With its carved giltwood trim and rich velvet upholstery, this sofa would look right at home among the opulent Baroque and extravagant Rococo styles of the 18th century. It was made much more recently ...

Doomed to be thrust from power by the onrushing forces of history, the aristocracy of 18th century Europe elected to live out its autumn in a sort of perpetual costume party. It was an age of ...