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The Louis XVI style (1774-1790)

After the period of experimentation with the Transition style (1765-1775), the Louis XVI style emerged in the early 1770s as the elegant expression...
The Bargueño, a 17th-century Spanish cabinet

A bargueño is a type of Spanish writing cabinet ("escritorio") that appeared at the beginning of the 15th century. However, the term was not created...
The Napoleon III style (1852-1870)

A period of decadence, the Second Empire (1852-1870) sought to impose prestige through pomp, festivities, and luxury, in contrast to the bourgeois reign of the discreet Louis-Philippe...
A mahogany and gilt bronze living room set in the "Return from Egypt" style

A living room set in the "Egyptian Revival" style, comprising a sofa, two chairs, two armchairs and a pedestal table with a mahogany frame and chiseled bronze decoration...
How to decorate your restaurant with works of art?

Creating an inspiring space: Bars that display works of art, brasseries transformed by famous decorators, restaurants decorated by...
Napoleon III tables and pedestal tables

The Napoleon III style, which spans from approximately 1852 to 1870, is distinguished by a broad blend of styles from the 16th to the 18th centuries. A large number of pieces of furniture...
Empire style ornamentation

The Empire style, a style of propaganda. At the end of the 18th century, Ancient Rome was celebrated both for its political grandeur and for what the...
Mercier Frères Transition Style Commode

The Transition style: historical landmarks. The Transition style covers the period from 1750 to 1774 and refers to the stylistic evolution that, in the second half...
Libraries and display cases, or the art of presenting collections

The bookcase as a storage unit. The bookcase is a piece of furniture designed for storing books, which appeared in England at the end of the 16th century, a little over...
Tips for furnishing an Empire-style living room in a castle, mansion, or luxury apartment

For over 25 years, Galerie Atena has been helping its clients decorate their interiors: castles, manor houses, beautiful homes, luxury apartments… with…
The Directoire style (1789-1804)

The term "Directory" refers to a historical period following the French Revolution (1789) and the National Convention (1792-1795), but also to...
Lighting fixtures in 19th-century France

19TH-CENTURY CHANDELIERS A chandelier is a piece of furniture designed to capture light and enhance the brightness of an interior. It is...
The console: History and specific features

A console table is a tall piece of furniture resembling a half-table placed against a wall. Its original four legs are often reduced to two, and it can be transformed...
Restoring a neoclassical salon: the art of reviving history, at the Château de Peyraud

"There's something magical about restoring a castle; it's like going back in time, room by room, to give a space back its...
The Restoration style (1815-1830)

After Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo on June 18, 1815, power in France was taken over by Louis XVI's two brothers: the Count of Provence, who ruled...
The Transition style (1765-1775)

The term Transition refers to the stylistic evolution which, in the second half of Louis XV's reign and at the very beginning of Louis XVI's reign, is characterized by...
Gold leaf restoration

Gold, a trendy color in decoration. Among the decorating trends of recent years: gold. In brass, metal, or gilded wood...
French silverware in the 19th century

From 1820 to 1890, French goldsmithing was characterized by eclecticism and a taste for the most varied styles. From the rigor of neoclassicism...
The mirror, an iconic decorative object

The history of the first mirrors dates back to around 6000 BC. The oldest examples are made of polished stone, then polished metal, copper...
The French clock

From the late 18th century onwards, artists rose up against classical rigidity and the cult of ideal beauty, expressing their preference...
Inspirations
Magazine

Discover all our blog articles on styles, periods, and types of objects and furniture from the 18th to the 19th century