The Empire Style - England - Part 4

As well as large two-tier bookcases with glazed doors above and cupboards below, there was now the smaller chiffonier, or sets of tiered bookshelves, sometimes circular and sometimes incorporating a drawer or two. Other bits and pieces - trinkets, needlework, sheet music, papers and so on - were accommodated on the invaluable whatnot or etagere which first appeared in the 1790s and enjoyed popularity for the whole of the 19th century. Non fitted furniture such as occasional tables for all purposes proliferated, many of them of a more compact size than was popular in the 18th century but of heavier construction than before.

Indeed many items were made in conveniently small sizes by this time. The voluminous hooped skirts of the 18th century had given way to the straight flowing lines of the Empire style in ladies' dresses, and chairs in particular became correspondingly less capacious, with narrower seats and lighter construction. This lightness was sometimes enhanced by caning in the seats and backs.

The lofty overmantels and pier glasses which had dominated 18th century rooms were now superseded by oblong overmantels, often in three sections with gilt decoration in the Neoclassical manner, and by circular convex mirrors in gilt frames sometimes flanked by candle sconces. Upstairs the convenient cheval glass with its long adjustable mirror had arrived in the bedroom.

There were more decorative finishes in use at this period than ever before. Gilding was used a great deal for the showiest handmade furniture, sometimes on its own and sometimes in conjunction with dark woods such as ebony, mahogany, rosewood or simulated versions of them. Indeed, simulated effects were very popular as a cheaper but still fashionable alternative to such expensive commodities as rosewood, bamboo or ivory inlaid furniture.

To be continued tomorrow...