The Square room was draped in green Genoa damask, which was also used for the portières, lined with green taffeta, and the twelve tabourets. The frames of the latter were painted green picked out with gold.
In the Oval room, the hangings were of Venetian brocatelle with aurora background upon which large green bunches were outlined with white. There were four lounges in this room and eight oval tabourets. The frames of the latter were painted green picked out with gold. They were trimmed with gold fringe.
The Round room was adorned with a similar brocatelle, but the branches on the aurora-coloured background were red outlined in white. The four lounges here were 4½ feet long, and their frames were painted red picked out with gold.
The Octagon room was hung in crimson damask from Genoa. The seats were eight octagonal tabourets, painted red picked out with gold, and covered with crimson damask nailed to the wood.
In 1675, a little cabinet at Val was furnished with a lit de repos with one back, two chairs, two fauteuils and two tabourets. These were all covered to match the hangings with a brocade of gold and silver on a green satin background and trimmed with gold and silver fringe. There was a curtain of green taffeta and a curtain of white taffeta, and there were slip covers of green taffeta for all the seats. The entire furnishings were given by the King to Madame la Princesse de Conty.
The Salon (Plate [XII.]) is of fine proportions and gives an idea of the rich frame required for the kind of furniture we have been describing. The doors with two wings are of great importance. Their panels may be decorated with carved motives, or cartouches. The ornaments may be painted, if preferred. The chimney-piece is rarely of white marble: red marble, green marble and breccia were the kinds most frequently employed in Louis XIV.’s time. The slabs of the tables and consoles should be of the same, unless they are of mosaic. Upon the chimney-piece, a Boulle clock, or one with a carved and gilded, or bronze frame, may stand. The candelabra, on either side, containing several arms, are carved and gilt. Andirons in the form of chimæra complete the furnishings of the chimney-piece, where a wood fire should blaze.
Torchères should also be placed in the corners of the room, whose branching arms help to illuminate and decorate the room. The chandelier, in the centre of the room, is crystal and gilt bronze. The walls are arranged in panels for the reception of tapestry, or hangings of some rich nature. The mouldings surrounding the materials are often carved and covered with dull, or burnished gold. The hangings are frequently pictures of tapestry, as shown in Plate [XII.], or they are of damask, brocade, velvet, or silk. The wall space below the hangings should be wainscotted; it must never, however, attract attention.
Over the chimney-piece a mirror is placed; and directly opposite is another mirror of similar frame. Beneath the latter, a console may stand.
The floor is of parquetry, and in winter is covered with a large Persian or Smyrna rug, or it may have a velvet Aubusson or Savonnerie rug of sober colour, so as not to detract from the hangings.
The ceiling is usually made into caissons, or compartments, painted to harmonize with the draperies. Sometimes, however, these are painted white and gold, a deep oak, aurora, or a lilac grey. The window curtains match the hangings; sometimes they are of tapestry, sometimes of brocade, or damask, or silk, and beneath these heavy curtains white curtains of muslin or silk are hung. In the evening, the heavy curtains are always drawn. They are rarely suspended below a cornice. Sometimes the silk or brocade curtains are trimmed with braid and fringe, and sometimes with a wide border of silk or velvet forming a kind of frame all around the hanging. If portières are used they are usually like the rest of the draperies. If lambrequins are used, they are cut and arranged in the shapes shown on Plate [XIX], No. 1 and No. 4.