Preface

This guide sets out to give some basic information about the furniture styles and periods in French antique furniture design.

I was prompted to write this after I saw a seller describe the "Henri II period" as being "late 19th century to early 20th century" - well, they were only 400-odd years out!!  Unless you are lucky enough to afford original pieces from the period, most affordable antique furniture is influenced by an earlier period.  For example, Louis XV furniture was very popular in France from around 1870-1910, all of this is "in the style of Louis XV".  The Louis XV period itself runs between approximately 1730 and 1760, and original furniture from that period is rare and very expensive!  Please do not get confused with the two.  Although pieces circa 1880 are now classified as 'antique', this does not necessarily mean they are an original antique - in actual fact they are a reproduction, albeit an antique one!  Whereas original antique furniture is all hand made and finished to a very high quality, the quality of later reproductions does vary considerably.  Personally I only choose to buy the better of these pieces, and all the pieces I sell are guaranteed and come with a full money back offer should you not be satisfied.

There are genuinely good dealers on eBay, but even some of the long established dealers with good reputations often describe pieces incorrectly. I can only think that the buyers are unfortunately unaware that they have been mis-sold and it goes unreported.  I can't pretend to know everything, but I am involved with many French dealers and English dealers in French pieces, and after having handled 1000+ pieces of French furniture over the years you get an immediate feel for the age and quality.  Where I am not sure I do research the piece and style before describing it - I would urge you to do the same before buying, and hope this guide helps in a small way.  Unfortunately I am limited to the number of images I can include so cannot give a fully illustrated guide as I had hoped.

Time-line of periods in French furniture history

1300 -1500 - Medieval Style
1500 -1610 - Renaissance Style (inc. Henri II)
1589 - 1661 - Louis XIII Style
1661-1700 - Louis XIV Style
1700 -1730 - Regence Style
1730 -1760 - Louis XV Style
1760 - 1789 - Louis XVI sytle
1789 - 1804 - Directoire Style
1840 - 1815 - Empire Style
1815 - 1830 - Restoration Style
1830 - 1848 - Louis-Philippe Style
1848 - 1870 - Second Empire Style

1300 -1500 - Medieval Style
I will not dwell on this period very much as you are unlikely to come across much furniture based on the period. Furniture from this period is often described a “Gothic”. The period is dominated by rectangular, heavily caved and very solid oak furniture.

1500 -1610 - Renaissance Style (inc. Henri II)
Continuing from the medieval style, the furniture again tends to be heavily carved oak pieces. During this period the buffet became popular. Defined by the introduction of pillars and columns framing the furniture piece. There are many examples of Henri II style buffets produced in France from 1860 to 1900.

Henri II style mirror - typical double column, and strong cornice with diamond detailing.

Henri II style armoire with bobbin gallery, again note the diamond detailing.

1589 - 1661 - Louis XIII Style
The Louis XIII period was the start of the use of turned wood to form legs, stretchers and decorative columns. What we would call 'barley twist' was common for chair and table legs, along with replacing the carved and fluted columns of the Henri II style. Moldings also became popular, especially in diamond shaped patterns. The period saw the introduction of the armoire, which took over from general chests.

1661-1700 - Louis XIV Style
The Louis XIV period commences what I would call the start of 'elegant' furniture design in France. Furniture become more refined in design, less bulky, with a lot more emphasis on flowing, symmetrical design.

1700-1730 - Regency Style
The Regency style is very much a transitory period in which pieces from the Louis XIV period were transformed by the use of bronze fittings rather than reinvented. This period refined Louis XIV designs to be more practical an comfortable for every day use. The beginnings of the Louis XV style start here, with the flowing curves, scallop shell and acanthus leaf we associate with the Louis XV rococo style becoming prominent.

1730-1760 – Louis XV Style
One of, if not the greatest period in French furniture design. The materials used are expended on from previous periods and the workmanship in this period is second to none. Solid wood furniture was mainly made from oak and walnut but can also be seen in cherry, ash, plum, chestnut and olive. Beech and walnut were widely used in seating, and carcases of larger pieces were generally in oak. Painted pieces became popular, and guilded wood less so.
The style can almost be split into two, with solid wood pieces showing off their exquisite carved features – acanthus leaves and the scallop shell being particularly popular – often referred to a the 'Rococo' style. The other type of furniture was in a similar style with sweeping curves, but instead of carvings, the pieces were highly polished, exceptional quality marquetry adorned with bronze castings.
The design continues to be very popular today, genuine pieces can fetch very high prices, and you will find many later copies from 1870-1910 of this period for sale, bringing the style into the price range of a much wider audience.

