The Empire period in Russia was covered by the reign of Alexander I (1801 - 1825), at the commencement of which the Directoire style was adopted in St. Petersburg for handmade furniture of severe yet bold outline - especially noticeable in the somewhat exaggerated, mushroom-like profiles of chair backs. Pale coloured woods, particularly Karelian birch, were used extensively and perhaps rather earlier than in Austria, Germany and France, where they were later to become very fashionable under the general heading of bois clair.
After Napoleon's retreat in 1812, furniture was made in considerable quantities in Russia, and so much was imported that even Russian authorities found it difficult to decide what was truly Russian and which pieces were brought in from Central Europe. The situation is further complicated by the influence of foreign architects such as Thomas de Thomon from Switzerland - itself a meeting place of many currents of fashion, leading to eclecticism - and Carlo Rossi from Italy, both of whom imposed their own brands of the second-phase Neoclassical style on the native product. There are, however, some strikingly handsome pieces which, for all their air of cosmopolitan sophistication, could hardly be mistaken for anything other than Russian. Most notable of these are centre-tables with circular tops of malachite reposing on central columns mounted in gilded bronze.
In the 1820s new types of fitted and non fitted furniture were designed by a group of architects led by Rossi and Vasily Stasov. A distinguished group of cabinet-makers, all working in St. Petersburg, included Vasily Bobkov, Franz Grosse, Johann Boumann, and Heinrich Gambs. The shapes of many pieces display originality and a wide range of woods was used, including mahogany, birch, poplar, walnut and Brazilian amaranth. Chairs and settees were often upholstered in silk or woollen cloth, both materials being embroidered with floral patterns.
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