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.
$396Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Middle Eastern Silk Throw Pillow, Hand-Crafted, Louis XV Style
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Middle Eastern decorative throw pillow and tapestry. Luxury silk in beige with an accent textile fragment with a Middle Eastern scene and decora...
Silk
20th C. Group of Three French Tapestry Pillows with Botanical and Bird Motifs
Located in Morristown, NJ
Group of Three French Tapestry Pillows with Botanical and Bird Motifs France, Tapestry panels: circa 1920–1950; Pillows: Mid-20th Century A coordinated trio of decorative pillows cr...
Fabric, Tapestry, Upholstery, Velvet
Vintage French Geometric Motif Pillow in Cotton & Linen, 20th Century
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Elegant pillow made of fine quality vintage French textile, geometric motif on two sides fresh quality insert.
Cotton, Linen
$107Sale Price|55% Off
H 20.08 in W 18.51 in D 0.04 in
19"x21" Traditional Handmade Throw Pillow, Embroidered 100% Silk Cushion Cover
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Decorative suzani cushion cover made of hand embroidery silk on a silk background, flowers, and vine motifs, linen backing with zipper, no insert. Delicate and specialized washing...
Linen, Silk
17th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow with Botanical Motif
Located in Los Angeles, US
A decorative 17th century Brussels tapestry pillow defined by its flowing botanical motif and grounded composition. The design is anchored by a central vertical form, with surroundin...
Wool, Cotton, Feathers
$59Sale Price|65% Off
H 17.72 in W 17.72 in D 0.04 in
Silk Embroidered Throw Pillow Cover. Toss Pillow. 18"x18". Blue Cushion Cover
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Decorative cushion cover made of hand embroidery silk on linen background, flowers and vine motifs, linen backing with zipper, no insert. Delicate and specialised washing advised. ...
Cotton, Linen, Silk
17th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow Foliate Floral Motif
Located in Los Angeles, US
This 17th century Brussels tapestry pillow features a richly layered foliate floral composition characteristic of Flemish weaving during the Baroque period. The design is composed of...
Wool, Cotton, Feathers
18th Century French Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
This is a vintage French Provincial tapestry pillow showcasing a richly textured, timeworn aesthetic. The pillow features an intricate floral pattern in a palette of muted golds, dee...
Wool, Feathers
$99Sale Price|58% Off
H 20.48 in W 18.51 in D 0.04 in
19"x21" 100% Silk Cushion Cover, Floral Accent Pillow, Embroidered Throw Pillow
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Decorative Suzani cushion cover made of hand embroidery silk on silk background, flowers and vine motifs, linen backing with zipper, no insert. Delicate and specialised washing ad...
Linen, Silk
18th Century French Tapestry pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
A stunning 18th-century French tapestry pillow measuring 15” x 10”, featuring intricate woven motifs in soft, muted earth tones. The design includes scrolling foliage and classical f...
Wool, Feathers
$59Sale Price|67% Off
H 18.12 in W 16.93 in D 0.04 in
17"x19" Uzbek Throw Pillow. Embroidery Silk Cushion Cover. Blue Accent Pillow
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Decorative cushion cover made of hand embroidery silk on linen background, flowers and vine motifs, linen backing with zipper, no insert. Delicate and specialised washing advised. ...
Cotton, Linen, Silk
$59Sale Price|67% Off
H 17.72 in W 15.75 in D 0.04 in
16"x18" Colorful Hand Embroidered Silk Cushion Cover, Suzani Throw Pillow Cover
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Decorative cushion cover made of hand embroidery silk on linen background, flowers and vine motifs, linen backing with zipper, no insert. Delicate and specialised washing advised. M...
Cotton, Linen, Silk
$80Sale Price|55% Off
H 17.33 in W 16.93 in D 0.04 in
Silk Hand Embroidery Cushion Cover. Suzani Sham. Decorative Throw Pillow
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Decorative cushion cover made of hand embroidery silk on linen background, flowers and vine motifs, linen backing with zipper, no insert. Delicate and specialised washing advised. ...
