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	The interest for painted furniture appeared in the late 17th C when the East India Company began importing&nbsp; Chinese furniture with their bright lacquer.&nbsp; In the 18th C the Martin brothers produced an imitation lacquer - the famous Vernis Martin -&nbsp; and painted furniture became very popular.&nbsp; Painted furniture was a way of imitating high Parisian fashion but also a way of hiding poorer materials like ordinary wood or painting imitation marble tops.&nbsp; Regions quickly developped their own styles and patterns as for example the armoire from Alsace</p>