UPHOLSTERED DINING CHAIR WITH BUTTON BACK AND RING FRENCH STYLE CHAIR IN STONE Embodying unique style, Eloquence offers unique vintage finds and reproduction furniture reflecting the inimitable Old World glamour of Louis XV and Louis XVI design. Thoughtfully restored one-of-a-kind arm chairs, side chairs, settees and tables boast decorative carvings, gilding and authentic finishes with stunningly elegant upholstery. Traditional caning, button tufting and glass beading capture the essence of classic French and European style with the striking beds, seating and lighting, reflecting glamorous illumination.From Baroque to Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI, and Empire, Eighteenth Century French furniture was painstakingly crafted to exacting standards. Through reproduction of antique classical furniture, by our 'old world' craftsmen, Savoia Chair Frames proud to carry on this tradition of excellence.The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.
If you typed the Web address yourself, please make sure that the spelling is correct. Not sure where to start? Check out our home page. We apologize for the inconvenience!Stylesee allConditionsee allPrice$-$Buying Formatsee allItem Locationsee allDelivery Optionssee allShow onlysee allMore refinements...Got one to sell?Get it in front of 160+ million buyers.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 1stdibsNeo-Classical Influences in France (1765-1790/1800) Love these Louis XVI style chairs ? Shop One Kings Lane’s selection of antique and vintage French chairs and recreate the look in your home! With the discovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum, people grew completely fascinated with Greco-Roman style, now having more historically accurate ideas of the styles and motifs. The goal became to create chairs and furniture that were as close to the originals as possible. The various furniture styles that evolved in France under the Neo-Classical period are quite congruous and difficult to separate.
There isn’t a definitive break in the styles, but instead a flowing development of French style from prior to the Revolution up until the fall of the Napoleon Empire. Neo-classical style bears its own distinct hallmarks, but how these motifs are interpreted speaks volumes about the ideals of the populous, and those of their leader. Thus, the variety of chairs during this period do not change so much as their details, ornamentation, and subtleties in the shapes of their frames, beginning with Louis XVI Style Chairs the Fauteuil , the Bergere , and the dining chair, and tapering into Directoire Style. The Story of Louis XVI Style Louis XVI style (“Louis Seize”) chairs are some of the most popular and enduring chairs in history, representing both the last phase of Rococo, and the first phase of Neo-Classical. Being bookended by these two influential movements, Louis Seize chairs are a study in restrained classicism. The social and political circumstances of the time presented a sort of ‘perfect storm’ for the style that emerged under Louis XVI.
Following the “extravagant prelude”1 of Rococo style, there was a general backlash against the aristocracy and its opulence, coupled with a philosophy of purity and simplicity (think: Rousseau’s ‘Return to Nature’) that made Rococo designs feel boastful and out of place. Even the most extravagant of them all, Marie Antoinette, embraced the toned-down trend. Enter the clean lines of ancient Greece and Rome. The second phase of Louis Seize was characterized by this strict attention to detail, and the “correct” representation of classicism, based on Etruscan wall-paintings and Greek vases which offered windows to the past through illustrations and depictions of classic furniture styles. Louis XVI style was a breath of fresh air. The chairs are definitively Neo-Classical, but with great restraint—a return to more rectilinear shapes, perfect proportions, and simplicity that did far more justice to the amazing inlaid ornament craftsmen had become so adept at using.
The Chairs of Louis XVI Style The Louis XVI fauteuil, or covered armchair, is a stunning example of the elegance of the style. There was a breadth to these chairs, with broad backs and seats, and straight, tapered legs. It lent a feeling of intimacy to the sitter. The backs, seats, and arms were upholstered, and all of the rails were lavishly carved, decorated, and gilded. Similar to Robert Adam armchairs in England (owing to the mutual appreciation for architectural furniture and classical ornamentation), Louis XVI fauteuils maintain the same solidity and broad seats as Louis XV armchairs, but with straighter lines. Louis XVI side chairs and dining chairs were armless, and featured both oval and rectilinear frames with upholstered backs and seats—some of the most imitated styles in history, and the inspiration behind the Kartell Ghost Chair. Even the bergère—typically tub-shaped, with a curved back—grew to be more architectural and rectilinear under Louis XVI, as well.