Empire Pedestals and Columns
EMPIRE STYLE
From 1804–15, Napoléon I reigned as the emperor of France, bringing the country into a new era of opulence after the fall of the monarchy and the tumultuous years of the French Revolution. He declared, “We must have very solid things, made to last 100 years.” Empire-style furniture followed suit, with imposing pieces constructed from mahogany and adorned with gilded ornaments. Expanding on the neoclassicism popularized in the previous century — such as in Louis XVI style — Empire style borrowed from the great civilizations of antiquity, from Egypt to Greece and Rome, to connect this nascent empire to the power of the past.
Napoléon I believed the production of fine furniture would reflect the stature of the republic, with his official architects Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine leading the way with their work on his residences.
Luxurious materials, symmetrical shapes and bold colors characterize antique Empire-style bedroom furniture, armchairs, cabinets and other structures, with frequent motifs including mythological creatures, geometric designs, acanthus leaves, eagles, bees (the imperial emblem) and swans, a favorite of Empress Joséphine.
Flat surfaces, like marble tabletops, were accented with decadent details, such as the bronze furniture mounts made by sculptor Pierre-Philippe Thomire for the French palaces. Martin-Guillaume Biennais, who worked as the imperial goldsmith, crafted intricate luxury objects that mixed wood, fine metal, mother-of-pearl and ivory. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
The style became popular abroad, influencing the American Empire style. Stately pieces carved with sprigs of olives by cabinetmaker Pierre-Antoine Bellange were acquired by American President James Monroe for the White House in 1817.
Find a collection of antique Empire tables, lighting, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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Style: Empire
20th Century Empire Neoclassical Mahogany Wood Pedestal Plant Stands, a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Late 20th century French Empire neoclassical style mahogany wood pedestal plant stands - a pair. Item features solid wood construction, beaut...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Alabaster Marble Empire Style Carved Column Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Alabaster Marble Empire Style Carved Column Pedestal Plant Stand. Item features a revolving top, nice slender form, good antique item. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements:...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Alabaster
Neoclassical Empire Mahogany Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Germantown, MD
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Empire style Mahogany Pedestal Plant Stand. Measures 15" in diameter at the base, 12" in diameter at the top and stands 55.75" tall.
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of French Empire Style Ormolu, Wood and Marble Pedestals
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Empire style ormolu, wood and marble pedestals
French, 20th Century
Height 83cm, diameter 52cm
This superb pair of French 20th century pedestals celebrates the ver...
Category
20th Century French Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Pair French Empire Green Marble Gilt Bronze Urn Pedestal Pillars
Located in New York, NY
Standing at an impressive 6 feet tall, they were procured from an esteemed estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, which adds a layer of history and significance to the pieces. They are pr...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Sèvres Porcelain, Gilt, Onyx, And Ormolu Pedestal
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Sèvres Porcelain, Gilt, Onyx, and Ormolu pedestal. This beautiful pedestal is raised by a square stepped Onyx base with fou...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Italian Neoclassical French Empire Green & Gold Painted Wooden Column Pedestal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Italian Neoclassical / French Empire Style Green & Gold Painted Carved Wood Column Pedestal. Circa 1900, (painted finish appears to...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Wood, Paint
French Antique “Somno” Column
Located in Austin, TX
Column; “somno” French Empire period originally used as a night stand. This period circular piece sits on a square base and is crafted of bent wood (mahogany) and features a brêche r...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble
Pair of Antique Swedish Neoclassical Late Empire Pedestals
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of antique Empire Neoclassical Swedish pedestals painted ebony with gold accents.
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Wood
Century French Empire Style Cherry Wood Black Column 1 Drawer End Tables - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Century French Empire Style Cherry Wood Black Column 1 Drawer End Tables - Pair. Item features one dovetailed drawer, solid wood construction, finis...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Cherry
Italian imperial style green ceramic columns pedestals bows and flowers, 1930s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian imperial style green ceramic columns pedestals bows and flowers, 1930s
Pair of pedestals with a round base. The tapered structure narrows at the top and then widens at the ba...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Ceramic
Royal Empire column with malachite and gilt bronze
Located in Berlin, DE
Royal Empire column with malachite and gilt bronze
Impressive and regal wooden column with bronze mounts in Empire style. Solid wood coated with malachite painting technique. Such a...
Category
20th Century French Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Malachite, Brass, Bronze
Antique Empire Transferware Lavabo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Antique mahogany column pedestal with marble inset hinge top covering transferware form mahogany lavabo (or bachelor table). Side panel opens. Circa 181...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Porcelain, Mahogany
19th Century Empire Style Marble Column
Located in San Antonio, TX
Step into a world of timeless elegance with this stunning 19th Century Empire Style Marble Column. A true masterpiece, this column is crafted from a rare and refined type of marble k...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Two Reclaimed Tall Outdoor Braziers or Torchieres
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
Each standing at 165cm (64.96 inches) tall, these spectacular reclaimed 20th century outdoor braziers or vintage garden torchieres bring grandeur and prestige to any property. Imagine the pair placed either side of an entrance to a lavish mansion or framing the steps at the bottom of the courtyard to a countryside estate. They are of a huge and prominent scale and deserve to be in equally impressive surroundings.
Sourced from a property in London, these reclaimed outdoor braziers date from the early 20th century. Each features a domed steel dish...
Category
Early 20th Century English Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Limestone, Steel, Iron
Pair of square Pillars, original Marble-Imitation painted Wood. Early 19th C.
