17th Century Furniture (part 2 of 31)

Baroque Furniture
Two quite different types of furniture were made during the 17th century - formal furniture, now antique furniture for staterooms and palaces, and simpler pieces intended for domestic use.
Traditionally the aristocracy had moved from one home to another, according to the seasons, but now residences became more permanent. Furniture no longer had to be portable, and substantial pieces were designed for specific rooms. Interiors were very formal and people began to consider rooms as integrated interiors when commissioning furniture. As well as grand salons, wealthy homes had more intimate private rooms that required smaller pieces of furniture.

Lavish Style
At the beginning of the century, the Italian Baroque style was dominant in much of Europe. Baroque furniture and fitted furniture was designed on a grand scale and intended to impress.
Pieces were architectural in form, with dramatically carved sculptural elements and lavish decoration, which drew on Classical or Renaissance style motifs.
As the century progressed, trade, especially with the Far East, provided furniture makers with a wealth of exotic new materials - including tortoiseshell, mother of pearl, ebony and rosewood.
Furniture was imported from other countries including lacquerware from the Far East and caned furniture from India - European craftsmen created their own versions.

Key Pieces
Most grand formal rooms had a console, or side table, intended almost purely for display. The finest examples had pietra dura tops and carved and gilded sculptural bases.
Advances in glass making meant that larger mirrors could be made, and it was fashionable to place a matching mirror above each console table in a room. The design elements of the mirrors and tables were repeated in the architectural features of the room, such as door architraves, windows, and fireplace surrounds, creating an integrated sense of design.
Pairs of girandoles or candlestands were placed in front of mirrors so that their light was reflected in them - illuminating rooms that would otherwise have been dark.
The largest chairs were still reserved for the most important people. Chairs with high backs, sometimes upholstered for greater comfort, were highly desirable.
Wing chairs were first used in France in the middle of the century, a precursor to the bergere. The armchair shape was extended to create the sofa or settee. In 1620 an upholstered settee was commissioned for the great house of Knole, in Kent. This settee had a padded seat and back, held in position by ties on the posts. The design is still known as the Knole settee.
Silks and velvets, usually made in Italy, were phenomenally expensive - only royalty and the wealthiest aristocracy were able to afford upholstered handmade furniture.
Cane, imported from India by Dutch traders became popular as it provided a less expensive method of covering chair backs and seats.