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Louis XIV Bookcases

LOUIS XIV STYLE

As opposed to the styles that would follow from the other 18th-century French kings, Louis XV and Louis XVI, antique Louis XIV furniture is rigid and imposing. It expresses opulence — even its armchairs, with their upright backs, straight legs and lavish ornamentation, look like thrones. Authentic Louis XIV sofas, a then newly emerging iteration of seating, are fully upholstered and often feature decoratively carved frames of walnut, chestnut or oak.

When French King Louis XIV established his royal court at Versailles in 1682, he transformed what was once a hunting lodge into a palace that declared his wealth and power through its design. Until his death in 1715, he reigned with a spirit of excess and absolute political dominance. The “Sun King,” as he called himself, believed that France revolved around him as planets do the sun. Louis XIV adopted the sun as his emblem, decorating the grounds with symbols of the sun and Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. As he stated, “There is nothing that indicates more clearly the magnificence of great princes than their superb palaces and their precious furniture.” He was a child when he became king in 1643, only shaping his style after he became absolute monarch in 1661.

Reflecting trends in French Baroque art, Louis XIV furniture characteristics included exuberant decoration. There were gilded bronze details including shells, suns, grotesques, lions and classical references like acanthus leaves. The years of growth in the country’s manufacturing, such as the tapestries and cabinets made at Gobelins, led to design innovations. The commode replaced the chest as a storage device, with drawers and a surface that could double as a desk.

The materials were luxurious, such as the popular tortoiseshell veneer technique that leading cabinetmaker Pierre Golle used in his designs. André-Charles Boulle, who became royal cabinetmaker in 1672, was a masterful artist of marquetry, using inlays of ebony, exotic woods and mother-of-pearl.

Find a collection of antique Louis XIV bedroom furniture, chairs, tables and other pieces on 1stDibs.

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Style: Louis XIV
Antique Country French Louis XIV China Buffet ~ Bookcase ~ Dry Bar
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Country French Louis XIV China Buffet ~ Bookcase ~ Dry Bar is a very versatile piece that will add style, flair and functionality to any room! Hand-crafted from solid oak th...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Louis XIV Carved Painted Bookcase Cabinet with Glass Doors
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, antique bookcase was crafted in Paris, France, circa 1870. The traditional display cabinet built of two separate parts, rests on a straight bottom plinth base. The top ...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Oak, Paint

1870s Antique Louis XVI Mahogany Bookcase with Brass Moldings and Glass Doors
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Immerse yourself in the grandeur of French elegance with our stunning antique 1870s Louis XVI bookcase. Handcrafted from the finest mahogany wood, this piece has been lovingly restor...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Louis XIV Two-Tiered Bookcase ~ China Buffet
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Louis XIV Two-Tiered Bookcase ~ China Buffet is a magnificent example of fine furniture craftsmanship melded with timeless style! Utilizing hand-select quarter-sa...
Category

1880s French Antique Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Brass

18th Century, French Louis XVI Wood Sideboard by Conrad Mauter
Located in IT
18th Century, French Louis XVI Wood sideboard by Conrad Mauter Measurements: H cm 134 x W 90 x D 38; marble top cm W 94.5, x D 42 x thickness cm 2.5 ...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Wood, Rosewood

20th Century Louis XIV Style French Bibliotheque Bookcase
Located in Berlin, DE
Imposing French Bibliotheque in Louis 14th style Solid beechwood, ebonized. Highly right angled body flanked with figures in the form of feminine masks on ...
Category

20th Century Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Brass

19th Century Country French Louis XIV Whitewashed Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century country French Louis XIV white washed bookcase is the perfect choice for storage, display and adding a timeless panache to your decor! Hand-crafted from solid oak, it fe...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Cut Steel

French Louis XIV Carved Walnut and Wire Four-Door Bookcase Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a study, an office or a library with this spectacular 10.5 feet bookcase! Created in France circa 1970, the important cabinet stands on a wide bottom plinth over four doors including double center doors and serpentine side doors, opening to inside shelving. Each door with recessed panels is decorated with hand carved shell and foliage motifs throughout. The upper section dressed with large carved finials at the pediment, features a curved top over four tall doors embellished with floral and leaf decor. Each door dressed with mesh wire opens to five adjustable oak shelves. The monumental bookcase...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Wire

19th Century Flemish Louis XIV Secretary or Bookcase with Embossed Brass
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Flemish Louis XIV secretary or bookcase with embossed brass combines the talents of a master furniture crafter with the artistry of a metal sculptor! Fashioned with a cl...
Category

Mid-19th Century Belgian Antique Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Louis XIV Walnut Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Louis XIV walnut bookcase is a masterpiece of art, architecture and style! Rendered in sumptuous French walnut, considered the finest indigenous wood from the Eur...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Brass

20th Century Louis XIV Style French Library Bookcase
Located in Berlin, DE
Imposing French bibliotheque library bookcase in Louis XIV style Solid beechwood, ebonized. Highly rectangular corpus flanked with figures in the form of feminine masks on sweeping ...
Category

20th Century Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Wood, Beech

20th Century Louis XIV Style French Bibliotheque Bookcase
Located in Berlin, DE
Imposing French Bibliotheque in Louis 14th style Solid beechwood, ebonized. Highly right angled body flanked with figures in the form of feminine masks on ...
Category

