The Empire style flourished during the reign of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte from 1805-1814.  Napoleon was in love with the sense of his own importance and greatness, and the Empire style reflected this in imposing, lavish pieces made to exacting standards.    He was attracted to the ancient Greco-Roman and Egyptian cultures and borrowed heavily from their imagery, symmetry and rich ornamentation for decoration. Empire furniture often included motifs such as sphinxes, eagles and griffins, all symbolizing the power of the state.  Napoleon wanted the world to recognize the greatness of the French, and he achieved this with the Empire style, considered luxury furniture and wildly popular among the upper classes.  The style remained popular throughout the 19th century.

 

Center tables were typically placed in the middle of a parlor or foyer. They were meant to draw attention to the center of the room.  Center tables had various uses: for social events, for collections and displays, or even as desks for writing and reading.  They are very often beautifully decorated with fine marble or inlay.