The period of Louis XIV in France was another “magnificent” period and should not be used in small or simple houses.  Louis XIV furniture was large and massive, lavish in gilding and carving and ornament, but had dignity as well as splendor.  The Gobelin and Beauvais Tapestry Works produced their wonderful series of tapestries, and Boulle inlay of brass and tortoise shell was lavished on furniture, and the ormolu mounts were beautiful and elaborate.  All workmanship was of the highest.  During the early part of the period the legs of chairs and tables were straight and square in shape, sometimes tapering, and much carved, and had underframing.  Later they were curved and carved, a kind of elaborate cabriole leg, and had carved underframing.  Toward the end of the period the curved leg and underframing became much simpler, some of the furniture having no underframing, and slowly the style merged into that of the Regency and Louis XV.  The illustrations for the long chapter on Louis XIV show some very fine examples of both the grand and simple form of chair, and also show that comfort was becoming more of a fact.  The materials used for upholstery were brocades of large pattern, tapestries, and splendid velvets.  Tables, chests, armoires, desks, console tables, mirrors, screens, all were carved or painted or inlaid, gilded and mounted with wonderful metal mounts.

There is great danger, in buying furniture for both this period and the Renaissance, that the reproductions chosen may be too florid, the gilding too bright, the carving too ornate, with an indescribable vulgarity of line in place of the beauty of line which the best originals have.  Some of the best makers are, however, making some very fine reproductions of the simpler forms of this time which are beautiful to use in houses of fair size and importance.

If one wishes to use Louis XV furniture it is better to choose the simpler and more beautiful designs rather than the over-elaborate rococo.  The period was a long one, sixty-nine years, and began with a reminiscence of the grandeur and dignity of the time of Louis XIV, which was soon lost in the orgy of curves and excessive ornament of the rococo portion; and toward the end came the reaction to simpler and finer taste which reached its perfection in the next reign of Louis XVI.  The legs of the furniture of Louis XV time were curved and carved, light and slender, and had no underframes or stretchers.  The frames which showed around the upholstery or cane were carved elaborately and later more simply (see illustration at end of chapter on Louis XV).  Walnut, chestnut, ebony, and some mahogany were used.  Some of the furniture was veneered, and there was a great deal of gilding used and also much painted furniture.  The ormolu mounts were most elaborate, curved and ornate like the carving, and were used wherever possible.  The brocades used for furniture coverings were lovely in color and design.  Garlands, flowers, lace and ribbon effects, baskets of flowers, shells, curled endive, feathers, scrolls, all were used, as well as pastoral scenes by Boucher and Watteau for tapestry and paintings.  Comfort had made a long step forward.