18th Century Furniture (elements of style)

Early 18th century furniture reflected a number of influences. Renaissance and Baroque motifs were still used, including shells, masks, husks, and grotto features, but they were lighter and more feminine.
The French Court was still dictating fashions, but from the end of Louis XIV's reign, styles became less severe and more frivolous. As well as the Rococo style, Palladian designs and exotic styles, including Gothic and Chinoiserie, were also highly fashionable.

Cabriole Legs
The evolution of legs marked a dramatic change between 17th and 18th century handmade furniture. The cabriole was based on an animal's hind legs, and may have originated from Chinese designs. Unlike earlier shapes, cabriole legs were not usually supported by stretchers. The 'knees' were often highly decorated on the finest pieces.

Claw-and-ball Feet

This carved foot was usually the terminus for a cabriole leg. The design may be derived from the Chinese motif of a dragon's claw clasping a pearl. Early pieces tended to have wide-spread claws, revealing much of the ball beneath, but on later pieces the ball was almost entirely hidden by the foot. At the start of the 18th century, pad feet were more common.

Ormolu Mounts

Mounts made of cast bronze, with a fire-gilt finish, were integral to formal French non fitted furniture. Originally designed to protect veneer, mounts were also decorative. The mounts were fixed in place with pins.

Craftsmen used the Classical Palladian and Rococo motifs of the time, as well as traditional motifs, such as this Renaissance masque.

Floral Marquetry

Elaborate pictorial designs in wood inlays were used as a decorative feature of furniture, and now reproduction furniture, throughout the 18th century, although English cabinet makers discarded marquetry in favour of carved ornament at around 1730. The floral motif, derived from Dutch and Flemish paintings remained popular in European furniture throughout the period.

Chair Splat

The back splat of a chair is a good indicator of the chair's date and country of origin. A solid splat, as shown in this example, generally indicated a date between 1720 and 1740. The carved embellishments and rosettes suggest that this chair is closer to the later date. Pierced splats appeared later when, generally, the back became squarer in shape.