Louis Xvi Velvet Chair
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Chairs
Velvet, Wood
2010s British Louis XVI Chairs
Wood, Giltwood
Vintage 1960s American Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Chairs
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Chairs
Velvet, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Italian Louis XVI Chairs
Velvet, Giltwood
Vintage 1960s Louis XVI Club Chairs
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Chairs
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Velvet, Maple, Paint
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Vintage 1920s French Louis XVI Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Velvet, Maple
Early 20th Century Louis XVI Side Chairs
Gold Leaf
Antique Late 18th Century European Louis XVI Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Velvet
Mid-20th Century American Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Velvet, Wood, Giltwood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Velvet, Cane, Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Velvet, Maple
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Gold Leaf
20th Century Louis XVI Side Chairs
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Suede, Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Hardwood, Paint
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Cane, Oak
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Fabric, Cotton, Velvet, Hardwood, Paint
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Paint
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Slipper Chairs
Upholstery, Velvet, Wood
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Antique 18th Century French Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Antique 1890s French Louis XVI Corner Chairs
Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut
Antique 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Chairs
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century American Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Wood
20th Century Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Velvet
2010s American Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Velvet, Wood, Paint
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Gold
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Linen, Paint, Hardwood, Velvet
Vintage 1960s American Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Cane, Walnut, Paint
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Chairs
Velvet, Wood, Trimming
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Bergere Chairs
Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut, Giltwood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Gold Leaf
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Side Chairs
Walnut, Fabric, Velvet, Wood, Birch
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Silk, Velvet, Beech
Antique 1860s French Louis XVI Chairs
Metal
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Bergere Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Regency Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Cherry
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Bergere Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
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Louis Xvi Velvet Chair For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Louis Xvi Velvet Chair?
A Close Look at Louis Xvi Furniture
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.
Finding the Right Seating for You
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024To identify Louis XVI chairs, first familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the design style by looking at images found on trusted online resources. Often, Louis XVI chairs rest on straight, column-like legs, and their frames show off intricate carvings such as scrollwork rosettes, fluting and ribbon twists. Typically, chairs from the era have recessed arms connected to the front of the seat via an elegant curve. Artisans of the period typically constructed chairs in mahogany, walnut or oak wood. If your chair has these features, it will likely be an original Louis XVI piece or a reproduction based on one. To tell antiques apart from contemporary chairs, consider their overall condition.
Due to their age, originals will likely show some signs of wear, and you may be able to spot visible tool marks or slight irregularities in the carvings due to their handcrafted origins. A chair that looks unused and is completely uniform with no tool marks is less likely to be an original. When in doubt, check with a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer.
On 1stDibs, find a selection of Louis XVI chairs.