Relevant categories: Tables
( Above Photo: Sheraton Revival Side Table Kidney Bean Form )
Louis VX reigned in France during the country’s golden age of furniture. Designers made moderate use of curved lines as a guiding principle. Rococo-style furniture sought to connect life with nature, producing less-fanciful furniture than what had been possible for the preceding baroque style.
Like other furniture pieces, Louis VX side tables were more ornate and asymmetrical. They had curved cabriole legs with designs that terminated in delicate feet. Sofas were more comfortable especially with the introduction of the chaise lounge. The best furniture for Louis XV were those that made conversations possible.
( Above Photo: Sheraton Revival Side Tables Mahogany Inlay )
Louis XV side tables are antique furniture pieces that were created more than a century ago before the advent of the use of machines in furniture making. Therefore, it’s easier to tell a genuine side table by looking out for the following;
( Above Photo: Pair Empire Side Tables Gilt Inlay French Interiors )
Be sure to check the furniture joints to check if they were machine cut or hand cut. During the Louis XV period, there were no machines, therefore the joints should be handmade and uneven. Any piece with these signs was likely made pre-1860 and is genuine. Otherwise, it will likely be a modern reproduction piece.
Genuine antiques would have imperfections such as cuts and nicks since they were created using hand tools. There a Louis XV side table will have these imperfections. Plus, furniture makers during that period used handsaws, which left straight marks rather than the round ones made by machined saws.
( Above Photo: Carved Burmese Side Table Elephant Legs Burma 1880 )
It’s a given that Louis XV side tables were more asymmetrical than those from previous periods. However, since they were handmade, they were less symmetrical than modern machine-made reproduction pieces. So, check for signs of lack of symmetry.
( Above Photo: Pair French Side Tables Parquetry Inlay )
As noted earlier, Louis XV furniture had cabriole legs. They also featured several decorative motifs such as cartouches, rosettes, dolphins, birds (doves), irregular scallop shells, acanthus leaves, and stylized flowers.
Exotic styles and Asian influences meant these furniture pieces also had chinois Erie features. Expect these side tables to have extravagant wood carvings, marquetry, wood veneers, gilt accents, lacquered or painted wood, high polish finishes, and porcelain and marble table tops.
( Above Photo: Chippendale Side Table Mahogany Occasional Tables 1870 )
Louis XV side tables were made from lighter woods like rosewood and other fruit woods. This was a departure from the past when darker woods were the most preferred. The side tables also featured bronze ormolu mounts, ivory, mother of pearl, and other precious metals.
They were mostly hand painted, and would show imperfections produced by the brush strokes. Thus, they are different from those reproduced in later periods.
The Bottom Line
Now you know how to identify Louis XV side tables. Checking for signs of Imperfections due to the use of hand tools can help you pick the right antiques. Once you have ascertained that it’s an antique, you should go on and check for Louis XV specific features, including the legs, decorations and type condition wood. You can never go wrong with that.
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