| In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte had himself | | | | Roman inspired decorations incorporated into |
| anointed and crowned Emperor of France. The | | | | the Empire style of furniture. French |
| furniture style known as Empire is a style of | | | | Patriotism grew stronger during Napoleon's |
| majestic grandeur that Napoleon felt fitting | | | | rule and it was evident in the many |
| to honor his glory. He considered himself | | | | patriotically inspired decorations which |
| the greatest world ruler since Julius Caesar. | | | | included laurel wreaths, eagles, swords, |
| The Empire style is the last of the great | | | | lances, rifles, drum and bugles. The use of |
| French styles that widely influenced | | | | legs that are shaped like animals or sphinxes |
| furniture design throughout the world. | | | | is very typical to the Empire style. The |
| During his rule, Napoleon conquered Italy and | | | | graceful cabriole legs of the previous styles |
| Egypt. He was overwhelmed by his conquest of | | | | have been replaced with the massive, more |
| these countries. He brought back to France | | | | often overstated and vulgar use of legs that |
| archaeological wonders of Egypt, the | | | | are shaped like animals. |
| long-forgotten ancient empire. He was proud | | | | |
| of his conquest of Italy and Egypt and | | | | The following are the general characteristics |
| proudly considered himself as the first | | | | of the Empire style of furniture: |
| worthy successor to Alexander the Great and | | | | |
| Julius Caesar. Furniture designed in this | | | | 1. It has heavy masculine look. |
| period was meant to imitate the designs of | | | | |
| these great empires. Napoleon commissioned | | | | 2. Wood veneers polished to high sheen are |
| the greatest artist of Europe to create | | | | used instead of the ornate wood carving |
| architecture and decoration that would equate | | | | usually associated with the previous |
| the grandeur of Greece, the glory of Rome and | | | | French furniture styles. |
| the massiveness of Egypt. | | | | |
| | | | 3. The excessive use of large, often badly |
| The Empire style furniture is massive, in | | | | cast ormolu mounts. |
| grand scale and very masculine. It has a | | | | |
| severe, heavy, masculine look with no | | | | 4. Wood back chairs with upholstered seats. |
| carving. The wood carving which is very | | | | These include the barrel armchair which is a |
| common in the previous styles of Louis XIV, | | | | very typical Empire style chair. |
| Louis XV and Louis XVI is generally replaced | | | | |
| with wood veneers polished to a high sheen. | | | | 5. The use of designs inspired by classical |
| To equalize the bareness of wood veneer, | | | | Greece. |
| metal gilts are used to adorn the furniture. | | | | |
| A good clue to identifying the Empire style | | | | 6. Mirror-back console table. This is |
| is the vulgar use of ormolu mounts. Ormolus | | | | usually used by the ladies to check their |
| are gilt-metal decorations usually in | | | | no-longer floor-length hemlines. |
| different decorative motifs. These are | | | | |
| usually drawn from antique sources or | | | | 7. The use of motifs inspired by ancient |
| patriotic inspiration. There are motifs | | | | Egypt, Rome and Greece. |
| derived from Egyptian archeology. Falcon, | | | | |
| sphinxes, cobras, obelisks, winged lions are | | | | 8. The use of Patriotic and military motifs |
| just some of these Egyptian inspired | | | | and the use of letter "N", Napoleon's name |
| decorations. Napoleon's fascination with his | | | | initial. |
| conquest of Egypt and later on the excavation | | | | |
| of ruins by the French Egyptologists created | | | | In conclusion, it is relatively easy to |
| so much interest in everything related to | | | | recognize the Empire style of furniture with |
| Egypt. | | | | its massive appearance and overbearing ormolu |
| | | | mounts which usually depicts Egyptian, Greek |
| There are also motifs derived from ancient | | | | and Roman themes. This style is a step |
| Greek and Roman design. Vases, lamps, | | | | backward from the simple but elegant Louis |
| torches, heads of Greek gods, ram's head and | | | | XVI style. |
| cornucopias are among the many Greek and | | | | |