French styles of the eighteenth century were greatly admired from the 1820s to the end of the nineteenth century and were greatly copied. The rococo style, first fashionable in the reign of Louis XV (1715-1774) was particularly popular for the drawing-rooms and boudoirs used by women. This genuine Louis XV panelling would have been acquired to provide the best models for carvers. The panels are part of several hundred carvings given to the Museum in 1921 by Sir Charles Allom and his wife, in memory of their son, who died in the First World War. From 1893 Sir Charles headed White Allom & Co., one of the most successful firms of architectural decorators in Britain, specialising in the copying of historic styles. Between 1900 and 1914 he also began to work for clients in the United States and after the First World War he spent time in both countries. The collection of carvings seems to have been put together as a study collection for his son, perhaps in the expectation that he would follow in his father's footsteps and take over the firm.