A French Empire style gilt wood three piece parlour suite, first quarter 20th century Comprising a settee and two chairs, the settee with stuffover seat enclosed by gilt ears and scrolled arms, each piece with carved ribbon crest to the squared back and ornate gilt frame, raised on round tapering legs and upholstered in cream floral Jacquard, height 40.55 in., width 55.12 in., depth 23.62 in. (settee)
- Jacquard Fabric - Jacquard fabric is woven on a jacquard loom, which allows intricate and complex patterns to be created. The jacquard loom is controlled by a system of punched cards or a computer program that controls the movement of the loom and allows for the creation of complex patterns in the fabric.
Jacquard fabric is known for its elaborate and detailed designs, which can include intricate floral patterns, geometric designs, and other complex motifs. The patterns are woven into the fabric, rather than printed or embroidered, which gives them a unique texture and depth.
Jacquard fabrics can be made from a variety of fibress, including silk, cotton, wool, and synthetic materials. They are often used for upholstery, drapery, and other decorative applications, as well as for clothing such as dresses, suits, and jackets.
- Giltwood - Giltwood is used to describe a gold finish on furniture and other decorative wooden items, whereby a thin sheet of gold metal, called gold leaf, is applied to the surface for decorative purposes.
Unlike gilding, where the gold leaf is applied over a coating of gesso, with giltwood the gold leaf is applied direct to the surface, or over a coat of linseed oil gold leaf adhesive.
Most gold-finished mirrors will be gilded, whereas furniture with gold highlights will have the gold applied through the giltwood method.
- Empire Style - The Empire style was a version of neo-classicism popular from 1800 to 1830, coinciding with the rule of Napoleon I from 1840-15. In England the style corrosponds with the Regency style and in the United States to the Federal style.
The style is inspired by classical Rome and Greece, as reflected in the decorative motifs in the the design such as paterae, guilloches, acanthus and swags, and pieces are lavishly decorated with applied gilded decoration.
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