Empire Style Chair Characteristics

Pair of french empire carved mahogany swans tufted armchairs accent.

Empire style chair characteristics.

American empire 1800 to 1840 the american empire period took more influence from the french than the english with a greater emphasis on curved arms cabriole legs and ornate paw or claw feet. Empire style chairs had broad and simple lines but not necessarily straight. 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. Federal empire and late classicism are the american versions of european neoclassicism some books for example antique price guides refer to empire style furniture as classical style.

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. Examine the piece s hardware. This design style features the use of scrolls either in a c shape or the more fluid s shape. Legs and feet of this form are cabriole or scrolling.

After 1820 and is considered the second more robust phase of the neoclassical style which earlier had been expressed in the. The empire style french pronunciation. Make offer biggs richmond virginia vintage mahogany set 6 empire style dining chairs. Some authors do not distinguish between empire and late classical regarding late classical simply as empire.

The empire furniture echoed the characteristics of the overall style. It gained its greatest popularity in the u s. By contrast the american empire style was bulky and large but not obtuse or obstructive. A common french drawer pull includes a lion s head with a large ring running through its nose.

The beds of this period are called lit en bateau or boat beds and have new form inspired from the antique. Biggs richmond virginia vintage mahogany set 6 empire style dining chairs. Furniture was made to feel heavy and grounded and almost architectural. Rose shell scroll and grape carvings are in rococo revival style and water leaf motifs are in american empire style.

Carved decoration in the form of scallop shells leaves and flowers particularly roses and acanthus further add to the ornamentation of this style of furniture. Supporting columns on the corners of dressers and glass in place of raised panels were also hallmarks of this period. In america empire furnishings with their undulating scrolls balancing heavy geometric shapes.