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.

In ancient Rome, the eagle was a military symbol associated with power and glory.  Napoleon chose the eagle as his emblem, sending banners into conflict bearing the eagle and incorporating it into his official coat of arms.

 

 

Napoleon