LOUIS XIII 1610-1643
It was during the reign of Louis III, successor to Henri IV, that French design began to free itself from the influence of the Renaissance, with its constant reference to antiquity. Whereas the coffer had prevailed for centuries, furniture types were becoming more varied, with the appearance of many new styles of chairs, tables and armoires. Ornately carved elements gave way to simpler forms of decoration. Geometric shapes such as carved diamond-heads appeared, and the introduction of new woodturning techniques lead to the rise of turned legs on chairs, tables and stands. Furniture of this era tends to be large and imposing, most commonly in oak and walnut.
