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.
20th Century Louis XIV Style Chest of Drawers / Sideboard
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century Louis XIV style chest of drawers / sideboard solid beech wood. The fittings are pronounced and of exceptionally good quality. (D-Sam-237).
Bronze
19th Century Louis XIV Style Bronze Pair of Wall Lights
Located in Berlin, DE
Magnificent bronze wall applications in Louis XIV style, circa 1870. Manufacturer stamp: Augsburger. (F-32).
Bronze
20th Century Louis XIV Style Baroque Wall Light
Located in Berlin, DE
Baroque wall light in Louis XIV style. Six flamed light corpus. Polished and engraved bronze. Round, reliefed, wall-shield. There from, six light arms composed of spirals. (F-Ra-...
Bronze
Large Louis XVI Carved Trumeau Mirror
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large Louis XVI period pale gray painted and parcel-gilt finished trumeau with upper central carved wood panel; "trophy of amour," showing a crossed basket of quills and flamed torch...
20th Century Louis XIV Style Piano-Black Cabinet
Located in Berlin, DE
Piano black polished veneer on solid pinewood. The figurines are pronounced and of exceptionally good quality. (D-Sam-235).
Wood, Pine
French 19th century Louis XIV st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu floor lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XIV st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu floor lamp. This exceptional lamp is raised by three fluted topie shaped feet supporting...
Bronze, Ormolu
Italian 18th century Louis XIV Period Baroque st. Giltwood mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A truly impressive and high quality Italian 18th century Louis XIV Period Baroque st. Giltwood mirror. This wonderful mirror with its original mirror plate and gilding is framed with...
Mirror, Giltwood
Italian 18th Century Louis XIV Period Giltwood And Silvered Mecca Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful Italian 18th century Louis XIV period Giltwood and silvered Mecca mirror. The mirror is raised on pierced tapering triangular shaped feet decorated by leaves and scrolled...
Mirror, Giltwood
French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu chandelier. The eight arm chandelier is centered by a striking bottom acorn finial below lovely foliate designs, a superb reede...
Ormolu
Italian 18th Century Louis XIV Period Fruitwood & Giltwood Side/Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and most unique Italian early 18th century Louis XIV period Tuscan st. ebonized Fruitwood and giltwood side/center table. The rectangular table is raised by exceptional t...
Fruitwood, Giltwood
French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu chandelier. The eight arm chandelier is centered by a striking bottom inverted foliate acorn finial below reeded ...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most impressive French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu chandelier. The eight arm chandelier is centered by a striking bottom foliate finial below beautiful pierced a...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and very high quality French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu chandelier. The chandelier is centered by a fine bottom acorn finial below the mottled topie shaped body enc...
Ormolu
Italian 19th Century Louis XIV Style Patinated and Gilt Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking Italian 19th century Louis XIV st. patinated and gilt mirror. This mirror has a mottled frame with gilt borders and fitted with the original mirror plate. At the pierced t...
Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
Stunning French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Belle Époque Period Demi Lune Chest
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and most decorative French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu chandelier. The twelve arm chandelier is centered by an elegant bottom mottled final below finely detailed ...
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XIV St. Marble and Ormolu Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking pair of French 19th century Louis XIV st. black Belgian marble and ormolu candlesticks. Each candlestick is raised by a unique and most elegant black Belgian marble base w...
Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu
Italian 17th Century Louis XIV Period Rectangular Mirrors, circa 1680
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most attractive pair of Italian 17th century Louis XIV period rectangular mirrors, circa 1680. The mottled frames have a stately egg and d...
Mirror, Giltwood
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Ormolu and Marble Center or Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century Louis XIV st. ormolu and fossilized black marble center/side table. The table is raised by a triangular shaped ormolu base with a fine mottled border. ...
Marble, Ormolu
Baroque Applique in antique Louis 14th Style brass bronzed
Located in Berlin, DE
Six flamed light corpus. Polished and engraved bronze. Round, reliefed, wall-shield. There from, six-light arms composed of spirals. Measures: Width:45 cm, height.55 cm.
Brass
Baroque Applique in antique Louis XIV Style silver galvanized
Located in Berlin, DE
Six flamed light corpus. Polished and engraved bronze. Round, reliefed, wall-shield. There from, six-light arms composed of spirals. Measures: Width:45 cm, height:55 cm.
Brass
A Pair of Louis XIV Style Twin-Light Wall-Appliques In the Manner of Boulle
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Pair of Louis XIV Style Gilt-Bronze Twin-Light Wall-Appliques Modelled With Cherubic Herms. In the Manner of André-Charles Boulle. Each modelled as a cherubic herm holding aloft a...
Ormolu
Louis XIV Style Gilt-Bronze Twin-Light Wall Appliques, France, c. 1860
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Pair of Louis XIV Style Gilt-Bronze Twin-Light Wall-Appliques. In the Manner of André-Charles Boulle. Each modelled as a cherubic herm holding aloft spiral branches. Wired for el...
Ormolu