...
Walnut
French Provençal Shelf or Plate Rack
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 20th century Louis XV style French estagnier from Provence. This lovely wall mounted shelf was used to display pewter or ceramics. Made of solid walnut with beautiful hand c...
Walnut
Sold
H 26.5 in W 19.5 in D 11 in
18th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut and Glass Wall Vitrine Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant and petite antique vitrine was crafted in France, circa 1780. The hanging cabinet features front curved legs over a scalloped apron, and both sides are embellished with ...
Glass, Walnut
19th Century French Louis XV Carved Oak Wall Hanging Shelf from Normandy
Located in Dallas, TX
Hang this elegant, antique shelf in a kitchen or breakfast room to display pots and decorative plates. Crafted in Normandy, France circa 1860, the Louis XV wall hanging piece feature...
Oak
Sold
H 26.5 in W 19.5 in D 11 in
18th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut and Glass Wall Vitrine Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant and petite antique vitrine was crafted in France, circa 1780. The hanging cabinet features front curved legs over a scalloped apron, and both sides are embellished with ...
Glass, Walnut
Sold
H 32.5 in W 19 in D 7 in
19th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut Two-Door Wall Vitrine Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant and heavily carved antique vitrine was crafted in France, circa 1880. The hanging cabinet with pierced shell cartouche at the pediment, stands on acanthus leaf form legs...
Walnut
Sold
H 24.5 in W 17 in D 13 in
18th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut Wall Vitrine Cabinet with Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant and petite antique vitrine was crafted in France, circa 1780. The hanging cabinet features a bonnet top decorated with hand carved inlaid floral and leaf motifs. The wall cabinet is dressed with the original front glass door and side panels. The Louis XV cabinet is in excellent condition commensurate with age and use, and adorns a rich walnut patina. A perfect small display cabinet...
Glass, Walnut
Sold
H 8.25 in W 39 in L 8.25 in
20th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut Wall Shelf Estanier from Provence
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautifully carved vintage bombe "Estanier" (Provençal name for this kind of hanging shelf), was crafted in Southern France, circa 1980. Standing on small escargot feet decorated with acanthus leaves over a pierced scalloped apron with hand carved shell and floral motifs, the fruit wood cabinet is dressed with two carved and scalloped shelves. The curved top is flanked with foliage embellishments on both sides, a pierced shell motif in the center, and is dressed with five decorative turned finials at the pediment, which can be conveniently removed for protection during shipping. The hanging display...
Walnut
Custom LXV shelf in ebonized cherry
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Custom variation of LXV shelf
Cherry
18th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut Wall Cabinet from Provence
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique vitrine was crafted in southern France, circa 1780. The petite hanging cabinet stands on escargot feet over a pierced scalloped apron decorated with a hand carve...
Silk, Glass, Walnut
Sold
H 56.5 in W 27.5 in D 11 in
19th C. French Louis XV Fruitwood Estanier with Carved Urn & Velvet Shelves
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautifully carved étagère murale or “Estanier” was crafted in southern France circa 1880. Traditionally designed to display pewter (étains), this graceful wall cabinet embodies...
Velvet, Walnut