Empire Children's Furniture
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.
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Hungarian Empire Children's Furniture
Pine
Late 20th Century French Empire Children's Furniture
Mahogany
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture
Fabric, Wood
Late 20th Century Empire Children's Furniture
Velvet, Wood
Mid-20th Century Dutch Empire Children's Furniture
Metal
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture
Silver
Mid-19th Century North American Antique Empire Children's Furniture
Wood
Mid-19th Century British Antique Empire Children's Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century American Empire Children's Furniture
Wood
1940s American Vintage Empire Children's Furniture
Brass, Iron
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture
Mahogany
2010s European Empire Children's Furniture
Iron
19th Century Antique Empire Children's Furniture
Mahogany
1970s German Vintage Empire Children's Furniture
Plastic
Early 20th Century Austrian Empire Children's Furniture
Bentwood
Late 19th Century American Antique Empire Children's Furniture
Mahogany
Late 20th Century French Empire Children's Furniture
Wood
19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture
Walnut
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture
Leather, Mahogany