What is an empire style table?

An empire style table is a formal piece of furniture characterised by neoclassical symmetry, dark timber frames, and cast metal ornamentation. These tables draw inspiration from ancient Roman and Greek designs. They typically take the form of console tables, centre tables, or gueridons featuring marble tops and architectural supports.

How do I style a console table?

Console tables function well placed flat against a wall in hallways, living rooms, or dining spaces. Their narrow depth allows them to occupy circulation areas without blocking movement. Pairing a console table with a matching mirror or placing lamps and centrepieces on the marble surface helps balance its formal proportions within a room.

How do I distinguish periods?

Distinguishing between original nineteenth-century pieces and later twentieth-century revivals involves examining timber ageing, joinery methods, and the quality of metal casting. Original pieces exhibit period-specific construction and hand-finished bronze mounts. Revival pieces often utilise machine-finished components while replicating the earlier neoclassical forms popular during the nineteenth century.

What woods were used?

Cabinetmakers primarily utilised mahogany, walnut, and kingwood for the structural frames and surface veneers of these tables. Dense hardwoods provided a stable base for heavy marble tops and metal mounts. Exotic timbers and figured grain patterns were selected to create visual contrast against the gilt bronze and ormolu ornamentation.