Styles and Periods
French Empire Style
Throughout the early 19th Century the French Empire Style evolved from the court of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
It used heavy classical designs and geometric form whilst retaining an air of fineness along with soft draped fabrics and highly polished veneers.
Strong colours were prevalent in interiors introduced when the French gentry returned from their military sessions in Egypt.
The Egyptian tombs that they had seen and their use of vibrant colours inspired them. Azure blues, rich greens, red ochre and acid yellows became popular for interior decoration.
Softer colours were still used, lilac being one of the most popular.
The military influence of Napoleon lead to formality in the arrangement of furniture, this was softened with the abundant use of drapery.
Carving was not popular but the use of ormolu mounts of classical motifs; laurel wreaths, urns, and sphinxes were for detailing throughout the room as well as hardware.
Egyptian motifs were also prevalent, lions, hieroglyphics, palms, winged griffins, cobras and sphinxes.
The most favoured timber used for furniture was
mahogany, fruitwoods, yew, elm and maple were still
seen and the use of imported veneers from Africa
and West and East Indies.
Most furniture had curves for example scroll backed
daybeds and chairs.
The preferred decoration materials were marble
and tortishell and were used for ornaments.
