French Empire Style Furniture Characteristics

Crests and initials monograms used for decorative purposes were common in baroque style furniture as were heraldic crests.

French empire style furniture characteristics.

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. Characteristics of french. The victorian period overlapped the industrial revolution making it the first style of furniture to be manufactured. 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. 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. 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. Napoleon centralized artistic production so that furniture design was consistent its grandeur marked by symmetrical ornamentation and large solid forms.

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. Similarly marble is found in several style types including french and american empire as well as rococo revival. Supporting columns on the corners of dressers and glass in place of raised panels were also hallmarks of this period. Dominated by greco roman models the empire style spare noble massive had a studied dignity consistent with napoleonic majesty.

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. Furniture craftsmen learned this technique from french and dutch cabinet makers. Political activity heavily influenced early to mid 19th century furniture style as seen in two dominant styles french and american empire. 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.

It gained its greatest popularity in the u s. Furniture styles of the 1800s vary widely. The characteristic furniture types were a bit stiff but imposing.