Simon Phillips, expert in English furniture

Simon Phillips, from Ronald Phillips limited is an expert in English 18th and 19th Centuries furniture. His furniture includes styles such as Queen Anne, George I, George II, George III, George IV and the Victorian period. He answered the Artfinding's exclusive interview about his specialty and vision of the global art market.

His gallery located in London, includes a wild range of amazing English furniture. According to Simon Phillips, among all the styles of English 18th Century furniture the Chippendale style is without a doubt by far the most fashionable. The Chippendale style took its name from Thomas Chippendale, a 18th century cabinetmaker, who got specialized in mixing English, Gothic, and Chinese decoration.

The 19th English furniture is not disregarded in England like the French 19h century's style is in France, mostly because the largest part of French 19th Century furniture is a copy of the previous Century's styles. Therefore the French collectors use to disregard the 19th Century Louis XV & Louis XVI styles since they are manufactured and are simply bad copies of the 18th Century's masterpieces.

But all the 19th Century French furniture is not disregarded by the French market; a few artists such as Beurdeley, Lièvre or Linke decided to create totally new designs. These artworks exhibited by major Parisian galleries such as M&N Uzal and Michel-Guy Chadelaud reach amazing prices and clearly lead the 19th Century furniture market. These artworks are bought mostly by the "Russian, Chinese and Middle-Eastern collectors", says Michel-Guy Chadelaud.

You can contact The Ronald Phillips gallery at:
26 bruton street
W1J 6QL London
+44 20 7493 2341
advice@ronaldphillips.co.uk

Comments

• la pompadour (2010-10-27) Report to moderator Il est vrai que la marquise de Pompadour a largement concouru au développement des arts français, mais tout cela ne résulte que des travaux entrepris par Louis XIV au siècle précédent. Dans sa mégalomanie et aspiration à faire de la France le centre des arts, il s'est attaché à créer un goût à la française. Mais tout le paradoxe dans cette histoire est que ce fameux goût a été en grande majorité créé par des artistes venus d'Italie et de Hollande! Il est vrai que la marquise de Pompadour a largement concouru au développement des arts français, mais tout cela ne résulte que des travaux entrepris par Louis XIV au siècle précédent. Dans sa mégalomanie et aspiration à faire de la France le centre des arts, il s'est attaché à créer un goût à la française. Mais tout le paradoxe dans cette histoire est que ce fameux goût a été en grande majorité créé par des artistes venus d'Italie et de Hollande!
• Gouvana_Lader (2010-10-26) Report to moderator Au risque de paraître chauvin, je tiens à préciser que la raison pour laquelle le XVIIIème français plaît autant au marché français que anglais, c'est parce qu'il reflète l'excellence de l'ébénisterie et de la menuiserie du XVIIIème siècle. Rappelons que Louis XV et la Pompadour ont beaucoup oeuvré pour les arts pendant leur règne et qu'à cette époque, nul pays ne pouvait rivaliser avec les créations françaises. Au risque de paraître chauvin, je tiens à préciser que la raison pour laquelle le XVIIIème français plaît autant au marché français que anglais, c'est parce qu'il reflète l'excellence de l'ébénisterie et de la menuiserie du XVIIIème siècle. Rappelons que Louis XV et la Pompadour ont beaucoup oeuvré pour les arts pendant leur règne et qu'à cette époque, nul pays ne pouvait rivaliser avec les créations françaises.
• Mark87 (2010-10-26) Report to moderator I agree English collectors don't buy French 19th Century furniture, but they are definitely major collectors for French 18th Century furniture. After the 1789 French Revolution, the French population which wanted to completely forget the monarchy, decided to sell all the royalty furniture in auction and the English were the first ones to take advantage of this by buying a big quantity of this furniture. These artworks are now exhibited in the most prestigious museums in the UK. Since the public is used to seeing great French 18th furniture in public collections, their taste is naturally influenced, thus they are among the leading buying countries for this market. I agree English collectors don't buy French 19th Century furniture, but they are definitely major collectors for French 18th Century furniture. After the 1789 French Revolution, the French population which wanted to completely forget the monarchy, decided to sell all the royalty furniture in auction and the English were the first ones to take advantage of this by buying a big quantity of this furniture. These artworks are now exhibited in the most prestigious museums in the UK. Since the public is used to seeing great French 18th furniture in public collections, their taste is naturally influenced, thus they are among the leading buying countries for this market.

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