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.
1980s French Louis XV Style Serpentine Brass Ormolu Desk
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
This French style desk embodies the refined elegance of the Louis XV style, making it a timeless addition to any space. Crafted from solid wood, the desk features a gracefully shape ...
Brass
French Louis XV Style Two-Tier Dessert or Tea Table
Located in Bradenton, FL
Late 19th Century French Two-Tier Dessert or Serving table in the Louis XV Style. Table features an elegant bombe form and cabriole legs, and is decorat...
Bronze
$1,836Sale Price|20% Off
Fine French Louis XV Style Mahogany and Carrara Marble Brass Bound Dessert Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous octagonal Carrara marble two tier top dessert table. This table is fitted with pierce carved brass gallery to make sure your cream puffs and eclairs don't fly off ...
Carrara Marble, Brass
$2,763Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20th Century French Brass and Marquetry Opening Table, 1900s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Louis XV style Beautiful and rare table from the early 20th century made with a checkerboard marquetry and brass. Opening top offering a beveled mirror and some compartment storage...
Brass
French Louis XV Gilt Bronze Inlaid Attributed Sormani Dessert Table
By Paul Sormani
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This exceptional late 19th-century French dessert table, attributed to Paul Sormani, is a superb example of Parisian luxury furniture, combining refined Louis XV–inspired form with e...
Bronze
$2,396Sale Price|20% Off
Fine French Louis XV Marquetry Inlaid Mahogany Bronze Mounted Dessert Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This fine French Louis XV style dessert table showcases the artistry and elegance of 19th-century furniture making. Crafted from rich mahogany, the table is beautifully enhanced with...
Bronze
$5,475Sale Price|20% Off
French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Carved Oak Tea - Two-Tier Dessert Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French 19th-20th century Louis XV Style carved oak two-tier tea - dessert table. The tall and slender body with carved seashells on the apron, an upper shelf raised on four scrolle...
Oak
$2,888Sale Price|33% Off
French Marquetry Inlaid Kingwood Louis XV Style Two-Tier Dessert or Tea Table
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Fine and rare old French marquetry inlaid kingwood Louis XV style two-tier dessert or tea table with handsome ormolu mounts and exceptional floral motif marquetry inlays throughout. ...
Ormolu
$10,013Sale Price|24% Off
19th Century Louis XV Two-Tier Parquetry Dessert Table
Located in Ross, CA
Extremely rare Louis XV dessert tray, known as a "serviteur" in French, mounted in ornate gilt bronze and detailed with intricate bird and flora themed marquetry. Dolphin-themed gilt bronze mounts and wild dog...
Brass, Bronze
Napoleon III Louis XV Style Giltwood Scagliola Top Center Table Dessert Table
Located in Berlin, DE
Napoleon III Louis XV style giltwood scagliola top center table dessert table Ornamental octogonal table frame with rich, partially openwork carved Louis XV style rocaille decorat...
Scagliola, Wood
$2,888Sale Price|33% Off
H 34.5 in W 30.5 in D 19.5 in
French Marquetry Inlaid Kingwood Louis XV Style Two-Tier Dessert or Tea Table
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Fine and rare old French marquetry inlaid kingwood Louis XV style two-tier dessert or tea table with handsome ormolu mounts and exceptional floral motif marquetry inlays throughout. ...
Ormolu
$20,870
H 39.38 in W 47.64 in D 25.99 in
19th Century French Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Writing Desk
Located in London, GB
19th century French Louis XV style ormolu mounted writing desk French, Late 19th Century Height 100cm, width 121cm, depth 66cm Crafted in the late 19th century, this writing desk i...
Ormolu
Louis XV Salon Table Stamped Paul Sormani
By Paul Sormani
Located in BARSAC, FR
Beautiful and elegant small center table with curved legs and scalloped top in the Louis XV style forming a writing and working table thanks to a sliding top system revealing a drop-...
Amboyna
Early 19th Century Mahogany Breakfast Table
Located in Martlesham, GB
Early 19th century mahogany breakfast table, the lovely figured rectangular reeded edge top supported on a turned column with re...
Mahogany
USM Haller bar cart, produced in the 1980s.
By Usm Haller
Located in LYON, FR
Maison Lecan presents this USM Haller bar cart, produced in the 1980s. An icon of Swiss modular design, this piece features a chrome-plated steel tube structure with lacquered metal...
Steel
19th Century French Belle Epoch Tiered Dessert Table
Located in Forney, TX
A lovely and important French Belle Epoch period two-tier dessert table from legendary American businessman, T. Boone Pickens Preston Hollow, North Dallas home. Hand-crafted from ric...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Late 19th-Early 20th Century Carved and Inlaid Black Forest Table with Stags
Located in Richmond, VA
Great sized late 19th-early 20th century black forest carved and inlaid table with scenes of stags.
Wood
Early 19th century Georgian tripod table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century Georgian tripod table circa 1800. Good quality Georgian period tilt top mahogany wine table. Circular top with bull nosed edge. Functioning tilt mechanism. Rai...
Mahogany
Elegant French Zebrawood Table a Dessert, Maurice Dufrène
Located in New York City, NY
A graceful French Art Deco centre table with exquisite parquetry zebrawood detail attributed to Maurice Dufrène. The top square shelf floats above a clover shaped lower shelf, both r...
