Louis Philippe reigned as King of France from 1830 until 1848.  The style of furnishings in vogue during his reign was characterized by simple, soft and rounded lines and the use of darker woods with little ornamentation. Louis Philippe serves as a transition style between the ornate Empire and Louis XVI styles and the simple, more naturalistic styles of the later Victorian era.  This was also the first style in France influenced more by the growing, wealthy upper class rather than the monarchy.

 

Flame mahogany is wood that has been cut from a fork of a mahogany tree – where the branch extends out from the trunk.  The visual patterns from the cut resemble flames, hence the name.  Flame mahogany was both expensive and rare.   Wide planks of this wood, once cut, could warp and curl, so veneering was the method employed in the creation of most antique furniture bearing flame mahogany.  It is a beautiful, rich sophisticated wood, with great warmth.

 

Bronze d'oré, also known as ormolu or gilt bronze, was a decorative finish used on luxury furnishings in the 18th and 19th centuries. An application of finely ground high carat gold and mercury amalgam was placed on objects of bronze. When subjected to extremely high heat, the mercury evaporated, leaving behind a lustrous coating of gold.

Gilt-bronze trim was used to protect furniture from damage and to emphasize form, and to mount beautiful objects such as candelabra, clocks, lamps, mirrors, pedestals and porcelain vases.