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.
French Louis XV Style Fine Kingwood and Marquetry Ormolu Mounted Bombe Commode
Located in Miami, FL
French Louis XV style kingwood veneer commode, the shaped marble top above a bombe case with ormolu bronze mounts, highly decorated throughout with marquetry inlay with two drawers, ...
Bronze
Antique Louis XV Armoire, Handcrafted Pinewood, France, Circa 1720
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 18th Century, antique French armoire, wardrobe made of hand crafted painted Pinewood with two doors, very typical Louis XV, in good condition. Two-door paneling is partially with d...
Metal, Wrought Iron
French Louis XV Style Fine Kingwood and Marquetry Ormolu Mounted Bombe Commode
Located in Miami, FL
French Louis XV style kingwood veneer commode, the shaped marble top above a bombe case with ormolu bronze mounts, highly decorated throughout with marquetry inlay with two drawers, ...
Bronze
French Louis XV Style Fine Kingwood and Marquetry Ormolu Mounted Bombe Commode
Located in Miami, FL
French Louis XV style kingwood veneer commode, the shaped marble top above a bombe case with ormolu bronze mounts, highly decorated throughout with marquetry inlay with three drawers...
Bronze
Rosewood Cabinet Attributed to Millet Sunbeam Veneer St LXV Bronze Accents
Located in Miami, FL
Attributed to Millet rosewood cabinet St Louis XV. Superb Sunbeam Veneer on the front door, beautiful bronze accents on each upper side corners, on each feet and all around the base, The structure of the piece is in the best oak. Excellent condition for age, carefully refinished. The cabinet is attributed to Maison Blaise et Théodore Millet...
Bronze
$4,704Sale Price|20% Off
H 87 in W 58 in D 24 in
Antique French 18th C Louis XV Fruitwood Linen Press Armoire
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique French 18th C Louis XV Fruitwood Linen Press Armoire.
Fruitwood
$484,500Sale Price|35% Off
H 36 in W 71 in D 27 in
Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted & Marquetry Commode - François Linke Leon Messagé
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French Louis XV style ormolu-mounted and end-cut floral and fruit marquetry two-drawer serpentine-shaped bombé commode by François Linke (1855-1946), Index number 720, the mounts d...
Ormolu
George III Antique Mahogany Gentleman’s Wardrobe or Linen Press
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique George III mahogany gentleman’s wardrobe or linen press having two mahogany doors which open to reveal a fitted interior of four original sliding trays, one long drawer with ...
Brass
$4,500
H 81 in W 35 in D 17 in
Antique French Louis XV Style Armoire Cupboard Linen Cabinet Bonnetiere Oak
Located in Tyler, TX
Beautifully Carved Antique French Louis XV Oak Armoire, Wardrobe, Bonnetiere, Cupboard or Cabinet ~~c. 1900 Perfect statement piece that can accommodate any number of storage needs...
Oak
Louis XV/XVI Transition Style Kingwood and Marquetry Commode
Located in Montreal, QC
Transition Louis XV-XVI style kingwood and marquetry serpentine front three-drawer commode with conforming marble top. This shapely commode is perhaps more en arbalete than serpentin...
Wood, Kingwood
Louis XV Period Armoire in Cherrywood
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Louis XV period armoire in cherrywood. Masterfully carved floral details in relief. Two drawers, one with original lock. Door lock is also original and functional. Great or...
Cherry
Large Louis XV Armoire in Walnut
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Excellent French Louis XV period armoire built with book matched panels.
Walnut
$14,887Sale Price|25% Off
H 36 in W 59.25 in D 22.25 in
French Louis XV Style Bombé Fruitwood Marquetry & Ormolu Mounted Commode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French Louis XV Style bois satiné, Fruitwood - Ormolu Mounted Two-Drawer Bombé Commode with mottled marble top. The bowed front and sides with floral marquetry and floral ormolu ha...
Marble, Bronze
$24,950Sale Price|48% Off
H 37.5 in W 57.75 in D 24.75 in
A 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted & Marquetry Bombé Commode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine 19th century Louis XV style gilt-bronze mounted kingwood and tulipwood floral marquetry Bombé two-drawer commode with a Royal veined yellow marble top. The serpentine body wit...
Marble, Bronze
$12,025Sale Price|35% Off
H 96 in W 64 in D 21 in
19th Century Louis XV Style French Polychromed Armoire
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
19th century Louis XV style French polychromed armoire of demi-cartouche section; the arched and molded pediment carved with curling acanthus and roses; the single door inset with a...
