Empire Style
Preserved but no longer current.
The style of furniture, costume, etc., that came into vogue during the Consulate and Empire of Napoleon, lasting approxi- mately from 1800 until 1820. The Empire style followed on after the pseudo-classical fervour of the Revolution, but was itself largely in- spired by Napoleon's wish to embellish his court with something of the splendour of imperial Rome.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Empire Style” mean?
The style of furniture, costume, etc., that came into vogue during the Consulate and Empire of Napoleon, lasting approxi- mately from 1800 until 1820. The Empire style followed on after the pseudo-classical fervour of the Revolution, but was itself largely in- spired by Napoleon's wish to embellish his court with something of the splendour of imperial Rome.
Is “Empire Style” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.