Chair (2) - Napoleon - Wood

The style of this chair is Napoleon III (also known as the Second Empire style), a French art and decoration style that flourished between 1852 and 1870 under the reign of Emperor Louis-Napoleon III. These are the specific style features you can see in the photo: Eclectic and historicizing: The style did not reinvent itself, but shamelessly borrowed from the past. In this chair you can recognize the straight, turned legs from the Louis XVI style, combined with the graceful, openwork scrolls in the backrest from Rococo (Louis XV style). Black and theatrical (ebonisme): Napoleon III furniture was meant to convey luxury and status. The charred/ebonized wood imitates precious ebony. This deep black forms a dramatic and regal contrast with the bright royal red velvet upholstery. Salon or sidepiece furniture: This type of chair (chaise de salon) was not intended for a heavy dining table, but was placed loosely in the room. It served as an elegant piece to receive guests in the opulent salons of the 19th-century bourgeoisie. The underside of the seat needs attention—see photos.