The Neoclassical Period of American furniture took its design characteristics from the classic Greek and Roman forms discovered by archaeologists in the eighteenth century, as well as Egyptian forms discovered due to Napoleon's expeditions to Egypt between 1798 and 1801. There was a new lightness and straightness of line that predominated early neoclassical furniture. Such motifs as acanthus leaves, shells, architectural pediments, classical figures, fluted or square tapered legs, festoons and swags, caryatid supports and parterre were incorporated in subtle ways.
As time went on, a new, more three-dimensional interpretation of the classical replaced the earlier, more two-dimensional style. This became the Empire Style, described later.
The third stage of the Neoclassical Period was the Pillar and Scroll, which developed out of the Empire style. It was marked by simple, classical but massive pillars and scrolls with little ornamentation. Throughout all stages of the Neoclassical Period, mahogany was the primary wood used.