| Different countries produce different types | | | | Europe. The term means ornamented with shells |
| of woods. And produces different type of | | | | and scrollwork and similar patterns, and |
| furniture each unique in their own styles. | | | | until one grows accustomed to it, the |
| And the development of these different styles | | | | dictionary definition of 'tastelessly florid |
| of wood products was also due to the | | | | or ornate' may often be thought to apply. To |
| encouragements from their rulers and | | | | our eyes it is noticeable principally for a |
| influential people. | | | | generous use of curved. lines, and an |
| | | | 'unbalanced' look. Out of its elaborate |
| Furniture made on the mainland of Europe | | | | setting there is no doubt that Louis XV |
| varied from country to country, but both | | | | furniture appears very showy, but when it is |
| craftsmen and ideas were interchanged from | | | | seen in the rooms for which it was designed |
| time to time. Local tastes and the use of | | | | it takes its place unobtrusively in the |
| local timbers often played a part in creating | | | | decorative scheme. |
| a fashion that spread eventually from east to | | | | |
| west. There is no space here to deal with the | | | | The French had a liking during the eighteenth |
| detailed history of the subject in each | | | | century for small tables and cabinets, chests |
| individual land, but some general notes may | | | | of drawers (called commodes), large writing |
| be helpful. French furniture, having attained | | | | tables with leather-covered tops having a row |
| a worldwide interest and importance, is | | | | of drawers beneath and tall legs, and upright |
| described at greater length. | | | | cabinets with drop-down fronts concealing a |
| | | | writing space. Veneering was the usual |
| France | | | | decoration, aided by parquetry and marquetry |
| | | | set off with ormolu mountings. When compared |
| French furniture of the sixteenth and | | | | with the sophisticated outside appearance, |
| seventeenth centuries is not greatly | | | | most of the pieces exhibit very rough |
| different from that made elsewhere in Europe | | | | finishing of the woodwork not usually seen, |
| at those dates. However, the principal wood | | | | and a glance at the inside or underneath of a |
| used in England was oak, but in France it was | | | | piece will prove this. |
| walnut, which was plentiful there. Just as | | | | |
| many foreign workers came to London, so did | | | | Many of the small tables and cabinets are |
| others to Paris; it is almost impossible to | | | | supported on delicately curved cabriole legs |
| distinguish an Italian-made cabinet from one | | | | so slight that it is a wonder they can stand |
| made in France by an Italian craftsman. It | | | | without breaking. Chests of drawers always |
| was not until the end of the seventeenth | | | | have a slab of colored marble as the top, and |
| century that French furniture gained its | | | | many other pieces are similarly finished. |
| recognizable distinction. The first to give | | | | Chairs and settees were carved usually of |
| his name to a style there was Andre Charles | | | | beech-wood, sometimes finished with gilding |
| Boulle (1642-1732), who perfected marquetry, | | | | and sometimes painted in pale colors. |
| originating in Italy, employing tortoiseshell | | | | Mirror-frames were gilt, and are often very |
| and brass which was used mostly on furniture | | | | like English ones of the same date. |
| veneered with ebony. This is known now either | | | | |
| as Boulle or Buhl work, and the majority of | | | | Different countries used different types of |
| it that has survived was made in Victorian | | | | woods. In England they mostly used the oak, |
| times, or later. Old work of the eighteenth | | | | but in France it was walnut, which was |
| century is very valuable ($3,000 to $6,000 | | | | plentiful there. Some time the cabinet made |
| for a piece would not be considered | | | | in Italia and France are difficult to |
| extraordinary), but the nineteenth-century | | | | distinguish from one another. There were |
| copies fetch a tenth or so of this. | | | | great differences in their price tags as well |
| | | | with their production ages. Monarch Louis XV |
| Louis XV | | | | extravagant furniture designs known as |
| | | | Rococo. He designs different styles of |
| This monarch has his name coupled with the | | | | furniture with different types of woods that |
| most extravagant of furniture designs, known | | | | suits his tastes. |
| as Rococo; a style that spread throughout | | | | |