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Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

LOUIS XV STYLE

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.

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Style: Louis XV
Rare Antique 1901 Steinway Model B Rosewood Grand Piano Louis XV Rococo Restored
Located in Dayton, OH
Fully Restored 1901 Steinway & Sons Model B Louis XV Baroque Rococo Grand Piano – Serial Number 99151, Full 88 key keyboard. The most exquisitely d...
Category

Early 20th Century American Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fruitwood, Rosewood

19th Century French Louis XV Walnut Prie-Dieu with Carved Cross and Upholstery
Located in Dallas, TX
Dress a bedroom, chapel corner, or private study with this refined devotional antique kneeler crafted in France circa 1870 and shaped in the graceful L...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

Corpus Christi In Solid Silver – Mid-18th Century
Located in Bilzen, BE
Solid Silver Corpus of Christ – Mid-18th Century Height: 13 cm (head to toe) Width: 12 cm (hand to hand) Weight: 150 g A finely cast and chased solid silver corpus depicting Christ ...
Category

Mid-18th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

French Gilt Ciborium – Silver Cup, Louis XV Period (circa 1740–1760)
Located in Bilzen, BE
"French Gilt Ciborium – Silver Cup, Louis XV Period (circa 1740–1760)" French Gilded Ciborium – Silver Bowl, Gilded Copper Base & Lid Louis XV Period (c. 1740–1760) / Reassembled & H...
Category

Mid-18th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver, Copper

18th Century Louis XVI French Chinoiserie Carved Walnut Pedal Harp
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a living room or music salon with this exquisite 18th-century pedal harp. Crafted in France circa 1780, this Louis XVI single-action harp features 36 replaced strings over a...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Maple

Steinway Sons Concert Grand Piano
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This extraordinary concert grand piano with 88 keys was made by the prestigious firm Steinway & Sons around 1894. The case's decoration was entrust...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood, Giltwood

French 19th Century Louis XV Style Kingwood and Ormolu Barometer/Thermometer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XV st. kingwood and ormolu barometer/thermometer, signed F. Linke. The barometer is centered by a fine richly chased f...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century French Hand Carved and Hand Painted Sedan Chair in Louis XV Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th Century French sedan chair made of hand carved gilded wood hand painted with music trophy, wedding rings at the back and lots of flowers all ar...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

18th Century Walnut Prayer Kneeler from the Collection of italian Prince
Located in Nicolosi, IT
18th Century Walnut Prayer Kneeler from the Collection of Italian Prince Ambrogio II Caracciolo We present a unique piece of history! This magnificent kneeler in solid walnut dates ...
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Walnut

19th Century French Louis XV Upholstered Carved Walnut Prayer Kneeler Bench
Located in Dallas, TX
Place this elegant antique prayer chair in a bedroom for your daily devotions. Crafted in France, circa 1960, the traditional kneeler built of walnut, sits on turned legs over a scal...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Walnut, Fabric

Antique French Carved and Incurved Oak Bas Relief Plaque of St Luke, circa 1720
Located in Dallas, TX
A magnificent display of mastery level woodworking, this antique oval plaque of St Luke was not only carved in bas relief, but it has an incurved shape. The concave plaque has severa...
Category

1720s French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal, Steel

Early 18th Century tall French Louis XV Carved Oak Eagle Lectern
Located in Troy, NY
Magnificent, tall floor lectern of outstanding quality, superbly carved and detailed. Double sided lectern supported by a finely detailed eagle, on carved stem and tripod base ending...
Category

Early 18th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Oak

Louis XV Period Gilded Barometer with Thermometer
Located in Pembroke, MA
An elegant French gilded wood barometer with thermometer (period Louis XV, Circa 1760). Barometer has been fitted with a new mercury tube, ...
Category

18th Century and Earlier French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Giltwood, Glass

Mid-Century French Louis XV Carved Giltwood Wall Barometer
Located in Dallas, TX
Dress a study, library, or living room wall with this elegant Louis XV style barometer, crafted in Paris, France, circa 1960. Square in format, the decorative weather instrument feat...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Giltwood

19th Century Limestone Holy Water Font
Located in Zedelgem, BE
19th century Beautiful little holy water font in limestone (Italian church).
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Limestone

Antique 18th century polychrome wooden Crucifix cross statue
Located in Bilzen, BE
An antique 18th century complete wooden carved cross and corpus with original polychrome in Louis XV style and period (mid 18th century) Original aged patina
Category

Mid-18th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Stamp Seal With Noble Blazon Coat Of Arms, 18th century
Located in Bilzen, BE
An important noble 18th century wax seal in wrought iron and brass, old patina, height 4 cm, surface of the stamp 3.2 x 3.4 cm
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Iron

Grande Bilancia Italiana Inizio 1800 in Legno Scolpito e Ferro a Due Piatti
Located in Milano, MI
Alta quasi 51 inches, questa grande bilancia italiana da terra del XIX secolo è realizzata con un capitello corinzio intagliato a motivi folgiati, scolpito con foglie di acanto e la...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron, Metal

Small Louis XV Style Burlwood Three Drawer Chest
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage burlwood miniature three drawer chest. A perfect little book rest or drinks table. All drawers lined with printed Florentine paper.
Category

20th Century Italian Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Burl

Large 18th Century Golden Wood Statue Of A Holy Bishop Removable Miter
Located in Charmes, FR
Statue in gilded wood with its removable miter or bare head Minimal losses reported and patina of time Accident to one hand (he must have been holding a stick)
Category

