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Furniture
reproductions have been popular for a great many
years,
but the number of antiques being reproduced and sold as such has
never been greater than at the present time.
Historical Event
King Louis XIII liked furniture that was bulky and rigid. Louis XIV
believed furniture designed during his reign should show off his power so
it was massive and ornate. Both styles lacked grace and were large in
scale so they are rarely reproduced and found mostly in museums. Their
importance lies in the fact that they were the basis of later French
styles by Louis XV, Louis XVI and Louis Philippe, which are reproduced
today especially In Egypt.
Think French if you want to bring a classic touch to your home because
it's such a timeless design style. This ageless quality is due largely to
the influence of King Louis XV who liked curved pieces and intricate
carvings of shells and flowers, which was largely influenced by Madame de
Pompadour ,With the invention of springs, chairs became more welcoming
with open arms and cushioned seats, which were larger and deeper to
accommodate the huge dresses popular at the time, Louis XV furniture is
symmetrical and incorporates motifs such as shells, leaves, flowers and
scrolled toes. It's also known as the Rococo style, which is derived from
the French word "racaille" meaning rock and shell work,When
Louis XVI took the throne in 1754, furniture evolved once again. One of
the major influences in the design was the king's queen, Marie Antoinette.
It was her interest in the classics that predominated the look of
furniture and simpler lines replaced the free-flowing forms of previous
styles. Legs became straight and tapered like a Roman column without
scrolled toes.
King Louis Philippe's style reflected the times so it was much simpler
than all the previous ones . People were wealthy and wanted to buy a lot
of furniture so craftsmen had to produce it faster. Armoires are
unmistakably French with carved doors, interesting hardware or decorative
painting. They were originally used for storage before closets existed.
How
did the French Furniture making start in Egypt?
When
Napoleon arrived in Cairo during the French invasion of Egypt in 1798 introduced
influences that began a new cultural era. French designers who had
traveled with Napoleon left a legacy that is written all over the European
parts of Cairo. Their tastes were mainly of a French middle class influence.
French
designers tried to make Cairo look like Paris. They worked with groups of
Egyptian carpenters and assisted them in manufacturing the furniture all
with classic French themes.e.g Classic
French Tables, French Credenzas, Cupboards, French Coffee Tables, French Consoles, French
Occasional Tables, French Curios, Vitrines ,French Desks, Office Furniture, French
Dinettes, French Furniture Bedrooms, Upholstered French Beds French Bombe Commodes, French
Book Cases French Cabinets, Armoires, French Chests, Buffets, French
Dinning Tables, French Dinning Rooms French Entertainment Centers, Kid's
French Furniture, French Wood Mantels, French Carved Mirrors, French
Pedestals, Slits, Screens,
French Secretaries, Roll Top Desks, Unfinished
French Furniture
Egyptian
Carpenters were excellent craftsmen to learn and were influenced by the
French designers especially in
The Marquetry , which was executed with extraordinary smoothness and finish; the
mounts of gilded bronze, which
were the leading characteristic of most of the work of the century, were
finished with a minute delicacy of touch .Egyptian
Carpenters also became professionals in gilding French furniture in many colors
rose, silvery green, and gray blues and in strict symmetry and ornamentation
Furniture making was and
still a respected craft in Egypt and skilled artisans are highly regarded, The Egyptian furniture makers display some particularly advanced
techniques in their craft,They are skilled woodworkers and their ability with working precious metals and
especially
in French Furniture Reproductions shows skill which would be difficult to
match .
Ancient
Egyptian Furniture
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The
ancient Egyptians had simple but well made furniture. The
craftsmen and Egyptian woodworkers created the simple furniture
for the common people while the most elaborate for the wealth and
the kings.
At
the beginning of the Old Kingdom, which opens with the 3rd dynasty
(2686-2613BC), we see the quality of royal Egyptian furniture made
during this period can be seen in those examples in the 4th
dynasty tomb of Queen Hetepheres (c 2600 BC) at Giza.
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Ancient
EgyptianFurniture
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Most
of the Egyptian wooden frameworks were elaborated by gold sheaths, which
had encased the Egyptian furniture. Hetepheres' furniture consisted
of two armchairs, bed frame, bed canopy, carrying chair and two boxes.
The introduction of the wooden boxes were made at the
end of the Old Kingdom. They were manufactured with flat, gable, barrel
and shrine shaped lids. Some were very large and were designed with a pair
of poles that enabled the box to be carried by a team of
porters. In one tomb scene we see such a box being carried by fourteen
men.
During the Middle Kingdom we find boxes were customized to hold cosmetics.
