| A few months after the death of Richelieu, Louis Xlll | | | | used and classical proportions were strictly adhered to, |
| died, leaving his five-year-old son Louis XIV to reign for | | | | although ornamentation was quite original. |
| seventy-two years, first under the restraint of Mazarin, | | | | Paneling was large and vigorous. The main structural |
| and later as absolute monarch. With his succession | | | | lines of the panels were straight and rectangular, but |
| and under the unbroken influence of his long reign all | | | | much ornament was used. A dado usually ran around |
| the arts flourished to an extraordinary degree. Le Roy | | | | the room, the panels above it running up to an ornate |
| Soldi ruled with a magnificence and state unknown | | | | cornice. As a rule, the colors used were a cream |
| since the days of the Roman Empire. Colbert, his able | | | | ground and gilt moldings although natural oak and other |
| minister, gathered famous artists and craftsmen | | | | painted colors were also employed. |
| together and housed them in the Louvre under royal | | | | Elaborate woodcarving was much used. Fireplaces |
| patronage. | | | | were conspicuous, the openings and the chimney |
| Early in his reign the King had decided to make his | | | | breast elaborately treated. Over-mantels incorporated |
| court the most magnificent in all Europe and to make | | | | framed paintings, and in smaller rooms mirrors. Doors |
| France the center of culture of the modern world. To | | | | were paneled, carved, painted and gilded. Floors were |
| accomplish this purpose he appointed Le Brun his | | | | of parquet or marble tiling and ceilings often flat in |
| Minister of Fine Arts. Le Brun took over several of the | | | | smaller rooms. |
| finest manufacturers in France, placed them under | | | | Le Brun appointed as head cabinet maker to the King, |
| government control and supported them with state | | | | Boulle (also spelled Boule and Buhl), who with the |
| funds. | | | | possible exception of Chippendale has had a greater |
| Among these were the Gobelins, Beauvais, Aubusson | | | | influence upon the development of furniture than any |
| and Savonnerie looms where tapestries and floor | | | | other man. Boulle is known as having popularized the |
| coverings commonly placed in front of fireplace doors | | | | use of metal mounts (Ormolu) in the ornamentation of |
| were made, and the Sevres porcelain factory. He also | | | | furniture. He also is famous for his use of tortoise shell |
| established the National School of Fine Arts (Ecole des | | | | and metal inlay. By cutting two layers of tortoise shell |
| Beaux Arts) which is still under the French government | | | | and sheet metal in an elaborate jig-saw pattern, he |
| control and which receives pupils from all over the | | | | alternated the metal and the shell in applying it as |
| world, offering free tuition in architecture, painting, | | | | veneer to the doors and panels of his cabinet furniture. |
| sculpture and engraving. | | | | Boulle used a great variety of wood. Ebony was one |
| Jules Mansart was appointed royal architect and | | | | of his favorites, but oak, walnut, tulip, rosette wood |
| commissioned to build the great palace at Versailles, | | | | corner blocks, rosewood, and other more costly |
| one of the most magnificent and largest buildings ever | | | | woods were also used. Many of his pupils later |
| constructed. The cost of this structure alone was so | | | | became well known cabinet makers. Among them |
| expensive that it is said to have sown the seeds of | | | | were Levasseur, Jacob, and Oeben. The furniture of |
| the French revolution. | | | | this period was as a rule large and in the main |
| The palace was intended not only to furnish living | | | | rectangular lines predominated. The chairs were |
| accommodations for the immense retinue of the King, | | | | commonly reinforced with heavy stretchers between |
| but enormous rooms were planned to entertain | | | | the legs. |
| thousands of persons in the most regal splendor. | | | | Later the furniture became curvilinear in both structure |
| Although the building was practically stripped of all its | | | | and ornament. It was elaborately carved, painted, and |
| furnishings during the revolution and has undergone | | | | gilded, with small pied-de-biche, dolphin's head, scrolled, |
| many changes since that time, enough of its original | | | | round, or square feet. The pieces were numerous, the |
| decoration still remains to make it the finest extant | | | | canape, commode, armoire and escritoire were finely |
| example of the Louis XIV period. | | | | developed. Superb Aubusson tapestry, embroidery, |
| The most typical characteristic of the interior | | | | needlework, damask, large figured velvets, leather and |
| architecture of this style was the enormous scale of | | | | caning were used. Metal mounts were works of art in |
| the rooms themselves and the massiveness of the | | | | brass or ormolu. Everything was formal, stately and |
| architectural detail and furniture that was in them, right | | | | sumptuous. |
| down to the wooden bar rails. The orders were largely | | | | |