Mid-18th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Late 19th Century Louis XV Style Miniature Sofa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Charming and rare child's sofa with hand-carved and gilded frame. Cut velvet and silk upholstery. Great for that special pet in your life.
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fabric, Fruitwood

Mid-19th Century French Carved Walnut Prayer Bench or Prie-Dieu with Velvet
Located in Dallas, TX
Place this elegant antique prayer chair in your bedroom for daily devotions. Crafted in France, circa 1870, the traditional kneeler stands on cabr...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Velvet, Walnut

Miniature Three Drawer Louis XV Style Chest of Drawers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Charming three drawer miniature Louis XV style chest of drawers. Place next to a chair as a book rest or drinks table. Would also make a nice jewelry chest.
Category

20th Century Italian Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fruitwood

Edwin Thompson Bryant Sterling Silver French Louis XV, Doll Table and Chairs
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Louis XV style miniature sterling silver doll furniture (table & chair set) with cherubs, foliate and scroll designs made by Edwin Thompson Bryant of Lon...
Category

19th Century English Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sterling Silver

18th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut “Oratory” Two-Door Cabinet from Lyon
Located in Dallas, TX
Place this elegant antique "Oratoire" in an entry or bedroom for a refined devotional accent. Handcrafted in Lyon, France circa 1780, this Louis XV-period fruitwood cabinet was desig...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Walnut

Antique French Louis XV Style Kingwood Marquetry Signed Bibus
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning, rare fine quality French gilt bronze mounted Kingwood marquetry bibus (miniature bibliothèque). In the manner of/possibly by celebrated ébéniste Maison Paul Sormani; the ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Ormolu

18th Century Louis XV Painted Silver Leaf Display Case Tabernacolo, circa 1770
Located in Encinitas, CA
An elegantly detailed, late 18th century Louis XV period wooden display case, golden yellow lacquer with silver leaf accents. As a reliquary or tabernacolo, the box may have been used to display or store religious artifacts...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver Leaf

Art of the Chair in Eighteenth Century France, Bill G.B. Pallot, 1989
Located in San Francisco, CA
The eighteenth century French chair ranks among the most elegant of furniture forms, admired both for its beauty and for the essential role...
Category

1980s French Vintage Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Miniature Louis XV Style Walnut Armoire, 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
Small glazed display cabinet.
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Vintage Italian Burlwood Miniature Three Drawer Chest
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage miniature burlwood three drawer chest. A perfect little drinks table or book rest. All drawers are lined with green Florentine paper.
Category

20th Century Italian Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Burl

Continental Louis XV Style Beaded Giltwood Footstool
Located in Houston, TX
Continental Louis XV Style Beaded giltwood footstool. Lovely Continental Louis XV style hand beaded gilt wood footstool or tuffet. This beautiful gilt footstool is in great conditio...
Category

Early 1900s European Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Giltwood, Beads

French Framed Copper Engraved Hand Colored Map of Carolina Georgia, Circa 1757
Located in Charleston, SC
French copper engraved hand colored map of Carolina & Georgia matted under glass with a painted frame, mid-18th century
Category

1750s French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint, Paper

Louis XV Parcel-Gilt And Painted Wood Barometer
Located in Bradenton, FL
18th century Louis XV period hand carved and painted parcel gilt French wall barometer. Louis XV giltwood case with ornately hand-carved scrollwork on a green painted wood back. A be...
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood, Glass

19th Century French Marquetry Miniature Sample Commode
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 19th century French marquetry commode de maitrise, or miniature sample commode. Made veneer of mahogany with pine and beech as a secondary w...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Beech, Mahogany, Pine

18th Century French Miniature Chest of Chestnut
Located in High Point, NC
18th century rare French carpenter's sample made of chestnut wood. It has three drawers with each a kings wood inlay central design. Lovely pegged construction, supported on a lovely...
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Chestnut

Antique French Louis XV Styled Miniature Two Drawer Dresser or Jewelry Chest
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This miniature antique two drrawer dresser is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from France and date to approximately 1850 and done in the period Louis XV style. The dresser ...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Louis XV Style Sampler Chair
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century Louis XV style Country French mahogany small sampler chair, hand-crafted by the furniture maker as an example of the style of chair that may be ordered. Ladder back wi...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Early 18th Century Tuscan Prieu-Dieu/Kneeler Walnut and Olive Wooden Listra
Located in Firenze, FI
This kneeler bases its beauty on simplicity and elegance in poplar veneered in walnut and olive. Typical manufacture of a Tuscan craftsman, it is influenced by the rigid and linear ...
Category

Early 18th Century Italian Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Olive, Walnut

Miniature Antique Louis XV Style Chest of Drawers from France, circa 1910
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique miniature French table top commode dates to the early 1900s. It is in the Louis XV style with splayed feet, shaped (or "bombe") sides, and bronze hardware throughout. Th...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fruitwood, Walnut

Barometer Regulates and Base in Semi-Precious Stone Representing a Cello Player
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Barometer regulates and base in semi-precious stone representing a Cello player in antique. Measures: H 20cm, W 10cm.
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XV Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Louis Xv collectibles and curiosities for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Louis XV collectibles and curiosities for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage collectibles and curiosities created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XV collectibles and curiosities made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original collectibles and curiosities, popular names associated with this style include Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, Pleyel Compie, Edwin Thompson Bryant, and François Linke. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for collectibles and curiosities differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $79 and tops out at $1,353,646 while the average work can sell for $2,500.

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