| The French furniture style we call Louis XV flourished | | | | The Basic Characteristics of a Louis XV style of |
| during the period of 1730-1775. If the Louis XIV | | | | furniture are: |
| furniture style was designed with the glorification of | | | | 1. Curved shapes and forms. This period abhorred |
| the Sun King in mind and all in massive, masculine, | | | | anything straight. |
| square form, the Louis XV furniture style is the | | | | 2. It bears an extensive rococo decoration. |
| complete opposite. Designed for the comfort and | | | | Everything is elaborately decorated with intricate |
| glorification of beautiful women, it has a romantic, | | | | carvings. Wood surfaces are decorated with Inlays, |
| sensuous and feminine look. A flowing abstraction of | | | | ormolu mounts and hand painted. With the cockleshell |
| unbroken curves is the guiding principle of the Louis | | | | design as the point of focus. |
| XV furniture style; the legs are curved, the back is | | | | 3. Romantic Imagery is usually reflected in its motifs. |
| curved and the seat is curved. Even the Louis XV | | | | This was a period of romance of Du Barry and |
| architecture also adheres to this principle. It abhorred | | | | Madame Pompadour. Images of love such as cupid |
| straight lines. In typical Louis XV architecture | | | | and his arrow are often reflected in the designs. |
| everything is curved - the ceiling, the panel-designs on | | | | Shepherdess's hat and basket, fishing and hunting |
| the walls, the panel designs in the doors and even | | | | scenes, violin or horn and other musical motifs, |
| the corners of a room are curved. | | | | bouquets and other pastoral scenes are very |
| The Louis XV style is sometimes referred to as the | | | | common design elements during this period. |
| Rococo Style. It is derived from two French words | | | | 4. This period designed everything with an eye |
| meaning rock and shell. The rock and shell were the | | | | toward lightness and grace. Delicacy is its guiding |
| two popular motifs for decoration of this period. The | | | | spirit. Scale is delicate too as opposed to the very |
| Rococo style features extensive and elaborate | | | | massive previous style of Louis XIV. It is smaller, |
| ornamentation and decoration. It was also during this | | | | softer and more comfortable. |
| period that France was captivated with things | | | | 5. Since it has become smaller and delicate in size, the |
| Chinese. This fascination with Chinese motifs was | | | | need for stretchers to support the legs is eliminated. |
| called Chinoiserie. A newly discovered Chinese | | | | In conclusion, the style of Louis XV is commonly used |
| method of painting called Lacquering was usually used | | | | in today's homes. Its delicate shape and size is very |
| in painting wood furniture. Fabrics and wall coverings | | | | practical and it has both the scale and grace that are |
| were designed with Chinese motifs as well. It is | | | | the objective in most decoration today. It is in fact |
| therefore not uncommon to find some Louis XV | | | | one of the favorites among designers and |
| furniture style bearing this Chinese influence. | | | | homeowners alike when decorating traditional homes. |