Typical Louis XV style bed in quarter veneered walnut and rococo crest - circa 1890

Louis XV style pot cupboard - circa 1890

1760-1789 – Louis XVI Style
A personal favourite, curves were replaced with crisp, clean straight lines, but with fabulously carved detail running the length of the piece. Square carved die joints typify this period, as do beautiful fluted and tapering legs.
Oak was used widely for solid carvings and carcasses, walnut, ash and burled walnut was used for seating. Mahogany also became popular during this period and can be used both as a carcass wood for painted pieces and as a veneer. Ebony and satinwood was also often used during this period. Gilded wood became popular again, and was used for ceremonial chairs and mirrors.
Bows, sashes , garlands, floral bouquets and flambards were popular adornments.

Louis XVI style bed circa 1885, note classic die carved joints and fluted columns.
This style is often confused with the Henri II style because of the similar fluted columns and square features.


Original Painted Louis XVI bed - circa 1770.
Note the pear-shaped fluted columns - these are particularly rare and sought after.

1789-1804 – Directoire Style
Largely a continuation of the Louis XVI, but designs became simplified. Classical Greek designs became popular ornamental designs, with the sphynx, gryphon, and Greek style tureens & medallions used. Painted furniture continued to be popular, often with highlighted features, and was generally constructed in beech.


Top corner from a Directiore style French canapé (sofa) - note similarities to the Louis XVI style.

1804-1815 – Empire Style
This style is dominated by Greek and Roman features, a continuation of the previous style. This style continues to be popular in France, but less so in the UK. Classic Empire style pieces have bold, protruding circular columns either side of the piece of furniture, from beds, armoires, night stands, tables, they all carry this feature through, often adorned with bronze circular cartouches. This style starts the style of bed we now refer to as the “lits de coin” (corner beds) sometimes referred to as a “lits bateaux” (boat beds!) In the UK we tend to call them sleigh beds, although at the origin of these beds, the ends are vertically straight rather than curved that lead to the sleigh bed name in the UK.

1815-1830 – Restoration Style
The restoration begins with the defeat of Napoleon (no comment!) and is a softening of the Empire style, pieces become more gracious, softer and curves begin to reappear.

1830-1848 – Louis-Philippe Style
Much of the furniture of this period survives, and can still be bought for a relatively modest sum. Although the period 'ends' in 1848, the form of the style continues into the Second Empire, and much of the furniture from that period is often referred to as being Louis-Philippe in style. Lits bateaux continue to develop and form the shape we now commonly refer to as sleigh beds. Many pieces take on a rounded shape as machine tools become widespread and allow easy and speedy execution of that shape, thus explaining why these pieces are more widely available and more affordable. Mirrors are developed, and the classic 'rounded corner' design becomes popular, and continues to be used for many years. The use of gesso moulding (a kind of plaster) allows highly decorative frames to be produced easily without the costly effort of hand carving wood. Actually, by this period a new form of gesso called 'compo' had been developed, but the term gesso remains more common in general use. The technique involves applying warm compo moulded strips to wooden frames, this is then paint or gilt finished once dried.

Typical Louis-Philippe style mirror with rounded top corners - this one is crested, but many are plain.

Louis-Philippe style Lit Bateaux

1848-1870 – Second Empire Style
Very much a continuation of the Louis-Philippe style, but later in the period the influences of the Renaissance, Louis XV and Louis XVI styles become prevalent.  This period is often referred to as Napoleon III within France.  With the increasing use of machine tools, this allows earlier designs to be copied and produced more economically, much of which survives today and is widely available. The pieces of this period are still of good quality, although it has to be said that some are better than others.

Napoleon III style gilt mirror.  These also come crested, and generally have a strong black element to the design.

1870-early 1900's
A continuation of the diverse range of styles from the Second Empire, this period typifies the French Belle Epoque, with large quantities of elaborate furniture being produced to satisfy the demand of this wealthy period in French history. Most of the furniture you find on eBay and other places selling French furniture will be from this period. Sadly the French belle epoque came to an abrupt end with the outbreak of World War I.