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.  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.

 

Suspension chandeliers were designed to provide light by burning oil.  A wick would draw the oil (kerosene, whale or paraffin) and burn it.  These fixtures might have one central burning area or multiple arms holding oil fonts.  Some were designed to be lowered from the ceiling to provide more specific ambient light in a room.  With the advent of electricity in the late 1800s, they became less needed but are still lovely, large chandeliers that make a decided statement in today’s homes.