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.
Neoclassical Style Brass Coffee Table with Green Marble Top by Maison Jansen
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice and elegant neoclassical style coffee table is made of brass with green marble top. This is a French work by Maison Jansen. Circa 1940
Marble, Brass
Brass Coffee Table with Gallery and Black Lacquered Glass Top by Maison Jansen
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
Rectangular coffee table in brass with a black lacquered glass top bordered by an openwork gallery with arcature motifs. Tapered and fluted uprights ending in spinning-top feet, X-sh...
Brass
Vintage Neoclassic Coffee Table Long Carved Frame 2 Drawers and Brass Details
Located in Topeka, KS
Marvelous vintage Neoclassic coffee table composed of a long, fairly low walnut toned hardwood frame with 3 section carved picture frame style top, 2 drawers, and brass hardware and ...
Brass
A NEOCLASSICAL SHABBY-CHIC Lacquer COFFEE TABLE by JEAN-CLAUDE MAHEY France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An elegant and luxurious rectangular coffee table, Post-Modernist, Shabby-Chic, base in black lacquered wood, thick square section top in burgundy red lacquered wood (deep and intens...
Brass
Faux-Bamboo Brass Coffee Table with Eglomized Mirror Top by Maison Baguès
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This elegant coffee table embodies the refinement and French art de vivre of the 1970s. Crafted by the prestigious Maison Baguès in finely worked brass and topped with a magnificent ...
Brass
Vintage gilt wood mermaid coffee table, 1960s - italy
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Stunning mid 20th century italian coffee table in the form of two female blackamoor mermaids supporting a large clear glass top. The mermaids are depicted layying amid cresting wave...
Glass, Giltwood
Brass Coffee Table with Carrara Marble Top after Maison Jansen
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice neoclassical style coffee table is made of brass and gilt metal with a Carrara marble top. This is a French work after Maison Jansen. Circa 1940
Carrara Marble, Brass
Brass Coffee Table with Carrara White Marble Top. French Work by Maison Jansen.
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
Rectangular coffee table in brass with a white marble top veined with grey. Tapered and fluted uprights ending in ball feet, X-shaped stretcher centered with a radiating rosette. Wor...
Marble, Brass
Neoclassical Style Brass Coffee Table with Wooden Lacquered Top Representing
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This neoclassical style coffee table is made of brass with wooden lacquered top representing Chinese scenes. This is a French work attributed to Maison Jansen. Circa 1940
Brass
$4,523Sale Price|20% Off
Brass Coffee Table with Black Lacquered Glass Maison Jansen. Circa 1900
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This neoclassical style coffee table is made of brass with black lacquered glass top. This is a French work by Maison Jansen. Circa 1900
Brass
$4,340Sale Price|20% Off
Bronze Coffee Table with Black Portor Marble Top in the style of Maison Jansen
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This coffee table is made of bronze with a black Portor marble top. This is a French work in the style of Maison Jansen. Circa 1940
Bronze
$4,112Sale Price|25% Off
Brass Rectangular Coffee Table in the Style of Maison Jansen, circa 1940
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This rectangular two tiers neoclassical style coffee table is made of brass with twoglass shelves. This is a French work in the style of Maison Jansen. Circa 1940.
Brass
Maison Jansen Black Lacquer, Bronze & Mirror Surtout de Table Coffee Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Maison Jansen Black Lacquer, Bronze & Mirror Surtout de Table Coffee Table France, Circa 1960s—Louis XVI Neoclassical Style A rare and exceptional Mai...
Bronze
Round Neoclassical Brass Coffee Table with Fluted Legs by Maison Baguès. 1940's
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
Round brass coffee table with a clear glass top set into a moulded frame. Four fluted uprights surmounted by pinecone finials, joined by an X-shaped stretcher centred on a gadrooned ...
Brass
$651Sale Price|40% Off
Jean Maurice Rothschild - Marble Coffee Table - Forged Iron Lounge Table-50s
Located in Bussiere Dunoise, Nouvel Aquitaine
Original "Jean Maurice Rothschild 1902-1998 Coffee Table" Hand hammered iron- marble coffee table Neoclassical Style from the 50s. Jean Maurice Rothschild 1902-1998 was an interior...
