Why did lacquered furniture become less fashionable in early 19th-century Europe?

In the early 19th century, the popularity of lacquered furniture in Europe declined significantly due to the rise of the international Classical style. This aesthetic movement emphasized a "solemn grandeur" that favored the use of plain wood or gilt surfaces, which stood in direct contrast to the decorative nature of lacquerwork.1

As the Neoclassical influence evolved into the Empire style in France and the Regency style in England, furniture design shifted toward massive, imposing, and darker forms that prioritized symmetry and classical ornament over the intricate, exotic designs associated with earlier lacquer traditions. While lacquerwork persisted in specific forms—such as Victorian-era papier-mâché items or toleware—it largely fell out of favor as the dominant trend in high-end furniture design during this period.231