Antique Empire Sofa

One of the great antique objects that could be counted in their own time was the Antique empire sofa. While it held sway, it was one of the most beautiful sights to behold. In those days anyone who wanted to mix comfort with fashion would go for the antique empire sofa. Many affluent and note worthy individuals saw the acquisition of this fashionable sight as the epitome of the proof of their affluence.

The antique empire sofa was the sofa of choice in the 1800s. Those who were in existence in those ages considered it as the in-thing; though it was for only those who could afford it.

Even in the present age, the antique empire sofa is still making wave, though on a completely different level. In those days it was adorable to the rich and affluent for their sitting room, but these days it had become adorable to antique collectors from all walks of life.

The empire design of sofa came to the fore in France. This was during the reign of Napoleon, who was a very great soldier between the years 1804-1815. The idea of the design arose from the desire of the French ruling house to copy certain ideas from Rome, thinking that presence of certain great ideas from Rome in France would end up linking Napoleon to Augustus Caesar. They were deeply interested in changing to the empire form of government being practiced in Rome from French?s own Republic system of government in such a way that will not give rise to protest by the French populace.

The French government then began to encourage people to design their home the roman ways. The sights of roman designs and architectural ideas became a common sight in various French homes. Craftsmen began to mix the Napoleon form of design (the Motif) along with Roman designs.

The reign of Napoleon III in the 1850s marked the beginning of the Second Empire in France. The Second empire form of design did not end in France. It extended to as far away as the United States. It became a common sight for the Motif-Roman mix of designs to be seen in homes in the United States. This was the order for more than fifty years afterward.

Various designs were used in the First and Second Empire designs they included the use of Mahogany, Ebony, Papier-mâché, cast iron, Mother of pearl, inlaid Ivory and so on. Soon the Americans too began to add their own form of designs.

As time went on the styles and designs of the antique Empire sofa became more complex and luxurious than what it was initially. The antique empire sofa evolved through a number of eras from the early Duncan Phyfe to the restoration project.