Marble, Composition, Wrought Iron, Metal
$4,386Sale Price|20% Off
Neoclassical Style Coffee Table in Bronze and Brass with Marble Top Decorated
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice and unique neoclassical style coffee table is made of bronze and brass with a white marble top decorated with Greek motifs. This is a French work. Circa 1940
Marble, Brass, Bronze
$2,924Sale Price|20% Off
Antique early 20th century dark brown neoclassical French Henri II coffee table
Located in Casteren, NL
On offer here is a neo-classical coffee table that was made in France in the early 20th century, circa 1910. The table was made in the finest quality European summer oak, was stained...
Oak
$2,021Sale Price|25% Off
Neo-Classical Style Ebonized & Gilt Marble Top Coffee Table By Baker Furniture
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a 1970s neo-classical style coffee table by Baker Furniture. It has an Italian marble top and ebonized base with gilt accents. It is marked and in very good condition. Shipp...
Marble
$2,604Sale Price|20% Off
Brass Coffee Table with Black Lacquered Glass Top by Maison Jansen
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice rectangular coffee table is made of brass with a black lacquered glass top. This is a French work by Maison Jansen. Circa 1940
Brass
$5,483Sale Price|20% Off
Brass Round Coffee Table with Marble Top by Maison Ramsay
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful neoclassical style round coffee table is made of brass with a beautiful marble top. This is a French work by Maison Ramsay. Circa 1940
Marble, Brass
A MINIMALIST POST-MODERN COFFEE TABLE by ALAIN RICHARD France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
An elegant minimal and square rectangular coffee table, side table or night stand, Radical, Post-Modern, Architectural, black geometric structure made of square-section metal tubes, ...
Travertine, Metal
$2,467Sale Price|20% Off
Maison Jansen, Neoclassical Brass Coffee Table with Black Lacquered Glass Top
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This nice neoclassical style rectangular coffee table is made of brass with fluted legs and a stretcher on the bottom part. It has a black lacquered glass shelf on top with brass tri...
Brass
Exceptional Baker Furniture Neoclassical Style Cocktail Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Very well made and substantial Cocktail Table in Neoclassical Style with a framed Rosewood Veneer slab top surmounting a carved and gilt apron with four modified cabriolet legs with ...
Wood, Rosewood
$4,112Sale Price|20% Off
Maison Jansen, Rare Brushed Steel and Brass Neoclassical Style Coffee Table
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This rare and beautiful neoclassical style coffee table is made of brushed steel and brass with a black lacquered top. The legs are ended by bronze claw feet. This a work by famous F...
Brass, Bronze, Steel
$5,483Sale Price|29% Off
Rare Oval Brass Coffee Table with Carrara white Marble Top by Maison Jansen
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This rare neoclassical style oval coffee table is made of brass with a Carrara white marble top. This is a very nice and unusual model in this oval shape. This is a French work by Ma...
Brass
Circular Side Table in Wood with Lemongrass Marquetry Fillets
Located in Miami, FL
Circular side table. In wood with lemongrass marquetry fillets and agate lid.
Marble
$5,483Sale Price|20% Off
Faux-bamboo-style brass tripartite coffee table in the style of Maison Baguès
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This stunning and very elegant tripartite coffee table is made of faux-bamboo-style brass with two-tiers glass tops. The cocktail table is composed of 3 tables: a rectangular center...
Brass
Vintage Italian Round Walnut Burl Burr Side Table and Tripod Carved Legs
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful antique Italian solid walnut side table features a round beveled top with veneer wood burl decor standing on the central beautifully carved tripod legs. This Italian walnut...
Wood
$7,850 / item
Italian Neoclassical Style Bronze Cocktail Table
By Maison Baguès, Maison Jansen
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Neoclassical Style Bronze Cocktail Table. Offered is a large Italian Louis XVI style or Neoclassical style rectangular bronze cocktail table or coffee table with paw feet and...
