Style Louis XV

The style Louis XV is, before influencing all arts of its time, a pure creation of the cabinetmaker S and more particularly the result of a major technical projection in the manufacture of the seats. It is the perfect control of the assemblies and the resistance of the wood which makes it possible to remove the heavy spacers, to reduce the carcasses and to dare the bent feet.

It is almost always an technical innovation which puts an end to the repetition traditional styles, which makes it possible to explore new forms and which starts the appearance of a stylistic revival. That is particularly true for the Gothic Style, the style Louis XV and the Art nouveau. Three currents characterized by their curved lines and the acquisition of the control of a material: stone for the first, wood for the second, metal for the third.

The inventors of the style Louis XV are true creators with the modern direction of the term, which revolutionizes the way of considering furniture and interior decoration.

In much of work one refers to this style under the name of Rocaille, especially when they are complete projects of interior decoration made by ornemanists.

Period

The style Louis XV develops primarily in the second quarter of the 18th century (approx. 1730 with 1760). He announces himself already in the R3egence style and is prolonged during the following time, especially in province. He only coincides very roughly with the long reign of the monarch: 1715-1774. Very daring at its time, he knows a renewal of success in the pieces of furniture produced at the end of the 19th century and continuous to inspire a rather conventional and insipid production since.

The undulation of the style Louis XV fact places little by little at the rigid majesty of the Style Louis XVI during the following period where one speaks about Style Transition.

Preceding or preexistent styles

the style louis XV succeeds the R3egence style which is an outline by the progressive abandonment of the traditional inspiration which prevailed since the Rebirth, and which is let try by the baroque.

Political situation and cultural

Louis XV assembles on the throne to its majority at thirteen years in 1722 succeeding the Duc of Orleans regent since the death of Louis XIV in 1715. The king and especially his wife maintain a provided court and are surrounded artists and craftsmen.

This ostentation will last until in the years 1760, date which marks the end of the style.

Esthetics

Main features

The style Louis XV is a female style, and this for several reasons. It is initially a reaction to the Style Louis XIV charged with testosterone, where furniture was to release from the power and to force the respect on the point to become about it crushing. Contrary, here furniture is charming, elegant, light and invites more to the relaxation and futilities of the court. Moreover, it is a furniture generally ordered by or for the women, who took under Louis XV an important place at the court, and make authority as regards decoration.

This style is characterized by a search of intimacy and comfort. The parts are done smaller and more cordial, the less high ceilings, the woodworks are painted tons some soft (pink, cream, colors pastel) and hide many small wall cupboards and hidden doors.

It is a style of invention:

One invents there the Pied bent (known as " Foot Louis XV ") who is an evolution of the feet in the shape of animal legs, but here they are the legs of hind, and either of lion which are taken as model;
For the first time since the Middle Ages, one sees reappearing asymmetry. Small the convenient S often asymmetrical, but is always balanced; it results an impression from it from imagination, without being able to say why to the first glance;
One gives priority to the decoration and more with the useful form, for example on convenient the bronze decorations from one drawer to another until making disappear the intersection between them is prolonged.
furniture is reconsidered to occupy all the space of the parts, and either only the periphery as one can still nowadays see it with Versailles. Thus the backs of the files of seats are done more worked.
the belt of the seats becomes bent in plan but also for the first time of rise.
it is the appearance of the Violoné file and the file convertible. (curve in plan) although one always uses the file with the queen (right in plan), violoné or not.

Ornamentation

It is the reign of the ornemanists, new profession ancestor of the decorators. They create great projects including all interior decoration. Since the mural skirtings with the pieces of furniture which will have to be in perfect harmony. With the glosses, stuccos and paintings.

The pieces of furniture Louis XV are carved and assembled bronzes in the Style rubble, i.e. Coquille S opening out in foliages provided and very detailed finishing itself in rolling up (see for example the end of the supports of arm-rests of armchairs in convertible).

The human and animal figures are abandoned with the profit of the vegetable world. The Marqueterie S are initially abandoned with the profit of frisages or the beauty of the gasoline (amaranth, Satiné, Bois de rose and violet…) prevails, then return to the mode as from 1745 with representations of bouquets of flower and/or musical instruments (on the furniture of court), and are very provided and very coloured.

The seats are furnished with flowered silk trade, and are often entirely gilded.

The pieces of furniture are often furnished with panels of Laque S of the Far East. Research aiming at imitating these lacquers stimulates the rise of the European lacquers (Vernis Martin).

Furniture

Pieces of furniture emblematic of the style Louis XV

Furniture is composed primarily of small pieces of furniture. The pieces of furniture manufactured are:

small the convenient S to two Drawer S and hidden Cross-piece S;
small the Table S or Service road S;
All kinds of seats;
the tables with plays.

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