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 of a return to classicism, free from the rigidity of taste
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 only coined in 1872 by Juan Facundo Riaño, a Spanish art historian
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. The Napoleon III style is the
Inspirations
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 gilt bronze decoration. The sofa and the pair of armchairs..
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 feature marquetry in tortoiseshell and metal
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 designers – brands are striving to do more and more
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 of the reign of Louis XV and at the very beginning of the 19th century..
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 could be considered the pinnacle of its aesthetics
The Transition style (1765-1775)
The term Transition refers to the stylistic evolution which, in the second half of Louis XV's reign and the very beginning of Louis XVI's reign, is characterized by the abandonment of the curves and movement of the Romanesque style
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 that appeared in England at the end of the 16th century, a little over a century before France where they were first introduced
The Directoire style (1789-1804)
The term "Directoire" refers to a historical period following the French Revolution (1789) and the National Convention (1792-1795), but also to a style of furniture and decoration that covered
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 can already be found in the Middle Ages, made of wood and equipped with candles. (Apart from...)
Magazine
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 neoclassical rigor of the Empire period to the bursts of fantasy of the Romantic era and the na
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 sometimes it becomes a single supporting leg
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 restore a space to its original splendor. At Château de Peyraud, we have…”
The Restoration style (1815-1830)
After Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo on June 18, 1815, power in France was taken over by the two brothers of Louis XVI: the Count of Provence, who would reign as Louis XVIII (1815-1823),
Gold leaf restoration
Gold, a trendy color in decoration. Among the decorating trends of recent years: gold. In brass, metal, or gilded wood, gold furniture, lighting, and decorative objects..
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 unique pieces, carefully restored in their original state
The French clock
From the late 18th century onwards, artists rebelled against classical rigidity and the cult of ideal beauty, expressing their preference for more realistic subjects, closer to their own time
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 later of polished metal, copper or bronze