While Louis XIV was interested in glorifying the monarchy, his great-grandson, Louis XV, was driven by romance and science. Before Louis XV came of age, his uncle, Phillippe of Orleans, ruled as Regent of France. The 1715-1723 period, known as Régence, began the transition from the Baroque Louis XIV style.

The formality of Versailles did not interest Louis XV. He was more passionate about science than governing and reimagined Versailles to include more intimate spaces amenable to discussion. He dispersed some of his power among Cardinal de Fleury, the nobility, and mistresses, such as Madame de Pompadour, who lived at Versailles. 

A patron of the arts, Madame de Pompadour, held salons where great minds of the day would gather. Comfortable, versatile, smaller-scale furniture was needed and was initially produced in the form of the bergère chair. This type of seating had overstuffed cushions, fabric-covered panels connecting the arms and seats, and shortened arms to accommodate ladies' skirts. The chair was meant to be movable and seen from all sides. It featured S-shaped cabriole legs (without stretcher supports). These were carved and often ornamented with gilt bronze.

Madame de Pompadour continued to influence the arts by urging Louis XV to support and eventually purchase the Sèvres porcelain factory. Madame de Pompadour encouraged her favorite artists to work with the company, and furniture decorated with porcelain plaques became stylish.

Jean-Francois Oeben, the king’s official cabinetmaker, brought his locksmithing skills to the job. The playful quality of Louis XV's design is seen in Oeben’s desk drawers and hidden compartments, which spring open with the click of a key or the push of a button.

Later in Louis XV’s reign, the Enlightenment expressed a sense of dissatisfaction with the excesses of the status quo, and the arts turned toward greater simplicity. The discovery of ruins at Pompeii in 1748 and other discoveries brought an appreciation for all things classical, leading to the Neoclassical style.

Antoine-Nicolas Delaporte was one of the better known furniture makers of the period. His mark can be found stamped into the furniture he produced during Louis XV’s reign. The expert analysis of these items reassures the collector that a purchase is authentic. A trustworthy, detailed provenance is often the best method of authentication.