06/21/2026
Empire Style Furniture: The Dawn of Thomas Day
By the time Thomas Day was born in 1801, European and American tastes in ancient Greek and Roman styles were shifting. The French Revolution largely led to more simplified versions of Neoclassical style, more closely resembling furniture from ancient Greece, Rome, and eventually Egypt. After Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power he leaned into this style to reflect his own desires for a French empire. Neoclassical designs influenced by Napoleon remained popular until about 1840 and have since been known as “Empire” style.
It was during this era that Thomas Day opened his first cabinet shop. Day became well known for his creative use of many design elements that were hallmarks American Empire style:
-More toned down details than European counterparts
-Design with wood’s natural grain (particularly with mahogany) instead of inlay
-Thick, rectangular shapes softened by curved details. Often resemble buildings.
-”S” and “C” curves in furniture legs and decorative details
-Animal paw feet
Day moved onto other styles as his career progressed but kept some neoclassical elements in his designs.
Cabinetmakers frequently mixed styles and cultures in their creations, tapping into East Asian and North African styles for inspiration. Thomas Day, however, stood out for possibly using West African symbolism in his most unique work. But that is a topic for next time…..
