Antique Louis XIII furniture is not as lavish as that of his son Louis XIV, who transformed his father’s modest Versailles hunting lodge into a sumptuous palace. Yet the imposing forms of its chairs, dressers, tables and other pieces express grandeur and luxury.
When Henry IV was assassinated in the streets of Paris in 1610, his young son became the king of France. With Louis XIII too young to rule, the widowed Marie de' Medici — a native of Italy and member of the prominent House of Medici — became regent, instilling an Italian influence in the decorative arts. Even after Louis XIII exiled his mother and took power in 1617, this aesthetic informed his court style. As did the consolidation of power, established with his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, through his death in 1643.
From sturdy chests and tall cupboards to colossal four-poster beds, almost every piece of Louis XIII furniture was heavily carved or turned from dark-toned wood. Motifs of the period included scrollwork, foliage, fruits, grotesque masks and other images of abundance, often inlaid in marquetry of wood or tortoiseshell. Ornamental scenes, sometimes carved on cabinet panels and other pieces from rare ebony, oak or walnut, were borrowed from engravings by northern European masters like Peter Paul Rubens. Engravings also spread the Louis XIII style during the 17th century, particularly by printmaker Abraham Bosse, who depicted the popular Louis XIII chairs designed with upholstered seats and low, wide backs.
The lofty profiles of the French furniture complemented the architecture under the reign of Louis XIII, such as the Palais du Luxembourg by chief architect Salomon de Brosse and architect Jacques Lemercier’s chapel at the Sorbonne, which showcased the influence of Italian Baroque.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIII armchairs, storage cabinets, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
$336Sale Price|20% Off
Jacques Callot "La Dame en deuil" Engraving 17th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This engraving is part of a series of 12 plates called "La Noblesse" ("Nobility"). Numbered 5, it was published with the 11 others between 1620 and 1623. It depicts a lady wearing a ...
Paper
$4,573Sale Price|20% Off
Jacques Callot "Misères Et Malheurs De La Guerre" Collection of Engraving 17th
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
“Les Misères Et Les Malheurs De La Guerre” (“The misfortunes of war”) more commonly called “the great miseries of war” (“The great miseries of war”) is a major work by the 17th centu...
Paper
$1,026Sale Price|20% Off
Jacques Callot - Engraving the crucifixion - The Great Passion - France 17th
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
17th century engraving by Jacques Callot, from the series La Grande Passion. The engraving represents Le Crucifiement or La Crucifixion. This is the seventh number of a series of 7 p...
Paper
$504Sale Price / set|20% Off
Jacques Callot - Set of 2 Engravings : "Les Gueux" - 17th Century - France
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
These engravings are part of a series of 25 prints called "les gueux" or "les mendiants", "les barons", "les barons". Numbered 12 and 16, they were published with the 23 others betwe...
Paper
Interior Scene, Framed Engraving, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Framed engraving depicting an animated interior scene of several characters around a table. It bears the following description: "Il fumoso a smaltir cibo indigesto - non v'e piu ...
Paper
$1,175
H 35 in W 30.5 in D 2 in
Large 17th Century Hand Colored Map of England and the British Isles by de Wit
Located in Alamo, CA
A large hand colored 17th century map of England and the British Isles by Frederick de Wit entitled "Accuratissima Angliæ Regni et Walliæ Principatus", published in Amsterdam in 1680. It is a highly detailed map of England, Scotland, the Scottish Isles...
Paper
19th Century Pair of Framed Italian Hand Colored Engravings
Located in San Francisco, CA
19th century pair of framed Italian hand colored engravings One engraving depicts a scene from Florence, Italy The other depicts a sc...
Paper
$450 / set
H 26 in W 18 in D 1 in
19th Century Neoclassic Steel Engraving Prints, Framed, Antique Pair
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of 19th century neoclassic steel engraving prints. Professionally matted and framed.
Wood, Paper
$568Sale Price|25% Off
H 13.39 in W 8.75 in D 0 in
Rare Anatomy Engraving – Skeleton and Flayed Figure, Blome, 17th Century
Located in Langweer, NL
Anatomy Display – Antique Engraving by Michael Vandergucht, 1686 This fascinating late 17th-century engraving depicts an anatomy display, showing a skeleton, an écorché (a flayed fi...
