century, birth of design - palace of versailles · 2014. 10. 28. · to participate, send the...

GameBooklet

FORCH

ILDREN

18th century, birth of designFurnituremasterpieces1650 to 1790From 28 October 2014 to 22 February 2015

ANGLAIS_DESIGN_18E_BAT.qxp_Mise en page 1 27/10/2014 15:08 Page1

– 2 –

This exhibition will display masterpieces of furnituremade between 1650 to 1790, during the reign ofLouis XIV to the reign of Louis XVI, up to the time ofthe French Revolution. However, the commodes, tablesand armchairs that you are about to discover are veryspecial: they are unique furniture pieces, intended forthe royal family or the aristocracy, and were designedby unknown but extraordinary artists. These ingeniouscraftsmen invented new lines, used new techniquesand together contributed to transforming furniture des-ign, in their quest to design furniture pieces best sui-ted to their purpose. The exhibition gives visitors aninsight into this wonderful design metamorphosis.

18th century, birth of design

From the furniturepieces shown above,find the furniturepiece that isn't partof a pair!

1

Immerse yourself in the world of 18th century furniture design : an exhibition full of surprises, variety and ingenious inventions. Openyour eyes to this bygone design era... and complete this game booklet!


– 3 –

Some of these furniture piecesare less popular today, or the names have been changed.For example, a ployant is whatwe would refer to today as a folding chair, a coquillier was used for storing a collectionof shells and, lastly, a chiffonnier was a small piece of furniture with drawers,which is taller than it is wide.We hope you have lots of funlearning about these pieces during the exhibition.

With the help of the lettersshown in the grid, insert thefurniture names listed below.

2

C

E

C

ARMOIRECABINET

CHIFFONNIERCOMMODE

CONSOLE TABLECOQUILLIER

PLOYANTSECRETARY DESK

WRITING DESK

R


Between 1650 and 1790, for one hundred and forty years, cabinetmaker artistsput their skills and imagination to the test through the design and creation of theirfurniture pieces. As time went on, tastes changed: moving from a somewhat rigidstyle (like this beautiful ebony cabinet from the reign of Louis XIV, shown above) to the playful curves of pieces from the Louis XV period. The style later returned to straight lines during the reign of Louis XVI. Observing all of these changes is like taking a journey through time!

Lines and curves

3Match the decorative patterns (the embellish-ments) to each of thethree furniture piecesshown on this page.

– 4 –


– 5 –

Does this table remind you of...m matchsticks ?m the columns of Greek temple ?m spears ?

4How is the Louis XVI style characteri-sed ? Under the reign of Louis XVI,there was a backlash against the excesses of curvy styles resulting ina return to straighter lines... But withrefinements! Look at the legs of thistable carefully: they are typical of theLouis XVI style, as they are straight,slightly tapered and grooved.

Zoom in on this armchair, emblematic of theLouis XV period. The previous armchairs,during the reign of Louis XIV, were morelinear, more rigid and the armrests werearranged directly in line with the frontlegs. They evoke the strict etiquette of thePalace of Versailles! However, duringthe time of Louis XV, there was anincreasing desire for comfort,leading to the design ofchairs with lower seats,steeply inclined back-rests and more functio-nal armrests... overall,this period marked thearrival of designs featu-ring soft curved lines.


Colours and materials

5

When you look at some of the furniture pieces more carefully, you will be amazed by the amount of details:pieces featuring detailed decorations in lacquer importedfrom Asia and others with extraordinary wood marquetry.Marquetry is the art of forming patterns out of inlaid piecesof wood (or other materials), in order to create a decorativetableau.To enhance the decorative aspect, the artists also usedstraw, mother of pearl and marble etc. All of these detailsadded to the majestic beauty of the commodes, tables and desks and to the diversity of colours. In addition, rich fabrics were used to adorn the armchairs and sofas.

Out of these four brightly coloured commodes,only one version really exists, which is on displayat the exhibition. Which one is it? Identify thecorrect version and circle it.

– 6 –


During the visit, youwill be able to viewfurniture pieces withsplendid decorations.The artists designedthem using a largevariety of materials,some of which aresurprising. Look care-fully at the furniturepieces in the exhibi-tion and match eachimage to the corres-ponding label.

6PORCELAIN

WOOD

MOTHEROF PEARL

STEEL

STRAW

LAQUERBRASS FABRIC

STONE

– 7 –


Three artists

7

Out of all the great woodworkers, the exhibition places emphasis on the following three: André-Charles Boulle (1642-1732), Charles Cressent (1685-1768) and Jean-Henri Riesener (1734-1806).

– 8 –

BOULLE was a great artist with many talents. We owe him the invention of the commode (previously, clothes were stored in chests) and the use of bronzefor ornamentation. He also revolutionised the art of marquetry, by inventing a new process of cutting out the same pattern from two panels of contrasting materials placed on top of each other to obtain the "part" and the "counterpart". At the end of the exhibition, you can view the work of students from the EcoleBoulle, who have inherited the cabinetmaker's know-how.

Look carefully at this exceptionalcommode designed by Boulle,with its eight bronze decoratedlegs, its angles and its fourSphinxes (fabulous creatureswith a woman’s bust, a lion'sbody and bird wings). Find the shadow that matches.


