American Empire Style Furniture Characteristics

It often suggests the dignity and grandeur of the french pieces coupled with that insistence upon utility for which the american is famous.

American empire style furniture characteristics.

Except to the critic who resents the disloyalty to the parent style american empire furniture has many attractions. Shapes of furniture from this style tend to be more rectangular. Empire furniture is bold grand and completely different from its predecessors. Supporting columns on the corners of dressers and glass in place of raised panels were also hallmarks of this period.

The drawer pull is another giveaway of french empire style. Ornamentation was created through the use of brackets grooves chamfers and geometric designs. Examine the piece s hardware. American empire dressers feature native american woods unique designs and excellent craftsmanship.

Take a look at this empire sofa to get an idea. A common french drawer pull includes a lion s head with a large ring running through its nose. The early american style is unique. 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.

Pine birch cherry maple oak the early american style of furniture emerged during the second half of the 17th century by american colonists as life in the colonies became more settled. Rosewood mahogany bird s eye maple veneer marble ormolu and leather. By contrast the american empire style was bulky and large but not. However the american empire furniture and empire dressers in particular maintained a heavy american flavor.

It was the first point where a distinct style emerged and furniture began to be about more than just practicality. Before this new style american furniture was highly inspired by british trends which encouraged light thin and elegant forms. The carvings usually contain animal themes often featuring bird s wings dolphin heads or other distinctive motifs. 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.

In the collection of the cincinnati art museum. Rose shell scroll and grape carvings are in rococo revival style and water leaf motifs are in american empire style. Common characteristics of this form of furniture include intricate carvings clawed feet and twisting columns. American furniture manufacturers were enthusiastic about this style since it was so easy to adapt for mass production.

American furniture maker duncan phyfe 1768 1854 is largely credited with popularizing the american empire style.