As opposed to the styles that would follow from the other 18th-century French kings, Louis XV and Louis XVI, antique Louis XIV furniture is rigid and imposing. It expresses opulence — even its armchairs, with their upright backs, straight legs and lavish ornamentation, look like thrones. Authentic Louis XIV sofas, a then newly emerging iteration of seating, are fully upholstered and often feature decoratively carved frames of walnut, chestnut or oak.
When French King Louis XIV established his royal court at Versailles in 1682, he transformed what was once a hunting lodge into a palace that declared his wealth and power through its design. Until his death in 1715, he reigned with a spirit of excess and absolute political dominance. The “Sun King,” as he called himself, believed that France revolved around him as planets do the sun. Louis XIV adopted the sun as his emblem, decorating the grounds with symbols of the sun and Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. As he stated, “There is nothing that indicates more clearly the magnificence of great princes than their superb palaces and their precious furniture.” He was a child when he became king in 1643, only shaping his style after he became absolute monarch in 1661.
Reflecting trends in French Baroque art, Louis XIV furniture characteristics included exuberant decoration. There were gilded bronze details including shells, suns, grotesques, lions and classical references like acanthus leaves. The years of growth in the country’s manufacturing, such as the tapestries and cabinets made at Gobelins, led to design innovations. The commode replaced the chest as a storage device, with drawers and a surface that could double as a desk.
The materials were luxurious, such as the popular tortoiseshell veneer technique that leading cabinetmaker Pierre Golle used in his designs. André-Charles Boulle, who became royal cabinetmaker in 1672, was a masterful artist of marquetry, using inlays of ebony, exotic woods and mother-of-pearl.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIV bedroom furniture, chairs, tables and other pieces on 1stDibs.
$2,835
Louis XIV Mirror
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant mirror with parecloses in blackened wood and embossed copper from the 18th century Very beautiful mirror which has an interesting dimension since not too large decorated wit...
Mirror
$2,289Sale Price|24% Off
Important Louis XIV Style Miror with Parecloses
Located in Paris, FR
Large Louis XIV style mirror with mirror bars in blackened wood and rich gilded and embossed copper decoration. The pediment is adorned with a motif of a basket of overflowing flower...
Copper
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
Antique French Louis XIV Giltwood Triptych Foliate Form Over Mantle Mirror 19thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique French Louis XIV Giltwood Triptych Foliate Form Over Mantle Mirror 19thC Measures- 49"H x 100"W x 4.5"D A striking 19th-century French Louis XIV style giltwood triptych mirro...
Mirror, Wood
$2,362Sale Price|20% Off
Large Gilt Mirror / Looking Glass with Double Frame Louis XIV St. France Xxth
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Gorgeous Louis XIV style glazing bead mirror in golden wood. In the style of Italian mirrors, baroque style. Decor of intertwined foliage and flowers. Pediment decorated with shells....
Mirror
$3,895
H 53.5 in W 36.5 in D 1.6 in
Large French Mirror in Hand Carved Solid Nutwood Frame with Flowery Decor
Located in Lisse, NL
Antique, one of a kind and highly decorative mirror. This beautifully hand carved antique mirror frame is in great condition. It is perfe...
Mirror, Nutwood
Louis XV Carved and Gilt Mirror, French, circa 1760
Located in San Francisco, CA
Louis XV hand carved and gilt boudoir mirror with parcel gray painting. Having a tied ribbon cartouche above a pair of love birds with tasseled cord and...
Mirror, Wood
$3,069
H 38.19 in W 23.63 in D 2.37 in
Painted Repoussé Brass Parecloses Mirror, France, Late 19th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Rectangular beveled "parecloses" mirror with pediment, enclosed in a repoussé brass frame, painted off-white. Shell, flower and palmette motifs. Wooden back.
Brass
$952 / item
H 27.96 in W 18.12 in D 0.71 in
Quadris Rectangular Modern Mirror with a Brass Frame, Large
Located in London, London
Modern rectangular mirror with an elegant solid brushed brass frame. Part of the charming Quadris™ collection, designed and handcrafted in London, UK. Our mirrors are designed with...
Brass
$7,200 / item
H 62 in W 31.5 in D 1.5 in
Large Rectangular Murano Sea Green Glass Framed Mirror, In Stock
Located in Miami, FL
Large rectangular Murano sea green Glass framed mirror , in stock Mirror plate surrounded with undulating glass tiles in sea green color held by brass cab...
Brass
French Louis XVI Gilded Mirror, Giltwood Frame, Hand-Carved, 1890s
Located in Plainview, NY
An exquisite 19th century French Louis XVI gilded mirror. The rectangular mirror is embellished with a magnificent crown featuring scrolls and leaves. The frame is finely hand carved...
Mirror, Giltwood
Federal Gilt Over Mantle Mirror
Located in East Aurora, NY
A very attractive Federal gilt over mantle mirror in original condition. A classic traditional Neo Classical design with rope twist columns and a continuous row of gilt spheres as c...
Gold Leaf
$2,124
H 29.14 in W 22.05 in D 1.19 in
Antique French Giltwood Mirror, Louis-Philippe Style, circa 1930
Located in Paris, FR
Antique Louis-Philippe French style giltwood mirror, from the 1930's. Antique frame with pearls, around the glass mirror, decorated with foliages and fruits stylised linked by 3 line...