8

9

06).

What do you think it is used for ?m Storing medallions m Storing kites m Smoothing out ties and jabots

RIESENER is the author of the famousKing's desk (see next page). Here you cansee the straight lines of this commode andits remarkable façade with compartments.

e

".

Find this furniture piece in theexhibition and fill in the patternsthat you see on the compartmentsor have fun creating new ones!

Inspired by Boulle, CRESSENTis famous for his flat writingdesks, his angled armoires, hismarquetry inlaid with geometricpatterns...and this furniture piece that you can see here.

– 9 –


– 10 –

The king’s desk

10

This extraordinary piece of furniture is full of mystery! Crafted by the cabinet-maker Oeben and completed by his successor, Riesener, this desk was designedand created for King Louis XV, and Louis XVI later used it. Observe the wonder-ful bronzes and marquetry decorating the desk. They represent Gods from Greekmythology such as Apollo, and symbols of poetry, science and war - everythingthat a King should know about! What you can't see with your eye is that thedesk incorporates ingenious mechanisms, as well as an inset clock. Along the sides, separate drawers contained inkwells that could be refilled withoutopening the desk. Its contents therefore remained hidden away. And, once thedesk was opened, the king had quick access to the secret drawers where he wasable to hide all of the documents that needed to be kept away from prying eyes.

Keys and locks were one of LouisXVI's passions. Just one of key,the king's key, could open hisdesk. Circle the correct key!Then, by carefully observing this furniture piece, guess where the lock is located: markthe location with a small cross.

M


– 11 –

11

This furniture piece, commissioned by Queen Marie-Antoinette in 1787 (two years before the Revolution!), was used for storing her diamonds, rubies and other pearls. It is a reflection of the precious jewels that it contains: exceptionally ornate and decorative.

Do you see all of these bronze sculptures? The me-dallion in the centre evokes the arts, the group offigures on the top represents strength, wisdom andabundance... What do you think the four beautifulwomen in front of you symbolise (one is holding a bunch of flowers, another ears of grain, etc.)?

m The cardinal points m The elements (air, earth, water, fire)m The seasons

Marie-Antoinette’s Jewellery case


Photo credits. ©Adkeys /©Museum of Decorative Arts - Jean Tholance /©RMN-Grand Palais (Palace of Versailles) Christophe Fouin/ ©The Louvre Museum, Dist RMN-GP Thierry Ollivier / ©The LouvreMuseum Dist RMN-GP Studio Sébert / ©RMN - GP (The Louvre Museum) All rights reserved / ©RMN-Grand Palais (Palace of Versailles) All rights reserved / ©Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation- CatarinaGomes Ferreira /©RMN-GP (Palace of Fontainebleau) Gérard Blot / ©The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco / © Archives Gismondi / © Daniel Dehenny.

Find the answers to the game on parismomes.fr, under the "Events" heading. Booklet design www.parismomes.fr. Design: Orianne Charpentier and

Elodie Coulon. Editing : Orianne Charpentier. Graphic Design : Elodie Coulon.

Many of the furniture piecesin the exhibition have strangelegs: if you look closely, you will find legs in the shapeof lions, dogs, cheetahs and

antelopes. In the style of a cabinetmaker from the 18th

century, design your own piece of furniture with legs...representing the animal of your choice! Elephant legs, stork legs, spider legs or cat legs... Choose whatever inspires you the most, and draw it on a blank sheet of paper!

*Mandatory fields. Competition organised by the Palace of Versailles and Paris Mômes, running from 28 October 2014 to 22 February 2015 inclusive. Open to all participants aged 5 to 13 in possession of a gamebooklet. Payment sent free of charge on written request sent to the aforementioned address. The data collected shall be processed solely by the organiser. **In accordance with the amended law on InformationTechnology and Freedoms (Loi Informatique et Libertés) of 6 January 1978, participants have the right to access, request further information, change or, if applicable, challenge any data concerning them. Theymay challenge at any time the disclosure of such data to third parties. All requests to access, change or challenge personal data should be sent to the aforementioned address.

We are undersigned, Name of legal guardians*: .............................................................................................................................................................E-mail** : .......................................................................................................................................................................................Address* : .......................................................................................................................................................................................Post/ZIP code* : ............... Town* : .................................................................................. Tel. :.....................................................Authorise our child to participate in this competition:Surname* (of the child) : ............................................................. First name* (of the child) : .....................................................Age of the child* : ...................................... Boy* Girl*

r I would like to receive information by e-mail relating to the Palace of Versailles.

To participate, send the completed coupon below with your design to: Château de Versailles - Directionde la communication – Service Partenariats - RP834 - 78008 Versailles Cedex.

A Grand prize-winnerwill be chosen and will receive

as a reward a replica of their piece of furniture based on

a 3D printout of their design.

15 other children will also be chosen as winners and will receive

a €20 gift voucher for the on-line Palace of Versailles shop.

COMPETITION

Design your own furniture piece with legs


century, birth of design - palace of versailles · 2014. 10. 28. · to participate, send the...

Documents