Empire Federal Style Furniture

A french émigré charles honoré lannuier was one of the first cabinetmakers to introduce the style to america.

Empire federal style furniture.

Those originals are hard to come by but there was a major revival of the duncan phyfe style in the 1930s making these pieces plentiful for those who admire the style. 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. Antique american federal mahogany empire style sofa circa 1820. Fantastic mahogany federal empire sofa settee circa 1840.

The federal period continued in furniture manufacturing through the 1820s although the empire style was also gaining popularity at that time. Before this new style american furniture was highly inspired by british trends which encouraged light thin and elegant forms. Antique sofa a victorian mahogany. Walnut victorian sofa circa 1865.

Supporting columns on the corners of dressers and glass in place of raised panels were also hallmarks of this period. In america empire furnishings with their undulating scrolls balancing heavy geometric shapes complemented the greek revival architecture of the period 1820 1860 the unofficial national style. Find modern furniture and home decor featuring inspiring designs and colors at your burbank empire west elm furniture store in burbank ca. 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.

After 1820 and is considered the second more robust phase of the neoclassical style which earlier had been expressed in the adam style in britain and louis seize or louis xvi in france.