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.
Louis XVI Style Breakfast Table by Maison Jansen
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
The the oval dining table with a highly polished ebonized surface and clad in doré bronze mounts. Can open of a Leaf. Stamped: JANSEN
Bronze
Antique French Louis XIV Walnut Dining Table with 2 Leaves
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Louis XIV Walnut Dining Table with 2 Leaves combines elegance with versatility creating a table your family will enjoy for generations! Hand-crafted from sumptuous Fr...
Walnut
Antique French Louis XIV Painted Dining Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Louis XIV Painted Dining Table combines both elegance and casual flair into one versatile piece. The solid plank top is very straightforward and quite substantial, an...
Hardwood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Oak Parquetry Extending Dining Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring architectural presence and versatility to your interior with this antique extending dining table crafted in France, circa 1920. Built in solid oak, the piece features a richly ...
Oak
French Gold Gilt Fine Carved 48" Walnut Oval Top Dining Center Table Stunning!
Located in Rockaway, NJ
French Gold Gilt Fine Carved 48" Walnut Oval Top Dining Center Table Stunning!
Walnut
$18,950Sale Price|24% Off
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Carved Oak Console Buffet Server Marble Top
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A large French 19th century Louis XIV style carved oak console or buffet with marble top. The tall and slender carved apron with serpentine sides raised with two front square-tapered...
Marble
$2,968
H 30.71 in W 78.35 in D 32.29 in
Antique Fruitwood & Oak Early 20th Century French Rustic Farmhouse Dining Table
Located in Nijmegen, NL
This elegant table was made in Southern France in the early 20th century. It has a tabletop from fruitwood with beautiful grain patterns. It has a very warm color and the table shows...
Fruitwood
$2,800
H 30 in W 48 in D 36 in
Oval Dining Table 36x48, Midcentury Modern Pedestal Base, Handmade In Walnut
Located in Bloomington, IN
Our "Kapok" oval dining table fits seamlessly into any dining room or kitchen decor style. With mid century modern good looks and solid hardwood construction this dining table adds ...
Wood, Hardwood, Cherry, Mahogany, Oak, Walnut
$3,495
H 30.5 in W 79 in D 35 in
Early 20th Century French Oak Farm Table or Dining Table from Normandy
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This early twentieth century artisan-made oak farm table or dining table is from the region of Le Perche in Normandy, France. Resting on tapered square legs, this handsome table of h...
Oak
$2,515
H 35 in W 48 in D 20.5 in
Mid-Century French Louis XiV Style Carved Pine Console Table W/ Pink Marble Top
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a Louis XIV heavily carved pine console table with a pink marble top. It is wall mounted. The piece is Italian and most likely dates to the 60s. My shipping is running from...
Marble
$6,495
H 36.75 in W 56.25 in D 25 in
19th Century French Rococo Carved Giltwood Marble Top Console Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions: 36.75 inches high x 56.25 inches wide x 25 inches deep. An extraordinary 19th century French Rococo carved giltwood console table, lavishly executed with dramatic sculptural carving, sweeping curves, and an impressive rouge marble top. Crafted during the last quarter of the 19th century, this exceptional console embodies the opulence, movement, and theatrical elegance associated with the finest French Rococo revival furnishings of the Belle Époque period. The table is crowned by a striking rouge marble top showcasing rich tones of deep red, terracotta, cream, and soft white veining throughout. The serpentine shaped marble beautifully complements the flowing Rococo silhouette beneath while adding luxurious visual contrast and timeless sophistication. The natural movement and coloration of the marble create remarkable depth and make the top a focal point in its own right. The heavily carved giltwood frame is of exceptional quality, displaying remarkable craftsmanship and sculptural artistry throughout. The frieze is richly adorned with scrolling acanthus leaves, shell motifs, floral carvings, and elaborate Rococo ornamentation executed with extraordinary depth and refinement. At the center sits a dramatic carved shell crest flanked by flowing asymmetrical scrollwork, a hallmark of the Rococo style. The boldly scrolled legs are lavishly carved with floral garlands, foliate motifs, and intricate detailing that continue throughout every visible surface of the piece. The architectural movement of the legs creates a wonderfully dynamic silhouette while maintaining elegance and balance. The shaped stretcher base is equally impressive, featuring additional carved floral ornamentation and a central urn form finial that reinforces the luxurious decorative presence of the table. The original gilt finish has developed a beautifully aged patina over time, with subtle distressing and warm tonal variation that add tremendous character and authenticity. This naturally worn surface enhances the old-world European charm and highlights the sculptural carving throughout the frame. French Rococo consoles...
Marble
$4,800
H 29 in W 79.5 in D 35.25 in
Early 20th Century French Hand Pegged Bleached Oak Farm Table, Dining Table
Located in Fayetteville, AR
From the region of Le Perche in Normandy, France, this early twentieth century bleached oak farm table or dining table features a top constructed of six planks of wood. Resting on ta...
Oak
$4,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.75 in W 70.5 in D 36 in
French Louis Philippe Fruitwood Farmhouse Dining Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Elegant 19th century French Louis Philippe farmhouse dining table or harvest table crafted from fruitwood. Constructed with wood peg joinery having a storage drawer on each end with a brass pull. The case has a thick plank top with breadboard ends and a distinctive provincial style shaped apron. Supported by svelte turned legs ending with a peg foot. The fruitwood has a rich, dark cherry finish...