Bronze
$1,400Sale Price|30% Off
Leather and Brass Tusk Coffee Table by Maitland Smith
Located in Las Vegas, NV
This gorgeous, leather covered coffee table is an exemplary example of Classic Maitland-Smith craftsmanship. The coffee table is covered ...
Brass
Neoclassical Brass Coffee Table with Black Lacquered Glass, French, circa 1940
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful neoclassical bronze and brass coffee table has a nice new black lacquered glass top. This cocktail table is French and attributed to Maison Baguès, circa 1940.
Brass, Bronze
$3,518Sale Price|20% Off
Attributed to Maison Jansen, Brushed Steel & Brass Coffee Table with Swanheads
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful coffee table with swanheads and feet is made of brushed steel and brass. This is a French design and a nice work of very good quality, circa 1970.
Brass, Steel
$2,396Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Cocktail Coffee Table by Decorative Crafts Italy
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...
Wood, Burl
Elegant French Antique Neoclassical Ebony and Gold Gilt Marble Top Coffee Table
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A beautiful and impressive antique French marble top coffee table having ebony with gorgeous gilt mounts highlighting the lovely circular side stretchers pattern. The heavy rectangu...
Marble
$4,112Sale Price|27% Off
Brass Coffee Table with Oxidized Brass Top by Maison Ramsay
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful coffee table is made of brass with an oxidized and patinated brass top with glass on top. This is a French work by famous Maison Ramsay. The quality of this cocktail t...
Brass
$14,997 / item
French Mahogany Oval Cocktail Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French-style mahogany oval cocktail table, with a brass-bound top and under tier, the top fitted with four leather inset slides, on sabre legs. Dime...
Brass
1980s Milo Baughman Design Institute of America Regency Style Cocktail Table
By Design Institute America, Milo Baughman
Located in Southampton, NJ
1980's Milo Baughman for Design Institute of America # 84349 gunmetal gray cocktail / coffee table of classic X form design elements accented with brass medallions with capped legs. ...
Brass, Steel
$2,558Sale Price|20% Off
Brass Coffee Table with Clear Glass Top Surrounded with Black Lacquered Edges
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice rectangular coffee table is made of brass with a clear glass top surrounded by black lacquered edges. This is a French work by Maison Jansen. Circa 1940
Brass
1960s Traditional Removable Tray Top Coffee/ Cocktail Table by Baker Furniture
Located in Opa Locka, FL
1960s Traditional style Walnut Removable Tray Top Coffee Cocktail Table by Baker Furniture. Stunning Coffee Cocktail Table. Presents beautifully with tray on and off.
Wood
Maitland Smith Regency style iron and brown end table
Located in Birmingham, AL
Regency style iron and brown leather round glass top end tables by Maitland Smith. Features exceptional quality and craftsmanship with three beautifully patinaed aged iron legs endin...
Iron
$5,346Sale Price|20% Off
Raymond Subes Brass and Marble Neoclassical Style Coffee Table
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice and elegant neoclassical style coffee table is made of bronze and brass with a black and gilt marble top. This is a French work by famous designer Raymond Subes. Circa...
Marble, Brass
$2,284Sale Price|20% Off
Brass Coffee table with Black Lacquered Glass Top in the style of Maison Jansen
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This nice and elegant rectangular coffee table is made of brass with a black lacquered glass top. This is a French work in the style of Maison Jansen. Circa 1940
Brass
$868Sale Price|20% Off
Neoclassical Brass Table with a Glass and Mirror Top by Maison Jansen, France
Located in Brussels, BE
Elegant neoclassical brass table, glass top with an aged mirror border. By Maison Jansen France 1960.
Brass
MAISON RAMSAY Table de salon. Le piètement en fer doré circa 1940
Located in Mouscron, WHT
MAISON RAMSAY Table de salon. Le piètement en fer doré et formé de quatre jambages en volutes réunis par une entretoise évoquant une cordelière. Le dessus en verre clair et aux angle...