Many were designed like crates to hold small alabaster jars which held
perfumed oils. Other boxes have been found to contain mirrors, kohl
containers, combs and other items. Other elaborate boxes held jewellery,
these were usually inlaid or veneered with sheets of ivory or exotic
timbers bought from lands south of Egypt. Chests were used to store
domestic possessions such as linens, clothing, jewelry, and make-up.
Scribes even had boxes in which they stored their
writing implements and palette. Their boxes were usually painted to
imitate the stringing and veneered panels found on more ornate boxes. The
Egyptian bed was a rectangular wooden frame with a mat of woven cords.
Instead of using pillows, the Egyptians used a crescent-shaped headrest at
one end of the bed. Beds were made of a woven mat placed on wooden
framework standing on animal-shaped legs. At one end was a footboard and
at the other was a headrest made a curved neckpiece set on top of a short
pillar on an oblong base
By the unification
of Upper and Lower Egypt we find bed frames were in common use with many
examples being found in 1st dynasty (3100-2890 BC) tombs. The quality of
these bed frames ranged from conveniently shaped branches that were lashed
together, to sophisticated examples made from rounded poles that were
jointed together and supported on finely carved bovine shaped legs.
The ancient Egyptian stool was made
from wood, and had a padded leather or woven rush seat. It is the most
common item present in ancient Egyptian homes. A low, square stool, the
corners of which flared upwards and on top was placed a leather seat or
cushion, was the most common type of furnishing. The stools’ 3 or
4 legs were very often carved to look like animal legs. Wealthy people had
their stools and all furniture in general was richly decorated with gold
or silver leaf. The more common people would have things painted to look
more expensive than they were.
The ancient Egyptian furniture was in general lower in
height than contemporary furniture with beds being about 300mm high and
the stools being extremely low by modern standards. As to the lowness of
the seating pieces, the short stature of the early Egyptian people may
have had some influence, their average height being only a few inches over
five feet .However, their chair remains indicate them being quite high off
the ground, requiring a footstool to be reached, and once seated the
footstool was used to support the sitter's feet.
By the time of the Second Dynasty the stool appears to
have differentiated into a new form reserved for royalty and high ranking
members of society. It became more substantial in its construction,
sometimes having a low back rest and was often higher than the stool.
Sometimes a cushion was added.
Middle Kingdom furniture had a wide collection of small tables.
These tables were widely used for the display of vases or holding water
pots. Many are low with straight legs and have a single stretcher strung
below the table top. We also see that Egyptian carpenters were
constructing splay legged tables which had cavetto cornice mouldings below
the edge of the table top. Slender vase stands were made from thin strips
of timber braced with cross and angled struts. They were fitted with a
shaped collar which held the round base of a single vase.
Those chairs made during the Middle Kingdom
had either short backs over which was draped a cover or cushion or they
had backs of full height. Such chair backs were curved and made from
angled slats of timber. We see that they stood on slender gazelle-shaped
legs. Often chairs were painted to simulate animal skin which were painted
with a technique which resembles cow skin.
By the Fourth Dynasty the chair reached a high point in
its refinement and elegance. After then the seat in its two forms
(the chair used by nobility and royalty and the stool used throughout the
rest of the society) remained virtually unchanged for twelve dynasties (to
around 1320 B C).
By the New Kingdom, the homes of officials and nobles would have
been furnished with a wide range of furniture. Again the stool was
the most popular.The most commonly used were lattice stools that were made
from thin struts of timber with angled braces supporting a double cove
seat. Round legged stools appear in some of the more important Theban
tombs. The majority of legs from these stools were hand rounded although
there is a small corpus of material which have legs that appear to be
turned.
Curved
Egyptian stools.
Stool designs with similar shapes are also recorded. The folding stool
shown represents a typical example of this variety. Leather or a material
weave would form the seat section or 'stretcher' of the stool. Perhaps the
naturally formed curve assumed by the seat when sat upon was imitated in
the solid construction. Egyptian furniture and in particular chairs,
evolved into some quite complex forms, requiring a high level of skill in
their design and crafting as demonstrated in the construction details in
During the New Kingdom we see carpenters sitting on
three legged stools which allowed the stool to rest evenly on the workshop
floor. The folding stool originates in the Middle Kingdom and was made
from two interlocking frames with a leather seat. New Kingdom examples are
more elaborate having the floor rails and crossing spindles finished with
carved goose head terminals which are inlaid with ivory to imitate the
eyes and neck feathers. We also see that lion legged stools and chairs
were used in the homes of high ranking officials.
The "Egyptian furniture" manufactured in the royal
workshops were not very different in design to that used by the middle
classes. However, they were exquisitely embellished with gold sheet,
inlaid with coloured stones and faience or veneered with ebony and ivory.
They were also adorned with the uraeus and the symbols of kingship. Other
pieces are inlaid with thousands of slivers of coloured wood in either
marquetry or parquetry patterns.
