THE CARVINGS

Until the middle of the XVIIIth century, the decoration of everyday furniture was rare. In the XVth and XVIth centuries, furniture styles were classical and modelled on the "official" style : the reproduction of biblical or mythical pictures (Cévenole cupboard (from Cevennes) ­ Renaissance cabinet). The work is generally very detailed and superbly curved and shaped.

In the XVIIIth centuries " rocaille" styled carvings came about (Regency style), " feuille d¹acanthe " (acantus leaf). Firstly they were symmetrical (L.XIVth) and then under the reign of king L. XVth , they became asymmetrical.

At the end of the XVIIIth century L.XVIth motifs could be found. They were influenced by a taste for antiques , a love for nature and the work of talented people. These are the most well known and the most representative designs of the Provencal style. The most common motifs are : The love motifs : doves, horn of plenty, quiver with bow and arrow, arrow pierced heart. The home motifs : "vase and soupière", (vase and soup tureen). They were influenced by the Greek and Roman religions. The vegetation and animal motifs : Rose, wild rose, wheat, olive tree, sometimes oak, the symbol of force, a bird or even a snake. These motifs are either carved into the wood or carved to raise out of the wood . We find these designs at the end of the XIXth century and in the XXth century. The "de Fourques" motifs: made entirely from moulding scrolls either carved into the wood or as a relief carving. It is possible to find on "de Fourques" furniture a urn, a heart or even a soup tureen. The "agraires" motifs and others: these consist of land working tools, scythes, beaters, musical instruments, tambourines and musical scores.

In general woodcarving on Provencal furniture is quite a recent trend. The more recent the piece of furniture, the more the woodcarver has to look for a way of displaying the decoration originally. The disappearance of woodcarving on furniture came about during the Louis Philippe era. Furniture from this epoch are very fougally decorated.