Reflecting the final era of royal opulence before the upheaval of the French Revolution, antique Louis XVI furniture features more angular shapes than the Rococo curves of the Louis XV style, harkening back to the imposing grandeur of Louis XIV.
Dating between 1750 and 1800, an era that overlapped with the last king of France whose reign was cut short by the guillotine, Louis XVI furniture, known as the goût grec, is emblematic of the neoclassical revision that French furniture underwent during the second half of the 18th century.
Authentic Louis XVI furniture characteristics include clean lines and carved details such as scrolls and acanthus flourishes that were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. This was informed by a burgeoning interest in antiquity in the 18th century, owing to new archaeological excavations at sites including Pompeii and Herculaneum. It largely eclipsed the more East Asian–influenced ornamentation of Louis XV for something more geometric and symmetrical.
The Louis XVI style was defined by what was being created for the palatial rooms at Versailles and Fontainebleau, particularly for the queen, with cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener being a favorite of Marie-Antoinette’s for his luxurious pieces accented with gilded bronze and marquetry. Furniture maker Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené was also a major designer of the period, with his pieces for the royal residences adorned with giltwood and neoclassical touches like tapered columns for chair legs and laurel leaf carvings. Cabinetmaker Adam Weisweiler occasionally incorporated into his furniture porcelain panels produced by Sèvres, a popular manufacturer of European ceramics that served the crown with serveware, vases and other decorative objects.
Find a collection of antique Louis XVI seating, tables, cabinets and other furniture on 1stDibs.
French Faux Painted Foliage Console. Circa 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
French faux painted console with two flanking hinged doors, exterior painted floral vases resting on columns with ribbon & butterfly motif, single interior shelf, and terminating on ...
Paint, Wood
French Painted & Carved Floral Dressing Table, Circa 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
French hand painted flip top dressing table with floral paintings , ebonized string inlay, foliage border with swags, connecting cross stretchers , and terminating on tampered splay...
Paint, Wood
French Faux Painted & Gilt Console Cabinet. Circa 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
French faux painted and gilt marbleized console with two hinged flanking doors, fleur-de-lee & figural faces, single fitted interior shelf, and ter...
Paint, Wood
Small hand--painted cabinet, dated 1736
Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
Small cabinet with 1 door. Hand painted with decorative floral motives. Dated: 1738. Inside has 2 shelves, a small drawer is missing.
Pine, Paint
$1,950
H 36.5 in W 14.5 in D 14.5 in
Moroccan Pedestal Table in Moorish Hand Painted Design Octagonal Shape 1960s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage 1960s Moroccan pedestal table. hand painted Moroccan side table on a dark maroon background color with floral and geometric designs in blue and ochre colors. Moroccan octagon...
Wood
Mid 18th Century Floral Painted Blanket Chest
Located in Vo', Veneto
Tyrolean painted chest H. 81 – W. 147 – P. 69 Ancient Tyrolean chest, entirely built in fir wood. The surface has been decorated with a dark brown background color, semi-covering, ...
Fir
Late 19th Century Quebec Paint Decorated Plant Stand, circa 1890
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Quebec paint decorated plant stand or bucket bench, circa 1890, pine slat construction with three shelves, fluted backsplash and apron, and deli...
Pine
19th Century Original Blue Painted Small Oval Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century blue painted small oval table with original decoration of a New England scene in the center of the tabletop. This table has fantastic gilded stencil around the edge of t...
Pine
Swiss alp painted box
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Swiss alp painted box
Wood
1808 Blue Floral Painted Two Doors Cabinet
Located in Vo', Veneto
Painted Wardrobe dated 1808 Measurements: H. 173 cm – W. 128 (140 to the frames) cm – D. 50 (55 to the frames) cm Period: 1808 Origin: Tyrol Wood: Fir Description Beautiful painte...
Fir
$1,875
H 25.5 in W 25.5 in D 12.25 in
Antique French Table Top Painted Pie or Cheese Safe Cabinet in Pine Pantry
Located in Atlanta, GA
This French Antique pie safe (also called a cheese safe or food cupboard) is a charming example of early rural farmhouse furniture, blending practica...
Brass, Steel Mesh
$5,616 / set
H 31.5 in W 42.5 in D 22.25 in
Pair of Italian Parcel Paint and Gilt Decorated Faux Marble-Top Console Tables
Located in Stamford, CT
A pair of Italian parcel wonderfully paint and gilt decorated demilune faux marble-top console or sofa tables, late 19th or early 20th century these finely carved cabriole leg freest...
Wood
French Rococo Console Table, Painted & Parcel Gilt, Carrara Marble Top
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French Painted and Parcel Gilt Console with Carrara Marble Top A striking French console table, masterfully carved in the Rococo taste and retaining its original painted and parcel ...
Marble
$2,875Sale Price|32% Off
H 32.68 in W 33.86 in D 18.9 in
Gustavian Grey Painted 3 Drawer Dresser with Faux Marble Top, Sweden, 1850-1880
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Late 19th century grey painted chest of drawers, Swedish. This 3 drawer dresser has a charming break front style, an amazing faux marble top and the original brass hardware.
Brass
$1,500Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.53 in W 32.29 in D 15.75 in
Swedish Gustavian Faux Marble Painted Console Table
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A light grey painted Gustavian painted with faux marble original imitation painting on the top. The Swedish console table with brass hardware on the front is from around 1800-1820 an...
Bronze
1825 Blue Floral Painted Alpine Cabinet
Located in Vo', Veneto
Painted Alpine Blue Wardrobe 1825 Measurements: H. 200 cm – W. 130 cm (142 at the frames) cm – D. 47 cm (53 at the frames) cm Period: 1825 Origin: Bavaria - Halblech/Greith Wood: Fi...
Fir
1778 Blue Floral Painted Wardrobe
Located in Vo', Veneto
Blue painted Tyrolean wardrobe dated 1778 H. 164cm – L. 108 cm (126 cm at the frames) – D. 50 cm (60 at the frames) Beautiful Tyrolean wardrobe with two doors with notches, dat...
Fir
1814 Green Floral Painted Cabinet
Located in Vo', Veneto
Green Painted Wardrobe dated 1814 Measures: H. 160 – L. 104 (120 on the frames) – P. 40 (48 on the frames) Tyrolean painted wardrobe with two doors, entirely painted in dark gr...
Fir
Sold
H 37.41 in W 48.43 in D 24.41 in
Italian Green and White Lacquered Chest of Drawers, Late 18th Century
Located in Prato, IT
Italy, Tuscany, late 18th century Green and white lacquered, faux marble top Painted fillet with beautiful leaves Dimensions: W 123 x D 62 x H 95 cm.
Poplar
French 19th Century Narrow Louis XVI Marble-Top Console Table
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
French 19th century narrow Louis XVI marble-top console table
Marble
18th Century Gustavian Piebald Coloured Dresser
Located in Copenhagen, K
A genuine Stockholmer Louis XVI chest of drawers, treated to a piebald or motley couloured surface trough carefully to take off paint. A real beauty.
Wood
Period Danish Louis XVI Cabinet Secretary
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish secretary, late 18th Century. Top section has one full shelve and one notched for spoons or cups. The buttom section has two doors and one large shelve. The red middle section...