What Are Napoleon Style Chairs?

Fabrics

• The fabrics used on Napoleon style chairs are typically dyed in jewel tones such as a rich ruby red, emerald green, sapphire blue or a rich gold. The fabrics themselves are typically either done in a thick velvet or a thick brocade with embroidery. If there is a pattern on the fabric, it will typically include a fleur-de-lis or a faint tapestry pattern within the brocade. Chairs in this style that do not have rich fabrics might be copies or knockoffs.

Carving

• The wood on Napoleon style chairs typically is either dark cherry or mahogany. The wood has a dark finish, and ornate carving is typically seen. There are finials or ornately carved end pieces at the tops of the chair and where the arms and the legs join the main body of the chair. The arms sometimes also feature carving or a very subtle routed pattern. The carving is typically an embellishment and does not follow any set design, other than basic flourishes.

Gilding

• Although rare, some Napoleon-era chairs feature gold gilding. This is a process where the original wood is painted using a paint containing 24-karat gold. These chairs are typically very ornate, but if they have not been well cared for, the gold paint might have peeled, leaving bare spots where the original color of the wood can be seen. If a chair is being sold as an authentic Napoleon-era chair and the gilding is perfectly intact, this typically means the chair either has been restored or is not authentic.

Overall Shape and Design

• Napoleon style chairs resemble small thrones in their overall shape and design. They are somewhat similar to Queen Anne-era chairs in that the legs and the arms of the chair display a slight flare outward from the main body of the chair. However, they are much more ornate than Queen Anne chairs and feature more carving and plusher fabrics. Napoleon style chairs are typically quite heavy because they are made of solid wood.