Empire Urns
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
Pair of gilt bronze urns raised on a marble plinth with ormolu mounts.
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of gilt bronze urns raised on a marble plinth with ormolu mounts (CW5595). The quality is superb, chasing is 10 on 10. France, circa 1870. Dimensions: Height 15 1/2", the base i...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th-Century French Bronzed Urns with Gold-Plated Garland Decoration
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Step into the world of classical elegance with our exquisite pair of early 19th-century French urns, true masterpieces of craftsmanship and historical beauty. These antique cassolett...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Onyx and Gilded Bronze Tazzas
Located in Newport Beach, CA
An elegant pair of hand carved and polished onyx tazzas in the Empire style with gilded bronze mounts.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Onyx, Bronze
Pair French Marble Urns Amphora Cassolettes Empire 1890
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous pair of French Empire marble cassoulets
Classic urns of amphora form
Beautiful tones of marble including salmon pink, orange, cream and burgundy
Ormolu fixtures are original and finely cast
Purchased from a dealer on Marche Biron...
Category
1890s Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Marble
A Pair of Porcelain de Paris Ovid Form Vases, Circa:1820
Located in Alexandria, VA
This is an exceptional pair of Old Paris vases with beautiful hand-painted panorama scenes. The bucolic scenes are of fashionably dressed people hanging out with cows by a meandering...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century French Bronze Metal and Crystal Urn, Pair, attributed to Baccarat
By Baccarat
Located in Louisville, KY
The 19th Century French artisans knew how to design lasting classical beauty. This extraordinary pair of French urns is proof of the mastery put forth in design and construction. Fro...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Empire period bronze and ormolu Grecian style pair of classical urns, circa 1830
Located in Central England, GB
This superb quality pair of French Empire classical twin handled urns is very stylish and cast in very heavy solid bronze with alternate sections highlighted with original ormolu whi...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Gold and White Paris Porcelain Urn
Located in New York, NY
Gold and white Paris porcelain urn. Elegant white and gilt painted Empire handled vase in the Campana urn form. Unusual unpainted floral gilded outlines against a white background re...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Porcelain
20th century Russian Miniature Brass Samovar Set
Located in St. Catharines, ON
Of typical form in the Russian imperial style, a classic samovar set tooled in brass comprising a miniature brass samovar, drip bowl and tray. The samovar ...
Category
20th Century Unknown Empire Urns
Materials
Brass
Russian Brass Samovar Set by T. L. Batashev, Tula Russia, circa 1900
Located in St. Catharines, ON
By Tula samovar masters, V.L. Batashev. Of typical form in the Russian imperial style, a classic samovar set tooled in brass comprising a brass samovar, dr...
Category
Late 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Brass
Pair French Empire Bronze and Marble Campana Form Urns
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome pair of Classical style urns are finely cast featuring acanthus leaves, mask form handles, and laurel leaf wreaths on Sienna marble plinth form bases.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Antique French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Green Marble Military Urns
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of Unusual Large Antique French Empire gilt bronze and hand carved dark green marble double handled Military urns of great detail and craftsmanship. The main body of this pair...
Category
20th Century French Empire Urns
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French 1870 Third Empire Napoleon III Pair of Urns in Marble with Gilded Ormolu
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of mythological Urns from the French third Empire period.
Fabulous decorative pieces, created in Paris, France during the period of the Third French Empire under Napoleon III...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century Empire Toleware Decorative Urn
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century empire toleware decorative urn circa 1830.
Rare decorative urn that would have been used for incense or pot pourri. Original blac...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Metal
Pair of Early 19th Century Prussian Cast Iron Vases Urns Fer De Berlin
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A beautiful pair of cast iron vases (urns) on pedestal, attributed to the Royal Prussian Iron Foundries in Gleiwitz. This pair is modeled most likely aft...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Berlin Iron, Iron
Pair of Tazzas, France Empire Period
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Tazzas from the late part of the Empire period. Made in Red French Marble with a bowl in dark patinated bronze. Base decorated with gilt bronze.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pr. of Old Paris Miniature, Gilt Decorated Footed Urns With Garden Scenes, c1800
By Old Paris
Located in valatie, NY
Pair of Old Paris Miniature, Gilt Decorated Footed Urns with garden scenes, c1800. Miniature urns of this type are rare and the decoration is exceptional. The urns have bolted construction with scrolling handles and molded face mask terminals. The beautiful hand painted panels are of a seated young man and woman in traditional dress in a neoclassical garden with classical urns, landscaping, architecture and a fountain. Fine condition with mild typical wear to the gilt.
Trent Antiques has been a respected name in antiques for...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Pair Antique French 'Sevres' Red Porcelain Gilt Bronze Pot Pourri Urns 1804-1809
Located in Portland, OR
Pair of Antique French 'Sevres' porcelain lidded pot pourri and gilded bronze lidded urns, 1804-1809.
