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Furniture Finishing

The straight leg, round, tapering and often fluted, replaced the elaborate cabriole of Louis XV, just as classic ornamentation, the Greek band, the natural acanthus, the laurel wreath, rosettes, flower baskets and medallions appeared instead of scroll work, rococo and amatory subjects. In its rectangular contours and restrained decoration, Louis XVI furniture represented a natural reaction from a florid, exaggerated taste to an elegantly simple one.

Curves appear only in oval chair backs and on flared arms resulting in a soundness of construction superior to that of the preceding period. Upholstery of brocade and embroidered satin divided honors with Aubusson and Beauvais tapestries while comfort was increased by padding chair and sofa arms. Ormolu (brass or gilded bronze) mounts appeared in classic designs on tables and consoles, combined with striped veneers to produce rich contrasts.

Walnut, satinwood and mahogany represent the popular woods, but in line with the increasing note of gaiety, there was much painting of soft woods to match or harmonize with backgrounds of pale blue, pale gray, rose, light green, etc. For it must be remembered that in all of these French and contemporaneous periods furniture was simply an adjunct of a unified room scheme comprising drapes, painted or carved panelled walls and specially woven and colored floor coverings.

Modern reproductions of Louis XVI are most widely offered in adaptations for the bedroom and dining room; odd pieces for the living room like tables, desks, armchairs and footstools are copies largely of foreign manufacture. Owing to its simple construction and restrained ornamentation, the style lends itself particularly well to painted and upholstered designs. In spirit it harmonizes admirably with Adam and Sheraton pieces and does not require an elaborate background.

For a style of such wide modern popularity there is necessarily a wide choice of finish including practically all shades of walnut from French walnut to antique. The lighter tone should also be preserved in the case of mahogany which should not be stained darker than Adam. Carvings on walnut may be high-lighted if desired with gold bronze; painted furniture in the shades previously mentioned may be antique glazed and ornaments twotoned in harmonizing colors.