By the New Kingdom, Egyptian furniture was highly
prized and was often sent as tribute to the rulers of neighbouring
countries. Fragments of Egyptian furniture have been excavated at sites
around Western Asia.
Courtesy of www.kingtutshop.com
Styles of Furniture Making
Gothic: Medieval church architecture
influences this style-characterized by pointed arches, counterbalancing
buttresses, open tracery and
vertical grandiose emphasis.
Elizabethan: Elizabeth
I Reign 1558-1603 England's Renaissance interpretation.
Renaissance:
Derived from Italian Renaissance style-mainly oak functional furniture
with scroll & arabesque carving, etc. with horizontal
emphasis. A "pendulumatic" reaction to Gothic style.
Pilgrim:
Spartan utilitarian American furniture reflecting 17th C. English country
styles
Jacobean:
Roughly spanning James I (1602-25) & Charles I (1625-49) reigns.
Restrained ornament, Moorish influence.
Louis XIII: King
reigned (1589-1643), Baroque style including cherubs, cartouches, gilding,
and spiral turning.
Cromwellian: Also
known as Carolean era. Probably alluding to Irish influence in the era
roughly surrounding Charles I.
Louis XVI:
The Sun King's reign (1643-1715) noted for splendor of courts in
Versailles and Paris. Marquetry inlaid furniture distinguished by
opulence and grandiose size.
Baroque:
Flamboyant, heavy, decorative rectilinear style derived from 17th C.
Italian architecture.
Commonwealth: Unadorned
style that flourished under protectorate of Oliver Cromwell (1649-60) in a
revolt against aristocracy.
Restoration:
Restoration of kingly Charles II 1660 to the abdication of James II 1688,
walnut replaces oak, C and S scroll supports introduced.
Not as restrained as the Common man style preceding.
The Restauration period in antique French furniture was
characterized by simple harmonious lines, gentle rounded forms and fine
ornamentation. Light woods such as ash, elm and bird’s eye maple were
used along with dark woods such is as mahogany and palissandre. The
craftsmen employed veneers and inlay and the use of light wood inlay
against dark wood grounds or dark wood inlays set into blond grounds, the
latter of which was especially popular during the reign of Charles X.
Typical decorative motifs included the swan, cornucopia, lyre, rosettes
and gadrooning.
Early Colonial:
With some wealth attained, carved oak Hadley chests and turned Great
Chairs start making their way into American homes.
Rococo: An
exuberant curvaceous style characterized by asymmetrical lines and shell,
floral and foliate motifs.
William & Mary:
Roughly influenced by William III reign 1689-1702, heightened English
style and cabinetry introducing: domed cresting, the
American highboy, lacquer work, ball & bun Spanish feet; strong Dutch
influence.
Queen Anne:
Reign (1702-1714) Along with Chippendale, the finest hour of English and
American cabinetry. Feminine petite lines, beautiful
proportioning and balance, restrained use of ornament. The cabriole leg
and cyma curve are prevalent.
Regence: Transitional
melding of baroque into rococo. Romantic elements supplant heroic.
Louis XV:
Continuance of the rejection of weighty forms. Rococo exuberance replaces
angularity in flowing curves and elaborate scrollwork.
Gilded cabriole leg fauteuils are introduced.
The French Rococo Louis XV style of furniture incorporates curving lines,
cabriole legs (with scroll feet) and carved details of period furniture
common in the 18th century
Carving on armoires, tables and chairs depicted delicate foliate patterns
inspired by nature. The French style is much more formal than the English
and many pieces were accented with decorative marquetry inlay, brass
ormolu plaques, and gold details.
Paris asserted its dominance over the rest of France as a center of
excellence in the design and manufacture of luxury goods as early at the
17th century. France’s other major cities copied as closely as they
could the lead being set by Paris, but the craftsmen of the countryside,
perhaps more influenced by factors of cost and practicality, created their
own look using local materials. In antique country furniture, French Line
Antiques carries armoires, benches, chests, farm tables, and tall case
clocks of the late 18th-early 19th centuries from regions as diverse as
Brittany, Lorraine, Bordeaux and Provence.
Chippendale: Masculinity
supplants femininity in furniture. Cabinetmakers like Thomas Chippendale
take lead over monarchs in design. Queen
Anne form puts on a bowtie and goes rococo, mahogany rules. Oriental
influence comes to shore.
Neo Classic: Inspired
by continuing excavations and discoveries at Pompeii and Herculaneum
(begun 1738) classic Greek and Roman
decorative motifs like dolphins, guilloches, lyres and urns emerge
everywhere. Straight lines and swags supplant rococo curves.
Hepplewhite:
Neo Classicism influences English and American design. Tapered rectilinear
legs supplant the cabriole leg. George Hepplewhite's,
"Cabinet Makers and Upholsterer's Guide" is published in 1788.
