With style precedent set by the Royal Court, the fine furniture makers of Europe strove to achieve perfection in their art, producing what most experts agree to be the finest furniture in Western Civilization beginning in the late 17th century and extending into the early 20th century. It is from this storied history we find armoires that are more formal in presence, utilizing the best of indigenous woods and the most exotic of imported woods to create magnificent examples of the cabinetmaker's art. Used to impress family members and guests, and to provide a functional purpose in the home, the formal armoire remains today the cornerstone of many room's design layout, and come in a bewildering array of styles, sizes and types.