Reflecting the final era of royal opulence before the upheaval of the French Revolution, antique Louis XVI furniture features more angular shapes than the Rococo curves of the Louis XV style, harkening back to the imposing grandeur of Louis XIV.
Dating between 1750 and 1800, an era that overlapped with the last king of France whose reign was cut short by the guillotine, Louis XVI furniture, known as the goût grec, is emblematic of the neoclassical revision that French furniture underwent during the second half of the 18th century.
Authentic Louis XVI furniture characteristics include clean lines and carved details such as scrolls and acanthus flourishes that were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. This was informed by a burgeoning interest in antiquity in the 18th century, owing to new archaeological excavations at sites including Pompeii and Herculaneum. It largely eclipsed the more East Asian–influenced ornamentation of Louis XV for something more geometric and symmetrical.
The Louis XVI style was defined by what was being created for the palatial rooms at Versailles and Fontainebleau, particularly for the queen, with cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener being a favorite of Marie-Antoinette’s for his luxurious pieces accented with gilded bronze and marquetry. Furniture maker Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené was also a major designer of the period, with his pieces for the royal residences adorned with giltwood and neoclassical touches like tapered columns for chair legs and laurel leaf carvings. Cabinetmaker Adam Weisweiler occasionally incorporated into his furniture porcelain panels produced by Sèvres, a popular manufacturer of European ceramics that served the crown with serveware, vases and other decorative objects.
Find a collection of antique Louis XVI seating, tables, cabinets and other furniture on 1stDibs.
French 18th Century Miniature Fashion Engraving, c. 1780
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
A charming French miniature fashion engraving, probably Paris, dating from around 1780. The finely engraved image depicts an elegant lady wearing an elaborate coiffure with a strikin...
Paper
$1,042Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set Elisabeth Haussard '1700-1804' 18 Century Hand Colored Engraving
Located in Den Haag, NL
set 18 Century Hand colored Strawberry Engraving by Elisabeth Haussard 1700- 1804 Author: Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau (1700–1782) "Traite des Arbres et Arbustes"" Very famous ...
Paper
$521Sale Price|20% Off
Jacques Renaud Bernard, Set of 5 Engraving of Architecture, 18th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Beautiful set of 5 engravings by Jacques Renaud Bernard representing the parade hall and the apartments of the Duchess of Orleans at the Royal Palace in Paris, architectural ensemble designed by the architect of Louis XV Pierre Contant D'Ivry. The engravings represent the architectural details of the different rooms (moldings, sculptures, furniture etc.) This set of engravings...
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Pair of framed engravings of elegant women - fashion & hairstyle - 18th - France
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
A very pretty pair of 18th-century engravings depicting two elegant women with hairstyles in the fashion of the time. These engravings come from the magazine "Le Cabinet des Modes ou...
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After F Snyders, Suite Of 5 Engravings On The "markets" , 19th century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
A set of 5 framed engravings depicting the Food Markets in England in the 18th century. They are very detailed and reflect the profusion and diversity of products common at that tim...
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Hand Colored Copperplate Engraving of Copenhagen, Denmark
Located in Kastrup, DK
Hand-colored copperplate engraving depicting an interesting old view of Copenhagen seen from Frederiksberg Castle Gardens, approximate. 1790-1800. Framed in a mahogany frame from sam...
Glass, Mahogany, Paper
18th Century French Hand Colored Etching of an Elephant Skeleton
By Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon
Located in Stamford, CT
A beautifully rendered etching with hand coloring depicting the skeleton of an elephant on a pedestal. A live elephant, foliage and huts in the background. French, 18th century by Georges Le Clerc...
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Set of Four Eighteenth Century French Reverse Paintings on Glass after Pillement
Located in Essex, MA
Each in later bird’s-eye maple frames. Depicting farm animals and skaters on a pond, houses and people in daily pursuits along a waterway.
Glass
Frederick Hendrik Kaemmerer - Oval Mezzotint, c.1880s
Located in Savannah, GA
Frederik Hendrik Kaemmerer (Dutch, 1839-1902) Courting scene mezzotint, circa 1880s. McClees Galleries, Philadelphia label. sight: 13 ½ by 16 ½ inches frame: 18 ½ by 23 inches
Glass, Giltwood, Paper
Large Framed French Etching of Versailles, Le Bassin d’Encelade
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Large Framed French Etching of Versailles – Le Bassin d’Encelade Pair of Versailles themed prints available. From Mis en Demeure, Paris.
