| Napoleon Bonaparte revolutionized war and French | | | | Empire style furniture is instantly distinguished by the |
| empire style furniture. Every modern military unit in | | | | vulgar use of ormolu mounts. Ormolus are gilt-metal |
| the world uses his tactics and formations. Luckily the | | | | decorations usually in decorative but always jingoistic |
| same can't be said for his empire style furniture. It | | | | motifs. The motifs are from Egyptian artifacts such |
| was in 1804 that Napoleon had himself crowned | | | | as falcons, sphinxes, cobras, obelisks, winged lions |
| Emperor of France. Apart from numerous | | | | and so on. Napoleon promoted both the French |
| self-glorifying portraits empire style furniture was to | | | | language and Egyptology. |
| become the icon of that era. | | | | As well as Egypt there are decorative touches |
| Empire style furniture reflects the Bonaparte | | | | derived from ancient Greek and Roman designs. |
| majesty, grandeur, and Napoleon felt it fitting to | | | | Vases, lamps, torches, heads of Greek gods, ram's |
| honor his glory. The empire style furniture is the last | | | | head and cornucopias are all to be seen on Empire |
| of the great French styles that spread its look | | | | style of furniture. French jingoism ran rampant during |
| throughout the world. Napoleon was overwhelmingly | | | | the Napoleonic era and it was evident in the many |
| proud of his military successes in Italy and Egypt. | | | | furniture features. Picture laurel wreaths, eagles, |
| He brought to France archaeological images of | | | | swords, lances, rifles, drums and bugles. Animals or |
| ancient Egypt. Empire furniture of this period imitated | | | | mythical creatures such as sphinxes replace the |
| the design features of these other great empires. | | | | curved traditional legs on empire furniture. |
| Napoleon commissioned the designers and artists of | | | | In summary then, the common characteristics that |
| Europe to create buildings and decor that would | | | | make empire furniture distinguishable are:o A Hefty |
| invoke the grandeur of Greece, the glory of Rome | | | | masculine look.o Wood veneers polished to high |
| and the excesses of the Pharaohs. | | | | sheen.o The excessive use of large, often badly cast |
| Empire style furniture is BIG. It reflects Napoleon's | | | | ormolu motifs.o Wood back chairs with upholstered |
| testosterone fueled ego. It has a severe, heavy, | | | | seats.o Greco-Roman classical decals.o Mirror-back |
| masculine look. It is devoid of wood carving which | | | | console tables. Ladies skirts were shorter now and |
| was the hallmark of the styles of Louis XIV, Louis | | | | this was a device for everyone to check out the |
| XV and Louis XVI. Delicate carving is replaced by | | | | ankle displayso Nationalistic and military motifs and the |
| veneers polished to a high sheen. To compensate for | | | | use of letter "N". |
| the blankness of wood veneer, metal gilts adorn | | | | There is no mistaking the empire style of furniture of |
| empire style furniture. | | | | the 1800s. |