Cotton, Linen, Silk
$59Sale Price|67% Off
H 17.72 in W 15.36 in D 0.04 in
16"x18" Hand Embroidered Cushion Cover, Silk Accent Pillow, New Throw Pillow
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Decorative cushion cover made of hand embroidery silk on linen background, flowers and vine motifs, linen backing with zipper, no insert. Delicate and specialised washing advised. Suzani, a Central Asian term for a specific type of needlework, is also the broader name for the hugely popular decorative pieces of textile that feature this needlework in vivid colors with bold, expressive floral and botanical designs, natural materials and superior craftsmanship. The fascinating fine silk embroideries from Uzbekistan are perfect examples of Suzanis. Suzanis are embroidered with soft, glossy silk...
Cotton, Linen, Silk
Pair Large Antique Aubusson Style Tapestry Pillows
Located in Nashville, TN
Nice thick tapestry front an olive green-gold velvet back and cotton silk tassel trim . Unusually large at 18 inches square. Presents very well .The Tapestry being rather thick has s...
Tapestry, Velvet
Sold
H 4 in W 17 in D 17 in
Decorative Vintage Tapestry Pillow, Louis XV Hunting - II Francois Boucher
Located in Dallas, TX
78620 Decorative Vintage Tapestry Pillow, 01'05 x 01'05. Emanating timeless style of Louis XV with incredible detail and texture, this decorative vintage tapestry pillow is a captiv...
Wool
Sold
H 4 in W 17 in D 17 in
Decorative Vintage Tapestry Pillow, Louis XV Hunting - II Francois Boucher
Located in Dallas, TX
78618 Decorative Vintage Tapestry Pillow, 01'05 x 01'05. Emanating timeless style of Louis XV with incredible detail and texture, this decorative vintage tapestry pillow is a captiv...
Wool
Pair of Custom MLA Appliquéd Teal Velvet Pillows
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of custom pillows made by Melissa Levinson-"MLA". She had 18th C. French silk appliques attached to aqua green silk velvet fronts and silk backs. Down inserts, zipper closures.
Silk, Velvet
Louis XV 18th Century Footstools, Pair
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a unique associated pair of 18th and 19th century footstools that have been upholstered in a super chic and signed 1960s needlepoint. These s...
Brass
Metallic and Chenille Appliqued Blue Velvet Pillows, Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of custom pillows made with 19th century French metallic and chenille embroidery applied to contemporary blue mohair with blue linen backs and self-welt detail. Down inserts, zi...
Metallic Thread
Silk Throw Pillow with French Gold Trim
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Small decorative throw pillow in silk and tapestry with French trim and tassels. Luxury silk in beige with brown accent textile fragment and decorative tassel silk trim has been app...
Silk
Pair of Antique Silk Damask Pillows with Linen Backs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of four antique silk damask pillows in soft shades of pink, blue, yellow, and green. Pink linen silk backs. Self welt cording. Sewn shut.
Damask, Down, Linen, Silk
Pair of Oversized Aubusson Tapestry Panels Fitted as Pillows
Located in Nashville, TN
with pleated gold taffeta and velvet. The whole trimmed with silk tassels. The tapestry panels in excellent shape, probably late 19th century and the current pillows configurat...
19th Century Aubusson Pillow
Located in valatie, NY
An oval throw pillow covered in 19th c antique Aubusson, coordinating brush fringe and backed with bronze colored cotton velvet.
Cotton, Wool
19th Century Oval Aubusson Pillow
Located in valatie, NY
An oval throw pillow covered in 19th c antique Aubusson, coordinating brush fringe and backed with bronze colored cotton velvet.
Cotton, Wool
Pair of 18th Century Aubusson Coverings Now Faced on Pillows
Located in Nashville, TN
Nice thick tapestry front an olive velvet back and silk tassel trim . Unusually large at 18 inches square. The Tapestry being rather thick has survived quite well and is in good to...
Wool, Velvet, Down