Wood, Paper
$704Sale Price|20% Off
French Antique Lithograph in Gilt Frame 'La Douce Résistance'
By Louis Leopold Boilly
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
Lithograph by Italian artist Salvatore Tresca (1750–1815) after an original painting by French artist Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761–1845) of a work entitled 'La Douce...
Giltwood
$850Sale Price|41% Off
18th Century French Print by Pierre Philippe Choffard
Located in Doylestown, PA
A late 18th century French engraving titled “Marche tout doux, parlez tout bas” (Walk very softly, speak very low) by Pierre Philippe Cho...
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Views Of Venice, A Set Of 6 Framed Engravings, 18th/19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
A beautiful set of six antique engraved views of Venice: *Veduta del Campo di San Moise in Venezia, per Domenico Louisa a Rialto * Veduta del Canal Grande dirimpetto la Pescaria di...
Paper
Suite Of 6 Framed Animal Engravings, ideal for curiosity cabinet, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
A beautiful set of six antique natural history engravings, finely hand-colored, depicting various animal species from around the world. The series includes a Javan hare, a Greenland...
Paper
Hand-Colored French Map, Carte des Etats Unis, Par Bonne, Late 18th Century
Located in Chappaqua, NY
Hand-colored French map, Carte de la Partie Nord, des Etats Unis, de l'Amérique Septentrionale, late 18th century. A French map of New England published at the end of the Revolutionary War...
Paper
18th Century Set of Four Engravings by J Audran
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Set of four 18th Century engravings by J Audran. These fabulously detailed copper plate engravings show Alexander The Great in various Battle scenes, one riding an elephant, spear in...
Glass, Giltwood, Paper
$650 / set
H 21 in W 18.5 in D 1.25 in
Pair of Antique Hand Colored Botanical Engravings, Floral Prints
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of hand colored botanical engravings of flowers.
Paper
$3,500Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 32.5 in W 23 in D 1.25 in
Framed Set of 18th Century Classical Engravings
Located in Pembroke, MA
Two French matted and framed 18th century black and white engravings inspired by Classical Antiquity. The first frame contains an engraving of a woman patting a unicorn, and a man an...
Giltwood, Paper
Unavailable|$700 / set
H 26 in W 12.5 in D 0.3 in
Antique Albertus Seba Pair 18th Century Hand-Colored Engravings Butterfly
Located in Washington, DC
Rare pair of original hand-colored prints from Sir Albertus Seba's cabinet of natural curiosities. Prints come from published volumes in Amste...
Paper
18th-century Johann Weinmann Engravings of Grapes, Set of Four
Located in Downingtown, PA
"Phytanthoza Iconographia": Set of Four 18th-Century Weinmann Engravings of Grapes Circa 1740 A superb suite of four original antique botanical e...
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Set Four Hand Colored Pierre Gravees Antiques Engravings
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic 18th Century Antique Hand-Colored Engravings depicting Greek Mythological scenes. This set of artwork is from J.B. Wicar. These matted and gold gilt...
Glass, Wood, Giltwood, Paper
Pair Of Hand Colored Engravings Of Parrots
Located in Essex, MA
Two framed hand colored stipple engravings of parrots by Jacques Barraband published 1801-05. In beautifully matted and gilded frames. From Judy Cormier. One print with some foxing.
Glass, Giltwood, Paper
$1,600 / set
H 17 in W 15.5 in D 75 in
Botanical Hand-colored Copperplate engraving by Edward Dalton Smith
Located in Downingtown, PA
Botanical Brilliance: Edward Dalton Smith’s Copperplate Engravings 1829 This exquisite pair of hand-colored copperplate engravings represents the precision and artistry of the celeb...
Paper
Set of Six Framed 18th c. Engravings of Moths
Located in Greenwich, CT
A set of six original hand-colored engravings of rare and unusual moths. Plates from The Aurelian or Natural History of English Insects (1766) by Moses Harris. These engravings wer...
Paper
$2,131
H 15.75 in W 19.69 in D 0.4 in
Set of Six 18th Century French Engravings of Formal Garden Views, Framed
Located in Madrid, ES
Elegant set of six French engravings dating from the 18th century, each depicting views of some of the most important formal gardens in France. These prints reflect the refined lands...
Paper
Framed Engraving, View Of Gray Franche Comté, 18th Century?
