Which settee/sofa is Louis XV? How can you tell?

• A. Left, stretchers on the bottom
• B. Right, more classical legs that resemble columns
• C. Middle, curved legs and ormolu details on top
• D. Center, minimal ornamentation with gilding

Answer: (C)

Louis XV furniture is part of the Rococo movement, known for its graceful, sinuous lines, lightness, and generous use of decorative gilding and mounts. The settee that fits this style is the one with curved legs and ormolu details on top. Curved, cabriole legs create the characteristic flowing silhouette, while ormolu (gilded bronze) mounts add the rich, ornate ornament that Rococo designers loved to display.

The other options don’t match the Rococo look: straight, column-like legs suggest Neoclassical influences that come later in the period; minimal ornamentation with gilding lacks the exuberant decoration that defines Louis XV pieces; and a form with stretchers on the bottom is not a distinctive cue for this style.