French-antiques

Painted furniture

Find a piece of painted furniture

The interest for painted furniture appeared in the late 17th C when the East India Company began importing  Chinese furniture with their bright lacquer.  In the 18th C the Martin brothers produced an imitation lacquer - the famous Vernis Martin -  and painted furniture became very popular.  Painted furniture was a way of imitating high Parisian fashion but also a way of hiding poorer materials like ordinary wood or painting imitation marble tops.  Regions quickly developped their own styles and patterns as for example the armoire from Alsace




AEF Back to Top