Tag Archives: French
Antique of the Week ~ Country French Armoire
Literally, a cabinet for armor, the antique armoire we enjoy today has a long and rich history in France, most particularly in the provinces where skilled artisans used hand tools to produce works of art that have decorated homes for centuries. Each of the provinces tended to develop unique style motifs and Brittany is no exception. The residents of the Bretagne peninsula have a long history of association with the sea. Their furnishings were adorned with carvings relating to the sea, their Christian religious beliefs, their aspirations, and in general the joys of rural life.
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Antique of the Week ~ Louis XVI Console
Perhaps no other style is as universally elegant as the antique French Louis XVI style, and this console is no exception! I always considered this one of my favorite styles, and it cannot be denied that its basis in classicism is both alluring and romantic. What’s not to love about florid Corinthian capitals, classic urns bursting with flower bouquets, cascading garlands and stately tapered columns?
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Know Your French Antique Furniture ~ Part 3
The French Revolution brought forth a turbulent and volatile era in history and distinctly reshaped the French furniture industry. In this blog we will explore amazing styles of antique French furniture from the end of the 18th century the beginning of the 19th century, leading up to the Industrial Revolution. This era started with the transition from absolute monarchy to a totalitarian empire, then to a republic; evolving into three distinct systems of government: the first revolutionary government – The Republic (1789-1795), the second -The Directoire (1795-1799), and the third – The Consulate (1799-1804). In this early revolutionary era, new styles that originated were as pioneering as the political ideology. It is amazing to me that amongst this time of turmoil the French continued to be world leaders in the art of design.
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Antique of the Week ~ Buffet
The era of Louis XIV left a heritage of magnificent antique furniture, and this amazing antique buffet is a perfect example of this exceptional splendor. The French ebeniste of this period created most lavish antique commodes and consoles, but those efforts were not enough, as the royal’s appetite for new furniture inventions demanded of a new kind of furniture.
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Know Your French Antique Furniture ~ Part 1
Antique French furniture styles are as diverse as the history of France itself, therefore one cannot learn about French antiques without first delving into certain aspects of ancient history. This is part one of a four-part series overview, and following the overview we will examine each style and explore its traits and historical significance in more depth.
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Antique of the week ~ Bookcase or Bibliotheque?
Antique bookcases, or as the French call them ~ bibliotheques ~ were not created until the invention of the printing press during the 15th century. Even so, books remained relatively expensive and were highly prized, appreciated, treasured and collected. The antique bookcase was ultimately created to provide a showcase repository for such literary treasures, prized leather-bound volumes filled with engravings and the magic of the written word.
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Antique of the Week ~ Bergère or Armchair?
Did you know that the French have more than two dozen different names for antique armchairs? The variations of antique French armchairs are amazing, and we could write volumes about it. But let’s face it, this is a blog, not an encyclopedia! One of our favorite antique French armchairs is the bergère, which we’ll be highlighting today.
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Antique French Furniture ~ Glorious Beginnings
Antique French furniture has been collected, copied and emulated around the world, and many volumes have been written on the subject. No wonder Thomas Jefferson said “France is every man’s second country”, because we have been so influenced by France ~ its style, furniture, history and art.
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