Zebra Wood
$18,950Sale Price|45% Off
H 34.5 in W 32.5 in D 22 in
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Two-Tier Tea-Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French, 19th century Louis XVI style ormolu-mounted mahogany two-tier tea-table etagere attributed to François Linke (1855-1946). The oval Basque Jaspe marble top with a ...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$125,000
H 31.88 in W 75 in D 38.5 in
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Bureau Plat Desk
By Paul Sormani
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and large French 19th century Louis XV style ormolu-mounted mahogany and kingwood three-drawer bureau plat attributed to Paul Sormani (French-Italian 1817-1877). The shaped rectangular top enclosing a gilt tooled brown leather writing surface within a molded border above a long central drawer enclosing a fine modeled mask of Hercules wearing the Nemean lion pelt centered by flat cast encadrements and rosewood veneered a quatre faces flanked by two short drawers with reticulated escutcheons of scantly clad frolicking putti and doves over gadrooned "C" scrolls, trellis patterned panels on a stylized shell within similarly framed encadrements raised on elegant cabriole legs surmounted by bearded satyr masks ending in acanthus case hairy paw feet beneath sides centering bacchic masks. Lock mechanism stamped W S M, 6068, a key (lacking skeleton key), and 148. Veuve Paul Sormani Et Fils was the widow of the highly esteemed furniture maker Paul Sormani (French-Italian 1817-1877). After his death around 1877 she and her son took over the management of the company continuing the tradition of producing fine French furniture of the highest calibre. An escutcheon and several mounts were examined on the reverse, and each was found to have the bronze master model initials "SJ:. Blue chalk inscription on underside Glle 117, Paris, circa 1880. Paul Sormani (1817-1877): Born in Venice, Paul Sormani set up in Paris in the middle of the 19th century. He specialized in creating furniture and works of art and was known for his high quality reproductions of Louis XV and XVI furniture...
Bronze, Ormolu
$7,500 / set
H 30 in Dm 29 in
Fine Pair French Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Floral Marquetry Side Tables
Located in Forney, TX
A fine pair of French Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted marquetry inlaid mahogany side tables. Exquisitely hand-crafted in France, 20th century, fine quality, exceptionally executed in luxurious Louis XV style with Napoleon III Second Empire influences, featuring a round shaped top with protruding squared corners, decorated with elaborate exotic woods floral marquetry work, over frame with gracefully curved scalloped apron, adorned with finely sculpted brilliantly gilded bronze mounts, rising on long elegant cabriole legs, ending in chisled gilt bronze sabots. Dimensions: (approx) 30" High, 29" wide, 29" deep. Provenance/Acquisition: Acquired from highly reputable auction house, Heritage Auctions...
Bronze
Sold
H 36 in W 77 in D 19 in
Antique French Louis XV Style Sofa Hall Entry Console Table Mahogany 77" Wide
Located in Tyler, TX
EXQUISITE Antique French Louis XV Style Mahogany WIDE Console, Sofa Table, Entry Hall or Foyer Table with Drawer~~77" Wide~~c. 1890s-1900s Elegant table with one full length drawer ...
Mahogany
Sold
H 29 in W 25.5 in D 21 in
Antique French Carved Oak Sofa Dessert Table Serving Tray Louis XV Cherub c1880
Located in Choudrant, LA
19th century French carved oak sofa dessert table serving tray Louis XV Cherub ~Direct from France~ ~Gorgeous 19th century French dessert table...
Oak
Sold
H 29.14 in W 38.19 in D 18.51 in
20th Century Italian Louis XV Style Walnut Tilt-Top Console Table
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful important antique console table 1950s in walnut whit tilt-top. Beautiful wavy line of the legs and the top. Excellent condition ready to be placed in your beautiful home.
Walnut
Tea Table in the Louis XV, Napoleon III Style
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Tea table in Louis XV style, in rosewood veneer and rosewood inlaid with floral decorations with bronze side handles. Curved legs, ormolu ornamentation Late 19th century period - Na...
Bronze
Sold
H 29.5 in W 33.5 in D 21 in
Antique French Carved Oak Side Table Louis XV Regency Style Wine Serving Glass
Located in Choudrant, LA
Direct from France, a superb antique French side table with quintessential French style and endless possibilities! ~ The gorgeous Louis XV style silhouette just takes my breath away...
Glass, Oak
Louis XV Style Bar / Liqueur Cabinet, French Signed Brevete Paris
By Brevete
Located in Stamford, CT
Very fine Louis XV style bar cabinet with gilt bronze mounts and floral marquetry. Unusual large size. Hardware stamped with double keys signed Brevete Paris...
Bronze
Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mounted King Wood Two-Tier Table
Located in New York, NY
A Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted King wood, Satine and fruitwood Marquetry two-tier tea table . the removable two-handled glass tray raised on dolphin cast supports. The table f...
Bronze
French Inlaid Gallery Top Tiered Dessert Table
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A beautiful Inlaid and brass-mounted tiered table. Beautiful form with a pierced gallery edge on the top tray. The table rests on four capped legs with castors.
Brass
Country French Louis XV Style Dessert Table
Located in Birmingham, AL
Charming Country French Louis XV style dessert table in walnut. Two tiers with parquet tops raised on graceful cabriole legs ending in scrolled French toes.
Walnut
Louis XV Style Marquetry and Bronze Dessert Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 1900s Louis XV style Parisian side table having a marquetry shelf below a marble top, bronze-mounted, made of various veneer mostly mahoga...
Mahogany, Tulipwood
Louis XV Marquetry Center Table
Located in Hixson, TN
A quality Louis XV Kingswood and marquetry inlaid salon table. With iron pull out supports and leaves. The table is decorated with wonderful ormolu mounts and fine ormolu trim. Each ...