The Old Furniture Book, with a Sketch of Past Days and WaysMoore, N. Hudson
History
The Old Furniture Book, with a Sketch of Past Days and Ways
Moore, N. Hudson
Furniture
Among the other great workers of this period were Oeben, whose
marquetry in coloured woods was of extreme elegance, and Riesener, who
began to execute his beautiful pieces of furniture under Louis XV.
in what is known as his earlier style, but who finally created the
straight-legged types of Louis XVI. style with which his name became
associated. In the work which he did for Marie Antoinette at the Little
Trianon in 1777, the pure Louis XVI. style is carried out. The earlier
pieces, delivered as early as 1771, still betray the influence of a
previous period.
In Figure 77 is shown the bedroom of Marie Antoinette at the Little
Trianon. Here we see the later style set by Riesener, with the
straight carved legs, the woodwork being painted and gilded. The silk
factories at Lyons were no longer as well patronized as they had been,
and to revive interest in them new furniture was ordered for the queen,
to be upholstered in brocade, and with curtains and hangings to match.
Everything in these rooms breathes of dainty elegance,--the carvings
of the mantelpiece, the walls decorated with garlands of flowers
and Cupids, even the metal mounts, chiselled wreaths and rosettes,
were wrought with the beauty and finish of goldsmith's work. In the
small chair by the bedside is seen a style with gilt framework and
embroidered cushions, a kind of covering which was always in demand.
In 1770 two coaches were sent to Vienna for Marie Antoinette. The work
of the embroiderer was selected to embellish their interiors, and the
description of them is given by Bachaumont:
"They were two berlins, much larger than usual, but yet not so
large as those of the king. One is lined with rose velvet and the
Four Seasons are embroidered on the largest cushions, with all the
attributes of a festival. The other is lined with blue velvet, and
on the cushions of this are worked the Four Elements. There is not
a touch of painting about them, but the work of the artist is so
perfect and finished that each one is a complete work of art."
[Illustration: Figure 80. BED OF JOSEPHINE AT FONTAINEBLEAU.]
The name of the embroider was Treaumau, and so celebrated did the
beauty of these royal cushions make him that he received large orders,
the most important being one from Madam de Berri for a _vis-à-vis_. The
two berlins for Marie Antoinette were placed on exhibition before they
were sent to her, and constituted an event of the day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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