Cabriole: Wednesday's Word of the Week

CABRIOLE: WEDNESDAY'S WORD OF THE WEEK

4/21/2021

Ever wonder whether it's a Rococo or Régence? Louis XV or Louis Philippe? A Bergère or Fauteuil? Each week, we will highlight a word, term, or phrase to help identify antique furniture, periods, and styles.

CABRIOLE
cab·ri·ole [kab-ree-ohl; French ka-bree-awl]
noun, plural cab·ri·oles [kab-ree-ohlz; French ka-bree-awl]
1. Furniture. a type of furniture leg, a curved, tapering leg curving outward at the top and inward farther down so as to end in a round pad, the semblance of an animal's paw, or some other feature: used especially in the first half of the 18th century.
2. Ballet. a leap in which one leg is raised in the air and the other is brought up to beat against it.
Also called cabriole leg.
Origin: 1775–85; < French: from cabrioler to caper, leap like a goat; so called because modeled on leg of a capering animal (see cabriolet)

Printed in 1897, Bibliographisches Institut Leipzig Germany, as an illustration for the 5th edition of "Meyers' Konversations Lexikon"

Furniture legs come in all shapes and sizes, and nothing symbolizes 18th century French furniture more than the iconic cabriole leg, a stylized representation of the rear leg of a leaping goat. This sinuous, double-curved form used in legs (and feet) of furniture, features the upper portion curving outward and the lower portion curving inward in a gentle "S" shape. Because of the double-curved form, cabriole legs are more difficult to make than straighter furniture leg and must be made from a solid piece of wood.

While used extensively in French furniture, especially the Louis XV period of furniture design, the cabriole shape originated with the ancient Chinese and Greek furniture makers. It really became en vogue during the late 17th century when the English, Dutch, and French furniture makers introduced smoother, more curvy furniture styles than those used in medieval times. One of the most popular styles of legs, the cabriole leg has been used on a wide variety of furniture for the last several centuries. Found on chairs, tables, commodes, and even large, heavy armoires, cabriole legs vary in height and length depending on the piece.

Fine Pair of 18th Century French Louis XV Period Carved Walnut Fauteuils / Item #LOP464 / Lolo French Antiques et More

18th Century French Louis XV Period Bressan Armoire / Item #LO90 / Lolo French Antiques et More

There's no mistaking the signature "S" shaped cabriole legs on Louis XV furniture. Besides being very attractive, the graceful, curved lines of the cabriole leg are also very practical. They create the balance needed to support heavy pieces of case furniture on slim legs without the use of stretchers, and can be used in formal or informal settings in both modern and traditional homes. Size most often determines whether pieces with cabriole legs have a chic and refined look or a more rustic feel. Provincial pieces such as farm tables with heavier or larger scale legs have a more casual, charming feel while pieces like small side tables with delicate, slender legs and ormolu ornamentation appear more sophisticated.

Antique French Louis XV Style Oval Kingwood Bouillotte Table / Item #LFALO1966 / Lolo French Antiques et More

Early 19th Century French Louis XV Style Walnut Commode Sauteuse / Item #LOP445 / Lolo French Antiques et More

Furniture historians often determine the origin of an antique based solely on the form and detail of its legs. Whether shapely or straight, legs provide important clues to the style and period of a piece, and French cabriole legs most often terminate in elaborately carved scrolled french toes, known as whorl feet, or pieds de biche, also known as hoof feet. What shape are your favorite legs? And do you like them all dressed up with ormolu and sabots? Or plain and simple with no decoration? Let us know!

À Bientôt!