Metal
Faux-Bamboo Bronze Round Coffee Table with Onyx Top.French Work by Maison Baguès
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
Exceptioanl Round coffee table with an ony top in warm honey and cream tones, encircled with faux-bamboo bronze. Double-X base in finely chased gilt bronze imitating bamboo. Work by ...
Onyx, Bronze
Neoclassical Maison Ramsay Coffee Table, Gilt Wrought Iron and Glass, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Maison Ramsay is a Parisian designer who created luxurious furniture inspired by the Neoclassical. It was created in the early 20th century and enjoyed a great success from 1950-1970...
Wrought Iron
$3,194 / item
Leather Wrapped Trunk Coffee Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
In a tobacco finish with brass nailhead details, leather belt clasps raised on a wooden base. Dimensions: 43" W x 26" D x 20" H
Leather, Wood
Maison Jansen style Brass and black opaline Coffee table
Located in Miami, FL
Maison Jansen Style Brass And original opaline glass coffee table. Beautiful patina, see pictures
Brass
French Gilt Iron Cocktail Table with Églomisé Glass Top, 1940s
Located in Chicago, IL
A French cocktail table from the 1940s, defined by its delicate ironwork and light-catching glass top. Sourced in Paris, the hand-worked gilt iron base rises in a graceful circular ...
Iron
Antique Italian Walnut Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful and very elegant antique Italian solid walnut side table features an beveled top with two drawers and brass handles standing on a central beautifully crafted leg and classi...
Brass
Elegant Gild Bronze" Palmiers" Table by Maison Charles, France , Circa1960.
Located in Brussels, BE
Elegant bronze tablel " Palmiers" model. Clear glass top. By Maison Charles- Paris-circa 1960.
Bronze
Mid-Century French Nickel and Brass Coffee Table with Glass Top
Located in Dallas, TX
Executed in France circa 1950, this refined mid-century coffee table is designed in the manner of Maison Baguès, renowned for their luxurious use of gilt metal and glass. The thick r...
Brass, Nickel
Mid-Century Neoclassical Brass Coffee Table with French Rouge Marble
Located in Dallas, TX
A richly veined French rouge marble top rests on the brass frame of this mid-century neoclassical coffee table. Four elegant legs carry the top, their cast baluster forms and foliate...
Marble, Brass
Maison Jansen 2 tier Leather and Brass coffee Table
Located in Miami, FL
Maison Jansen 2 tier brass and leather coffee table
Brass
$4,158Sale Price|20% Off
Neoclassical Style Brass Coffee Table with Marble Top in the Style Raymond Subes
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice and elegant neoclassical coffee table is made of brass with a green marble top. This is a French work in the style of Raymond Subes. Circa 1940
Marble, Brass
Curule Gilt Iron Coffee Table with Antiqued Mirror Top by Miamar Home
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An exquisite new Curule coffee table by Miamar Home, masterfully blending ancient Roman grandeur with Hollywood Regency glamour. This striking table showcases the iconic X-shaped cu...
Iron
20th Century Marble top French Coffee Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exquisite 20th-century French coffee table is a stunning blend of opulent materials and elegant design, perfect for adding a touch of timeless sophistication to any interior. Th...
Marble, Brass
$2,800
Marble Tile Coffee Table
Located in Sheffield, MA
Mid-Century Modern Fortunoff stone / marble top and wrought iron coffee table. Heavy wrought iron base with legs resembling a swan motif. Natural stone top with a tile design and wit...
Abalone
French Bronze Faux Bamboo Coffee Table Attributed to Maison Bagues.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An exceptional and rare French coffee table attributed to Maison Baguès, circa 1950, crafted in nickeled bronze with a faux bamboo motif. This finely detailed piece features two tier...
Bronze, Nickel
Coffee Table with Faux-Antiques Mirror Top by Maison Bagués
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful neoclassical style round coffee table is made of brass with faux-antiques mirror. This is a French work by famous designer Maison Bagués. Circa 1940
Brass