Empire
An early 19th century 'Empire' writing bureau.
With mahogany veneers. Four drawers, the uppermost with a drop-down writing surface and writing drawers. Length ca 104 cm, height ca 91 cm, depth ca 50 cm. Key included.
Later mounts. Damage to veneering and repairwork to damage. Woodworm in places. Marks and staining. Keys included.
Designer
The Empire style lasted roughly between 1810 and 1840 and is primarily considered an interior design style. The style is characterised splendor and pomp and is sometime known as imperial. The French empire is often associated with Napoleon Bonaparte of France who was highly interested in ancient Rome and its attributes. Egyptian elements with sphinxes, palmettes, eagles, griffins, and masks were common as decorative elements. The most common wood was mahogny and burnished gilding was popular. Chiffonier were popular furniture items during the empire and seated durnitres were dressed in light, bright colours. The 1830-40s is known as the Late Empire and was more bourgeois. In Germany and Austria, the style was known as biedermeier and was identified by furniture with softer lined made out of birch. The Empire style came to Sweden with Jean Baptiste Bernadotte (King Karl XIV Johan) afterwhich was known as "Karl Johan". The Swedish style was lighter and less majestic.
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