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.
19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Linen
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Furniture
Resin
Early 19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Pearlware, Pottery
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Furniture
Stone, Brass
20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Stone, Marble
Late 18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Mohair, Mahogany
18th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century Persian Neoclassical Furniture
Wool
19th Century Swedish Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Textile, Wood
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
1980s American Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century British Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Furniture
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Spanish Neoclassical Furniture
Iron, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century European Neoclassical Furniture
Iron
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Brass, Nickel
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
1830s French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Ormolu
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Furniture
Cane, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Furniture
Resin
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
Early 2000s American Neoclassical Furniture
Paper
Early 20th Century Spanish Neoclassical Furniture
Marble
1880s Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Plaster
19th Century Swedish Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
Early 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Glass, Wood, Paper
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Furniture
Aluminum
19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Marble
1960s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Murano Glass
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Wood, Giltwood
1940s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
1950s American Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
20th Century Neoclassical Furniture
Leather, Wood
1940s French Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Alabaster
1960s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Furniture
Carrara Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Furniture
Alabaster, Stone, Brass
Late 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Leather, Paper
15th Century and Earlier Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Metal, Brass
Early 1900s French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Alabaster, Metal
Early 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Onyx
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Wood
20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Iron
Early 1900s American Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
1990s Sri Lankan Neoclassical Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Stone
Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Furniture
Marble
20th Century American Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze, Steel
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century British Neoclassical Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Furniture
Iron