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Large framed engraving titled "View of the town of Gray Franche-Comté" It bears the following notes: "is distributed in Paris by the author, in the hostel of the royal manufactur...
Paper
18th Century Pair of English Engravings
Located in Dallas, TX
Superb pair of 18th century English engravings.
Pair of Antique Framed Hand Colored French Parrot Engraving
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Lofty pair of 18th Century French hand colored engravings of parrots in natural settings as discovered by noted naturalist George Louis Leclerc Comte de Buffon. Presented under glass...
Giltwood
Set of 8 Monkey Prints by Jacques de Seve
Located in Doylestown, PA
A set of 8 hand-colored engravings of various monkey species by Jacques de Seve ( 1742-1788) from the series Histoires Naturelle, plate size 6.5” x 8.5” circa 1780. Framed and matted...
Paper
Sold
H 26 in W 19 in D 1.5 in
Pair Antique French Neoclassically Framed Botanical Lithographs by J.W. Penfold
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautiful pair of antique French neoclassical framed botanical lithographs were hand-colored and mounted in oval frames with original gilt finish that exhibit classic French Lou...
Wood, Paper
Sold
H 17 in W 13 in D 1 in
Pair Antique French Hand-Colored Lithographs in Mahogany Frames with Bronze Moun
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair Antique French hand-colored lithographs in mahogany frames with bronze mounts are an exceptional example of Belle Epoque beauty! The highly detailed lithographs depict two darli...
Bronze
Pair of Louis XVI Style with Engravings, 19th Century
Located in Beaune, FR
Lovely pair of Louis XVI style frames with pretty engravings depicting social ball scenes on the inside.
Wood
Sold
H 55.75 in W 1.25 in D 17.5 in
Antique Louis XVI Trumeau Pier Mirror & Engraving Le Lever Romanet Freudenberg
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Louis XVI mahogany trumeau wall mirror topped with a 1774 hand colored engraving titled “Le Lever” by Antoine Louis Romanet (1742-1810, French engraver and miniaturist) after Sigmund Freudenberger. “Sigmund Freudenberger (16 June 1745 – 15 November 1801) was a Swiss painter. Freudenberger was the son of a lawyer, and studied as a portraitist. He lived from 1765 to 1773 in Paris, where he worked with François Boucher. He then founded in a private art school in Bern and was known as "Little Master...
Mirror, Mahogany
Print of an Interior Bath
Located in New York, NY
A lovely print featuring a French "Salle de Bain", matted and finished in a gilt wood frame.
Paper
Antique Marie Antoinette d'Autriche Queen of France et de Navarre Engraving
Located in Dayton, OH
"Marie Antoinette d'Autriche, Reine de France et de Navarre, 1777 Color wash-manner etching and engraving with overprinting in gold ink framed in ornate black and gold frame...
Paper
Sold
H 23.75 in W 31.5 in D 0.75 in
Large Framed Etching of Versailles – Vue Particulière de la Chapelle du Château
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Large framed French Etching of Versailles – Vue Particulière de la Chapelle du Château de Versailles Pair available on the Versailles Theme. From Mis en Demeure, Paris.
Wood, Paper
Sold
H 17.75 in W 13.75 in D 1 in
Pair of French 20th Century Louis XVI Style Genre Prints in Carved Frames
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of French Louis XVI style framed prints from the 20th century, depicting genre scenes. Created in France during the 20th century, each of this pair of prints brings us back to the ambiance of the Ancien Régime. Evolving in a decor reminding us of the Marie-Antoinette private apartments at Versailles (think cabinet de la Méridienne), each scene depicts three characters. One is more formal, the other more intimate. A courtier is visiting (or trying to) a lady. The maid is either presenting a gorgeous basket of flowers, or slightly opening the door to the eager courtier. Bearing gifts of trying to be allowed in, we are charmed by the intimacy of the scenes and the refinement of the Louis XVI decor...
Glass, Paper, Wood
Louis XVI Architectural Print Plate by Rouyer
Located in Rio Vista, CA
French Louis XVI style architectural plate print by French architect Eugene Rouyer (French 1827-1901). Titled Hotel De La Prefecture and set in a gilt wood frame behind glass. From a...
Glass, Giltwood, Paper
18th Century French Engraving of Rooster by Martinet
Located in Doylestown, PA
A French hand-colored engraving by Francois Nicholas Martinet, circa 1770, of a rooster "De Coo Hupe", custom matted and framed. From the series "Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux, 177...
Paper