Fruitwood
French, Original Painted Dining Table
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
19th century French original painted pine circular dining table. 1860. Reference: 7740. Dimensions: 31.5 inches (80 cms) high. 44.5 inches (113 cms) diameter.
Pine
$13,950
H 29.5 in W 151.75 in D 54.75 in
French Walnut Extension Dining Table With Five Leaves, Tapered Legs on Casters
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French walnut oval extension dining room table from the 20th century, with five leaves, tapered legs and casters. This French walnut oval extension dining table from the 20th centu...
Brass
19th Century French Louis XV Giltwood Marble Top Console
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis XV giltwood marble top console is an amazing rendition of the style that glorifies the beauty of nature, emphasizing shell floral and foliate forms to an am...
Marble
$4,250Sale Price|26% Off
H 29 in W 62.63 in D 42.75 in
Louis XVI Jansen Style Center or Dining Table Black Lacquer Steinway Finish
Located in Stamford, CT
Louis XVI Jansen style center or dining table in a black lacquer Steinway piano finish. Part of our extensive collection of over forty dining tables and chair sets as seen on this si...
Wood
$6,399
H 29.25 in W 106 in D 46 in
Louis XVI Style Brass Mounted Dining Table In the Manner of Maison Jansen
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 29 1/4 in W (Closed): 66 in D: 46 in W (Open With Both Leaves in): 106 in W (Each Leaf): 20 in This magnificent dining table exemplifies the refined elegance of Fr...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 29.93 in W 111.42 in D 38.19 in
Large 17th-18th Century Parisian 'Versailles Parquetry' Oak Refectory Table
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Superb large Parisian oak refectory table. The top is 17th Century heavy oak Louis XIV 'Versailles Parquetry'. With rich original colour and patina. With a later 18th century turned...
Oak
19th Century French Louis XIV Carved Oak Our-Leg Farm Dining Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Dress a dining or breakfast room with this elegant antique Baroque farm table. Carved in France, circa 1860, and built of solid oak wood, the long and wide table stands on thick turn...
Oak
Sold
H 29.88 in W 78.63 in D 33.25 in
Antique Louis XIV Style Polychromed Rectangular Dining Center Table ca. 1900
Located in Shippensburg, PA
LARGE LOUIS XIV STYLE FAUX-MARBLE POLYCHROMED AND PARCEL GILDED CENTER TABLE Continental, circa 1900 Item # 403PZN18S A large and striking center table made in the Louis XIV style f...
Giltwood
Sold
H 29.625 in W 86.625 in D 33.125 in
Early 1900s French Bleached Oak Monastery Table with Balustrade Stretcher
Located in Dallas, TX
This thick, carved oak monastery was produced in France during the early part of the 20th century. Originally, it was likely given a darker, more traditional stain. At some point in its history, its been stripped and bleached, which allows it to be used with a variety of interiors. Note that the table has a unique stretcher consisting of a repeating balustrade. The individual baluster shape can be considered in the style of Louis XIV (large square mid sections with angled, tapering toward the top). The stretcher runs through wide and sloping trestle feet. The monastery table is a cousin of the refectory table (usually narrower and very long). Larger monasteries would have several refectory tables set...
Oak
Sold
H 29 in W 68 in D 34.5 in
Spanish Late Baroque Olivewood & Walnut Dining or Writing Table, ca. 1700
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a rectangular joined six board olivewood top resting on turned splayed walnut trestle-form supports, raised on turned feet.
Olive, Walnut
Antique French Louis XIV Dining Table in Stripped Oak
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Louis XIV dining table in stripped oak exudes a stately elegance that is truly understated! The solid oak plank top is bev...
Oak
Louis XIV Style Dining Table, circa 1900
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Louis XIV style dining room table in walnut, with its parquet top. It rests on a base consisting of five baluster-shaped feet in turned wood supported by five round flattened feet, j...
Walnut
Large Antique French Monastery Table in Bleached Oak, Circa 1890
Located in Dallas, TX
This thick, carved oak monastery table was produced in France, circa 1890. Originally built using large pieces of French oak, and given a darker, more traditional stain. At some point in its history, the table was stripped and bleached, allowing it to be used with a variety of interiors. Note that the table was carved en baluster, meaning that the legs are baluster shaped. This was a key component of early Louis XIV tables, before console legs became popular. Both thick, bulbous legs have molded plinths on top of large bracket feet. The H-shaped stretcher is indicative of an early Louis XIV table, as by the end of the period, X-shaped stretchers were more common. The 2 ½ inch thick stretcher has a slighty rounded top edge that runs through a mortise in the feet. The stretcher terminals slot into shaped caps that are held in place by a large dowel on each end. The monastery table is a cousin of the refectory table (usually narrower and very long). Larger monasteries would have several refectory tables set...
Oak
French 19th Century Dining Table
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French 19th century dining table This table has 2 extensions on each side that slide under the top. Dimensions when the table is clo...
Oak
French 19th Century Dining Room Table
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French 19th century dining room table.
Oak
Sold
H 30.25 in W 62.5 in D 53.5 in
19th Century Antique French Carved Oak Oval Dining Table Renaissance Louis XIV
Located in Choudrant, LA
19th century Antique French carved oak oval dining table Renaissance Louis XIV ~Direct from France~ ~Majestic and substantial...
Oak
18th Century Restored Walnut Table
Located in Vulpellac, Girona
18th century recently restored walnut table from a farm in north east Spain. In good conditions.
Walnut