Best French Furniture
French furniture styles are made up of the most sophisticated pieces that were primarily made for aristocrats, kings as well as the upper bourgeoisie. On the other side, there was the French provisional furniture which is made in provincial cities and towns. This furniture comes in a broad range of sizes and styles.
The variations in these styles often arise as a result of the periods in which they were made as well as the individual designers. French furniture styles can then be categorized according to when they were made as there is a tendency that the characteristics of furniture from a particular period are similar.
1. Baroque Furniture (LOUIS XIV 1661-1700)
Baroque furniture got influence from Louis XIV of France redecoration of his palace. He used the style to show and promote his regal glory in his Versailles palace. The dramatic style of Baroque furniture was an art to impress visitors and express immense power and control.
Baroque furniture characteristics might also show the decorative excess, exuberance, and a pompous grandeur.It includes the addition of small detail to create the final massive piece. Some of the furniture contained cherubs which were lavishly articulately depicted in much of the gothic decor interwoven into richly detailed corbels.
The furniture was heavily ornamented, detailed, gold, marble angels, mirrors and the like as part of their final finishes. Baroque style gradually gave way to the lighter and more decorative Rococo style in the 18th century.
2. Rococo Furniture (LOUIS XV 1723-1774)
This style was a form of rejection of the symmetry and masculinity of baroque style. With this French furniture style, angles were softened, vertical lines were avoided and took to visually spectacular carving. The asymmetry and heavy ornamentation were even more lavish in this furniture style using extravagant wood veneers and marquetry.
Curved forms are common in this French furniture style, and they often resemble C and S.it also incorporated the use of a stylized version of the acanthus leaf as one of its core motifs. There was femininity in this furniture which resulted in furniture mainly for the parlor and bedroom.
The furniture designs were made to fit seamlessly with the rest of the home décor. Gold, light pastels and ivory white were the predominant colors, and the decorators often used mirrors to enhance a sense of open space. The moldings were decorated with delicate interlacing of curves and counter-curves based on C and S shapes together shell forms and other natural forms.
3. Neoclassic Furniture (LOUIS XVI 1760-1798)
This furniture style is used to refer to the style of art and design that was concerned with the ideas of the classical world. This style was most popular in the late 18th century. The designers of this period, therefore, took inspiration from the classical period giving way to neoclassic furniture.
French neoclassic furniture style tended to be rectangular, and curves were avoided. The transition from Rococo to neoclassic furniture style took time. In this transitional period, serpentine shapes gradually straightened, and cabriole legs were changed into turned or tapered legs adorned with twisted fluting. There was an emphasis on straight lines, right angles, and logical design.
Furniture styles in this period were restrained in their form and decoration. There was a lot of usage of fluted columns, oak and laurel leaves, carved friezes, the Greek band, and wreaths. French neoclassical furniture style can be described in three phases of style the empire style, directory style, and Louis XIV style.
The Louis XIV furniture style was popular in his initial stages of ascension to the French throne.it was succeeded by directory style which was characterized by clarity, restraint, and balance. Directory furniture style mixed neoclassical elements with popular motifs like the cap and faces of liberty. The last method is empire style.
It was a favorite style ordered during the first reign of Napoleon.it was characterized by lavish draperies and ancient forms. In this period, Furniture was clean and contemporary. There was no excessive ornamentation and flair. The neoclassic style was marked by a mix of sculpture like decoration with ceramic and metallic mounts.
Conclusion
After the neo-classical furniture style, the influence of French furniture revolution waned. French furniture styles were heavily influenced by the people in power. Each political shift brought about a change in furniture styles. The furniture styles continue to change furniture styles across the world today.