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.

 

Marble was considered a high-end material, associated with wealth and grandeur, reflecting the sophisticated tastes of the elite during periods like the Louis XV and Louis XVI eras.  The natural beauty of marble, with its unique veining and subtle luster, added a touch of elegance and visual interest to the furniture. French artisans often selected marble slabs for their color, veining, and durability, and carefully polished them to enhance their natural beauty. Marble is a naturally hard and dense stone, making it resistant to scratches, chips, and damage. It is also heat-resistant and easy to clean, making it a practical choice for surfaces like commodes and buffets, which were used for both storage and serving.  Marble tops provided a beautiful contrast to the intricately carved and often gilded wooden bases of French furniture. The thick overhanging tops also helped to accentuate the forms of the furniture pieces.