Friday, 15 July 2011

French Influence in Antique Furniture Design



French design is among the most widely used elements on the planet of antique furniture. Through the mid-1960s, these characteristics had traveled to The united states, influencing in france they Canadian furniture scene. There, the first furniture makers were skilled in carpentry but weren't considered cabinetmakers, producing a few of the finest furniture pieces ever.

Many furniture styles followed the examples set through the original French bits of the Louis periods. Although Louis XV is recognized as among the worst kings within the good reputation for France, his reign changed the field of furniture design. Probably the most intricately detailed furniture resulted out of this time period and several pieces are very valuable.

Louis XV furniture features graceful, curvaceous lines. It represents an extremely free style that's romantic and sensual, almost feminine. With extensive hand-carved detailing and hand-painted craftsmanship, Louis XV pieces are very not the same as Louis XIV styles.

Although Louis XIV designs influenced subsequent woodworkers too, its style wasn't as classical anyway. It trusted straight lines and angles, producing bulkier furniture. These pieces were also machine painted and cut. The Louis designs also became noted for patterns, for example diamonds, flowers and vines.

In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor of France and very soon thereafter, the furnishings started to reflect the magnitude of his ego. Large, showy pieces were produced, using the design changing significantly from those of Louis XIV and XV. Furniture created during this period became known as the Empire style. Empire pieces don't contain any carvings but, instead, feature wood veneers and metal accents. A well known addition to Empire furniture was using metal decorations - often inspired by Egyptian history - called ormolus.

As time progressed, many woodworkers returned towards the time-honoured Louis styles. French Canadian designers were the same. As the 1800s approached, the most typical woods utilized in French Canadian furniture construction were pine, birch and butternut. Although maple trees were plentiful, the wood was way too hard for use in regular furniture and was better-suited to tool handles and firewood. Styles and designs soon changed using the times along with other kinds of wood were introduced with richer qualities, for example mahogany and cherry.

Before glue and nails became primary elements of furniture building, wooden pins were utilised. Each bit was designed with the help of a joiner, a woodworker whose level of skill sat approximately a carpenter and cabinetmaker, along with a turner, who offered advice on the construction method and kind of wood.

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