French Empire style gilt-bronze and mahogany five-piece salon suite

French Empire style gilt-bronze and mahogany five-piece salon suite
French, Late 19th Century
Sofa: Height 107cm, width 162cm, depth 65cm
Armchair: Height 101cm, width 68cm, depth 63cm
Chair: Height 96cm, width 55cm, depth 57cm
 
This superb five-piece salon suite was crafted in France in the late 19th century. Its design is inspired by the refined Empire style popular in the early years of the 1800s.
 
In the set are included two armchairs, two chairs and a canape. The elegant mahogany frames are expertly adorned with ormolu mounts and upholstery. The seats and backs have been recently reupholstered with a plush, luxurious gold velvet textile. The striped pattern adds to the sense of symmetry and balance that the Empire style is famed for. Several Ancient Egyptian and Greek motifs decorate all five pieces. Winged Sphinxes act as the support for the armrests, while winged lion heads appear as if supporting the seats. Numerous ormolu floral rosettes are mounted all around the pieces, most notably on the mahogany friezes beneath the seats.
 
The pieces stand on two sabre legs and two more ornate legs. The front ones terminate with ormolu lion paw feet, a typical feature of furniture from the Empire period.
 
The shining gold of the ormolu, the muted brown of the mahogany and the luxurious design make this salon suite a very desirable addition to one’s interior space.