The dramatic and decorative Baroque style originated in Italy and influenced all of Europe. The style is exuberant and opulent and displayed much pomp and circumstance in the appearance. According to the Oxford English dictionary the word baroque is derived from the Portuguese word “barroco” and means rough or imperfect pearl. The word simply means elaborate, and with many details.
The period which is from 1685 – 1725 under the reign of Louis XIV followed the Renaissance Period. The furnishings were ornamented with heavily ornate carvings, gold gilding, and were grand in scale. The French Baroque style is distinguished by the use of marquetry and gold covered bronze ormolu, creating the most elegant of styles. Chairs upholstered in tapestries, damasks, brocades, silks, satins and velvets in rich colors of crimson, rose, gold and blues contrasted with a dark wood frame were fashionable. Another element of design which adorned textiles and tapestries were chubby infant babies or putti, Italian for little boys, adorned with garlands of flowers and foliage. The textiles were woven with designs of flowering shrubs, scrolling foliage, heraldic crests, birds, and Chinoiserie motifs. Some of the other fashionable motifs of the period were arabesques or repeating geometric forms, C and S scrolls, cartouches or oval shaped design, lambrequins or a decorative valance, rinceau or a decorative border featuring stylized vines with flowers, fruits and leaves and rosettes or a round stylized floral design from antiquity.
Yesterday I watched the movie, The Sound of Music again for the 25th time and lo and behold the draperies in Maria’s bedroom share a similar design motif. Maria decided to “Go for Baroque” and made those children clothes to play in out of those drapes!
Scrolling Foliage Upholstery
Baroque Style Textile by Designers Guild
Baroque style wallpaper by Zoffany
Baroque style wallpaper by Zoffany
Baroque style textile on draperies by Zoffany
Louis XIV Baroque Style Bedroom
Louis XIV Baroque Chair
Putti
Marquetry
Rinceau Motif with Rosettes
Lambrequin
Sound of Music Baroque Drapery Panels
Drapery Panels made into play clothes
