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European Periods and Styles of Decorative Arts
By Dr. Terry Gross, Urban Chateau - December, 2004

Period antique furniture, which holds the most value with collectors, is of a distinct style and was actually made during the time frame of the specific period in history. For example, Louis XV period furniture of the Rococo style must have been made during his reign as King between the years 1723 and 1774. All pieces made between 1744 and 1751 were required to have been signed and stamped with the Masters stamp of the Guild of Cabinet Makers.

Antiques made in the Louis XV Rococo style any time after the Louis XV period are labeled "in the style of Louis XV" for example.

So how do we sort out the myriad of styles and periods in European Antiques? Each country does it differently, so it is often difficult to correlate the period or styles between countries. In Table 1 Urban Chateau has laid out these periods and styles for the countries France, Italy, England and Northern Europe and grouped them by century from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

In France the styles are identified by the ruling Monarchs of the periods. Italy and Northern Europe identify by the styles. England designates by architect or designer and style rater than Monarch. For instance under England�s George I the Neo-Palladian style was developed by William Kent as a subset of the overall Baroque style.

The main large categories of styles common between the countries, who of course borrowed from each other over the years, are the following: Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical and Empire.

RENAISSANCE (1500-1610)
The Renaissance period covered the majority of16th century design through the reigns of Francois I and Henry II. The Renaissance moved throughout Europe in great waves of Italian influence. Influences included Flemish, German and Spanish craftsmanship in marquetry and other details. Oak was the wood of choice which was waxed and rubbed to a deep finish. Surface carving covered the entire furniture peice mainly in figural, olive, laurel and acanthus motifs.

BAROQUE (1600-1720)
A symmetrical and boldly decorative rectilinear style derived from Italian architecture. In furniture the early Baroque style was decorated with ornamentation using elaborate scrolls, figural motifs, twisting columns, and pediments. Surface finishes such as that of Boulle, wood marquetry and elaborate wood and metal inlay contributed to this masculine style.

ROCOCO PERIOD (1740-1775)
An exuberant curvaceous style characterized by asymmetrical lines and natural forms including those inspired by nature such as shell, floral and foliate motifs. This style was characteristic of the Louis XV period and provided the decorative forms for the gardens of Versailles.

NEOCLASSICAL(1770-1800)
Known as the Classical revival, this period was characterized by exuberant neoclassical style and details. This style is synonymus with Louis XVI. The unearthing of Pompeii and Herculaneum set off a new spark using ancient architectural forms. Marked by revival of ancient classicism, severe rectangular lines and architectural ornament reappeared. Fluting emphasized the vertical elements. Ornament was classic and symmetrical.

EMPIRE (1804-1815)
A French style intended to clearly express the imperial majesty of Napoleonic France. Neoclassic in style it is inspired by the decorative motifs and characteristics of Greco-Roman models and characterized as �spare, noble and massive�. Mahogany, rosewood and ebony were the rule with brass or gilt mounts in the form of swags, festoons, wreaths of laurel, torches, mythological figures and the Napoleonic emblems of the bee, the crown and the letter �N�. Later, sphinxes and other Egyptian figures were used after Napoleon conquered Egypt.

The Renaissance style dominated the 16th century along with Mannerism whereas the Baroque style was dominant throughout the 17th Century. The early 18th Century transitioned from the Baroque to the Rococo style that flourished until the late 18th Century when the Neoclassical style gained favor. The Empire style surfaced at the turn of the 19th Century during the reign of Napoleon. Styles later in the 19th Century were much more diverse where designers and cabinet makers individualized design styles borrowing from the characteristics of previous period styles and combining more than one style in the same piece.

TABLE OF STYLES AND PERIODS
Please view this table of periods and styles (PDF 1.4mb). The table is arranged to be able to see the corresponding styles prevalent in the different countries during similar periods. For instance the Louis XV period in French Antiques corresponds to the same time frame as that of Thomas Chippendale in England. The Mannerismo period in Italian antiques corresponds to Mannerism in the British antiques of the Early Tudor and Elizabethan eras. We hope you find this information helpful in sorting out this complex subject.