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.
pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Bronze lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and patinated Bronze candelabra lamps, in the manner of Clodion. Each most exceptional electrified can...
Bronze, Ormolu
true pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and marble lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive and most elegant true pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and white Carrara marble candelabra lamps. Each stunning three arm candelabra is raised on a circ...
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Breccia Verde marble lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most handsome pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and Breccia Verde marble lamps. Each lamp is raised on a square Ormolu plinth displaying a Coeur-de-Rai ...
Marble, Ormolu
Fine Pair of Louis XVI Style Hand-Carved Rock Crystal, Ormolu and Gilt Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A Fine Pair of French Louis XVI Style Hand-Carved Rock Crystal Ormolu and Gilt wood Lamps. This illustrious pair of Louis XVI style hand-carved rock crystal and ormolu lamps are exce...
Rock Crystal
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu And White Carrara Marble Candelabra Lam
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu and white Carrara marble candelabra lamps. Each striking candelabra is supported by three ball feet below an Ormo...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu And Porphyry Lamp Attributed To Sormani
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and very high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Porphyry, ormolu and faux painted Porphyry lamp attributed to Sormani. The brûle parfum lamp is raised by an el...
Porphyry, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Fruitwood Candelabra Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking pair of French 19th century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and ebonized Fruitwood candelabra lamp. The two arm lamp is raised by a triangular ebonized Fruitwood base and fine mottle...
Ormolu
Pair of French Turn of the Century Louis XVI St. Amethyst Colored Glass Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and unique pair of French turn of the century Louis XVI st. amethyst colored glass, ormolu, and crystal candelabra lamps. Each three arm lamp...
Crystal, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and White Carrara Marble Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and white Carrara marble lamps. Each three arm candelabra lamp ...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Griotte Marble and Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A high quality and most charming true pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Rouge Griotte marble and ormolu two arm candelabra lamps. Each lamp is raised by elegant ormolu topie ...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Candelabras Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. silvered bronze, ormolu and marble three arm candelabra lamps. Each lamp is raised by fine ormolu ball feet below a rectangul...
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Italian 18th Century Louis XVI Period Mecca and Silver Leaf Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of stunning Italian 18th century Louis XVI period mecca and silver leaf lamps. Each lamp is raised on a mottled round pedestal. The body has silver leaf on wood and is decorat...
Wood
French Turn of the Century Louis XVI St. Giltwood, Metal, and Rock Crystal Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional French turn of the century Louis XVI st. giltwood, gilt metal, and rock crystal lamp. The lamp is raised by an elegant circular mottled giltwood base with six unique a...
Rock Crystal, Metal
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Belle Époque Period Marble and Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and high quality pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period Vert Antique marble and ormolu four arm candelabra lamps, attributed to Henry Dasson. Eac...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Rouge Griotte Marble, Bronze, and Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and high quality true pair of French 19th century Louis XVI st. Rouge Griotte marble, patinated bronze, and ormolu four arm candelabras mounted into lamps. Each lamp is ra...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Belle Époque Period Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble lamp. The elegant lamp is raised by a triangular Rouge Gri...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Three-Arm Electrified Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of elegant and uniquely shaped French 19th Century Louis XVI st. three-arm electrified candelabras. Each is raised by a square white carrara marble base with recessed central ...
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French Mid-19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu Three-Light Candelabra Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of exceptional French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu three light candelabra lamps. Each richly chased lamp is raised on a round base with acanthus leaves. The C scrolle...
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Silvered Bronze and Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and most elegant pair of French 19th century Louis XVI style silvered bronze and ormolu lamps. Each lamp is raised by a beautiful square base with concave sides and a fine...
Bronze, Ormolu
Suite Of 3 Large Candlesticks In Golden Wood, Early 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Set of 3 large Italian gilded wood candlesticks: placed against a wall, they are gilded only on the visible part, "from the front" Traces of use, some gaps in the gilding and cracks...
Giltwood