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.
Small 18th Century Corner Cabinet
Located in Brussels, Brussels
lovely corner cabinet with two curved doors from the 18th century Very fine French work with two small curved doors with ebony inlay. The cabinet has its key which works Very beaut...
Cherry
Corner Cabinet, Louis XIV, 18th Century
Located in New Orleans, LA
Gorgeous 18th century antique French Grande Louis XIV oak corner cabinet. This antique oversized oak corner cabinet mimics a stunning built in effect and will add architectural inter...
Wood, Oak
17th Century Italian Louis XIV Pair of Antique Corner Cupboards RESTORED
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
These exquisite Italian corner sideboards from the Louis XIV period, dating back to the second half of the 17th century, bring a unique historical ch...
Walnut
$1,363Sale Price|20% Off
H 43.51 in W 32.09 in D 22.25 in
Teak Mid-Century Modern Corner Cabinet or Cupboard, 1960s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning Mid-Century Modern corner cabinet or cupboard. Striking Dutch design from the 1960s. Solid teak and teak veneer. Three original drawe...
Teak
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Painted Corner Cabinet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A striking late 18th-century Gustavian period corner cabinet from Sweden, featuring the classic neoclassical elegance of the era. Crafted in two parts, the cabinet showcases paneled ...
Pine
Antique 18th Century Oak Hanging Corner Cabinet
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique 18th century oak hanging corner cabinet having a shaped moulded cornice above a mahogany freeze, one single shaped oak door cross banded in mahogany opening to reveal three o...
Oak
$3,375
H 76 in W 48 in D 14 in
Exemplary 18th Century Paint Decorated Corner Cabinet, Christie's Provenance
Located in Bridgeport, CT
With a Christies, New York auction sticker on the back. The cabinet with carved cornice and openwork frieze. Carved sinuous floral vine supports flank the glass door with mullions in a light brown stain. The interior in pale green paint with three shelves. The lower cabinet with metal mounts (broken...
Glass, Wood
19th Century Swedish Corner Cupboard
Located in Charleston, SC
19th century Swedish two-part bowfronted 4 door corner cupboard with reeded panels. Dry scraped from most recent painted surface.
Wood, Pine, Paint
$8,834
H 38.59 in W 37.21 in D 24.61 in
20th Century Corner Commode in Antique Louis XV Style, Jean Henri Riesener
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze of exceptional quality. Marble panel, over frieze drawer and a large barrier door flanked by corner fittings with acanthus volutes and garlands, with amaranth, bergahorn and colorful fruit wood inlay front and sides with flower head trellis parquet with ebony stringing. These are therefore unique. Beautiful patina, with shellac handpolit. The design of this chest of drawers is based on the original 1778 designed by Jean-Henri Riesener for the Cabinet de retraite of King Louis XVI in the Castle of Fontainebleau, later in the King's bibliothèque in the Château de Versailles. The original commode was built in the early 19th century by Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 10th. Duke of Hamilton...
Wood
$1,899Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 48.04 in W 29.73 in D 15.36 in
Antique Georgian Corner Cabinet, English, Oak, Wall Hanging Cupboard, circa 1780
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique Georgian corner cabinet. An English, oak wall hanging cupboard, dating to the late 18th century, circa 1780. Plea...
Oak
18th Century Federal Oak Corner Cabinet / Cupboard
Located in Germantown, MD
A late 18th Century Federal Oak Corner Cabinet / cupboard. Measures 26.75" in width, 14.75" in depth, 36.75" in height. Side is 17.5" in depth.
Oak
18th Century Swedish Baroque Corner Cabinet
Located in New Orleans, LA
A rare and elegant example of Swedish Baroque design, this 18th-century corner cabinet showcases refined craftsmanship, graceful proportions, and a beautifully aged patina that refle...
Wood
18th Century Italian Painted Corner Cabinet
Located in Houston, TX
18th century Italian painted corner cabinet. This stunning antique Italian two part corner cabinet, cupboard or duex corp with original painted finish is simply stunning. This Tusca...
Wood
18th Century Swedish Farmhouse Painted Pine Corner Cabinet
Located in Forney, TX
A most charming nearly 300 year old Swedish country farmhouse painted corner cupboard with beautifully aged warm rustic heavily distressed patina! circa 1730 Born in Sweden in the f...
Iron
Corner Cabinet in Mahogany, 18th Century, Georgian
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant English mahogany corner cabinet from the 18th century Very good quality corner cupboard which has braced windows. It is his ...
Mahogany
Sold
H 40 in W 42 in D 24 in
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Carved Oak "Encoignure" or Corner Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring elegance and storage to any corner with this beautiful antique corner cabinet. Crafted in France circa 1920 and built of solid oak, the wide cabinet sits on plinth feet over a ...
Oak
18th Century Louis XIV Style Corner Cabinet
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A late 18th century corner cupboard à deux corps in the style of Louis XIV. Natural oak. Ready for everyday use. Four-door corpus with a profiled fluted cornice and canted pilasters...
Oak, Pine
Sold
H 78.35 in W 36.62 in D 19.69 in
Early 18th Century French Régence Marquetry Two-Piece Corner Cabinet/ Encoignure
Located in Berlin, DE
Early 18th Century French Régence Marquetry two-piece corner cabinet/ encoignure : lower cabinet section of triangular shape with canted corners on a base featuring a curved fron...
Bronze
Sold
H 35.5 in W 36.25 in D 22.5 in
19th Century French Louis XIV Carved Walnut Encoignure Corner Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a room corner with this elegant antique "Encoignure", or corner cabinet. Crafted in Southern France circa 1860, the cabinet stands on front bun feet over a straight plinth b...
Walnut
18th Century French Louis XIV Carved Walnut Corner Confiturier Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a room corner with this elegant antique "Encoignure", or corner cabinet. Crafted in Southern France circa 1780, the cabinet stands on front bun feet over a straight plinth a...
Walnut
18th Century, Italian Louis XIV Lacquered Wood Corner Cabinet
Located in IT
18th century, Italian Louis XIV lacquered wood corner cabinet This particular corner furniture was made in Italy in the Louis XIV era, circa ear...
Wood
Pair of Magnificent Antique Scallop Shell Curved Book Shelf Cabinets
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Stunning Louis XIV curved corner cabinets, having gorgeous carved wood interior scallop shell at the top with white cream paint and gold leaf, be...
19th Century French Louis XIV Walnut Corner Cabinet with Bow Front
Located in Dallas, TX
This traditional, antique "encoignure," or corner cabinet, was crafted in France, circa 1870. The entire front of the piece is bowed, making it an easy addition to any corner. In exc...
Walnut
French Louis XIV Period Corner Cabinet
Located in Austin, TX
From a noble farm house next to Aix en Provence, we couldn't resist this rare and fabulous early 18th century corner cabinet. With its original hardware and key, its period polychrom...
Fir
A Pair of Antique Painted Corner Cabinets from France
Located in Dallas, TX
This is a pair of European pine corner cabinets from France. They are quite old, dating to the early 1800's. The marble is a faux rouge, while the styling can be considered Louis XIV. Besides being used as traditional corner pieces, they could also be put together to form a semi-circle sink holder...
Pine