Neoclassical Furniture
Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Neoclassical furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms.
Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.
The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.
Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.
Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
As you can see from the furniture on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep neoclassicism fresh.
Find antique neoclassical furniture today on 1stDibs.
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Wood, Giltwood
1920s American Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
1920s American Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Silver Plate, Bronze
1780s British Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Sterling Silver
1920s French Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Iron
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Brass, Nickel
20th Century English Neoclassical Furniture
Ceramic, Stoneware
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Crystal
Mid-19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Stone, Limestone
1930s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze, Copper
1890s Austrian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
Early 2000s American Neoclassical Furniture
Paper
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Metal
2010s American Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze, Wrought Iron
1990s American Neoclassical Furniture
Crystal, Brass
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Marble, Bronze
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Leather
20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Crystal
20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Steel
Late 20th Century Unknown Neoclassical Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Ormolu
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Carrara Marble
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
18th Century Swedish Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Silver
Late 20th Century North American Neoclassical Furniture
Concrete
1990s American Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Furniture
Cast Stone
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
1940s American Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Wrought Iron
1790s English Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Furniture
Stone, Brass
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
20th Century Neoclassical Furniture
Leather, Wood
15th Century and Earlier Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Metal, Brass
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Furniture
Metal, Wire
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
1950s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Crystal, Metal
Mid-20th Century Neoclassical Furniture
Marble
1990s American Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
Late 19th Century Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
Mid-20th Century English Neoclassical Furniture
Ceramic, Clay
1940s French Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Alabaster
21st Century and Contemporary North American Neoclassical Furniture
Mirror, Reeded Glass, Wood
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Furniture
Leather, Wood
Mid-19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Fabric, Textile
21st Century and Contemporary French Neoclassical Furniture
Travertine, Wrought Iron
20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Brass, Bronze
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Furniture
Ormolu
1950s American Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Metal
Mid-19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Fruitwood, Ebony, Mahogany, Satinwood, Glass
2010s Belgian Neoclassical Furniture
Stone
20th Century English Neoclassical Furniture
Iron
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Canvas, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Neoclassical Furniture
Wood





