Empire

A period of design during the reign of Napoleon I. It was most prevalent between 1800 and the late 1820s. It was considered the second wave of neoclassicism and marked a return to ostentatious design, a departure from the more conservative Directoire period that directly preceded it. It was intended to idealize the majesty of the French state and Napoleonic rule. Mahogany was the most popular wood during the period, and brass ornamentation and dark marbles were in vogue. Greek, Roman, and Egyptian motifs were also widely used. The style spread throughout Europe and appeared in America in some of Duncan Phyfe's work.

Mahogany

Mahogany is a straight grained hard wood with silky texture, ranging in color from dark brown to red. Furniture made from mahogany became popular in Britain from Mid-18th Century on, spreading throughout Europe.

Damask

A linen, cotton, rayon, or silk fabric with a reversible jacquard weave. Damasks are woven on a jacquard loom using predominantly monotone fibers and a combination of weaving techniques most commonly satin and twill variants creating a tone on tone pattern that is produced by the contrast of matte and reflective surfaces. Prior to the invention of the jacquard loom in the early 1800s, damasks were woven by hand and considered a luxury fabric, but the loom's ability to produce bulk yardage allowed for more widespread access to damask fabrics within middle-class households in the 19th Century.