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.
Mid-Century Italian Painted Trompe L’Oeil French Style Wallpaper Screen Divider
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a mid-century Italian French Louis XVI style hand painted wall paper folding screen or room divider. Each panel is a trompe l’oeil neoclassical seen mimicking architectural ...
Poplar, Paper
Five-Paneled French Gilt Folding Screen
Located in Redding, CT
Five-paneled French gilt folding screen. Perfect for privacy or for covering up an area. Gorgeous carved wooden gilt design with caning and hand pa...
Cane, Wood
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique 5 Panels Hand Painted Screen from Duc Uzès
Located in FR
A remarkable Louis XVI 18th-century French antique screen with an illustrious provenance, presumed to have belonged to the Duke of Uzès. This exquisite five-panel folding screen show...
Canvas, Wood
Louis XVI Style Room Divider, Fabric & Wood, 20th Century, Floral
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A delightful little 18th century-style three-sectional room divider, crafted from fabric stretched over a wooden frame and skilfully printed with a deliberate reproduction of a nicel...
Fabric, Wood
4 Panel Needle point Room Divider
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This 4 panel needlepoint room divider is an elegant fusion of decorative artistry and practical design. Hand-stitched with intricate floral motifs, it showcases urns overflowing with...
Textile
Antique French Carved Walnut and Needlepoint Decorative Panel, 1920
Located in Barntrup, DE
Antique French carved walnut and needlepoint decorative panel, ca. 1920 A beautiful decorative panel with a frame carved in Louis XVI style and needlepoint with a Bible motif. The ne...
Velvet, Fabric, Walnut
18th Century French Louis XVI Period Ecran Fire Screen
By Georges Jacob
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce period Louis XVI hand carved wooden fire screen (Écran de Cheminée) in the manner of important Parisian menuisiers Georges Jacob (French, 17...
Silk, Beech
19th Century French Hand Carved Gilded Four Leaves Folding Screen
Located in Sofia, BG
French hand carved four leaves folding screen in gilded wood decorated with ribbon tori. Double mirrors at the high part and original silk upholstery until the bottom of each leave. ...
Silk, Wood
Louis XVI Style Three-Panel Screen
Located in New York, NY
Screens can add some depth and architectural interest to a room, and this one is exceptionally good looking. This three-panel painted and parcel-gilt screen is surrounded by a beaded...
Mirror, Giltwood
Louis XVI-Style Folding Screen, 19th Century, Gray-Painted Frame, Silk
Located in Greding, DE
Three-panel folding screen with a blue moiré silk curtain featuring laurel ornaments. The gray-painted frame is decorated with rosettes and leaf motifs. The surface shows signs of ag...
Fabric, Softwood
French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu fire screen
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu fire screen. This wonderful freestanding fire screen is raised on four scrolled legs supporting the vertical scre...
Ormolu
Antique French Louis XVI Three-Panel Screen
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Louis XVI three-panel screen.
Gold Leaf
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Stye Gilt Three Panel Screen Room Divider
Located in London, GB
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Stye Gilt Three Panel Screen Room Divider A gilt-framed three-fold screen, c.1890, Continental, the shaped top with leaf and ribbon moulded cresting, shaped bevelled glass mirror panels, above fabric panels. In very good condition commensurate with age. Minor signs of wear to gilt and one replacement mirrored...
Fabric, Giltwood, Mirror
magnificent 4 Panel Screen Painted on Wood Depicting the 4 Saisons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This high quality of decoration 4 panel screen frame with giltwood, painting on wood depicting the 4 season never touch since it was done this four painting are so exquisite, its bri...
Wood, Giltwood
Louis XVI Style Cut-Glass Travel Nécessaire by Boin Taburet, circa 1880
By Boin-Taburet
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An exceptional Louis XVI style silver-gilt and cut-glass travel nécessaire by Boin Taburet. French, circa 1880. The lock engraved ‘BOIN TABURET 3, rue Pasquier, Paris’. Thi...
Silver
French Giltwood Folding Screen
Located in Pembroke, MA
French giltwood screen in the Louis XVI style, recently upholstered in Pierre Frey fabric. Folding four panels with nice ribbon and bow detailing.
Gesso, Fabric, Giltwood
Pair of 19th Century English Turtle-Form Ormolu Mnt. Blue John Obelisks
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and quite fine pair of 19th century Louis XVI style English turtle-form Ormolu Mounted Blue John (Fluorspar) Obelisks. Each obelisk is finely hand-carved with the finest quality English blue...
Stone, Bronze
Antique French Louis XVI Gold Bronze Fire Screen, Circa 1900.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Louis XVI Gold Bronze Fire Screen, Circa 1900.
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century French Louis XVI Bronze Andirons
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 19th century French Bronze Louis XVI style andirons were cast in the Classic manner revived during the reign of King Louis XVI to return the court to a manner consistent with th...
Bronze
18th Century Louis XVI Ormolu and Marble Obelisk Mantel Clock
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Signed: Joseph Gay Horloger du Roy A Turin The movement is contained in a white marble obelisk which is surmounted by an armillary sphere finial. The front with a panel chased wit...
Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Louis XVI Style Bronze D' Ore Firescreen, circa 1880's
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Louis XVI style bronze d' ore fire screen, Circa 1880's.
Bronze
Superbly Carved Fire Screen by Francois Linke
Located in New York, NY
This painted-and-gilded fire screen in the Louis XVI style was made by Francois Linke (1855 - 1946), the greatest maker of furniture in Belle Epoque Paris...
Wood
French Louis XVI Style Bronze Firescreen with Lyre Design
Located in Dallas, TX
A French Louis XVI style bronze firescreen with lyre design.
Bronze
18th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Coffer or Blanket Chest
Located in Houston, TX
18th century French Louis XVI walnut coffer or blanket chest. 18th century French Louis XVI, Renaissance or Gothic style walnut coffer or chest from Dijon. This gorgeous coffer, trun...
Walnut
Pair Louis XVI Ormolu & Carrara Marble Armorial Obelisks w Military Trophies
Located in New York, NY
A Large and Important Pair of French Louis XVI Period Ormolu and Carrara Marble Mounted Armorial Obelisks with Military Trophies. These monumental obelisks are constructed in Carrar...
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Antique French Louis XVI Neoclassical Fireplace Mantel Hearth Fire Screen 45"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique early 19th century Louis XVI fire screen / hearth ware. Made of wood featuring Neoclassical styling with gold gilt carved ribbons / bows and floral acanthus designs. Dimens...
Hardwood
19th Century French Fireplace Screen in Hand Carved Frame and Silk Tapestry
Located in Sofia, BG
Elegant fireplace screen in Louis XVI style made of gilt wood hand carved frame upholstered with authentic silk tapestry in light colors and ...
Silk, Giltwood
Antique French Louis XVI Style Gold Bronze Fire Screen, Circa 1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Louis XVI Style Gold Bronze Fire Screen, Circa 1890.
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Mahogany Inlaid Silk Scroll Screen with Crank
Located in Sofia, BG
Mahogany scroll screen with foliage decor, green silk fabric with crank. Very good condition. France, circa 1890.
Mahogany
Antique French Louis XVI Needlepoint Fire Screen, Circa 1850-1860.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Louis XVI needlepoint fire screen, circa 1850-1860.
Fabric, Wood