A bergère is an upholstered French armchair with closed sides. The style dates to the 18th century and was the first chair to focus on comfort.  Bergères also feature a fitted, loose cushion. and the elbow rests are often padded as well.  The seats are amply sized.  Gold leaf gilding was applied to enhance the luxurious feel of these chairs.  Bergères are fancy chairs but good for relaxation with guests.

 

The design style known as Louis XVI dates to the reign of King Louis XVI of France (1174-1792). The style appeared in architecture, furniture, decoration and art and rejected the elaborate ornate curves and frilly embellishments of the preceding Baroque period.  Louis XVI’s queen, Marie Antoinette, was instrumental in returning design focus to a style characterized by the elegance and of ancient Greek and Roman models, employing the use of ornate detail, precise shapes, light and refined color palettes, and symmetry.  The royal apartments in the palaces of Versailles, Fontainebleau, Tuileries, as well as other royal residences contain outstanding examples of these beautiful designs.   No expense was spared to create elegant, refined and expertly crafted wares produced by the master craftsmen of the period in this period just prior to the French Revolution.  .