We are introducing a fun new series of posts to acquaint you with a few of our favorite men named Louis.  No, not Louis Vuitton, Louis Armstrong – or even Louis Bardo Bullock, Sandra Bullock’s adorable new baby!  We want to talk about the differences among Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI styles of French furniture.  Before you can truly distinguish one Louis from another, you’ll have to know a bit about their historical time periods.  Let’s start with Louis XIII.

Louis XIII (1610-1643)

Louis XIII style is best understood as the product of a more conservative (and less prosperous) time. Religious wars had consumed the resources of France until the beginning of the Louis XIII (or Louis Treize, as the French say) era. Furniture was still characterized by heavy carvings and was monumental in scale. Pieces like the bureau and sideboard often featured molded paneling in geometric patterns. The cabinet placed on a stand was a new design for the period. Storage pieces were typical and reflected the need for a utilitarian function, even in the pieces made for the king and his court. Other typical design themes were the diamond point, pyramid patterns, and large bun feet on cabinetry.

According to John Kroger on French Accents website, chairs became more comfortable as the concept of a comfortable place to sit and relax was just emerging. Louis XIII introduced turnery, a style feature new to the time. Turnery might be used for legs or stretchers, and these simple shapes created on a lathe can help identify pieces as Louis XIII style. Ebony and walnut were popular construction materials. Louis XIII style drew heavily from the furniture styles of Spain, Flanders, and most importantly, Italy at this time.  The style reflected the dominance of the church.

This concludes the Louis lesson for today! Please check back next week when we will talk about the opulent style of the Sun King, Louis XIV.  Think Versailles!