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L. 18th C. French Louis XV Fruitwood Buffet
French Late 18th Century Fruitwood Louis XV Buffet, the rectangular top above a flowering vine carved Freize over three drawers flanked by pairs of cartouche paneled doors opeing to a shelved interior above a scalloped apron raosed on scrolled feet. H:38 1/4" W:8'9.5" D:18 3/4"
The historical backgroud of this early period derives from Louis X1V, known as the Sun King, he reigned in France between 1643 and 1715. Influenced the Baroque style in furniture during the earlier part of the reign which later developed into the Regence style. Mahogany and Oak were widley used. Baroque was large, masculine, and symmetrical. Regence was characterized by its use of curves and introduction of Chinoiserie. Ornamentation was usually done with rocks, shells and flowers. Louis XV reigned in France between 1715 and 1774. the style of furniture was essentially Rococo with soft , flowing lines, shell and flower ornamentation, rich upholstery, inlaying and painted furniture. The Marquise de Pompadour, who met Louis XV in February 1745 at a lavish masked ball given in honour of the dauphin's marriage, was the most famous mistress of the reign, and the most honourable one. Despite the critics, the Marquise de Pompadour had an undeniable influence on the flourishing of French arts during the reign of Louis XV, a reign that is often considered the peak of French architecture and interior design (thus the Louis XV style). A patron of the arts, the Marquise amassed a considerable amount of furniture and objets d'art in her various estates. She was responsible for the tremendous development of the porcelain manufactory of Sèvres, which became one of the most famous porcelain manufacturers in Europe, and her commands ensured the living of artists and families of craftsmen for many years. She was also a prominent patron of architecture, being responsible for the building of the Place Louis XV (now called Place de la Concorde) and the École Militaire in Paris, both built by her protégé Ange-Jacques Gabriel. The École Militaire, for the creation of which she successfully lobbied the king, showed her commitment to the training of officers from poor families of the aristocracy (one student of the École Militaire, Napoléon Bonaparte, would later rise to fame). The Marquise was a liberal at heart and she steadily defended the Encyclopédie against the attacks of the Church. She was a supporter of the Philosophy of the Enlightenment, and tried to win the king to its new ideas, albeit not quite as successfully as she hoped. She was criticised for the lavish display of luxury in her various estates, although her rich family of financiers in many instances gave money to the government and saved the monarchy from bankruptcy. All her estates, which she had bequeathed to the state, reverted to the crown at her death.
There are transitions of furniture styles and reflections of the social history at the time and what was in vogue, above describes that influence of the Late 18th Century. The history of the buffet was developed in France during the 16th-century French term buffet applied both to the display itself and to the furniture on which it was mounted, often draped with rich textiles, but more often as the century advanced an elaborately carved cupboard surmounted by tiers of shelves in the 18th century, soon spreading throughout Europe. The term originally referred to the sideboard where the food was served, but eventually became applied to the form.
This particular Fruitwood Buffet is decorative and rich in color.
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