How to Spot Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI Chairs A field guide for anyone who wants to brush up on their knowledge of French antiques French furniture pieces from the 18th-century are, in many ways, the Platonic ideal of an antique. By and large, they are exquisitely constructed, reflect a rich social and political context and come with their own semi-foreign vocabulary. French furniture pieces from the 18th-century can also be dauntingly complex and overwhelming to a non-expert. But, believe it or not, you don’t need to have a degree in the decorative arts to appreciate (or retain) some of the nuances of French antiques. To wit, we created a basic primer to help you learn, spot and understand some of the key differences between armchairs of the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI styles. It should also be noted that, since these styles evolved organically, pieces may exhibit characteristics of more than one age simultaneously. Nevertheless, approach it as a framework to learn your ABCs of the XIVs — and to take a little of the guesswork out of French antiques.
Read on to get started! Context: The Sun King took the throne in 1661, and his reign ushered in a period of unparalleled splendor in the French decorative arts. It was his belief that the furnishings and decor (not to mention his home, Versailles) should reflect the glory, wealth and power of the monarchy itself. Accordingly, many of the exuberant, flamboyant pieces from this period (or, pieces created in the Louis XIV style) may be properly described as Baroque. How to spot a Louis XIV chair: Seat backs are rigid, rectangular and upright Seat backs are also frequently upholstered The seat itself is rectangular Armrests extend to the edge of the seat Chair legs are straight, and not connected at an angle Stretchers connect the legs beneath the seat Context: Louis XV style represents the French iteration of Rococo. In fact, the term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles—“rock” and “shells”—organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.
Gentle S-curves and naturalistic floral motifs are characteristic of the period, and crop up frequently on carvings of chairs. Some postulate that the increased social prominence of women influenced the more delicate and asymmetrical designs of the Louis XV style. How to spot a Louis XV chair: 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 Armrests are shorter (Trivia: they shrunk to accommodate increasingly full skirts) Chair legs are placed at an angle Cabriole, or S-curved, leg shapes are popular Context: Termed the goût grec when it emerged circa 1750, Louis XVI style reflects a reaction against the florid stylings of the previous era — and, according to some historians, a nostalgic impulse for the grandeur of the Louis XIV’s reign.
During the second half of the 18th-century, French furniture underwent a Neoclassical revision. Restrained, geometrical forms were preferred to the twirled, freehand designs of Rococo, and stylized references to classical Greek architecture abounded. How to spot a Louis XVI chair: Seat backs are oval or shield-shaped Chair frames are geometric, neat and angular Carvings are more restrained, and reflect regularized, classical motifs, like the Vitruvian scroll Arm rests meet the front of the seat, often in scroll arm terminals Chair legs are typically straight Chair legs also often reflect references to columns, like fluted or ribbon-twist carvings All drawings courtesy of the Smithsonian Digital Archives. Put your newfound knowledge to the test and see how many items you can correctly date while shopping French seating pieces on 1stdibsRelated Articles: French Furniture Styles Style Moderne - Art Nouveau, 1900's Undoubtedly the greatest of all periods for French furniture, this was a period of extraordinary creativity, and was influenced by the royal mistresses: Madame de Pompadour, Madame du Barry, and a few others.
Grand suites were replaced by smaller more intimate rooms, and were furnished with unfailing attentiveness to elegance, refinement, comfort and well being. Curved lines and asymmetry became the rule. Furniture became practical and readily transportable without losing any of its elegance. Foreign masters came to Paris to work at the Court: Bernard van Risen Burgh or B.V.R.B., Vandercruse known as Lacroix whose stamp was P.V.L.C. Furniture: New items appeared: chiffoniers, writing desks with flaps, card tables and roll-top desks. Ladies' furniture: dressing tables, chairs with short armrests, desks, escritoires was designed. Armchairs, chairs, setees and daybeds abound. Cabriolet and bergere armchairs are popularized. Dining tables, round or oval were always covered with a floor length tablecloth. Marquetry and lacquer tables were numerous, practical and beautiful. Wooden paneling could be seen. Louis XV French Console Table 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. Marble and porcelain tabletops were used. Ornaments: Typical ornamentation included curved lines, exotic themes, flora and fauna combined with chinoiseries and femine faces, flowers, and forms suggestive of rocks and shells. Doves and dolphins were the animal motifs of choice. Floral bouquets and garlands, isolated in bunches of three, surrounded by delicate greenery were common. It delighted in asymmetry. Oriental themes invaded decoration: sultans, pashas, dervishes and monkeys moving gracefully through imaginary landscapes. Considerable bronze ornamentation was an essential part of some items. Flower marquetry was very fine. Source: French Furniture by Sylvie Chadenet Back to Knowledge Center A room furnished in the Louis XV style The Louis XV style or Louis Quinze was a French Rococo style in the decorative arts, and, to a lesser degree, architecture.
Datable to the personal reign of Louis XV (1723–1774), the style was characterised by supreme craftsmanship and the integration of the arts of cabinetmaking, painting, and sculpture. French furniture of the period—which typically came in two sets, a summer and a winter—was highly ornamental, yet elegant, and designed to mesh with the rest of the home decor. Orientalia—themes from the Far East—and the fabulous were the principle thematic expressions, and exotic woods and marbles were employed to further the effect. Among the ébénistes who served under Louis XV were Jean-François Oeben, Roger Vandercruse Lacroix, Gilles Joubert, Antoine Gaudreau, and Martin Carlin. The most outstanding painters of the period were Juste-Aurèle Meissonier, François Boucher, Jean-Baptiste Huet, Jean-Baptiste Le Prince, Pierre Migeon, and the van Loo family: Jean-Baptiste van Loo, Louis Michel van Loo, Charles-Amédée-Philippe van Loo, and Charles André van Loo. Madame de Pompadour, the king's mistress, was one of the chief patrons of the artists of the period.