Rating and value of Louis XV furniture (chests of drawers, armoires, armchairs and desks)

Do you own a piece of Louis XV furniture and would like to determine its value? Our specialists offer a free 24-hour appraisal of your Louis XV piece, providing you with an estimate of its cost on the current market and then guiding you through the process of selling it at the best possible price. They take into account factors such as the age, provenance, state of preservation and rarity of the object to provide an accurate, documented estimate. 

Rating and value of Louis XV furniture

Louis XV furniture is highly prized on the auction market. It is more sober than Louis XIV furniture, yet sophisticated. The price at which it sells on the art and auction market ranges from €20 to €1,350,000, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to your Louis XV period furniture. In 2022, a Louis XV period armoire in wood with mother-of-pearl-inlaid Chinese lacquer panels and stamped Jean-François Leleu sold for €170,560, almost three times the high estimate.

Order of value of Louis XV furniture from the most basic to the most prestigious 

Characteristics of Louis XV period furniture

Louis XV period furniture is characterized by sobriety and elegance. Wood is still used for marquetry, but many armchairs are also produced, with floral motifs and often in pastel colors. The motifs are very nature-inspired, featuring shells, foliage and animals. Curved legs appeared on desks, tables and armchairs. The Louis XIV style was highly symmetrical, and cabinetmakers responded to this by introducing asymmetry. Furniture was no longer designed for utility, but for aesthetics: drawers, for example, were eliminated. Furniture was also designed to occupy the entire space, whereas it had previously been designed to be placed close to the wall, wasting space in the center of the room. Seating is designed in elevation, and curves appear: we have the violoné backrest and the cabriolé backrest (curved in plan).

Reasons to auction Louis XV furniture

Louis XV furniture is very popular on the auction market. The appraisal of your furniture will obviously vary depending on whether it is Louis XV period (made by a cabinetmaker at the time, following the stylistic characteristics) or Louis XV style (made after the time of Louis XV, also following the stylistic characteristics). Period furniture is particularly sought-after. However, Louis XV furniture also sells well at auction, as it enables buyers to obtain a piece of furniture at a lower price than if it were period furniture with the same characteristics.

Buyers seek them out for their refinement. The most emblematic pieces of furniture in this style are those by cabinetmaker Matthieu Criaerd, who produced the furnishings for the entire bedroom of the Countess de Mailly, mistress of Louis XV. The chests of drawers and bedside cabinets are blue and white, with an elegance still unrivalled in cabinetmaking.

Blue is very much in evidence in the stylistic characteristics of Louis XV furniture, but there's also a lot of pink, which helps to soften interiors. This is the spirit that many collectors are looking for.

The stamp

A stamp on a piece of furniture can considerably increase its value, depending on the artist who made it, the workshop and the date of manufacture.

Appraising Louis XV period furniture

If you own a piece of Louis XV furniture, or any other piece of cabinetry, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal by filling in our online form. 

A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you to provide an estimate of the market value of your piece. If you are considering selling your piece of cabinetry, our specialists will also guide you through the various alternatives available to obtain the best possible price for your work, taking into account market trends and the specific features of each item.