Styles in furniture - Rococo

Rococo or late baroque, as it is also called, is characteristic of the 18th century and emerged as a reaction against the grandeur, symmetry and rigor of the baroque style. It originated in France, and the name comes from the French words pierre and shell, a combination of the two.

Rococo architecture and design

It is a style that focuses more on the interior than the exterior of buildings. It is not considered a style with great architectural achievements, but there are plenty of examples of buildings and landscaping in this style, such as the Charlottenburg Palace in Germany or the gardens of the Palace of Versailles.

Rococo rooms are seen as a whole, with the furniture blending with the mirrors, sculptures, tapestries and painted walls in the same style. It is a loose style with lots of ornament, curved lines, asymmetrical patterns and gold. Unlike baroque, which was very church-bound, rococo is more secular, more playful, more earthy.

Less overwhelming, asymmetrical and ornate furniture

During the rococo period, furniture became less oppressive, evolving towards comfort and versatility. Designers of the period created specific designs, such as the armchair (fr.fauteuil) or the conversation sofa. Chairs were accessorized or modified to add comfort. There were detachable cushions, higher backrests to support the head, arms with removable cushions.

The furniture is no longer attached to the wall, each piece becoming an object in its own right, which can be moved and arranged as you wish.

The characteristic and novelty of the rococo style is the asymmetry that creates an imbalance inside the object, an effect called contrast. Another characteristic of the style is the curved, rounded furniture. The wood used is mahogany and the decorations are acanthus leaves, shells, flowers, cherubs, C- or S-shaped shapes, scrolls, water droplets, symbols. Gold and bronze are widely used.

The rococo style spread from France throughout Europe and was replaced towards the end of the century by neoclassicism. Not in all countries was the style as busy and glamorous. In England or Sweden the style was more temperate, but still retained the same characteristics.

Neorococcus

In the mid-19th century, there is a return to the values of the rococo style, a period known as Neorococo. The decorations used are the same, but the shapes are much more realistic, which is best seen in the curved pieces of furniture. In addition to mahogany, rosewood is used for the more precious pieces of furniture and walnut for the more common pieces. Along with other revived old styles, neorococo characterizes the Victorian period.

The rococo style was criticized by some stylists of the time as being light, superficial and tasteless. Over time, however, the qualities of the style began to be recognized and by the mid-19th century it was accepted by historians as a style in art. The Rococo period is now considered a period of great influence on European art.

Other styles in furniture reviewed in Wood Magazine: Art Nouveau, Neogotic, Baroque, Chippendale, Biedermeier.