Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon, Portugal

Material: Oak and exotic woods, gilt bronze, velvet Collection: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Founder's Collection Inv.: 2082

DESCRIPTION

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION (06 Mar – 28 Sep 2020)

THE GOLDEN AGE OF FRENCH FURNITURE

In the 18th century, French furniture attained an unprecedented degree of excellency. This exhibition highlights some emblematic items of furniture and aims to show what lies behind the execution of these fantastic pieces. Event Slider

Martin Carlin, Charles-Nicolas Dodin. Writing Table. Paris, ca. 1772. Oak, sycamore, bloodwood, ebony and boxwood; brassSèvres porcelain plaques; chased and gilded bronze pieces; velvet. Founder's CollectionKnown as the Golden Age of French furniture, the 18th century witnessed many transformations in the field, having reached an unparalleled level of technical and artistic quality. This was facilitated by the favourable conditions present at the time.

The exhibition features several emblematic items of furniture produced during this era, which now forms part of the Founder’s Collection, including Jean-Henri Riesener’s roll-top desk, as well as significant national and international loans from the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, among others.

It aims to explore the various phases involved in producing these items, from the raw material, wood, to the delicate, extravagant furniture created for royal palaces, revealing the secrets behind their creation: the artisans that conceived them, the preferred materials and the techniques and tools used. Collaboration with the Fundação Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva was essential, providing information on materials and technical details to give the exhibition a more practical component.

From the end of the 17th century, traditions became more relaxed, influencing many aspects of society such as the way in which people interacted and lived together. These behavioural changes were reflected in the interior settings of the era. The taste for comfort, combined with a quest for sophistication, took on increasing importance in palace life.

Furniture accompanied societal transformation, adapting itself to new emerging needs. In order to meet the requirements of an enlightened, sophisticated clientèle, always on the lookout for new trends, cabinet-makers and ébénistes began to innovate in terms of the techniques they used. Furniture was now designed with a specific purpose in mind, although its aesthetic appearance was also taken into consideration. Whether they were architects, decorators or even skilled artisans, furniture designers attempted to meet the needs of their customers, heralding the dawn of modern design.