Mirror, Wood
$49,850Sale Price|33% Off
H 36.25 in W 54.25 in D 22.75 in
Fine French Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Bombe Commode Manner of François Linke
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th-20th century Louis XV style burr walnut, kingwood and satinwood floral marquetry and finely chased ormolu-mounted two-drawer bombé commode, in the manner of F...
Marble, Bronze
Lorin Jackson for Grosfeld House Double Door Chest of Drawers
Located in Hanover, MA
Early 1940's sideboard or linen press by Lorin Jackson for Grosfeld House. Two banks of four open drawers behind double doors. Carved foliate handles and curved notched corners. T...
Walnut
Drexel Heritage French Provincial Louis XV Carved Walnut Linen Press
By Drexel
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style armoire dresser, gentleman's chest, or linen press By Drexel Heritage, "Brittany Collection" USA, Circa 1970s Carved walnut with shell ...
Brass
Sold
H 32.88 in W 46.86 in D 20.48 in
French Louis XV Style Fine Kingwood and Marquetry Ormolu Mounted Bombe Commode
Located in Miami, FL
French Louis XV style kingwood veneer commode, the shaped marble top above a bombe case with ormolu bronze mounts, highly decorated throughout with marquetry inlay with two drawers, ...
Bronze
19th Century French Ornately Carved Cherry Louis XV Style Armoire
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Large and impressive 19th century French Louis XV style double dome-top two-door armoire with profusely carved paneled doors and finely carved details throughout. Original heavy stee...
Cherry
Sold
H 98.5 in W 60 in D 25.5 in
Rare 18th Century French Louis XV Period Walnut Armoire Pantalonnier Deux Corps
Located in Birmingham, AL
18th century French Louis XV period armoire deux corps pantalonnier handcrafted of old growth French walnut by skilled artisans in the South of Fran...
Walnut
18th Century Monumental French Provincial Louis XV Carved Oak Bookcase
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional monumental French Provincial Louis XV period armoire, linen press, or bookcase France, 18th century Ornate carved oak with brass hardware and original glass fron...
Brass
18th Century French Louis XV Carved Bombe Walnut Armoire Chest from Provence
Located in Dallas, TX
This important, tall antique fruitwood armoire "pantalonniere" was crafted in Southern France, circa 1750 (in the old days, a “pantalonniere” was used to store pantalons, French for ...
Walnut
Sold
H 33 in W 38.18 in D 17.71 in
French Louis XV Style Fine Kingwood and Marquetry Ormolu Mounted Bombe Commode
Located in Miami, FL
French Louis XV style kingwood veneer commode, the shaped marble top above a bombe case with ormolu bronze mounts, highly decorated throughout with marquetry inlay with two drawers, ...
Bronze
Armoire, 19th Century French Louis XV in Walnut
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Louis XV walnut armoire exudes the Classic lines of the rococo movement, with asymmetrical shell, flor...
Brass
Sold
H 99 in W 71 in D 28 in
Antique 18th Century Louis XVI Inlaid Fruitwood Buffet a Deux Corps Linen Press
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Louis XVI inlaid fruitwood buffet a Deux corps linen press.
Fruitwood
Sold
H 84.57 in W 60.13 in D 19.63 in
19th Century French Buffet Deux Corps Linen Press Cabinet in Original Patina
Located in Wichita, KS
A hand-carved, two-part French linen press with traces of old white wax polish from the 19th century. This cabinet is beautifully proportioned with an arched pediment cornice, serpen...
Pine
French Marquetry Louis XV Cabinet
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An elegant French Louis XV style ‘bombe’ cabinet, the case veneered in book-matched kingwood and further embellished with floral marquetry. The cabinet retains the original shaped m...
Kingwood
Sold
H 96 in W 72 in D 20.5 in
Palatial Louis XV Doré Mounted Three-Section Armoire with Interior Mirrored Door
Located in Stamford, CT
Louis XV spectacular bronze-mounted three-section armoire with interior mirrored doors and bevelled large centre door front. Tortoise shell finish on the front and sides of this fine one of a kind late 19th century armoire or wardrobe chest. Having all-over Francois Linke quality doré bronze mounts and a rarely seen tortoise shell finish this enormous three section armoire is certain to add life and sparkle to any room in the home. The custom interior having side mirror door interiors so one my view themselves from all sides when the occasion calls. The side units...