Pair of Armchairs Walnut Manufactured in Italy Mid 1800s

Style: Louis Philippe (1830-1848)

The Louis Philippe style developed in a context characterized by two main factors: the expansion of the bourgeoisie and the advent of the industrialization of production processes.

This style therefore faces the decline of artisans and the new needs for economy and comfort.

Aesthetically, it takes elements from the past, especially from the Gothic and Renaissance, preferring very curved shapes for the backrests of the seats, roe deer legs and feet, with a very rich decoration.

It mainly uses dark woods: ebony, rosewood and mahogany, combined for contrast with light elements.

Find out more with our insights:

The Louis Philippe style
Classic Monday: Louis Philippe and Umbertina consoles compared
The Austrian taste of Baroque
History of Louis Philippe furniture
The Umbertino style
Antiques in Lombardy
The Evolution of the Empire Style

Age: 19th Century / 1801 - 1900

19th Century / 1801 - 1900

Main essence: Walnut

Walnut wood comes from the plant whose botanical name is juglans regia , probably originally from the East but very common in Europe. Light or dark brown in color, it is a hard wood with a beautiful grain, widely used in antique furniture. It was the main essence in Italy throughout the Renaissance and later had a good diffusion in Europe, especially in England, until the advent of mahogany. It was used for solid wood furniture and sometimes carvings and inlays, its only big limitation is that it suffers a lot from woodworm. In France it was widely used more than anything else in the provinces. In the second half of the eighteenth century its use decreased significantly because mahogany and other exotic woods were preferred.