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.
Baccarat Style Cut Crystal Bronze Mounted French Louis XV Style Centerpiece
By Baccarat
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This exquisite Baccarat style cut crystal and bronze mounted French Louis XV style centerpiece is a stunning example of fine decorative artistry and timeless elegance. The bowl is cr...
Crystal, Bronze
Louis XV cartouche and its lamp base, 18th century
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Louis XV cartel clock and its lamp base, 18th century Flower decoration on a blue background, gilded bronze. Gilding is present but worn, crack on the base. The clock works but needs...
Horn
Antique Louis XV Garniture Vases, Earthenware, 18th Century France
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Lot of black earth from Namur, 18th century
Earthenware
Antique Three-Piece Louis XV and Sèvres Style Clock and Ewer Set
Located in London, GB
Antique Three-piece Louis XV and Sèvres style clock and ewer set French, late 19th century Dimensions: Height 36cm, width 34cm, depth 12cm Consisting of a central mantel clock a...
Ormolu
Pair Of Vases, Painted Porcelain With Gilded Bronze Mounts, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of lidded vases in painted porcelain with gilded bronze mounts, 19th century, Napoleon III. Pair of 19th-century, Napoleon III-era lidded vases made of porcelain with gilded br...
Bronze
Pair of French Gilt Bronze Mounted Porcelain Vases
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
Pair of French gilt bronze mounted porcelain vases French, late 19th century Measures: Height 28cm, width 14cm, depth 10cm This wond...
Ormolu, Bronze
$10,335 / set
Pair of Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Ewer Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of patinated bronze and ormolu ewer vases French, late 19th century Measures: Height 54cm, width 23cm, depth 18cm Each vase in this pair, wrough...
Ormolu, Bronze
Pair Of Chased And Gilded Bronze Chenêts After A Model By Jacques Caffieri
By Jacques Caffieri
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Pair Of Chased And Gilded Bronze Chenêts After A Model By Jacques Caffieri, Paris 19th century
Wood
$62,012 / set
Japanese Imari Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Clock Set
Located in London, GB
This clock set contains three pieces: namely, a mantel clock and a pair of flanking candelabra. The mantel clock is designed about a Japanese porcelain vase, known as Imari ware. This white ground vase, painted in reds and blues and ornamented with foliate forms, functions as the clock case, the dial centrally mounted and encompassed by Rococo style gilt bronze motifs. This vase is supported by a gilt bronze base, which is profusely ornamented with gilt bronze acanthus leaves, garlands, and, most distinctly, a pair of putti. The vase is mounted with lion head handles to each side, also of gilt bronze, while the lid of the vase is topped by a gilt bronze finial in the form of a putto. The candelabra are similarly decorated and of similar construction, each one being built about a smaller Imari...
Ormolu, Bronze
Gilt-Bronze and Cloisonné Garniture with Angels Figures, France, 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Gilt-bronze and cloisonné garniture with angels figures, France, 19th century.
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
French Baccarat Crystal Art Deco Style Decorative Vase
By Baccarat
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful and elegant french Baccarat cut crystal art deco style decorative vase. The heavy cut crystal give a very stable stability to the vase and also feature an art deco style wi...
Crystal
$1,850 / set
H 14.5 in W 9 in D 6 in
Pair of 19th Century French Gilt Bronze Mounted Hand-Painted Porcelain Vases by
Located in Dallas, TX
Created during the height of Europe’s fascination with richly mounted decorative porcelain, this exceptional pair combines the celebrated ceramic artistry of Royal Bonn with the refi...
Bronze
19th Century Pair / Gilt Bronze Mounted Imari Porcelain Vases
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Early 19th century pair of gilt bronze mounted imari porcelain decorative vases or urns. Each urn is in good antique condition with minor wear consistent...
Bronze
$3,900 / set
H 19.5 in Dm 11 in
Pair of 19th Century French Blue Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Sèvres Urns Vases
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a mantel or a console with this important pair of porcelain and bronze Sèvres urns. Created in Paris, France, circa 1870, each impressive vase sits on a square bronze base w...
