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Louis XIII liked big manly furniture with strong lines that showed off his power, or fancy ornate pieces that, yes, showed off his power. You won’t find a lot of Louis XIII
furniture in homes these days. Because of its bulk (and lack of grace), his furniture wasn’t often reproduced.Photo courtesy of rubylane.com |
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Louis XIV was a lover and
supporter of the arts and converted Versailles from hunting lodge to lavish palace in the baroque style. He was called “The Sun King” for his love of all things planetary and the planets were a theme
throughout the palace in paintings and decorations. The famous hall of mirrors was created in celebration of Louis XIV.Photo courtesy of louis-xiv.de |
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Louis XV reigned during the rococo rage. His furnishings were big on symmetry, carving and fancy details, including shells, leaves, flowers and scrolled toes. Thank fashions (think: HUGE dresses) and the invention of springs for an increase in the
comfort quotient of chairs during this period. Photo courtesy of faccents.com |
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Louis XVI took the throne in 1754 and furniture evolved once again, in part due to the influence of his queen, Marie Antoinette, who was very taken with the discovery of the town of Pompeii, buried in volcanic ash for thousands of years. The classic styles of the ancient Romans— furniture legs that were straight and tapered without scrolled toes, for instance—began to
supersede the rococo style. This new simpler style was the beginning of the neoclassical trend in
furnishings. Photo courtesy of target.com |
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