ABSTRACT
This essay examines the furnishing of the court in England, France and Holland during the late seventeenth century. This was the age of the Baroque, a fabulously ornate and rich style of decoration that emanated from the absolutist monarchy of France and spread across Europe. Rich and fashionable furnishings were a potent expression of monarchy, demonstrating to observers the sovereign’s wealth and power. They could also be mobilised in the performance of ceremonies intended to emphasise rank and status. Drawing on accounts, inventories and on surviving examples, this essay will explore how courts were furnished and the significance of this rich material culture.
