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