How do I identify Louis XV furniture?
Table of Contents
How do I identify Louis XV furniture?
Louis XV
- Seat backs are framed with molded and/or curved wood.
- Seat backs are often cartouche-shaped (read: rounded ovals)
- An emphasis on comfort means that seat backs are often gently angled.
- The crest rail — or top curve of the seat back frame — features carvings, or even a central medallion.
What year is Louis XV furniture?
The furniture of the Louis XV period (1715-1774) is characterized by curved forms, lightness, comfort and asymmetry; it replaced the more formal, boxlike and massive furniture of the Louis XIV style.
What is Louis XV style furniture?
Louis XV style, in the decorative arts, a Rococo style characterized by the superior craftsmanship of 18th-century cabinetmaking in France. The proponents of this style produced exquisite Rococo decor for the enormous number of homes owned by royalty and nobility during the reign of Louis XV.
What are the characteristics of Louis XIV furniture?
Louis XIV Chairs
- Thick and sturdy wooden frames.
- Seats and chair backs are rectangular.
- Arm rests extend to the front edge of the seat.
- Chair backs are rigid and upright; often upholstered.
- Legs are straight and connected by H- or X-shaped stretchers.
When was Louis XV popular?
1730-1775
The French furniture style we call Louis XV flourished during the period of 1730-1775. If the Louis XIV furniture style was designed with the glorification of the Sun King in mind and all in massive, masculine, square form, the Louis XV furniture style is the complete opposite.
Which is a decorative material for Louis XVI furniture?
Cherry wood and walnut were often used, especially in regional furniture. Beech was commonly used for chairs, since it was solid, easily sculpted, and could be easily gilded and painted.
When was Louis XVI furniture made?
From 1760 to 1790, the graceful curves of Rococo faded out of fashion, and Louis XVI style took its place. This is new style emerged during the reign of King Louis-Auguste (1774-1793). Like its Baroque predecessor, it focused on straight lines and included motifs inspired by the classical age.
What wood is French furniture made of?
Materials and techniques: Most solid wood furniture was made of oak or walnut, but there were also examples made of cherry, ash, plum, chestnut and olive. Beech, lindenwood and walnut were used only in chairs and other seating. Painted wood was often used to foster harmony between furniture and paneling.
How do you date French furniture?
Popular French furniture movements and their approximate date ranges include:
- Louis XIII (1590–1660)
- Louis XIV (1660–1715)
- Régence (1715–1730)
- Louis XV (1730–1770)
- Louis XVI (1770–1789)
- Directoire (1789–1805)
- Empire (1805–1815)
- Restoration (1815–1830)
Is the furniture at Versailles real?
The tapestries and furniture were not originally at Versailles, but are authentic Louis XV pieces on loan from the Mobilier National (French national furniture collections.)
How can you tell Baroque furniture?
Baroque furniture pieces had a very elaborate ornamentation, plenty of details, and the designs featured an exuberant and sometimes exaggerated decoration with the details integrated with harmony and balance in symmetrical compositions. Some common elements included twisted columns, pedestal feet and heavy moldings.
What is Rococo style furniture?
Rococo furniture refers to interior design pieces from inspired by the extravagantly decorated Rococo period in 18th century France. Noted for its extensive decoration, Rococo furniture is sumptuous and extreme in design, and often employs many different types of material and ornamentation in a single piece.
How do I know what Rococo art I have?
French Rococo painting in general was characterized by easygoing, lighthearted treatments of mythological and courtship themes, rich and delicate brushwork, a relatively light tonal key, and sensuous colouring. Rococo sculpture was notable for its intimate scale, its naturalism, and its varied surface effects.
