Louis XVI Giltwood Fauteuils
Louis xvi giltwood fauteuils are French open armchairs carved from timber and coated in gold leaf.
Louis XVI Giltwood Fauteuils
Louis xvi giltwood fauteuils represent formal seating designed with French neoclassical lines, straight tapered legs and upholstered backs. These armchairs appear in singleton examples, pairs, sets of four or six, and larger salon suites.
Most pieces encountered on this page date from the nineteenth century revival periods rather than the eighteenth century original epoch. Makers during the eighteen-eighties and nineteen-hundreds copied the distinct classical vocabulary of the French chateau style with great fidelity.
The form functions as a salon chair or bedroom chair, providing upright seating supported by padded arm rests known as elbows. Beech and general timber form the underlying structural frames beneath the gilded surface.
Assessing Quality
The crispness of the hand carving on the wooden frame separates superior examples from simpler production. Deep, clean relief work on classical motifs indicates skilled carpentry rather than mechanical shaping.
The integrity of the giltwood finish and the quality of the textile upholstery dictate the overall visual success of the piece. Period textiles or sympathetic traditional fabrics enhance the historic character of an armchair.
One recorded armchair carries an attribution to the prominent London cabinet-makers Holland and Sons.
Holland & Sons
The Louis XVI Giltwood Fauteuils Glossary
- Fauteuil
- An open-framed armchair with upholstered armrests and seat. This form originated in France during the seventeenth century.
- Giltwood
- Timber coated with gold leaf or metal powder applied over a prepared base. This finish provides a bright reflective surface.
- Louis XVI Style
- A neoclassical design movement characterised by straight lines, symmetry and classical architectural details. It draws from ancient Greek and Roman forms.
- Salon Suite
- A matched set of seating furniture comprising armchairs and sometimes a larger settee intended for a formal reception room. These suites share identical carved details and upholstery fabrics.
Louis XVI Giltwood Fauteuils: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fauteuil?
A fauteuil is an upholstered wooden armchair featuring open sides where the arms join the back frame. These chairs were built for formal salons and reception rooms.
They differ from closed armchairs because the space beneath the armrests remains open, allowing room for voluminous historical garments.
How do I spot a revival piece?
Nineteenth-century revival pieces often display machine-assisted precision in their carving and denser timber composition compared to eighteenth-century originals. Tool marks and construction techniques reveal the actual manufacturing date.
Examining the underside and joinery helps distinguish genuine eighteenth-century work from later nineteenth-century interpretations.
Where should I place these chairs?
These armchairs suit drawing rooms, bedrooms or reception spaces as decorative accent seating. Their gilded surfaces reflect light and draw the eye within a room.
Due to their upright stance, they function well as occasional seating rather than deep lounging chairs.
What fabrics are correct?
Velvet, silk damask and traditional woven textiles appear frequently on historical examples. Blue velvet and patterned fabrics complement the gilded wooden frames.
Upholstery choices often reflect later reupholstery work rather than the original factory covering.