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.
19th Century Limoges Porcelain Pink and Gold Tureen Set
By Limoges
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This exquisite hand-painted porcelain set, crafted in Limoges, France, dates back to the 19th century, showcasing the elegance and artistry of this historical period. The set include...
Porcelain, Paint
Puiforcat (Hermes) - 4pc. Antique French 950 Sterling Silver Covered Soup Tureen
Located in Wilmington, DE
Direct from Paris: A stunning, large 3pc. covered Louis XVI, antique 950 sterling silver vegetable server with presentation platter by the world's premier French silversmith – Emile ...
Sterling Silver
French Blue and White Porcelain Soup Tureen Arras Bleu d’Arras Circa 1780
Located in Katonah, NY
This late 18th-century French porcelain soup tureen is distinguished by the delicacy of its hand-painted cornflower blue decoration and the remarkable depth of its twilight blue enam...
Porcelain
Blue and White French Porcelain Soup Tureen Hand Painted Bleu d’Arras c. 1780
Located in Katonah, NY
This blue and white late-18th-century French porcelain soup tureen, cover, and matching stand were made at the Delemers family’s Arras porcelain factory circa 1780. The porcelain is ...
Porcelain
Magnificent, Very Large Solid Silver Soup Tureen by Georges Auger - Late 1890s
Located in MOUGINS, FR
This magnificent, massive soup tureen - featuring four lion-paw feet and acanthus-leaf attachments - is crafted from solid silver (Minerva 1st standard hallmark, 950/1000). The base...
Silver
Puiforcat (Hermes) - 3pc. Louis XVI French 950 Sterling Silver Covered Server
By Puiforcat
Located in Wilmington, DE
Direct From Monaco: Direct from a private residence in Monaco, a stunning 19th century, Louis XVI covered sterling silver vegetable server by the world’s premier French silversmith ...
Sterling Silver
Meissen Soup Tureen
Located in Washington, DC
Very colorful Meissen soup tureen with flora decoration to the lid and tureen. There is small crack which is more noticeable from the inside.
Porcelain
$6,305Sale Price|20% Off
H 7.09 in W 13 in D 12.21 in
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Vegetable Dish, Tureen
Located in VALENZA, IT
Tureen in sterling silver in Baroque style. The dish measures 31cm in diameter and was left smooth with the brim raised. On the plate, scrolls and shells typical of the Italian Bar...
Sterling Silver
Chinese Export Porcelain Soup Tureen
Located in Essex, MA
With domed cover with gilt lemon finial on a conforming base with two handles.
Porcelain
$31,527Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.6 in W 15.7 in D 9.8 in
18th Century Sterling Silver Soup Tureen Hammered Italian Venice Rococo
By Charles Nicolas Odiot
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Impressive Antique Georgian Italian Sterling Silver soup tureen Style & period Rococo, Georgian, Antique, Italian, Venice Design: Italian The fine hand crafted hammered body stand on four scrolled acanthus leaf legs The cover surmounted by a sculptural solid silver pomegranate...
Sterling Silver
English Blue and White Transferware Soup Tureen
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A 19th century English blue and white transferware soup tureen with its lid. Country scenes all around — a thatched cottage on the body, a horse and cart on the lid, and a classical ...
Ceramic
$1,500
H 5.12 in W 9.06 in D 5.12 in
Meissen Porcelain Lidded Tureen with Hand-Painted Flowers and Gold Edge
Located in København, Copenhagen
Meissen porcelain lidded tureen with hand-painted flowers and gold edge. Lid modelled with flowers and foliage. 1920s. Measures: 22 x 13 x 13 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped...
Porcelain
$360
H 5.52 in W 11.03 in D 8.27 in
Antique Stadt Meissen Blue Onion Lidded Tureen in Hand-Painted Porcelain
Located in København, Copenhagen
Antique Stadt Meissen Blue Onion lidded tureen in hand-painted porcelain. Early 20th century. Measures: 28 x 21.5 x 14 cm. In excellent condition. S...
Porcelain
Antique French White Ironstone Lidded Soup Tureen
Located in Pearland, TX
A gorgeous antique French white ironstone lidded soup tureen, circa 1900. No maker's mark. This fine soup tureen has a decorative finial and lovely ornate handles. It displays beauti...
Ironstone
French Faience Strasbourg Factory Cabbage Tureen and Cover
By Paul Hannong
Located in Downingtown, PA
Botanical Illusion: Important Strasbourg Faience Cabbage Tureen & Cover, Mid-18th Century Origin: Strasbourg, France Dimensions: 8 1/2 in. (H) x ...
Ceramic, Faience
$3,250
H 12 in W 14.5 in D 9 in
Silver Plated Covered Tureen with Deer and Ram Motif, circa 1885, Meriden
Located in Incline Village, NV
Very unusual western Americana theme silver plated covered tureen, consisting of four feet of cast and silver plated deer heads; rams heads on each end; and opposite facing deer heads at the top of the lid to lift off of the bowl. Sides and top are decorated with elaborate floral engravings. It was manufactured by Meriden B...
Silver Plate
19th Century Pair of French Majolica Cabbage Tureen
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century Pair of French Majolica Cabbage Tureen.
Ceramic
Antique French White Ironstone Lidded Soup Tureen
Located in Pearland, TX
A gorgeous antique French white ironstone lidded soup tureen, circa 1900. No maker's mark. This fine soup tureen has a decorative finial and lovely ornate handles. It displays beauti...
Ironstone
Large Tureen And Its Dish In Limoges Porcelain
By Limoges
Located in BARSAC, FR
Large tureen and matching platter with rich floral decoration on a turquoise blue background in the style of Sèvres. Limoges porcelain, first half of the 20th century. Superb quali...
Porcelain
$228Sale Price|49% Off
H 5.88 in W 9.5 in D 9.5 in
circa 1930s, Jugtown Covered Soup Tureen by Ben Own I
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
c. 1930s Pottery covered soup tureen in burnt orange glaze by Ben Owen I. The tureen is nearly perfect but the lid has multiple rim losses. "Jugtown Ware", 1s...
Pottery
$650
H 9.5 in W 11.5 in D 9 in
Antique French Regency Baroque Floral Repousse Silver Plated Soup Tureen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Regency Baroque Floral Repousse Silver Plated Soup Tureen with Monogram believed to read "HCK from MSR". Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 9.5" H x 11.5" W x 9" ...
Silver Plate
Sold
H 12.5 in W 17 in D 13 in
Large Antique French Porcelain Soup Tureen & Stand With Royal Patronage
By Clignancourt Porcelain
Located in Katonah, NY
This large Clignancourt porcelain soup tureen and stand was produced under the royal patronage of Philippe de France, Duke of Orléans, brother of King Louis XVI. At court, he was kno...
Porcelain
Tetard - Antique French 950 Covered Tureen, 1880s, MUSEUM QUALITY !
Located in Wilmington, DE
Direct from Paris, a truly magnificent, 19th century, 2-piece covered French 950 sterling silver vegetable server (tureen) by one of France’s premier silversmiths “Tetard Freres”, ci...
Sterling Silver
Antique Paris Porcelain Soup Tureen Cornflower Sprig Pattern
By Nast
Located in Katonah, NY
The tureen was manufactured by Nast, one of the exceptional French porcelain makers of the early 19th century. It is made of hard paste porcelain and decorated in the "Sprig" pattern .The sprig pattern is a traditional French design of blue, green and red cornflower sprigs. Porcelains decorated with this design originated with pieces made for Queen Marie Antoinette. The tureen and under plate are marked "Nast a Paris".
Porcelain