Louis XIV Antique Furniture

The distinctive sign of the reign of Louis XIV is the size and the glare. Art will quickly be put at the service of the glory of the king. Furniture contains a multitude of sculptures and gildings. The ebony plating extends to other matters such as copper, tin, the scale or the wood of colors. One finds decors such as shells with veins, radiating suns. The panels are indented, with right angle and curved or are curved with projection. Wood more used is still the oak, except for the seats, made of walnut then in beech. It is the time of Andre Charles Boulle, who will become famous in particular by its marquetries of copper and scale, and by the creation of parts full with invention and taste

The most representative pieces of furniture are without any doubt the Boulle dresser or commode, the Mazarin desk and the table-console. One also sees the appearance of the settees (armchair in several places) or of the armchair with confessional, provided with “oreillons” placed in top of the back.