Neoclassical Settees
NEOCLASSICAL STYLE
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.
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Style: Neoclassical
New Black Wrought Iron Curule Bench with Cushion, Savonarola, Throne
Located in Miami, FL
New black wrought iron curule bench with cushion, Savonarola, Throne.
Cushion included.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Iron
Important Maison Jansen Velvet and Gilt Canapé, c. 1930s, Signed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful Maison Jansen settee in emerald green velvet and gilt frame, signed underneath with remnants of Jansen stamp. Incredible collectors piece, wi...
Category
1930s French Vintage Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Wood, Velvet
Kindel "Baltimore" Settee
Located in San Francisco, CA
Beautiful settee by Kindel Furniture
The "Baltimore" settee with painted lacquered finish and brass capped feet
Needs to be reupholstered
Category
1990s American Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Brass
19th Century Russian Empire Period Neoclassical Salon Suite
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and most impressive five-piece Russian neoclassical partial gilt carved wood upholstered salon suite.
Born in the 19th century, during the ...
Category
19th Century Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Silk, Mahogany, Giltwood
Italian Neoclassical Style Settee with Carved Wood and Black Upholstery
Located in Plainview, NY
An elegant Italian Neoclassical style settee featuring intricate carving details.
The top part of the backrest is decorated with a series of classical figures, a characteristic of ...
Category
20th Century Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Wood
American Mahogany Classical Swan Sofa, Philadelphia, Circa 1815
Located in Charleston, SC
American mahogany classical upholstered sofa with swans head arm rest, carved corner cornucopia, and terminating on ebonized lions paw feet....
Category
18th Century and Earlier American Antique Neoclassical Settees
Hollywood Regency Wrought Iron Curule Bench, Savonarola, Throne
Located in Miami, FL
Stylish wrought iron Curule bench made in the neoclassical taste. Featuring an X-form design with scrolled arms and feet. These bench are als...
Category
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Wrought Iron
English 19th Century Painted Hall Bench
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An amazing painted hall bench – teeming with charm – from 19th century England. The large antique has panels with diagonally oriented wooden slats w...
Category
19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Period Day Bed Sofa
Located in Bradenton, FL
A Swedish sofa day bed from the Gustavian period hand scraped to original paint with a nicely upholstered seat. The frame features a guilloché pattern and the tapered and fluted legs...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Textile, Wood
Vintage Italian Neoclassical Yellow Painted Cane Seat Fretwork Settee Bench
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Italian Neoclassical Yellow Painted Cane Seat Fretwork Settee Bench. Item features a sleek wooden frame with yellow painted finish and green painted trim. Circa Mid 20th Cent...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Cane, Wood, Paint
Tufted Settee with Loose Seat Cushion and Pleated Skirt Shown in Grey Velvet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Marion sofa is a custom piece and timeless style shown in grey velvet but also available in COL or COM in any size wanted. handcrafted maple frame with t...
Category
2010s American Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Velvet, Maple
Italian Venetian Carved Floral Settee
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Venetian (18th century) cream painted and gilt trimmed carved floral design settee with roll arms and carving on back (restorations to interior f...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Italian Empire Neoclassical Eagle Settee
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire Neoclassical Eagle Settee. Marc Jacobs silk floral upholstered painted and parcel-gilt carved settee/sofa with finely carved eagle arm term...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Silk, Wood
Continental Neoclassical Style Walnut 19th Century Settee with Carved Splats
Located in Atlanta, GA
A continental Neoclassical style walnut four seater settee from the 19th century, with carved splats, upholstered seat, tapered legs and H-Form cross stretcher. Created in Continental Europe during the 19th century, this Neoclassical style walnut settee features an open back with exquisitely carved splats, flowing seamlessly into the tall arms of identical style. The long, rectangular seat, is covered with a new linen fabric, whose neutral tones compliments the walnut's warmth beautifully. The ensemble is raised on ten legs, seven of which are tapered and carved on the knees. They are connected to one another through an H-Form cross stretcher running along the entire width. With its exquisite Classical lines and walnut patina, this Continental settee...
Category
19th Century European Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
18th Century Neo-Classical Settee from Tuscany
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely 18th century Neo-Classical painted settee from Tuscany. Great patina and nice carvings as well. Upholstered in a pale gray fabric. Very rare. An exceptional piece!!
Category
18th Century Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Wood
Channeled Back Armless Settee with Back Stretchers and Solid Seat on Wood Legs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Elliot sofa is all hand carved with channeled back and solid channeled seat. It is shown in light tone fabric and walnut wood frame and legs. Hand carved wood frame all hair fill...
Category
2010s American Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Linen, Walnut
1940s Sculptural Carved Wood Tassle Rope Settee
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, hand carved wood settee you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best o...
Category
1940s Vintage Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Italian 1860s Painted Wood Bench with Gilded Accents and New Upholstery
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian painted wood bench from the mid 19th century, with gilded accents and new upholstery. Born in Italy during the third quarter of the 19th century, this exquisite bench feat...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Wood, Upholstery
Pair of Large Late 18th Century Italian Giltwood Settees
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Impressive large scale pair of late 18th Century Italian giltwood settees.
These settees are lovely examples of neoclassical Italian design. The head rail is serpentine in shape and ...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Upholstery, Giltwood
Caned Settee with Leather Back and Seat Cushions with Wood Frame
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Hewes settee shown covered in leather back and seat cushions and back bolsters with hand sewn details. Wood frame with caned arms and back and shown in dark wood stain. All hand ...
