18th Century Furniture

Exuberant Luxury
In the early 18th century, countries vied with each other to expand their empires and the aristocracy emphasized its position with lavish displays of wealth and luxury, including very expensive handmade furniture.

The first half of the 18th century was a time of transition, as the absolutist rule of monarchies diminished, paving the way for the rise of the wealthy middle classes. The end of the war of Spanish succession in 1713 changed the balance of power in Europe, and ushered in a period of relative peace. This and greater wealth gave the aristocracy more time to pursue their interests in education, science, and the arts.

New Building
Following extensive travels to the cultural centres of Europe, Peter the Great of Russia westernised his Court and began building the city of St. Petersburg, using the finest European craftsmen and designers.
Portugal grew wealthy on the spoils of the abundant diamonds and emeralds mined in its colony of Brazil. As a result, the Portuguese embarked on a massive programme of palace building with huge fitted furniture pieces and redecoration designed to glorify the monarchy, just a Louis XIV of France had done years before.
The accession of Frederick the Great of Prussia in 1740 heralded the Prussian rise to dominance in Northeast Europe. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, America began to emerge from the shadow of Britain and the Low Countries and started to develop a national identity and style of its own.

Age Of Reason
While Europe was mostly free from widespread wars, this was, nonetheless, a time of great change. It was the beginning of the Age of Enlightenment, when writers and philosophers appealed to human reason and began to challenge traditional views on the church, the monarchy, education, and science.
Louis XIV's concept of the monarch as God's representative on Earth was replaced by more liberal views, resulting in a wealth of radical new ideas in the sciences and a burst of creativity in the arts.

Changing Styles
The more liberal cultural climate, compounded in many countries by an influx of craftsmen and designers from France, following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, ushered in a period of social change.
As well as lavish royal palaces, smaller mansions were built for the minor aristocracy and the rising middle classes, and there was an increased demand for more informal, elegant, and comfortable interiors.
The grandeur and austerity of the Baroque style gradually gave way to the more eclectic tastes of the early 18th century, resulting, in many countries, in the lighter, more delicate Rococo style that originated in France. Rooms were now decorated with wood panelling, delicate, swirling stucco work, and pale colours highlighted with gilding and mirrors.

French Marble Top Commode
18th Century, French kingwood and parquetry commode with beige mottled marble top. Large bronze hand pulls on two large drawers with two side corner bronze mounts and sabots on cabriole legs.

Italian Baroque Giltwood Carved Console Table

A Large Palatial Italian 18th/19th Century Baroque Style Finely Giltwood Carved Rectangular Console Table with an Egg-and-Dart Moulded Cornice and Heavily-Carved Scrolling Pierced
Foliate Frieze Centered by Cartouche with Arms of the Mastai Ferretti Family, on Scrolled Legs of this antique furniture console table Joined by Wavy "X" Stretcher on a Later Verde Antico Marble Top.