ART DECO
A sensuous, flowing style, which includes oval panels, straight tapered legs, and rounded or “waterfall” lines. The style is characterized by a limited use of ornamentation and an emphasis on craftsmanship and precious, exotic materials.
ART NOUVEAU
An organic style that can convey a sense of movement, exemplified by the famous “whiplash” curve, or may incorporate sinuous accents within a geometric pattern. Whether ornately detailed, or with a minimum of ornamentation, design inspiration is drawn from nature.
LOUIS XV
Considered the golden age of French furniture, this style is characterized by complex curves, asymmetry and exotically colored woods inlaid with fanciful patterns. Though a movement in the early 18th century toward simplicity, heavy ornamentation, gilt bronze and lacquer were still used.
LOUIS XVI
Exemplified by straight lines, geometric shapes and minimal ornamentation, the emphasis in the latter half of the 18th century was on symmetry and proportion. Floral and animal designs, in pastel colors, were often framed by geometric trims and oval or round medallions.
BIEDERMEIER
An adaptation of the earlier French Empire style, simple forms and classical, geometric accents are prominent. Sleek, tapered and gently curved lines typify the style, as well as the use of light native woods with striking contrasts of inlaid ebony or ebonized wood.
17th CENTURY ITALIAN
Bold in artistry and design, the 17th century Baroque style reflects the use of rich, heavy woods with deep, raised carving. Curved fronts and high-backed chairs are typical of the era, as are scroll-shaped or spiral-turned legs.
LUCIEN ROLLIN
A designer of the French Modern style who blends the flavor of Frank Lloyd Wright with a renewal of traditional cabinetmaking techniques. Favoring rare woods and richly grained veneers, his minimalist designs incorporate historical and architectural style elements with an eye to form and function.
GEORGIAN
Elegant designs of 18th century England during the reigns of the first four Georges. With Rococo influences, which is heavier and more ornate than Queen Anne, the Georgian period features ball and claw feet, pierced backsplats and ornate carving, and was the approximate time that the wing armchair and cabriole leg were first introduced.
REGENCY
Neoclassical style in early 19th century England during the reign of George IV. This style spawned adaptations and true reproductions of Greek, Roman and Egyptian furniture designs, and saw the introduction of the sabre leg and the pedestal dining table. |
INSPIRATIONS & INTERPRETATIONS
904 The Duke of Alba Occasional Chair
(France, Mid-eighteenth Century)
original |
reproduction |
Purchased from the estate of the Spanish nobleman, the Duke of Alba. This generously proportioned Louis XV occasional chair is accented with exceptionally fine carvings and elegant gilded accents. It is the Duke’s wife, the Duchess of Alba, who is immortalized in Francisco Goya’s famous painting entitled “Portrait of the Duchess of Alba,” circa 1797.
1493 Palazzo Capponi Centre Table
(Venice, Mid-Eighteenth Century)
original
|
reproduction |
This intricately carved and extravagantly gilded Venetian Rococo centre table was purchased from the Clifford Collection. A curator of the Minneapolis Museum of Fine Arts, Clifford owned Palazzo Capponi of Florence where he showcased an exquisite collection of Italian furnishings. 1487 Louis XV Console Table
(France, Mid-Eighteenth Century)
original
|
reproduction |
Skillfully rendered carvings of acorns and oak leaves adorn this Louis XV oak console table from Paris. The exuberant detailing and craftsmanship is indicative of the period. An almost identical console, complete with gessoed and gilded finish, is in the collection of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum of Decorative Art in New York City.
FURNITURE DEFINITIONS
Coffer
An especially strong box for keeping valuables.
Linenfold
A carved panel (usually oak) resembling linen with tight vertical folds.
Trestle
Table A long, narrow table with two T-shaped uprights at each end, joined by a single stretcher.
Tracery
Intersecting patterns, usually based on the segmentation of a circle. |
