Empire Style French “Chiffonier”

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French antique chiffonier in the Empire style. This piece is made of solid wood construction, primarily mahogany that has been … Read more French antique chiffonier in the Empire style. This piece is made of solid wood construction, primarily mahogany that has been fully ebonized and finished with a lustrous French polish of museum-quality. There are seven dovetailed drawers. The top drawer is a hidden drawer, while the rest feature brass trim and hardware. There is a green”pietra verde“ marble top original the piece. This chiffonier is in very nice antique condition with only minor surface wear consistent with age and use. The photos accurately depict the condition.

After many years of political instability, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself emperor of France in 1804 and began the Empire period. As the Empire period began, the economy was booming and there was a strong desire for fine furniture and decoration from the new bourgeois aristocracy. The Empire style drew most of its inspiration from the Classical world, especially the Roman Empire and often incorporated large architectural elements such as columns and pilasters. Ancient Egypt also started to be an influence after a French military campaign there awakened new fascination for this civilization. The characteristic furniture types were imposing: their flat surfaces and sharp corners, together with their lack of moldings, produced an effect of grandeur that was not without beauty. Antique forms and ornament, already seen in the Louis XVI style, blended with Napoleon’s imperial symbols for a strong impression. See less