Styles in furniture - Empire

The Empire style is directly related to Napoleon Bonaparte - Napoleon I - and his period as Emperor of the First French Empire (1804-1814). Empire means empire in French, which is why it is sometimes referred to as Imperial style. It was created to glorify the greatness of France and its emperor, and was imposed by the totalitarian leadership of the time with the help of protocols and regulations that targeted art production. The creations of the style were strongly dominated by Roman, Greek and Egyptian influences. Napoleon's military campaigns spread the style throughout Europe, bringing it into contact with and influencing other styles. Specific elements of the European Regency and Biedermeierand the US Federal Reserve are recognised by experts.

The emergence and characteristics of the Empire style

The Empire style is considered the second stage of Neoclassicism. It replaces the minimalist and austere Directoire style with one that exudes ostentatious wealth and power. Although it was Napoleon who imposed it, parents are considered Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine, French architects who studied in Rome and were strongly influenced by the masterpieces of the Roman Empire. They were also creators of furniture in this style, one of the beneficiaries of furniture designed by them being Napoleon himself.

The style combines symbols of ancient Rome with those of ancient Egypt and elements of Greek architecture. To these are added the emperor's monogram, an N in a laurel wreath, his emblem - the bee, swords, representations of trophies and military crests. Classical elements such as the acanthus leaf, stylised honeysuckle, animal paws, horn of plenty (cornucopia), columns, dolphins, lira, eagles or rosettes are complemented by those of Egyptian influence: sphinxes, winged lions, lotus flowers, caryatids, scarabs.

The forms of the objects and buildings are massive, monumental, the decorations abundant and symmetrical. Symmetry is a main feature of the style, and when it is not preserved to the left and right of the object, the decorative element used follows the rules of symmetry. The columns used are Corinthian, the simple and austere style of the Ionic and Doric being insufficient. Much use is made of gilded bronze and colours that give an imperial air to the rooms: white, grey, blue and red. Everything is grand, stately, richly ornamented.

Empire style in furniture

Empire furniture has an imposing and massive character designed to impress. The pieces are large, with symmetrical geometric shapes, flat surfaces and decorative elements that make the furniture look imposing and glorious. The look is rigid, and this also impacts on utility, making the pieces uncomfortable. The chairs have solid legs finished in animal paws and straight, upholstered backs. The arms have the appearance of a woman's face, sphinxes or winged lions. The tables have a round top, sometimes covered with marble, with three legs in the shape of caryatids, swans or winged lions resting on a triangular base. Sometimes the table has a central leg, like a perch, ending in three lion paws. Dressing tables have caryatid columns framing oval mirrors and white marble tops.

Originally it was used for the construction of pieces of precious wood furniture, of mahon, mahogany and wagons. Military campaigns against Britain led to a blockade of exotic timber, with sources reduced to the French colonies. So wood from local sources began to be used - nuc, maple, ulm, fag - The furniture is embellished with gilt bronze and silver decorations. Exotic species were used more for making small objects or veneer.

Another characteristic of the style is the presence of massive, imposing, lavishly decorated decorative objects on tabletops or other pieces of furniture or fireplace mantels. Statue clocks, caryatid candlesticks, ceramic objects decorated with paintings reminiscent of ancient Rome or Greece are just some of them.

Influences on other styles

The heyday of the style was during Napoleon's reign. With his demise, the style lost its influence but was revived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the 1980s there was again a revival of the style, but short-lived.

Italy was one of the countries that enthusiastically took up the style, especially as Roman influences were evident. Here the influence of the style was very strong and lasted until near the end of the century, with some specialists even calling it the Italian Empire. Through General Bernadotte - the future King Karl Johan - the style also reached Sweden, where it was named after the man who brought it here.

The spread to Europe led to the influence of local styles. In England it borrowed elements of the Regency style, and in Germany it influenced the Biedermeier style, which took robustness and presence, but gave up opulence and grandeur. In Russia, Napoleon's defeat led to a takeover of the style as a symbol of defeat. The style also reached the United States, strongly influencing the Federal style.