Factors Composing Antique Furniture in the style of Louis XV in the 18th Century in France

At that time, the craftsmen of the Louis XV period agreed with a very simple principle, that is, if a woman can be as beautiful as the curve of her body, then a piece of furniture must be so. Therefore, this led to the Louis XV style consisting of a series of curves whose smooth lines reflect the value of the furniture and its perfection. However, to go beyond the sensation that some master craftsmen can create, and to understand more accurately all the factors that make up the style of Louis XV, we must consider the details of craftsmanship and decoration required by the new taste. Next, we will briefly discuss these.

The main body of the furniture made in Paris must be made of oak. Occasionally some masters will use rosewood, mahogany or solid maple to make drawers. The practice of making furniture out of different woods during the Regency era disappeared.

Louis XV Commode

Cork or fruit wood is only used to make French country furniture. In Paris, beech and walnut are used to make seats, while local wood is used elsewhere.

Louis XV Wingback Chair

The veneer is composed of precious exotic woods such as rosewood, tulip or rosewood. They are usually the raw materials for inlays used in furniture, and the patterns are biased towards flowers, diamond patterns and geometric patterns. In order to create a contrasting color difference and enhance the effect of the copper bracket, different woods are usually used in the veneer of a piece of furniture.

Louis XV Commode

The most common decorative elements in copper fittings or wood are rushes, various shells, scrolls, flower bouquets with stems, music and pastoral elements, symbols of love, doves, dolphins, etc.

In addition to fashionable veneer furniture, there was also a fashion trend of lacquered furniture with oriental elements in the 18th century.

For a long time, the lacquer panels that can be connected to the furniture needed to be imported directly from China. This situation continued until the Martin brothers in Paris developed a varnish to protect the painted surface. It was called "Vernis Martin" (Vernis Martin"). It made the brothers famous and was mistaken for the inventors of the perfect varnish. Some furniture is also coated with Coromandel lacquer, which is a kind of Lacquer specially applied to decorative patterns drawn by carving or bas-relief.

Louis XV Chinoiserie Screen

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published