French Empire Style Furniture Characteristics

Political activity heavily influenced early to mid 19th century furniture style as seen in two dominant styles french and american empire.

French empire style furniture characteristics.

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. 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. Similarly marble is found in several style types including french and american empire as well as rococo revival. 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.

Napoleon centralized artistic production so that furniture design was consistent its grandeur marked by symmetrical ornamentation and large solid forms. The characteristic furniture types were a bit stiff but imposing. Their flat surfaces and sharp corners together with their lack of moldings produced an effect of grandeur that was not without beauty. The victorian period overlapped the industrial revolution making it the first style of furniture to be manufactured.

This was the french empire style in architecture it resulted in large and imperial structures and in furniture it resulted in regal pieces that communicated both strength and wealth. 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. Supporting columns on the corners of dressers and glass in place of raised panels were also hallmarks of this period. Characteristics of french.

Putti this is an italian word that means boys and refers to chubby infants used in much of the baroque décor. The empire style french pronunciation. After 1820 and is considered the second more robust phase of the neoclassical style which earlier had been expressed in the. It gained its greatest popularity in the u s.

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. Crests and initials monograms used for decorative purposes were common in baroque style furniture as were heraldic crests. Furniture styles of the 1800s vary widely.