Splendiferous Furniture of the Late 17th Century

This lecture examines the courtly ceremonial splendour and function of furniture of the post-Restoration period, with reference not just to its design, construction and decoration but also to its upholstery –frequently more expensive than the furniture itself.   At its best, the decoration of furniture in this period -inspired by advanced French taste in particular and the Baroque generally- is successfully integrated with the exciting form it assumed under the ever-developing skill of remarkable craftsmen; at its worst, its “intolerable luxury and huge expense” (John Evelyn) led to vulgarity and bad taste!  Unique close-ups of the upholstered State furniture from Knole and elsewhere – a visual “wow” factor- are included in this lecture.