Category
2010s American Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Cane, Walnut, Lacquer
Italian Carved Wood Triple Splat Back Cherry Settee, Circa 1770
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian Cherry carved splat back settee with floral scrolled motif, scrolled flanking arms , connecting serpentine stretchers, and terminating on the original slipper feet. Settee ha...
Category
1770s Italian Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Cherry, Upholstery, Wood
Italian Neo-Classic Horse Hair Settee
Located in Queens, NY
"Italian Neo-classic style (18th Cent) brown lacquer and black stenciled Settee with blue velvet upholstery on back, side arms, and seat
Some loss to...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
French Maison Jansen Neo-Classical Style Steel Brass Tiger Velvet Daybed Settee
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is late 20th century French Maison Jansen style steel and brass neo-classical daybed. The tiger velvet cushion and pillows could be Scalamandre, but I have no way of knowing for...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Brass, Steel
Small Settee in the Neoclassical Taste
Located in New York, NY
Small Settee in the neoclassical taste
Boston, Massachusetts (active 1804–17), about 1810
Mahogany (secondary woods: ash)
Measures: 35 1/8 in. high, 59 3/4 in. long, 19 1/8 in. deep
Although the diminutive scale of this settee places it in a unique category, the piece itself partakes of a vocabulary that is common in Boston furniture of the Late Federal period. Its sabre legs, for example, as seen straight on from the left and right ends, are closely related to the legs, as seen from the front, on a group of chairs of undisputed Boston origin, including a spectacular armchair with scrolled arms (see Stuart P. Feld, Boston in the Age of Neo-Classicism, 1810–1840, exhib. cat. [New York: Hirschl & Adler Galleries, 1999], p. 37 no. 6 illus. in color), as well as a number of side chairs, including a set made for Nathan Appleton (see Page Talbott, “Boston Empire Furniture, Part I,” The Magazine Antiques, CVII [May 1975], p. 887 fig. 12). In all, the legs are ornamented with two bold, somewhat flattened reeds set between corner beads, a pattern which is repeated here on the front and end seat rails as well. The superb quality of the piece is further demonstrated in the finely drawn profile of the arms, as well as the delicately bulbous surface of the fronts of the arms and legs. As in the best of the related chairs, the sabre legs end in delicately carved paw feet. The added refinement of the beautifully carved rosettes at both the fronts and backs of the arms suggests that the piece may have been designed to be used in the round.
Stylistically harmonious with these pieces is also a group of larger sofas with frontally set sabre legs and scrolled arms (see Page Talbott, “Seating Furniture in Boston, 1810–1835,” The Magazine Antiques, CXXXIX [May 1991], p. 963 pl. 11) that represent an indigenously Boston form. Although none of the furniture in this group has been effectively attributed, they can certainly be related to various Boston card tables...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Wood
Italian Early 19th Century Neo-Classical St. Settee
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and unique Italian early 19th century Neo-Classical st. settee. The settee with all original paint and faux marble finished is raised on a solid rectangular base. With squ...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Wood
Swedish Painted Settee with Lyre Back
Located in Pembroke, MA
Nicely-carved, painted Swedish settee in the neoclassical style. The carved elements feature a lyre back terminated with eagles' heads, women's faces on the ...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Wood, Upholstery
Italian Mid-19th Century Neoclassical Style Settee
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite Italian mid 19th century neo-classical st. settee with an Egyptian revival influence. The light green patinated frame is stunningly decorated with giltwood designs throu...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Giltwood
Italian Neoclassical Ram's Head Settee
Located in New York, NY
Italian neoclassical ram's head settee. A neoclassical parcel-gilt and parcel ebonized carved wood three-seat settee with ram's head arm-rest terminal...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Cherry, Giltwood
18thc Hand Made Wooden Bench/Settee With Custom Cushions
Located in Pasadena, CA
18thc Hand Made American Wooden Bench With Custom Cushions. Wonderful patina to he wood with dovetail construction. Hand Cut Nails. 72.5 x 26.5 x 41 sh 17
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Wood
19th Century Neoclassical Style Polychrome Painted Settee, Italy
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Neoclassical Style19th Century Italian polychrome painted settee with sphinx carving on back-splat, cane seat with a custom cushion.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Upholstery, Paint
Italian Neoclassic Two-Seat Chair Settee, Late 18th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian two-chair back carved-wood settee from the turn of the 18th and 19th century. This antique tête-à-tête (loveseat) from Italy features a straight top-rail along back, above...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Wood
19th Century Italian Settee with a White, Blue and Gold Leaf Finish
Located in Dallas, TX
Early 19th century neoclassical Italian settee with a parcel-gilt, and white and blue painted finish.
This Piedmontese settee originally h...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Wood
Italian Painted and Parcel-Gilt Settee, 18th Century
Located in Buchanan, MI
An Italian painted and parcel-gilt settee
18th century
having a pierce carved ribbon crest over a padded back and a stuff over seat, raised on square tapering legs.
Measure: Heigh...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Giltwood
French 19th Century Neoclassical Style Cuban Mahogany Settee
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful French 19th century Neo-Classical st. Cuban mahogany settee. The settee is raised by fine square legs below the straight butterfly veneered frieze showcasing the beautifu...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Settees
Materials
Mahogany
Neoclassical settees for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical settees for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage settees created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Neoclassical settees made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original settees, popular names associated with this style include and Grosfeld House. 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 settees differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $950 and tops out at $95,000 while the average work can sell for $9,500.