History of louis xv furniture

It took its inspiration from Greek mythology and architecture, with friezes, vaulting, sculpted trophies, bronze lion heads, and other classic, elements. Their careers continued and reached their peak during the following reign of Louis XVI. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version.

In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. Commode decoration attributed to Charles Cressent —49 The furniture of the Louis XV period — is characterized by curved forms, lightness, comfort and asymmetry; it replaced the more formal, boxlike and massive furniture of the Louis XIV style. Designers [ edit ]. Design for a writing desk by Gilles-Marie Oppenordt Design for a mantlepiece by Nicolas Pineau early 18th C.

Craftsmen [ edit ]. Chairs and sofas [ edit ]. A chaise-longue, with separate chair and extension. Consoles and tables [ edit ].

History of louis xv furniture

Writing table by Charles Cressent Coiffeuse table with marquetry by Pierre Roussel about Commodes and chests [ edit ]. Commode by Charles Cressent , Waddesdon Manor , Commode by Antoine Gaudreau in the apartment of the Dauphin at Versailles Desks [ edit ]. Secretaire en pent by Bernard II van Risamburgh Early neoclassical drop-front desk by Martin Carlin Beds [ edit ].

Note square frame under crown is covered with the same fabric. Transition From Rocaille to neo-classicism [ edit ]. Early desk by David Roentgen Sofa with Aubusson tapestry upholstery — Chair by Georges Jacob Commode by Martin Carlin with Japanese lacquer veneer List of master furniture designers and creators under Louis XV [ edit ].

Notes and citations [ edit ]. Bibliography [ edit ]. Historicism and Revivalism in architecture and decorative arts. Mycenaean Revival. Stile Umbertino Milan. Traditionalist School. Zakopane Style. Commode, Marquetry of tulipwood, kingwood and other woods, on an oak carcase, with gilt-bronze mounts and a red griotte marble slab. The commode's curved legs and outline, combined with the geometric pattering of the marquetry shaped decorative pieces of wood applied as a veneer and classically inspired gilt-bronze mounts, reflect the transitional phase that divides the elegant and highly decorative Rococo manner from the anti Rococo, more sober Neo-classical style that followed it.

French Rococo The major characteristics, in abstract terms, of the rococo style, sometimes called Louis XV or Louis Quinze, are lightness, assymetry, elegance, and the most exquisitely minute and careful decorative accents. Influences on Rococo Middle Class Homes The middle of the eighteenth century in France saw increasing wealth among the middle classes and thus to the building of many more beautiful and elaborate homes, each with their own varied needs for furnishing, and each with their own houseproud masters wanting to show off their sophistication and riches.

Madame de Pompadour One important ingredient in the story of Louis XV furniture is the role of Madame de Pompadour, a mistress of King Louis, who had her own apartment at the palace of Versailles, and encouraged Louis to promote the fine arts of architecture, furniture, and furnishings. Social Customs The salon, social gathering, whether in palaces or ordinary homes, developed into a common occurence.

End of Rococo Design Our friend, Madame de Pompadour, played her part in the eventual decline in popularity of the exuberant and extremely decorative rococo style when she, like many others of the mid to late eighteenth century, took up a scholarly interest in the remains and artifacts of the dead civilisations of Rome and Greece, this ushering in the time of neo classical furniture.

Copper played a great part in the ornamentation of his coloured marquetry works. Despite being a less restrained style than that of Louis XIV, it was more elegant, and in some ways more graceful, however sometimes it carried its extravagance too far. The monkey was all the rage as a decoration motif, together with Chinese and Japanese screens, jars and fans.

In France, however, the Chinese motifs were artistically modified, and the " chinoiserie" of Watteau and Gillot has only a faint flavour of the real Far East. Pastoral scenes by Watteau were used in decoration, and rococo details, natural flowers, festoons, baskets, and ribbon and lace effects. It was a capricious style, exaggerating later Louis XIV models, with the use of curves on a much larger scale, and rococo details.

Under Madame Pompadour Sevres porcelain plaques were much used to enrich cabinets or writing-desks. Curved lines and asymmetry became the rule and was expressed in the elaboration of surface ornament. The fashion for Chinese lacquer had an influence on European. New items appeared: chiffoniers, writing desks with flaps, card tables, roll-top desks, wooden panelling, and ladies' furniture: dressing tables, chairs with short armrests, desks, escritoires.

A taste for secrecy, which pervaded society, resulted in multiple hiding places incorporated in articles of Louis XV furniture which opened with springs. The frames were generally made of beech , walnut , or cherry. There were almost one hundred exotic woods, covering practically the entire range of different colours used in marquetry work. Cherry wood, which has a fine grain and is a good medium for carving, was used for chairs, tables, commodes, cupboards and other similar articles.

The wood was often painted or in gold leaf.