The urns having a rich red ground with gilded panels, the domed lids with gilded bronze eagle...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Bronze
Carl Thieme, Dresden Floral Painted & Gilded Porcelain Urn, Germany, 20th C
By Carl Thieme
Located in Chatham, ON
CARL THIEME (Factory / Manufacturer) - Potschappel (Village / Location) - Empire style Dresden floral decorated and gilded porcelain urn with cover - ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Empire Urns
Materials
Enamel, Gold Leaf
Pair of Patinated Bronze Empire Period Medici Urns
Located in Montreal, QC
Paire of Patinated Bronze Empire Period Medici Urns
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Vieux Paris Campagna Form Urns
By Old Paris
Located in Savannah, GA
Hard paste porcelain with polychrome and gold leaf - iron bolt. Impasto decoration. Lovely colors. These classical form urns are clearly a pair, but not an identical pair. Each has a...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Monumental 19th Century French Empire Sèvres Style Porcelain Urns, a Pair
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent pair of French antique gilt bronze mounted pink Sèvres porcelain style vasiform urns.
Born in France in the 19th century, hand-crafted in rich grandiose Empire taste, palatial awe-inspiring large scale, featuring ornate finely chiseled and sculpted dore' bronze hinged handle mounts, partial gilt pink ground baluster form amphora - pithos form body surmounted by patinated brass final topped cover affixed to the flaired narrowing neck rising from voluptuous bulbous tapering body, embellished with elaborate gilded gold enameled scroll flourish filigree decoration framing central oval medallion showcasing hand painted polychrome classical landscape and pastoral figural scenes, over doré bronze mount fillet adorned porcelain foot ending in substantial sturdy octagonal cast gilt metal plinth base.
A superb example, high quality craftsmanship, construction, and materials, exceptionally executed design, this pair makes for a wonderful decorative object and most impressive statement piece!
Exceedingly rare, boldly beautiful and absolutely stunning, this majestic pair is sure to become the focal point in any room. Placed in beside a fireplace, flanking an door, entry or hall, atop a massive sideboard...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Italian Yellow Tole Obelisk Urn With Paw Feet
Located in Stamford, CT
A charming neoclassical yellow tole water or tea urn in the form of an obelisk balanced on a square plinth by fours balls supported by brass paw feet. Decorated on four sides with ma...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Metal, Brass
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Urns
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire (19th Cent) gilt bronze urns with triangular shaped bases, finial tops and sphinx ram heads. (PRICED AS Pair)
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Bronze
Paris Porcelain Cameo Vase Attributed to Nast
By Nast
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A classical French Empire Paris porcelain twin handled vase featuring a signed cameo of Caracalla on the front and gilded military attributes on the back. The very well painted profi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Pair French 19th Century Napoleon III Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Urn Table Lamps
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of French 19th century Napoleon III Empire style patinated-bronze and gilt-bronze mounted allegorical covered urn vases lamps in the manner of Pierre-Philippe Thomire (Fr...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Three Piece Porcelain from Limoges, France
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very handsome 19th century French Empire st. three piece Limoges porcelain set, from Limoges, France. The three pieces, one bowl and two vases, are hand painted with wonderful scen...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Gilt and Opaline Glass Urn
Located in Dallas, TX
An Empire style gilt and opaline glass urn.
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Urns
Materials
Opaline Glass
French Empire Style Porcelain Urn with Nautical Scene
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style (19th Cent) white and gilt trimmed urn with scene of boats by coast and 2 handles with lion heads.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Paint, Porcelain
Pair of Empire Bronze Ewers in The Manner of Claude Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine pair of empire gilt and patinated bronze ewers in the manner of Claude Galle.
French, Circa 1820.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Bronze
Wonderful French Empire Neoclassical Cut Crystal Bronze Ormolu Urn Centerpiece
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire / neoclassical cut crystal and bronze ormolu mounted urn with lady figure handles centerpiece.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Urns
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
Wonderful French Empire Neoclassical Cut Crystal Bronze Ormolu Urn Centerpiece
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire / neoclassical cut crystal and bronze ormolu mounted urn with lady figure handles centerpiece.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Urns
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
Neoclassical Pair of Patinated and Dore Bronze Empire Covered Urns
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous and rare neoclassical pair of patinated and doré bronze Empire period covered urns with doré bronze cupid masks and foliage scroll doré bronze handles. Each is beautifully...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Bronze Empire Style Classical Urns, circa 1820
Located in Lincoln, GB
A pair of bronze Empire style classical urns, circa 1820 on square bases with double handles on each. Grecian Classical subject around the body with a wide rim superb classical design.
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Grainger Worcester Covered Urns
Located in Montreal, QC
This pair of simulated marble covered urns are amphora-shaped, raised on gilt hoof feet on a stepped trefoil base, each domed cover has a lobed fini...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Rare Empire French Fire Gilded Center Piece Tazza Warrior Horses Harp
By Pierre-Philippe Thomire, Thomire & Cie.