20th Century Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Brass

20th Century Louis XIV Style French Library Bookcase
Located in Berlin, DE
Imposing French Bibliotech Library bookcase in the style of Louis XIV. Royal tulip wood on pinewood. Highly right angled body flanked by figures in ...
Category

20th Century Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Brass

18th Century French Louis XIV Bookcase, Vitrine
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century French Louis XIV Bookcase ~ Bibliotheque is resplendent with artfully sculpted bas relief across its entire facade! This superlative instant family heirloom is sized to sufficiently display almost any prized heirlooms, collection, or library! Hand-crafted from solid old-growth quarter-sawn oak, it boasts a reverse contoured crown with four distinctive tiers. The top tier was carved in French egg...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XIV Bookcases

Materials

Glass, Oak

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Antique English Break-Front Bibliotheque Bookcase in Mahogany, circa 1870
By S.E. & R. Johnson. Warrington
Located in Miami, FL
A handsome and very well crafted English break-front bookcase or bibliotheque in solid mahogany by S.E. & R. Johnson of Warrington, England, circa 1870. Features six doors with glass panels in the upper section over a base with ten drawers on each side, flanking a middle section consisting of three doors with wooden panels. There are two adjustable shelves in each of the three upper sections, with a total of ten interior drawers. Original tear-drop pulls on doors turn to release a lever allowing the doors to be opened with the pulls as well as locked, a most unusual and attractive feature. All of the hardware is original to the bookcase including the locks. Comes with working locks and keys. Measurements: 13' 8 1/2" long x 21 1/2" - 27 1/2" deep x 101" high (8'5" high) All of the drawers are stamped with the cabinetmaker's stamp, "S.E. & R. (Ralph) Johnson, Warrington". This fine bookcase was manufactured prior to 1880 in Warrington in Cheshire, England. While information is scant, it would seem that S. E. would have been Ralph's father's workshop listed at 78 Bridge Street in Warrington, England, circa 1878. Ralph would have likely been an apprentice at that time. He opened his own workshop, presumably when his father retired. By the Edwardian period, Ralph had become a cabinet maker of some renown. Drawer locks are original and stamped "Chance Son & Co. W Chance, Son, & Co" and are listed in the 1850s directories as "Merchants and Factors" in Birmingham, England. They would have been middlemen having various merchandise made for them, primarily for export to North America. The type of locks employed in this bookcase is a lever combination lock. In the cabinet lock trade, lever locks became available circa 1855 and superseded the earlier tumbler and back-spring locks. Some points about the breakfront to note are that it is made entirely out of solid mahogany which is unusual; there are no veneers. Even the drawer sides, backs and bottoms are made of mahogany. The interior wood, i.e., the back and the insides of the cabinet is pine. One of the great features is that the upper door hardware has a dead latch that operates with the tear drop pull. You can lock the doors, but if you don't want to lock them, you can use the tear drop pull to operate the dead latch to open and close by turning it to the right. There are 20 exterior drawers and 8 interior drawers. Lower cabinets each have 1 fixed shelf; upper cabinets have 2 adjustable shelves each. There are enough extra original cast iron shelf...
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Located in High Point, NC
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19th Century French Carved Bookcase
19th Century French Carved Bookcase
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Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Bookcases

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Previously Available Items
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Vintage Louis XIV Open Bookshelf ~ Wall Unit is the perfect choice for high-traffic areas, being as shallow as it gets! Hand-crafted from solid oak, it...
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Mid-20th Century French Louis XIV Bookcases

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18th Century Roman Louis XIV Rosewood Inlaid Trumeau Bookcase Secretaire
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1730s Vatican Antique Louis XIV Bookcases

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18th Century Italian Louis XIV Walnut Inlaid Credenzas Cabinet Secretaire
Located in Roma, RM
Fantastic Piedmontese Trumeau, city of Turin, Louis XIV era early eighteenth century. Made of walnut and inlaid with floral motifs in amarant...
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1730s Italian Antique Louis XIV Bookcases

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Antique Louis XIV Bookcase ~ Display Cabinet
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Early 20th Century Belgian Louis XIV Bookcases

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Antique Bibliotheque by F. C. Menant, Louis XVI Style 18th Century, French
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21st Century and Contemporary French Louis XIV Bookcases

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Located in Banner Elk, NC
Marble Top Bronze Mounted Inlaid Bookcase, French, circa 1920 with Greek key inlay and herringbone design, with a bronze banded gallery around the marb...
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Located in Dallas, TX
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Early 20th Century Dutch Louis XIV Bookcases

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H 88.5 in W 50 in D 18 in
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Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XIV Bookcases

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18th Century French Bookcase made of Oak
18th Century French Bookcase made of Oak
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Late 19th Century Belgian Antique Louis XIV Bookcases

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20th Century Louis XIV Style French Library Bookcase
Located in Berlin, DE
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20th Century Louis XIV Bookcases

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Beech, Wood

Louis Xiv bookcases for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Louis XIV bookcases for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage bookcases created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XIV bookcases made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Belgium pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original bookcases, popular names associated with this style include Conrad Mauter, and François-Claude Menant. 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 bookcases differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,032 and tops out at $29,383 while the average work can sell for $10,390.

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