developing style
furniture style evolved gradually at this time. Pieces from the early years are often. referred toas "transitional"
because they contain elements of both Rococo design and the Neoclassical style. As time went on,
however, the Neoclassical elements became more pronounced.
In ter 20 years or so before the French Revolution in 1789, English taste began to influencethe French.
and this trend can be seen in furniture designs. Mahogany was now used frequently, particularly when trade whit America increased at the end of the Revolutionary War, and the wood could be easily imported from the West Indies.
New developments
Chair, which had previously been fairly rounded in shape,
became more recttilinear and had tapering legs. As rooms
were now smaller than they had been, furniture was made on a correspondingly smaller scale. Women were now more influential in society than they had been before and so light, elegant pieces, such as and delicate
worktables, were disigned specifically for female clients.
In the late 18th century. banks and security were not what they are today, so elaborate desks with secret compartments and hidden drawers were popular with the wealthy. These had intricate locks to enhance security
Decoration
Different style of marquetry developed as a method of decoration. Pictorial
designs became more prominent than the loosely arranged floral decorations of previous eras. Landscapes and
architectural composition were very poppular, as were vases or baskets of flowere. Parquetry, a geometric from
of marquetry, was another common decorative feature.