American Empire Furniture

(1820-1840)

History and Illustrations

In the United States, as in Europe, the second phase of Classicism is called the Empire style or Archeological Classicism, a period which reflected a fascination with recent discoveries of actual Greek and Roman furniture and stimulated a taste for living and dressing as the ancients had. Modern versions of classical furniture thus became fashionable.

While other American cities continued to produce furniture in the Federal style, New York cabinetmakers began to create pieces in the American Empire furniture style. Duncan Phyfe was the most important individual to introduce the style in this city. He must have been familiar with the Regency designs of Sheraton's Cabinet Dictionary, for he was using saber legs on klismos chairs as early as 1807. Other forms popularized by Phyfe included the curule, or Roman base, on chairs and settees; chairs with a lyre or eagle splat; the Grecian couch or recamier with scrolled ends; and cabinet pieces with Egyptian-style animal legs and feet. The last of Phyfe's pieces -his "Voltaire" chairs, for example -revealed the first signs that curved lines were reappearing.

Klismos                                Curule                          Voltaire     

Since Charles-Honoré Lannuier had trained as a cabinetmaker in Paris before immigrating to New York, his work also showed the influence of the Directoire style. Lannuier's furniture was often more ornate than Phyfe's. Until his early death in 1819, Lannuier produced pieces in the most severe and correct French manner, and his work was marked by a generous use of imported ormolu mounts.

After 1820, stenciled decoration became increasingly popular, a fashion that was allied with the production of "fancy" chairs. These chairs followed Sheraton style designs. They were of light construction, generally with rushed or caned seats, and painted decoration. On some, the cresting piece was painted with romantic views; on others, the full back was shaped into an eagle, shield, or other patriotic emblem.

Probably the best-known type of "fancy" chair produced in America Empire furniture was made in the 1830s by Lambert Hitchcock at his factory at Hitchcockville (now Riverton), Connecticut. Popular across America, Hitchcock chairs were mass-produced in several variations with similar characteristics. Frames were generally made of birch or maple, with a broad curved cresting piece, a wide curved slat, and a cross-piece below. The stiles were continuations of the legs; the front legs and lower stretchers were turned. Seats of rush, and later plank, were wider at the front than the back. Sold for $1.50 retail, the chairs were marked on the back of the seat with a stencil with this approximate wording: "L. HITCHCOCK, HITCHCOCKVILLE, CONNECTICUT, WARRANTED."

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