Louis XIV style reached its maturity around 1685-90. The Sun King and his court, Versailles, were signals of the dawn of the Classical Baroque era.
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The Context
Louis XIV made France the most powerful country in Europe. There was a passing from the baroque style, influenced by Italy, to the classical dignity of Louis XIV. Minister Colbert created the royal manufacturing company, Crown Furniture, to bring together painters and carpenters for the promotion of French products. The Louis XIV style can be summed up as a combination of majesty, balance and originality.
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Furniture in this Style
The exaggeration of the Louis XIV style could be found in silver furniture. It was first introduced by Anne of Austria, but became very popular and was brought to England by Charles II. The beauty of this furniture created a new taste for carved wood to replace. Very few people could afford the silver furnishings, and opted for richly carved and decorated wooden furniture instead.
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Materials and Techniques and Ornament
Using burnished gold, the craftsmen adorned furniture with motifs like scrolls and guilloches, shells, and flowers. They were put together as festoons and sheaves. The addition of other popular trends like acanthus and the cartouche gave luxurious intricacy unknown to the days prior to Louis XIV.
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Louis XIV ornament was featured with rigor and symmetry. The sun was his infamous royal emblem and was used along with the fleur-de-lis in his furniture pieces. Moldings were still thick and motifs of human faces, gods, and allegories were common. The gilded bronze decoration was also popular in that period.
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Info source: https://www.britannica.com/art/Louis-XIV-style
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