Mirror, Giltwood
$1,042 / item
H 27.96 in W 18.12 in D 0.71 in
Quadris Rectangular Minimalist Mirror with a Blue Frame, Large
Located in London, London
Modern rectangular mirror with an elegant blue frame. Part of the charming Quadris collection, designed and handcrafted in London, UK. Our mirrors are designed with an integrated F...
Aluminum
$3,500
H 33 in W 45 in D 2.5 in
Etched and Reverse Gilt Mirrored Frame Art Deco Mirror with Foliate Detail
Located in Chicago, IL
American 1940s Art Deco mirror with canted and mirrored glass frame. Reverse etched and gilt cattails and ivy filigree detailing with gilt edged ...
Gold Leaf, Nickel
$1,042 / item
H 27.96 in W 18.12 in D 0.71 in
Quadris Rectangular Mirror with a Modern Red Frame, Large
Located in London, London
Minimalist rectangular mirror with a modern red frame. Part of the charming Quadris collection, designed and handcrafted in London, UK. Our mirrors are designed with an integrated ...
Aluminum
$5,666Sale Price|20% Off
H 63.39 in W 36.23 in D 5.91 in
Antique 19th Century Gold Gilt French Louis Philippe Mirror with Rope and Tassel
Located in Casteren, NL
This is a rare large gold leaf gilt mirror that was made in northern France in the late 19th century. It features the upper rounded corners typical for the Louis Philippe style. Th...
Gold Leaf
French Painted Trumeau Mirror
Located in Swadlincote, GB
Original French painted trumeau mirror, with deep bevelled mirror plate, in overall very good condition. 47" high 26" wide You are welcome to view this item at our showroom, please...
Gesso
Large French Overmantle Mirror
Located in Swadlincote, GB
Oustanding French wall mirror,or chimney breast piece, triple plate mirror with gilt swags under a full width oil on canvas, in very good overall condition. 57" high 48.5" across th...
Pine
Sold
H 35.5 in W 43.5 in D 3.25 in
Antique French Empire Figural Giltwood Over Mantle Mirror with Mask
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Reduced Delivery Rates - See Below or Click “Ask The Seller” to Request a Quote*** Antique French Empire over mantel mirror offers giltwood frame with figural pierced crest havin...
Mirror, Giltwood
Sold
H 34.5 in W 76.5 in D 4 in
Antique French Louis XIV Style Giltwood Triptych Over Mantle Mirror C1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Ask About Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Reliable Professional Service & Fully Insured*** Antique French Louis XIV Style Giltwood Triptych Beveled Over Mantle Mirror with Folia...
Mirror, Wood
Incredible Antique Italian Pair of Luigi XIV 17th Century Gilded Mirrors
Located in Encinitas, CA
Incredible Antique Italian Pair of Luigi XIV 17th Century Gold leaf Gilded Mirrors with original Mercury glasses. The tops are decorated each with a golden cornucopia, from which an intricate flower composition emerges. The frame in gilt wood and gilded stucco in the Louis XIV style are decorated with the use of the "Burin" technique (a tool used by engravers that has a thin, pointed blade and is used to etch or cut an engraving burin is used predominantly by intaglio engravers, but also by relief printmakers in making wood engravings). These mirrors will add a royal touch...
Fruitwood
19th Century French Louis XIV Carved Giltwood Overlay Wall Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
Make a statement in your home with this elegant antique gold leaf mirror. Crafted in France circa 1850, the Louis XIV style mirror features an elaborate carved and pierced frieze at ...
Mercury Glass, Giltwood
Sold
H 43 in W 35.5 in D 2.75 in
Italian Late Baroque Period Ebonized and Pewter Inlaid Wall Mirror, circa 1700
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a guilloche carved outer edge with an inwardly stepped series of thin guilloche levels , the main flattened level with inlaid pewter decorations of leaves and rosettes, the in...
Pine
Sold
H 79 in W 47.5 in D 7.5 in
Italian Louis XIV Period Large Carved Giltwood Mirror, Early 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
completely hand-carved with a large mirrored finial, the carvings of leaf and scroll forms, with carved "wings" and "feet" this mirror retains antique mirrorplates, the gilding origi...
Giltwood
Italian, Emiliana, Shaped Giltwood Mirror, Early 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
of rectangular form and having two molded edges, the interior molding projecting outward, original gilding, modern mirrorplate.
Giltwood
Italian Louis XIV Period Painted and Giltwood Mirror, Early 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
The large frame now fitted with a modern mirror has an outer and inner raised moldings covered in gold leaf, the interior larger section retains its original light blue painted surface.
Pine
Louis XIV-Style Giltwood Mirror
Located in New Orleans, LA
This Louis XIV-style French mirror features an intricately carved giltwood and stucco frame with an exceptional level of detail. It reflects the grandiose, ornamental style of the Lo...
Stucco, Giltwood
Sold
H 48.04 in W 30.71 in D 3.15 in
Antique 19th Century Oval Gold Leaf Gilt Gadrooned Louis Quinze Mirror
Located in Casteren, NL
This beautiful antique gold leaf gilt oval mirror was made in southern France in the late 19th century. The top ornament is centered upon an acanthus pediment flanked by C-scrolls, a...
Gold Leaf