On this day in 1796, Napoléon Bonaparte and Joséphine de Beauharnais were married. The self-crowned Emperor of France revolutionized war — and French furniture. This type of furniture, which is known as Empire style, features a hefty masculine look, excessive use of ormolu motifs (the decorative mountings of furniture, clocks, lighting devices, and porcelain), wood-back chairs with upholstered seats, glossy wood veneers, Greco-Roman classical decals, and mirror-back console tables.
While my finds don't strictly stick to the rules of the Empire (for instance, this Claudia Chaise ($2,559) features carved wooden legs, something not seen in Empire furniture), they do reflect the strong, masculine style epitomized by Napoleon's reigning influence.
