Furniture Friday: Louis XVI Chair
Photo credit: Restoration Hardware I have nothin’ but love for the Louis. It’s such a beautiful chair, I’m drawn to the fluted legs and oval back; such a classic look.
I really do appreciate all kinds of furniture; french, scandinavian or country. So I thought, why not write a regular post about it and learn some new things along the way?
So, (drum roll please)…I present to you Furniture Friday! Today’s Furniture Friday is about the Louis XVI Chair. It’s a classic piece and something I’ve been eyeing for quite some time.
I am in the midst of redesigning my dining area and being a lover of French Eclectic, I naturally gravitated towards this Louis chair. Looking to add some warmth and old world charm to my streamlined glass dining table, I thought this chair would warm it up and add some personality to the space.
Also, I love the versatility of this chair- it goes with any decor style: modern, rustic, country or eclectic. You can’t go wrong with a Louis!
So I was thinking, Louis XVI must have been some badass king to have this beaut of a chair named after him. Boy, was I wrong. Apparently, it took him 7 years to consummate his marriage with his queen Marie Antoinette. He didn’t know how it ‘worked’.
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He had to have a talk about the birds and bees with his bro first. Poor, poor Marie. Ok, back to the chair. During King Louis’ reign, archaeologists were working to uncover ancient roman towns that were buried by the Mt.
Vesuvius eruption. Surprisingly, pieces of furniture were found and this started a craze all over Europe. A more rustic look was favoured among the elite and with the interest in Greece and Rome and a new philosophical emphasis on simplicity – Neoclassicism was born. A contrast from the ornate and excessive style of the previous Rococo era, this style is known for it’s elegant straight lines, fluted legs and more emphasis on visible wood.
Soooo, why haven’t I bought this chair you ask? 2 reasons: I can’t bring myself to spend over $200 on a chair (when I need 3!) I haven’t decided if I want to change my dining table Decisions, decisions. I’m hoping to stumble upon 3 of these beauties at a garage sale one morning. Wishful thinking? A girl can dream.
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How can you tell a Louis XVI chair apart from a Louis XV chair?
Louis XVI chairs have straight, tapered legs, often fluted like classical columns, while Louis XV chairs rest on cabriole legs that curve in a continuous S-shape. Louis XVI seat backs are oval or shield-shaped with geometric, angular frames, and carvings are restrained classical motifs.
Louis XV seat backs are rounded or cartouche-shaped with molded curved wood, and carving features shells, scrolls and floral motifs. Louis XVI armrests meet the front of the seat in scroll terminals, whereas Louis XV armrests are shorter.
Source: 1stdibs.com
Who were the main cabinetmakers of Louis XVI chairs?
Jean-Henri Riesener was appointed official cabinetmaker to Louis XVI in 1774, supplying hundreds of pieces of furniture to the royal family, most notably Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI’s siblings Madame Élisabeth and the comte de Provence. Other key 18th-century French cabinet-makers of the period include Martin Carlin, Adam Weisweiler, Roger Vandercruse, also known as Lacroix, and André-Charles Boulle. These ébénistes worked within the Parisian guild system, and from 1751 all cabinet-makers were required to have a stamp to practice their craft.
Source: wallacecollection.org
What upholstery fabrics are typical for Louis XVI chairs?
Louis XVI chairs are typically upholstered in fine silks and embroidered satins. Examples include Tassinari & Chatel silk lampas in the “Marie-Antoinette” design, a 100% silk lampas with neoclassical medallions and floral garlands, and cream satin brodé aux Indes embroidered with animal scenes from the Fables de la Fontaine. These fabrics cover the padded back, seat, and arms, and may also appear on the back of the chair backs.
Source: proantic.com
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