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
More than 200 years old showpiece for on the table. Made from glass, fire-gilt bronze and green veined marble. Beautiful horses with a warrior and mythological figures with harp and ...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Fine Antique French Empire Gilt Bronze and Patina Bronze Urns
Located in New York, NY
Pair of fine antique French gilt bronze, patina bronze, black marble neoclassical champagne form urns of superb quality embellished on square hand carved black marble bases and furth...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
Pair of Snake Handled Meissen Urns
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Stylish and chic pair of Meissen urns in Classic glazed white porcelain with gold accents. These urns are classical in form and feature entwined snakes as ...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Porcelain
French Empire Patinated Bronze, Ormolu and Griotte Marble Vase
Located in London, GB
A magnificent quality French Empire/Directoire urn in superb original condition. Constructed of lovely patinated bronze, fire gilded Ormolu and griotte marble. In the gout d'Egypt or...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French Empire Style Porcelain Urns
Located in Montreal, QC
Now fitted as lamps, these two handled Paris urns are painted with floral bouquets on one side and a courtship scene on the other. The gilding is rubbed but the painting is well exec...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Early 19th Century Paris Porcelain Urn
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A museum quality early 19th century Paris porcelain urn. The twin handled vase sits on a rectangular porcelain base (modelled as part of the vase), which is decorated on all four sides with finely painted scenes titled 'Gene de Corrinte', 'Gene de Mytilene', 'Gene de Sparte', and 'Gene de Chiu' in reference to various Greek city states. The ovoid body of the vase is richly decorated with Greek key and stylized acanthus designs over and below a large gilt framed oval cameo of Athena on one side and a similar cameo on the other side bearing an undecipherable name. The overall background colour scheme of the vase is dark red/burgundy and dark emerald green, two colours which were more commonly used by the Dagoty factory in Paris than other porcelain manufacturing firms at the time. The vase is unsigned.
Note: Pierre Louis Dagoty's porcelain was characterized by the use of vivid colours and the thick application of burnished gold leaf. He borrowed from the repertoire of Neoclassical ornament but his designs also included Egyptian and Chinoiseries motifs.
Dagoty's elegant ceramics won him the patronage of Empress Joséphine. At the height of production, in 1807, he employed over a hundred workers, and exported his wares to Russia. After the fall of the First French Empire in 1814, manufacture continued under the Duchesse d'Angoulême, the only surviving child of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette.
Between 1816 and 1820, Dagoty worked in partnership with François Maurice Honoré. In 1817. Dagoty and Honoré received a commission from President James Monroe...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Early 19th Century Cup in Egyptian Porphyry and Bronze with Cupids
Located in Paris, FR
Imposing cup in red, Egyptian porphyry featuring three cupids on a circular base. The patinated bronze cupids serve as the supporting stem for the wide-rimmed cup. Two of the cupids ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Porphyry, Bronze
Two Empire Period Gilt Porcelain Vases by Dihl Et Guérhard
Located in London, GB
These beautiful painted and gilt vases were crafted in circa 1810 by the important Parisian porcelain factory, Dihl et Guérhard (French, 1781-circa 18...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Porcelain
Large Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Urn, Amphora Table Lamp
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
Large, heavy Empire style gilt and patinated bronze Amphora table lamp decorated with fine ornaments and garlands on a square base supported by four feet covered with leaves. Five-li...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Urns
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Empire Brûle-Parfum Urns, France, circa 1805
By Claude Galle
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of partly gilt Brûle-Parfum urns, attributed to Claude Gallé, standing on grey marble bases with Hermes mascarons. The urns are decorated with a gilt relief wall depicting danci...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Urns Wired as Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Urns, Wired as Lamps. Featuring ornate swag garlands and rams heads, with a frieze of dancing putti.
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Bronze and Marble Urns
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome pair of urns feature neoclassical motifs, including acanthus leaves, egg and dart borders, and Bacchus mask handles. The Verde antico marble plinth bases are mounted wi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Empire Style Gilt Bronze Brule-Parfums in Manner of Thomire 19th Century
Located in Essex, MA
A pair of Empire style gilt bronze Brule-Parfums in manner of Pierre-Philippe Thomire, 19th century
each openwork cover with an acorn finial above the body having a rim cast to show...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Bronze
Very Handsome Pair of French Polished Verte Marble and Ormolu Cassolettes
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A charming pair of polished verte marble and bronze doré cassolettes, double handles with snake motif on rim of candleholder opening with acanthus detailing throughout and front mou...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Neoclassical Green and Gilt Faux Marble Samovar Coffee Urn
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical green and gilt faux marble samovar coffee urn. Gilt and green faux marble painted samovar with Greco Roman mask issuing spout on pedestal abov...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Metal
Pair of Neoclassical French Doré Bronze, Patinated Bronze and Rouge Marble Vases
Located in New York, NY
A pair of neoclassical French Empire Period doré Bronze, patinated bronze and Rouge Campana shaped marble vases, circa 1820, with gilt bronze decorations of finely sculpted playful p...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Urns
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire urns for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire urns for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage urns created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire urns made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original urns, popular names associated with this style include Carl Thieme, Darte Frères, Dihl and Guerhard, and Ernst August Leuteritz. 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 urns differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $475 and tops out at $42,707 while the average work can sell for $3,600.
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