French Empire Style Furniture Characteristics

ɑ piːʁ style empire is an early nineteenth century design movement in architecture furniture other decorative arts and the visual arts representing the second phase of neoclassicism it flourished between 1800 and 1815 during the consulate and the first french empire periods although its life span lasted until the late 1820s.

French empire style furniture characteristics.

American empire is a french inspired neoclassical style of american furniture and decoration that takes its name and originates from the empire style introduced during the first french empire period under napoleon s rule. Dominated by greco roman models the empire style spare noble massive had a studied dignity consistent with napoleonic majesty. The victorian period overlapped the industrial revolution making it the first style of furniture to be manufactured. Similarly marble is found in several style types including french and american empire as well as rococo revival.

Characteristics of french. Political activity heavily influenced early to mid 19th century furniture style as seen in two dominant styles french and american empire. After 1820 and is considered the second more robust phase of the neoclassical style which earlier had been expressed in the. Crests and initials monograms used for decorative purposes were common in baroque style furniture as were heraldic crests.

It gained its greatest popularity in the u s. Supporting columns on the corners of dressers and glass in place of raised panels were also hallmarks of this period. Putti this is an italian word that means boys and refers to chubby infants used in much of the baroque décor. Napoleon centralized artistic production so that furniture design was consistent its grandeur marked by symmetrical ornamentation and large solid forms.

The empire style is often considered an evolution of the neoclassical style which had emerged in the second half of the 18th century and had some common characteristics. The characteristic furniture types were a bit stiff but imposing. Furniture craftsmen learned this technique from french and dutch cabinet makers. Furniture made during queen victoria s reign from 1837 to 1901 drew heavily from gothic rococo and louis xv furniture with dark finishes or gilding embellishments and heavy proportions.

Furniture styles of the 1800s vary widely. The empire style french pronunciation. The empire style was popularized during the reign of napoleon i and is marked by a continuation of neoclassical motifs from the era preceding it albeit in a more elegant and opulent way.