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Decor Concept
Natural Rattan, Handicraft, Indoor Furniture, Garden Furniture, Interior Design
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Empire Style
Empire is an early 19th century style of
architecture and furniture design during
the rule of France by Napoleon I (1769 -
1821) who became Emperor (1804 - 1814). It
is the second phase of neoclassicism which
is also called "Directoire", after a
government system. The Empire style
furniture is massive, in grand scale and
very masculine. It has a severe, heavy,
masculine look with no carving. The wood
carving which is very common in the
previous styles of Louis XIV, Louis XV and
Louis XVI is generally replaced with wood
veneers polished to a high sheen. To
equalize the bareness of wood veneer, metal
gilts are used to adorn the furniture.
A good clue to identifying the Empire style
is the vulgar use of ormolu mounts. Ormolus
are gilt-metal decorations usually in
different decorative motifs. These are
usually drawn from antique sources or
patriotic inspiration. There are motifs
derived from Egyptian archeology. Falcon,
sphinxes, cobras, obelisks, winged lions
are just some of these Egyptian inspired
decorations. Napoleon's fascination with
his conquest of Egypt and later on the
excavation of ruins by the French
Egyptologists created so much interest in
everything related to Egypt.
There are also motifs derived from ancient
Greek and Roman design. Vases, lamps,
torches, heads of Greek gods, ram's head
and cornucopias are among the many Greek
and Roman inspired decorations incorporated
into the Empire style of furniture. French
Patriotism grew stronger during Napoleon's
rule and it was evident in the many
patriotically inspired decorations which
included laurel wreaths, eagles, swords,
lances, rifles, drum and bugles. The use of
legs that are shaped like animals or
sphinxes is very typical to the Empire
style. The graceful cabriole legs of the
previous styles have been replaced with the
massive, more often overstated and vulgar
use of legs that are shaped like
animals.
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