Difference Between Rococo & Baroque Chairs

Baroque vs. Rococo

• The dramatic Baroque style was influenced by the Catholic Church in Italy. It reached the height of popularity in France during the reign of King Louis XIV in the 1700s, and influenced sculpture, dance, music and literature as well as furniture design. The Baroque style in France transitioned to a more classical and dignified look. Rococo styling, popular during the reign of Louis XV, was influenced by French sensibilities. Chairs and other furniture featured scaled-down sizes, more delicate ornamentation and rounded forms.

Styling

• Both Baroque and Rococo chair designs feature comfortably padded seats and backs. Baroque chairs are typically over-sized and featured dark, heavy wood with ornamentation details applied throughout the entire piece. Baroque chair designs are regular and symmetrical. During this period strong colors were used with velvet and brocade upholstery on chairs. Chair designs in the Rococo style are generally more asymmetrical than their Baroque counterparts, with distinctive slender, curved legs.

Scale and Ornamentation

• Baroque chairs were scaled to suit the huge proportions of the rooms of the period. In contrast, Rococo chairs were smaller and more delicate. The word Rococo combines the French word for shell with the word for Baroque. Fittingly, Rococo styling is based on elaborate Baroque designs with ornamentation echoing natural forms like shells, waves, foliage and floral designs. Other Rococo ornamentation includes influences from the Far East, animals and landscapes. During the Rococo period the art of polishing reached its peak and chairs featured highly polished wood.

Colors

• Baroque and Rococo colors are quite different. While the Baroque chairs featured heavy, rich colors like red, green and gold, Rococo offered a color palette of pastels in pink, blue and green. Rococo chairs and other furnishings were typically placed in a room accented with gold or silver accessories. Baroque chairs were produced in dark wood like ebony, and some were covered with gilt, silver or lacquer. Rococo chairs featured lighter wood like fruitwood.