Bronze
$4,120 / set
H 11.82 in W 4.73 in D 3.15 in
18th Century Dutch Delft Earthenware Vases Pieter van den Briel’t Fortuyn
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Two 18th century delft earthenware vases signed VB (Pieter van den Briel 't Fortuyn, 1753-1759) In original condition, no restorations as you can see on the photo's. VB mark : Van ...
Earthenware
$19,500 / set
H 20 in W 15 in D 10 in
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Three Piece Sèvres Style Clock Set
Located in Long Island City, NY
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Three Piece Cobalt Blue Sèvres Style Clock Set Comprising: a round clock with a final with two birds; a pair of five-light candleabra with sc...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Medici Vases, Hand Painted Porcelain, French, 19th Century
Located in Lantau, HK
A pair of elegant vases finely painted with flowers and butterflies in brilliant colors, richly gilded on handles and base. Shipping included Free and fast delivery door to door ...
Porcelain
$19,500 / set
H 25 in W 17 in D 9 in
Nice Late 19th Century Gilt and Patinated Bronze Three Piece Clock Set
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Nice Late 19th Century Gilt and Patinated Bronze Three Piece Clock Set The heavily bronze mounted clock with three putti, bronze designs of flowers, birds and instruments, sitting...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of 19th Century French porcelain vases with ormolu bronze
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Magnificent and rare pair of vases ormolu bronze and porcelain blue cobalt The quality of these vases was made by one of the great bronzie...
Bronze
$4,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 19.5 in W 4.25 in D 4.25 in
19th Century French Sevres Pair of Porcelain Bronze Covered Vases
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Guaynabo, PR
The dark blue background of the porcelain vases stand on a gilded carved octagonal pedestal. The base is decorated with gilt scrolls of acanthus leaves and foliage. The front center ...
Porcelain
Antique French Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
very fine quality Antique French Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Bronze
BACCARAT 10" Hand Cut Crystal Vase
By Baccarat
Located in Victoria, BC
A striking example of Baccarat’s legendary crystal craftsmanship, this elegant vase features deeply cut vertical facets that capture and refract light beautifully from every angle. T...
Crystal
Sold
H 11.82 in W 13.78 in D 29.14 in
Important Pair of Cassolettes in the Louis XV Style, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
" Important Pair of Cassolettes in the Louis XV Style, 19th Century. " Pair of patinated bronze cassolettes, marble base, Louis XV style, Napoleon III period, large decoration, Lion...
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Pair of French and Gilt Bronze Verdi Green Urns
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a stately pair of French verdi green marble urns. The urns are adorned by gilt bronze reptiles and a pair of male masks joined by a decorative swag, situated on a marble base...
Marble, Metal
Pair of Late 19th Century Vases in Marble and Gilt Bronze
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of green marble “vert de mer” baluster-shaped vases. They are richly decorated with gilt bronze Louis XV-style Rocaille, foliage, flowers, and seeds that wind up around the paun...
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Neoclassical Rouge Marble Urns with Gilt Bronze Mounts
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a stunning pair of rouge marble urns fitted with gilt bronze mounts. These large urns are beautifully figured marble, decorated with bronze castings of floral swags and ram’s...
Marble, Metal
Large Pair of Sevres Style Painted and Raised Gilt Porcelain Urns
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A pair of Celeste blue porcelain urns with romantic cartouch panels of putti on the fronts and backs. The panels with had decorated raised gilding. Artist signed Boucher on each. The...
Porcelain
Sold
H 17.5 in W 9.25 in D 9.25 in
Pair of 19th Ct. Louis XV Carved Marble and Bronze Castlettes or Urns
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Pair of French carved marble and bronze castlettes. Fire gilt, great quality. Of the period. One piece (lids non removable), circa 1840s.
19th Century Louis XV Three Piece Clock Set
Located in Hixson, TN
A superb Louis XV three piece bronze ormolu and French porcelain clock set. Signed "Tiffany and Co." Circa 1870-1880. Clock - 14" wide x ...