Up until the mid-17th century or so, armchairs could have been described as rudimentary at best. More or less consistent in style throughout Europe at this time, armchairs typically had upright carved wooden backs, flat wooden seats that were only sometimes softened by loose flat cushions, imposing armrests, and solid legs that were supported by stretchers. But by the mid to late 17th century, during the reign of the French Sun King, Louis XIV, chairs finally began to be designed for both comfort and style, a development that put French-made chairs in a class of their own and set the standard for seating to come.
In one of his numerous efforts to establish French superiority over other European powers, particularly in matters of taste, Louis XIV transfor
med French decorative arts by establishing a guild system of expertly skilled craftsmen, many of whom began to modernize once-primitive armchairs by refining their design. Although their richly carved chair frames, rectangular chair backs, and upright armrests may have recalled the throne-like chairs of previous generations, Louis XIV–era armchairs were built for comfort, which was provided by upholstered seats and backs—a revolutionary development in chair design. French craftsmen also began to experiment with a new range of decorative finishes that are still associated with French chairs today, including gilt and painted finishes, which were applied to frames that were mostly made of walnut or beechwood.
The 18th-century debut of the rococo style was a turning point of sorts for French furniture makers, who adapted the style’s characteristic curving lines and naturalistic motifs for a new, and now familiar, breed of armchairs, which became properly known as fauteuils. Although still sturdy, French armchairs produced during the first half of the 18th century, which coincided with the reign of Louis XV, lightened up considerably in terms of appearance. Carved chair legs became sinuous rather than blocky and, in another important development, lost those once-ubiquitous stretchers that had previously made many chairs look heavy. Also, in an effort to better accommodate the human body, upholstered chair seats and backs became more rounded, while armrests were set back slightly from the edge of the seat, an adjustment made in deference to the prevailing fashion for wide pannier skirts. Whereas armchairs once forced their inhabitants to sit bolt upright, the 18th-century versions allowed for a looser, more casual manner of sitting.
Creating something of a craze throughout Europe for French chairs, the trendsetting fauteuil inspired numerous variations, like the regal-looking fauteuil à la reine, which was given a flat back that allowed it to be placed against a wall. Slightly less formal, however, were the cabriolet, whose rounded back was designed to hug the sitter, and the bergère, a fully upholstered armchair with closed sides that was intended to be used in the center of a room. And it was not only armchairs that were in demand, but companion seating as well, including sofas, which were another late 17th-century innovation, and chaises, or armless chairs.
During the mid-18th century and the dawn of Louis XVI’s reign, neoclassicism began to overtake the waning rococo style, a trend that was reflected in changing furniture fashions. Fauteuils began to assume oval-shaped backs, and their decorative details became less ornate and even restrained. Chair legs grew straighter and were often fluted, while carved flourishes incorporated classical motifs, a trend that continued into the following century. Although new styles of armchairs were created in 19-century France, they never quite managed to inspire the kind of long-lasting devotion that 18th-century chairs continue to evoke today.
need to KNOW
• When shopping for antique French chairs, it is important to understand terminology. If a chair is described as a “Louis XV” chair, for example, it means that it is a period piece and was manufactured during the reign of Louis XV. However, if it is referred to as “Louis XV–style” or “in the manner of Louis XV,” it indicates that it was a reproduction made sometime after Louis XV’s reign, likely during the 19th or 20th centuries. “It is considerably easier to find 19th-century versions of 18th-century chairs,” says Helen Storey, antiques dealer and owner of Helen Storey Antiques in Charlottesville, Virginia. “However, it’s worth noting that due to a general lack of understanding of the differences in period Louis XV and Louis XVI versus reproduction—or ‘style’ chairs—they are often misidentified. It’s not unusual to come across a chair that is labeled 19th-century when, in fact, it’s a period piece, but it’s much more common for it to be the other way around.”
• When looking for a period, 18th-century chair, Storey says to look for uneven wear to the chair’s feet as well as wear to the arms, both of which indicate many years of use. She also advises looking at the chair’s underside to check for oxidation, which is a darkening of the wood that takes a few centuries to develop, and to see if the seat rim has been cut with hand tools. “The interior of the seat rim should be uneven and not smooth if you run your hands over it. The majority of late 19th- and 20th-century chairs will have smooth, rather than somewhat undulating, interior seat rims.”
• Currently, “Louis XVI chairs with their straighter lines are a bit more popular at the moment,” which Storey attributes to younger buyers whose aesthetic may reflect a more angular look. That said, “Louis XIV chairs are also very popular at the moment. They have a pleasing simplicity that works well in contemporary interiors, and they are roomy, so they can handle a good range of human widths!”