Paper
$775
H 27 in W 21.38 in D 0.75 in
Map of the Holy Land "Carte de la Syrie et de l'Egypte" by Pierre M. Lapie
Located in Alamo, CA
An early 19th century map of ancient Syria and Egypt entitled "Carte de la Syrie et de l'Egypte anciennes/dressée par M. Lapie, Colonel d'Etat Major, et...
Paper
Framed 18th C. Swedish Botanical Engravings, Set of 4
Located in Atlanta, GA
A collection of four art pieces of Swedish 18th century ferns, displayed nicely within custom gold toned wooden frames. This set of framed wall decorat...
Glass, Wood
$9,100
H 35.83 in W 30.71 in D 2.37 in
17th Century Dutch Flame Moulding Frame Ebonized Old Master Style
Located in Epfach, DE
17th Century Dutch Flame Moulding Frame Ebonized Old Master Style A particularly fine and original Flammleisten (flame-moulding) frame, Netherlands, 17th century, a distinguished ex...
Wood
$2,000
H 25 in W 27.5 in D 1 in
19th-Century Pair of Equestrian Engravings – Framed Antique Hunting Prints
By William Barraud
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Bring the allure of the English countryside into your home with this remarkable pair of antique equestrian prints. These hand-colored engravi...
Wood, Paper, Glass
Unavailable|$760
H 10.63 in W 16.54 in D 1.19 in
Late 19th Century Engraving of Greek Graces in Gold Leaf Frame
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful antique frame with a print of dancing Greek graces. The frame is made of wood, with refined carving and graceful curls. The wood is decorated with stucco and gilded with gold leaf. The print is also interesting, it is an antique print with beautiful gold print, depicting the dancing graces...
Gold Leaf
Original Ancient "Sansovino" Wood Frame, 17th Century
Located in Roma, IT
17th century wood frame is an original ancient object realized in Italy in the 17th century. Original wood. Very good conditions. Exceptional frame in carved and gilded woo...
Wood
19th Century EAS Douglas Hunt Scene Aquatint Engraving
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a lovely late 19th century, EAS Douglas hunt scene aquatint engraving. Hand colored and originally painted by Edward Algernon Stuart Douglas (1...
Paper
$830Sale Price|20% Off
H 12.6 in W 15.75 in D 0.99 in
French Engraving of Italian Landscape View with Gold Leaf Gilt Frame
Located in Barcelona, ES
Engraving printed in black on laid paper framed with a neoclassical style gold leaf frame. The engraving shows a beautiful view from the Aqueduct of Corigliano, Calabria. Marks with ...
Gold Leaf
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H 8.27 in W 7.68 in D 1.19 in
Christoffel Van Sichem Ii, Dutch (1577 - 1658), Woodcut, 1646, Framed
Located in Bilzen, BE
Christoffel Van Sichem II (1577 - 1658) Title: Banquet scene with three young couples, an old man standing at right Series/Book Title: Bibel Tresoor ofte der Zielen Lusthof, Amsterda...
Wood, Paper
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H 2.37 in W 3.15 in D 0.4 in
Jacques Callot "The Gun Exercises: Pointing" Engraving, 17th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This engraving is part of a series of 13 made by Jacques Callot. It is number 11 and is called "Exercise de canon: le pointage". It is a 2nd state (presence of a number in the lower ...
Paper
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H 7.88 in W 10.24 in D 0.4 in
Jacques Callot "Les Caprices Trousers Looking at Each Other Engraving
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This engraving is part of a series of 50 etchings. It consists of 48 caprices, a frontispiece and a dedication to Lorenzo de' Medici, brother of Cosimo II de' Medici. It is a first s...
Paper
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H 12.8 in W 19.69 in D 1.19 in
Jacques Callot "The Two Views Of Paris, 2, Pont Neuf" Engraving, 17th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This engraving is part of a series of two engravings drawn during Jacques Callot's stay in Paris in 1628-1630. size : 13.4 x 10.23 inches 19.7 x 12.6inches with frame signed: Cal...
Paper