Live a Life of Luxury with Antique Furniture from the Rococo Revival Era

Are you searching for ways to embrace elegance in your home? Then you’ll love the immaculate and ornate look of Rococo furniture from the Revival years. Good news! Once you understand what you’re looking for, finding these historic pieces is easy (and so much fun).

When Was the Rococo Revival Era?

When something is tagged as a Rococo Revival furniture piece, it means it was made between 1840 and 1870. If you happen to find a piece that looks even older, it may have been made in the original Rococo era, which took place around 1730 to 1770.

What is the Difference Between Rococo Revival and Rococo Furniture?

When researching the era, it’s very important that you understand the differences between the original design period and its Revival. While both were inspired by opulence, the original Rococo style is known for its delicate craftsmanship, asymmetrical shape, and playful aesthetics. The Revival, in comparison, used bolder designs and more symmetrical carvings and were often mass-produced styles.

The Rococo period took place solely within Europe, while the Rococo Revival existed largely in the United States during the 19th century. This change in production location is the reason so many pieces of Rococo furniture can be found in American antique malls!

Is Rococo Revival Furniture Trendy Again?

You may be shocked to learn that Rococo Revival furniture is trending in the year 2025 (after all, it’s been over 250 years since the Rococo Revival era ended), but it’s true! Gen Z and millennials have been spotted drawing inspiration from this period when decorating their own homes. The goal isn’t to live like Marie Antoinette, but rather, to mix these luxurious Rococo style pieces in with their other designs to create a one-of-a-kind aesthetic.   

Most Popular Examples of Rococo Revival Style Furniture:

• Tête-à-tête sofas: designed to fit two conversing people

• Parlor sets: made up of an upholstered sofa, an armchair, and side chairs

• Four-poster beds: with intricately carved frames and matching side tables

• Serpentine dressers: features a front that curves outward in the center and concaves on the ends

• Piano benches: designed to tuck under a home piano, often made with luxurious woods and finishes

• Sewing tables: typically features a liftable top that protects multiple, padded compartments

• Cast iron furniture: durable metal tables and chairs created for outdoor or garden use

What Are the Recognizable Features of Rococo Furniture from the Revival Era?

With intricate carved details and fluid shapes, Rococo Revival style pieces truly do stand out in a crowd. The next time you’re in our Highland antique furniture store, keep a lookout for the easy-to-spot characteristics.

Main Characteristics of Rococo Revival Furniture:

• Large sizes

• Meaningfully carved motifs

• Flowing curvy shapes

• Decorative elements

• High-quality wood

• Comfortable fabrics

Why Was Rococo Revival Furniture So Large?

During the Victorian period, people believed that more was more when it came to designing their homes. That’s how, similar to in the original Rococo style era, Rococo Revival furniture became a sign of grandeur within the home. If a piece was striking enough to make a statement next to your antique clock in the parlor or as the centerpiece to the dining room, it could impress your guests and get conversations flowing.

What Were Popular Designs on Rococo Revival Furniture?

Anyone interested in furniture can tell you that a lot of the distinctions between different design periods boil down to the carvings. Rococo furniture made in the Revival continued the naturalistic and romantic trends inspired by the first Rococo style period. Often carved by hand, these motifs conveyed the sense of luxury the middle classes craved.

Motifs Seen in Rococo Revival Furniture:

• Flowers

• Vines

• Shells

• Leaves

• Fruit

• Flames

• Eastern-inspired scenes

• Scrolls

Rococo Revival Pieces and Asymmetrical Curvy Designs

Rococo style designers preferred using curves to create dynamic movement in each piece. Even if the overall structure of the chair or antique armoire was somewhat symmetrical, the artist would apply extra ornamentation in the shape of “S” and “C” curves to give it a more natural look. This method for avoiding balance can be seen in almost every design, from the legs of tables to the backs of sofas and beyond.

Opulent and Detailed Embellishments Add Value to Rococo Revival Furniture

To make a piece of Rococo style furniture, designers made sure to add ornate details whenever they could. From finding the perfect slab of marble to add to a tabletop to mounting decorative gilded gold statues to the finished product, these techniques are often what make this furniture so valuable to this day.  

What Wood Was Used in Rococo Revival Furniture?

During the Revival, Rococo furniture was created from the best of the best woods on the market. When you come across a piece in the Melbourne vendor mall, just know that it was likely made with rosewood, walnut, or mahogany. This wood was then finished with a rich stain or varnish to give it a timeless shine.

Pro tip: Ash or pine, while less common, were used for less expensive pieces. If you come across a design that seems to have all the other characteristics of Rococo Revival style furniture, but features a lighter wood, ask if the seller knows what kind of material it was made from.

Were Rococo Revival Designs Comfortable?

Aesthetics may have been important, but by the 19th century, more and more furniture manufacturers were prioritizing comfort. This resulted in the widespread use of spring coils in sofas and chairs. Plush and patterned upholstery fabrics became necessary in order to cover this more mechanical element and remain true to the sophisticated styles Rococo furniture was known for.

3 Tips for Collecting Rococo Revival Style Furniture:

1. Always ask the vendor or Melbourne mall staff to see authentication documents and provenance papers—you wouldn’t want to spend all that money on a modern replica, would you?

2. Study up on the signature characteristics before you browse an antique store, so you know exactly what to look for when you do. You don’t have to become an expert—having a basic understanding is fine.

3. Condition is key! Inspect each drawer, hinge, and joint for signs of unfixable wear and tear. Some minor damages can affect value, while others can be restored by experts. Whether or not you buy a semi-damaged piece is up to you.

Rococo furniture from the Revival period is more than a financial investment—it’s a way to add beauty to every nook of your home. If you’re feeling inspired by this design era, you’re in luck. There are plenty of pieces waiting to be discovered at your nearest America’s Antique Mall. Stop by and start searching for Rococo style designs from its Revival era today!