Item 3222B Louis XIV Settee Dimensions Width 57, Height 45, Depth 29 (in inches)   Height from floor to top of seat is 19" Wood Walnut Date Circa 1890 Country France Description The wooden frame of this settee or banquette is made of solid walnut and exquisitely hand carved, exhibiting such classic stylistic motifs as the scrolled acanthus leaf at the end of the armrest, extended acanthas leaves where the arm meets the back and below the armrest, as well as the os de mouton or "sheep's bone" configuration of the stretcher.   The sturdy construction of this settee, that comfortably seats 3 people, is seen in the supporting structure of a central walnut stretcher with four perpendicular members between the front and back legs. In contrast to Gothic and Renaissance styles, Louis XIV's reign gave rise to a breakthrough in construction for seating, with the back becoming higher and the seat becoming larger to accommodate the more ample seating space required by the fashions of his day.  This settee has a straight back rather than a curved one, more typical of an earlier era of Louis XIV's reign when the straight back was commonly paired with the os de mouton base. The settee has been repaired in the distant past with the insertion of a replacement piece of walnut into the front supports near where they join the base of the seat (see below). The upholstery is new - a rich blue background with a pattern of gold interlacing foliage in keeping with the Louis XIV decorative tradition. Reference Quette, Anne-Marie, Le Mobilier Français Louis XIII et Louis XIV (Editions Massin, Paris, 1996); Rousseau, Francis, Le Grand Livre des Meubles (Copyright Studio, Paris, 1999) Uses This settee command attention in a living room, study, bedroom or even an office.  Comfortable and gracious, seating up to three people comfortably, it complements  many styles of furniture.