The Louis XIV Era: The Age of Opulence in French Art and Design

22 products

22 products
17th century Italian Baroque cabinet with lapis lazuli and agate inlays, ebony exterior – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the 17th Century Italian Cabinet, circa 1650, Baroque, ebony and crystal
17th Century Italian Cabinet
Monumental 5ft Round Italian Mirror, 19th-century, Baroque, giltwood, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Monumental 5ft Round Italian Mirror, 19th-century, Baroque, giltwood
Monumental 5ft Round Italian Mirror
Central Italian 17th Century Baroque Giltwood Mirror 161x136cm, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Central Italian 17th Century Baroque Giltwood Mirror 161x136cm
Central Italian 17th Century Baroque Giltwood Mirror 161x136cm
17th Century Baroque Painted 6 Fold Screen, Don Quixote, circa 1680, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the 17th Century Baroque Painted 6 Fold Screen, Don Quixote, circa 1680
17th Century Baroque Painted 6 Fold Screen | Don Quixote
Edo Japanese Black Lacquer and Gilt Trunk, 17th-century, brass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Edo Japanese Black Lacquer and Gilt Trunk, 17th-century, brass
Edo Japanese Black Lacquer and Gilt Trunk
Early Dutch Ripple Molded Mirror 94x81 cm, circa 1700, Baroque, ebony and glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Early Dutch Ripple Molded Mirror 94x81 cm
Chequerboard Ripple Moulded Mirror - Dutch Ebonised, circa 1720, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Chequerboard Ripple Moulded Mirror - Dutch Ebonised, circa 1720, glass
Chequerboard Ripple Moulded Mirror - Dutch Ebonised
Pair of Louis XIV Painted Oak Frames, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Pair of Louis XIV Painted Oak Frames
Pair of Blue and White Delft Trumpet Vases as Table Lamps, 17th-century, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of Blue and White Delft Trumpet Vases as Table Lamps, 17th-century
Pair of Blue and White Delft Trumpet Vases as Table Lamps
Early 18th-century Louis XIV ebony and amboyna barometer, French antique tabletop piece – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Louis XIV Ebony & Amboyna Barometer
Spanish walnut Vargueno on stand, 17th Century, Baroque, ebony, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Spanish walnut Vargueno on stand, 17th Century, Baroque, ebony
Spanish walnut Vargueno on stand | 17th Century
Set of four Louis XIV style bronze four light wall appliques with ornate baroque design – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the set of Four Louis XIV style 20th century bronze four light wall appliques, circa 1900
Set of Four Louis XIV style 20th century bronze four light wall appliques
A 17th Century Bone ‘Flaming Torch’ Hearth Brush, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the 17th Century Bone ‘Flaming Torch’ Hearth Brush, photographed from another angle
A 17th Century Bone ‘Flaming Torch’ Hearth Brush
A fine carved cut-steel chape, Mughal India, 17th century, circa 1700, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the fine carved cut-steel chape, Mughal India, 17th century, circa 1700
A fine carved cut-steel chape, Mughal India, 17th century
Fine 18th Century Giltwood Wall Mirror 105x53cm, circa 1750, Rococo, glass, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Fine 18th Century Giltwood Wall Mirror 105x53cm, circa 1750, Rococo, glass
Fine 18th Century Giltwood Wall Mirror 105x53cm
Late 17th century Dutch Delft Table Lamp, porcelain, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Late 17th century Dutch Delft Table Lamp
South China Sea storage jar with mottled brown glaze and ochre tones, 48 cm tall pottery vessel – Nicholas Wells Antiques
South China Sea Storage Jar
Pair of Bronze Gothic Candlesticks, circa 1650, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the pair of Bronze Gothic Candlesticks, circa 1650, photographed from another angle
Pair of Bronze Gothic Candlesticks
South China Sea Dark Glazed Large Storage Jar, circa 1700, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the South China Sea Dark Glazed Large Storage Jar, circa 1700
South China Sea Dark Glazed Large Storage Jar
South China Sea Brown Storage Jar With Handles, 17th-century, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
South China Sea Brown Storage Jar With Handles
Early 18th Century Dutch Delft Blue and White Vase Mounted as a Table Lamp, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Early 18th Century Dutch Delft Blue and White Vase Mounted as a Table Lamp
Early 18th Century Dutch Delft Blue and White Vase Mounted as a Table Lamp
£POA
Baroque Venetian Court Figure in Polychrome & Silver Leaf, shown in full – Nicholas Wells Antiques
Alternative view of the Baroque Venetian Court Figure in Polychrome & Silver Leaf
Baroque Venetian Court Figure in Polychrome & Silver Leaf
£POA

The Louis XIV period of French decorative arts, also known as the "Grand Siècle" or the "Age of Louis XIV," refers to the period of art and design in France during the reign of King Louis XIV, which lasted from 1643 to 1715. During this time, France became the leading centre of art and culture in Europe, and the arts of painting, sculpture, architecture, and decorative arts flourished.

In the realm of decorative arts, the period is renowned for its grandiose, opulent style, commonly known as the "Louis Quatorze" or "Baroque" style. Characterized by an emphasis on symmetry, order, and theatricality, this aesthetic aimed to convey both divine and royal authority. Designs were often highly intricate, incorporating lavish materials such as gilded wood, marble, bronze, silver, and even precious stones. Bold, sculptural forms, along with ornate detailing, were hallmark features of furniture, tapestries, and porcelain. Innovations during this time also led to the creation of distinct furniture styles—elaborate armchairs, desks, and cabinets—each exemplifying the era’s extravagance.

Notable figures of the Louis XIV artistic world include the renowned painter and court decorator Charles Le Brun, who masterminded the visual language of the king’s palace, and André-Charles Boulle, whose furniture designs became iconic for their intricate inlay work. Sculptors like Antoine Coysevox and musicians such as Jean-Baptiste Lully also left a profound mark on the cultural landscape.

The legacy of the Louis XIV period endures in the magnificent architecture and decorative elements found in France’s palaces, particularly at Versailles, as well as in the continued influence of French art and design worldwide. The era’s emphasis on luxury, symmetry, and innovation continues to resonate in contemporary art and interior design, further cementing the period’s status as a pinnacle of French artistic achievement.
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