During the French Restoration period, Charles X’s style was softer with the adaptation of curved lines. Although a continuation of the French Empire, this style was less formal than the Napoleonic era.

The elegant aspects of the French Empire were still visible, but shapes became curvier with volutes and arabesque movements. Bois Clairs, or light woods, were varnished to highlight the grains and inlaid to replace bronze work seen on pieces from earlier periods.

At this time dark woods had become harder and harder to find in France, with Napoleonic policies preventing France from doing business and importing items from the rest of Europe. Craftsmen now had to find alternatives to Mahogany, which was the most common material used. Bird’s-eye Maple, Ash, Plane, Yew, Beech, Oliver, and Cedar were now more often used and contributed to this new style’s popularity.