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of pillars made of wood and painted in marble imitation (original). Made around year 1800. These pillars are great in any interior to put sculpt...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Wood
Empire Style Marble-Top Giltwood Pedestal
Located in Dallas, TX
Empire style marble-top giltwood plant stand, having square top over four carved foliate columns, rising on marble base, ending in paw feet.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble
Black Empire Era Pedestal Made in Austria, 1800s, Original Condition, Pearwood
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Unique Art Deco pedestal.
Source: Czechia
Period: 1920-1929
Original well preserved condition.
Category
19th Century Czech Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Wood, Pearwood, Lacquer
French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu and Marble Pedestal
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and high quality French 19th century Empire st. ormolu mounted on Alabastro Sardonico and black Belgian marble pedestal. The pedestal is raised by a protruding square ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble
Giltwood Carved Eagle on Verde Antico Fluted Marble Column
Located in London, by appointment only
A superb and richly carved giltwood eagle perched on rocks with open wings, the eagle's head looking to its left and fitted with a separate giltwood wreath...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble
Two Neoclassical Empire Style Bronze and Marble Pedestals
Located in London, GB
Two neoclassical Empire style bronze and marble pedestals
French, 20th century
Dimensions: Height 100cm, width 48cm, depth 48cm
This pa...
Category
20th Century French Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Amethyst Empire Style Columns
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amethyst columns. Gilt bronze capitols.
Category
20th Century Italian Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Amethyst, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Black Lacquer Pedestals
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire black lacquer column pedestals with bronze dore festoon trim.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Pedestals, 19th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Empire style pedestals with gilt bronze and flame mahogany wood, France, 19th century.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Mahogany
Classicist Empire Terracotta Pedestal, circa 1820
Located in Berlin, DE
Classicist Empire terracotta pedestal, circa 1820
Antique pedestal with multi-part composite elements, heavily weathered with profiled and slightly protruding cover plate. In the ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Terracotta
Pair of Torcheres
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine pair of Torcheres in Empire style. These are contemporary composite reproductions of the best quality.
CW3566
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Composition
Stunning Antique Empire Style, Coromandel and Gilt Bronze Sculpture Stand Column
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning and all hand-crafted column pedestal from the early 1900s.
Column pedestals in the Empire or Napoleon style are a rare find. It is therefore that we could not be more surpr...
Category
Early 20th Century European Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Marble Column
Located in Austin, TX
Marble column, French, from the Empire period. It is made of gray “Turquin” marble.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble
19th Century French Empire Green Painted & Giltwood Pedestal
Located in Southampton, NY
19th Century French empire green painted & giltwood pedestal.
Beautifully carved gilded stars, faces, rosettes, and architectural details on this green painted wood French pedestal....
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble
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H 46 in Dm 25.5 in
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Located in New York, NY
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Pair of Antique Swedish Neoclassical Late Empire Pedestals
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Pair of antique Empire Neoclassical Swedish pedestals painted ebony with gold accents.
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Pair of Vintage French Marble Gilt Bronze Porcelain Romantic Painted Pillars
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Antique French Empire Solid Marble with Brass Accents Corinthian Pillar Stand
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French Sevres Porcelain Urn on Bronze Dore Pedestal in Celeste Blue 19th Century
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Located in Austin, TX
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1820s French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
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Antique Alabaster Marble Empire Style Carved Column Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Alabaster Marble Empire Style Carved Column Pedestal Plant Stand. Item features a revolving top, nice slender form, good antique item. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements:...
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Early 20th Century Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Alabaster
19th Century Empire Style Green Marble Pillar or Column
Located in San Antonio, TX
Experience the grandeur of the 19th Century Empire Style with this magnificent Green Marble and Brass Column. Crafted to perfection, this column exudes timeless elegance and regal ch...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
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Marble, Brass
Vintage Pair Mahogany Pedestals with Gilt Detail
Located in Locust Valley, NY
A pair of mahogany pedestals in Empire style with round tops and gilt rosette detail, four slender legs with gilt details at the bottom, end...
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Late 20th Century Empire Pedestals and Columns
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Pair of Tripod Columns and Candelabra, Empire Period
Located in Paris, FR
Important pair of Empire period tripod sheaths in solid wood and veneer wood. The shafts are decorated with bronze torches and ribbon bows, ca...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
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Carrara Marble, Bronze
Pair of Columns, Northern Europe, 2nd Half 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of Empire style columns with brass moldings and octagonal base and fluted shaft. Diameter at the top: 27 cm.
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Late 19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
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Brass
Antique Empire Pedestal Marble Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This antique french empire pedestal table is handcrafted out of mahogany wood and has been professionally restored by our team of craftsme...
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1910s French Vintage Empire Pedestals and Columns
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Bronze, Marble and Veneer Walnut Empire Style Column
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very original 20th century column from the Empire style made with walnut veneer and bronze. The top is a beautiful green marble.
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Baker Furniture Empire Mahogany and Brass Plant Stand, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
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Painted 19th Century Empire Style Tabernacle Pedestal from France
Located in Dallas, TX
This painted tabernacle pedestal is of the Empire style and was produced in France in the 1800’s. The Empire period reflected the ambitions of Napoleon: he wanted France to be the ul...
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Antique Tiger Oak American Empire Round Column Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Tiger Oak American Empire round column pedestal plant stand. Item features beautiful tiger oak wood grain, very nice antique item, qualit...
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Oak
Handsome Empire Style Brass Steel and Leather Pedestal by Maitland Smith
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A great looking Empire style pedestal having ebonized steel criss cross base with brass medallions and lions as well as a handsome tooled leather circular top.
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1980s Philippine Vintage Empire Pedestals and Columns
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Empire pedestals and columns for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire pedestals and columns for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage pedestals and columns created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, tables, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with stone, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire pedestals and columns made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for pedestals and columns differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $695 and tops out at $93,331 while the average work can sell for $3,200.
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