19th Century Empire Mahogany and Ormolu Wood Bed, France, 1920s, Set of 2

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Pair of Empire Style Beds, Mahogany and Ormolu, 19th Century - France

Style: Empire
Materials: Mahogany and Ormolu
Period: 19th … Read more Pair of Empire Style Beds, Mahogany and Ormolu, 19th Century - France

Style: Empire
Materials: Mahogany and Ormolu
Period: 19th Century
Country of Origin: France
Provenance: Private Collection
Good condition considering its age and use
Headboard Dimensions: 190 x 100 cm

Pair of Empire style beds, which emerged in early 19th-century France. These magnificent beds are made of high-quality, dark reddish mahogany. They reflect the Empire style aesthetic: straight, majestic, and elegant lines, clearly inspired by the classical world. The headboard is framed by two columns, and above it unfolds a second level with a geometric pattern, also composed of columns supporting an entablature and a classical pediment. The same structure can be found at the foot of the bed: two classical columns joined by a panel. Both sections are assembled using side panels (stringers). Ornamental elements such as vases atop the columns and the contrasting gilt bronze capitals and bases are incorporated. All of this makes this piece an exquisite example of the Empire style.

French Empire Style (1804-1830)

The French Empire style is part of Neoclassicism, a reaction that emerged in the late 18th century against the Baroque and Rococo styles. Its antecedent was the Directoire style, with which it shares many of its formal characteristics. This reaction was inspired by classical art, itself inspired by the study of classical antiquity and the archaeological excavations taking place at that time in Rome, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum, and other sites. It was also influenced by Winckelmann's aesthetic theories and the development of Egyptian cultural studies, which became fashionable in France at that time due to Napoleon's campaigns in Egypt.

The Empire style dates from the years Napoleon was appointed Consul (1799-1804) and Emperor of France, as Napoleon I Bonaparte (1804), until his defeat at Waterloo (1815). However, in terms of furniture, the style continued for about 15 more years, until the 1830s, during the Restoration period (the return of the Bourbon dynasty).

from France, the Empire style spread throughout the rest of Europe, acquiring different names. It greatly influenced the Regency style in the United Kingdom, but also reached Germany, Italy (Italian Empire style), Spain, although somewhat later (Fernandine style), Sweden, and even Russia.

In terms of form, the Empire style favors the majestic, but always with elegance and a return to classical symmetry. It is a return to classical forms, based on straight lines and horizontal planes, where geometry takes on vital importance. The furniture of this period is somewhat austere, with straight lines and flat surfaces. It also favors flat bronze decorations, often gilded, over the refined carvings of previous years.

Ultimately, it represents the grandeur of the Napoleonic regime, comparable to the empires of Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, or even Pharaoh Ramses II. See less