Louis XIII period

Period of the first half of the 17th century.

This style actually began, long before, with Henri II. In that time, Paris became the center of French creativity and the whole country entered into a period of prosperity and artistic splendor. Louis XIII reversed the trend for promising artists in France to work and study in Italy by commissioning them to work in the Louvre palace. They ventured into many artistic and stylistic experiments, taking their inspiration from the Italian Baroque or Flemish furniture. They had a passion for large sculpted stone mantels and large painted décors. This was a brilliant and multifaceted period of mutation both politically and artistically right before the arrival of Louis XIV.

After the abundance of the Renaissance, the ornamentation became more severe often geometrical. Among the distinctive traits of the Louis XIII style are the diamond shape and the cross of Malta. The use of the lathe, which was perfected, was important; legs of tables, cabinets, chairs, and armchairs were twisted columns or balusters, while the arms had heads of women, lions or bulls. Finials were very present. Cupboards and chest of drawers had flattened round feet.

The seats were covered with tapestries or velvets from Italy, such as the velvet from Genoa. Green and red were popular. Leather covers attached with large round wrought iron or gilded or silver plated bronze nails.

Solid oak and walnut were mostly used. Some imported wood such as ebony started to be used for inserts or thick veneer.