Antique Louis XV commode

Louis XV (1710 – 1774), known as Louis the Well Beloved was a monarch of the House of Bourbon who ruled as King of France and Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five, but until he reached maturity in 1723, his kingdom was ruled by Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, his first cousin twice removed, as Regent of France.

The Louis XV style of furniture is an exquisite and ornate design aesthetic that emerged during the mid-18th century. Also known as Rococo or Rocaille, this more... style marked a departure from the more formal and rigid designs of the preceding Louis XIV era, embracing a more playful, graceful, and lighthearted approach to furniture design.

Louis XV furniture is characterized by its delicate and curvaceous forms, asymmetrical compositions, and lavish ornamentation. The style drew inspiration from nature, incorporating organic motifs such as shells, flowers, leaves, and scrolls. Carving and gilding techniques were extensively used to enhance the visual appeal of the furniture.

One of the most distinctive features of Louis XV furniture is the cabriole leg. This leg design curves outward and then tapers inward in an elegant S-shape, terminating in either a scroll or a claw foot. The curvilinear lines of the cabriole leg were a departure from the straight, angular legs of earlier styles, adding a sense of movement and grace to the furniture.

Louis XV chairs often featured exposed wooden frames, intricately carved with rocaille motifs and scrolled armrests. Upholstery, typically made of rich fabrics like silk or velvet, was generously padded and adorned with tufting or ornamental nailhead trim. The chair backs were usually curved and offered a comfortable and enveloping shape.

Chests of drawers and commodes in the Louis XV style featured gracefully curved fronts and were often adorned with intricate marquetry, a decorative technique that involved inlaying various types of wood to create elaborate patterns or scenes. These pieces also commonly included serpentine-shaped fronts, showcasing the style's preference for organic, flowing lines.

Marble-topped tables were prevalent in the Louis XV style, often featuring sinuous forms and intricate detailing on the legs and aprons. Console tables, writing desks, and dressing tables were all crafted in the distinctive Louis XV aesthetic, incorporating delicate carving, elaborate marquetry, and gilded accents.

In terms of materials, the Louis XV style embraced luxurious and fine materials. Exotic woods such as walnut, rosewood, and mahogany were popular choices, and richly veined marble was used for tabletops. Gilt bronze, also known as ormolu, was extensively employed to add decorative elements and accents to the furniture.

The Louis XV style of furniture represents the height of the Rococo period, with its emphasis on elegance, ornamentation, and the pursuit of pleasure. Its graceful and whimsical designs continue to captivate enthusiasts of antique furniture and interior design, offering a timeless charm that reflects the luxurious tastes of the 18th-century French aristocracy. less...

Until the mid-19th century, the standard chest had either four long, or three long and two short drawers. Rarely were there any exceptions to this rule. A chest with three drawers, or a series of small upper drawers, purporting to be Georgian, will probably have been converted from a chest-on-chest or tallboy. It is true that the 18th century commode often contain two long deep drawers, but this was a much grander and more decorative piece altogether, intended for drawing rooms, not bedrooms, and in any case was usually made to stand on legs. The standard chest more... of drawers continued to be made throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries (some Edwardian pine chests even had bracket feet), but variations were introduced during the mid-Victorian period, with some chests having seven or more drawers usually a deep hat drawer and smaller glove compartments. Chests with barley-sugar twist or split bobbin-turned supports date from the mid-19th century. less...