Louis XVI: Beginning
before 1774, 18th Century French Art climaxes under King Louis XVI, Marie
Antoinette and exuberant neoclassic style.
Sheraton:
Thomas Sheraton's "Cabinet Maker's & Upholsterer's Drawing
Book" is published 1791. Turned Corinthian column legs supplant
tapered legs. Square shapes round out.
Directoire: Transitional
phase from Rococo to Neo Classic. Soft painted surfaces supplant
ostentatious gilt. Rectilinear columnar design
replaces curves and cabriole legs.
American Federal Period:
The new, emancipated country's beautiful interpretation of graceful lines
and form over excessive ornament. Eagles
emerge in great numbers.
Empire:
Beautiful at first, then severe in treatment-especially in America-of
Classical forms. Surrounded by wreaths, Napoleonic ormolu
bronze mounts highlight mahogany.
The Empire period in antique French furniture embraced what was
monumental in ancient art. Dominated by Greco-Roman models, this style was
spare, rectilinear and symmetrical. Mahogany was the wood of choice often
with decorative bronze mounts and gray, black or white marble tops.
Decorative elements characteristic of Empire included the human form,
swans, winged chimeras, and sphinxes; Egyptian and Greco-Roman motifs;
geometric forms, and those associated with Napoleon himself, the eagle,
the bee and the initials I and N.
During the Napoleonic campaigns of the 19th century, Neo-classical
furniture took on an Egyptian inspiration with classical details appearing
in the form of the lyre, paw foot and acanthus motif.
In England the style is known as Regency, the Empire in France, and
Biedermeier in Germany. The Biedermeier style was a slight variation on
the late neo-classic style more restrained and less ornate than the
English or French counterparts. Carving as well as intricate wood inlay
patterns were used for decoration.
Woods were primarily rosewood and mahogany with gilt accents and
brass ormolu details
Louis Philippe:The
Louis-Philippe period in antique French furniture was derived from
the simple, rounded lines of the Restauration, but with very little
ornamentation. Darker woods were once again preferred, including mahogany,
palissandre, and walnut. Table and commode surfaces are frequently
marble-topped; marbles were most often black, white or gray, sometimes
with sculpted borders.
Regency:
Several styles emerge in Britain based on a blending of traditional
English lines with Gothic and Neo Classic influences.
Biedermeier:
The great German reaction against English and French rococo style.
Generally rectilinear or slightly draping lines. Beautiful
woods, generally with little or no ornament. Comfort and common sense
supplants ostentation.
Victorian:
The machine age takes hold. Ornament and busyness supplant the weightiness
of Empire in its last days. More is better.
Arts & Crafts:
Rebellion against the Victorian Industrialism. Objects that appear to be
made by hand are in again. In America, Gustav Stickley
spearheads the Mission Oak furniture movement featuring mortise &
tendon joining and rectilinear lines.
Jugendstil:
Germany's brilliant Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau movement. Strongly
influenced the path toward modern art developments.
Art Nouveau:
Probably born in a Parisian art shop (Samuel Bing c. 1895) the new "Moderne"
kind of art and design influenced by nature,
Japanese style and flowing feminine lines. A continued reaction against
the Victorian era of the "machine."
French Art Nouveau furniture was produced for only a relatively short
time, from 1890 until about 1920.The style is characterized by flowing,
curved lines, asymmetry and natural subjects, especially flowers
and plants. It was always expensive to manufacture, as its originality
required an artist's vision from the designer and the highest skills from
the executing cabinetmaker. Furthermore, its very sensuousness resulted in
its falling into discredit as decadent when World War I reintroduced
cultural regimentation. The most common forms of Art Nouveau furniture
were dining and bedroom pieces; the single form displaying the widest
range of the style’s application was the chair.
Art Moderne:
Art Nouveau gives way to technology. NYC's Chrysler building is a standing
testament.
Art Deco:
Who needs humanistic/naturalistic lines and earthy tones? Chrome and
plastic supplant wood. Bon Voyage, Art Nouveau. The
rocket age is born and furniture, art and design are going for the
ride!
The French Art Deco furniture (1920-1925) is France’s first expression
of originality in furniture design and decoration in the twentieth
century. While it is characterized by a return to the straight line, its
designers also experimented with new or exotic finishes and materials
including metals, mother-of-pearl, ivory, wrought iron, unusual wood
veneers, lacquers and plastics and by stylizations inspired by nature or
the use of geometric forms in the decorative elements. The sources of
influence from the past include themes and motifs from ancient Egypt, the
Empire and Louis XVI periods. Proportions changed dramatically -
principally through minor elongation and substantial height reduction - to
accommodate, among other things, the lower ceiling heights in modern
buildings
 
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