19th Century Empire Writing Desk With Roll Top, Nutwood, Austria ca. 1800
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
This remarkable, elegantly designed nutwood writing desk was artfully made in the transition period from the so-called "Josephinism" (1780-1790) to the renowed Empire era (1800 - 181...
Brass
Empire Writing or Sofa Table in Mahogany with Satinwood Inlays, circa 1815
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very handsome Swedish Empire, Karl Johan salon table of fine Cuban mahogany with satinwood banding, carved and ebonized center pillar on quatre-form base ending in saber feet, with...
Ormolu
Pair Of Italian Neoclassical Painted And Giltwood Mirrors
Located in Essex, MA
Small mirrors nice to flank a painting or other artwork. Arched scrolled crest over a mirror plate surrounded by a white painted border.
Giltwood
An 18k Gold Sentimental Ring with the word Reconnaissance (Appreciation)
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An exceptional early 19th century 18k gold ring with filligree and a ‘verre eglomisé’ plaque featuring the word Reconnaissance - meaning: Appreciation or Respect - in a black and gol...
18k Gold
Pair of French Empire Period Fauteuils with Vintage Upholstery, Early 19th C.
Located in Morristown, NJ
Period & Attribution: Early 19th century, French Empire period, circa 1810–1825. The form, carving style, and construction are consistent with the work of Parisian menuisier-ébéniste...
Metal
$6,000 / set
A pair of Empire Candelabras France
Located in New York, NY
Candleholders for six candles. Made during the Empire period 1790-1810.
Ormolu
Pair of Early 19th Century Darte Brothers Porcelain Plates
By Darte Frères
Located in Basildon, GB
Pair of antique Darte Brothers cobalt blue porcelain plates magnificently painted with the French countryside, featuring cows, goats and sheep, decorated with gold rims. Each with th...
Porcelain
Super Rare Pair Of Paris (Darte Freres) Porcelain Gold-Ground Models Of Temples
By Darte Frères
Located in New York, NY
Can be found in Galerie Ariane Dandois, L'empire à travers l'Europe, 1800-1830, Paris, 2000, cat. no. 10.
Porcelain
1820s Green Yellow Antique French Empire Period Aubusson Carpet 7'4" x 8'6" Rug
Located in New York, NY
Early 19th Century French Empire Period Aubusson Carpet (7'4" x 8'6"-225 x 260) Antique French Floral Medallion Flat Weave Rug, Country of Origin: France, Circa Date: 1825. This exq...
Wool
Antique French Early Nineteenth Century 18 Karat Gold Ring Garnets of Perpignan
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This beautiful earl nineteenth century ring was created in the south of France. It is made from 18 karat rose gold and carries a hallmark. The ring is designed as a flower. A large o...
Garnet, 18k Gold
Braunschweig Castle watchmaker Antoine Nicolas Delolme, 1752-1836
Located in Berlin, DE
He remained highly active in the region until around 1810. Delolme’s work is characterized by the technical precision typical of high-end Swiss-German horology of the era, combined ...
Bentwood
19th Century Candlestick Lightshade Vienna by Balthasar Wigand Mother of Pearl
Located in Epfach, DE
Mother of pearl light shade or candlestick by Balthasar Wigand Vienna about 1810-1820 with very fine painting from the Galitzerberg in Vienna. Balthasar Wigand born 1771 lived and ...
Bronze
$20,957 / set
Micromosaic Demi-Parure Set, Early 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Micromosaic demi-parure set composed of a gold necklace and earrings. The double-stranded necklace features seven oval medallions, with two smaller ovals on the drop-shaped pendant e...
Gold
$4,400Sale Price|54% Off
Gilded and Painted Paris Porcelain Vase, France circa 1815
Located in CH
A Large Gilded and Painted Paris Porcelain Vase France, circa 1815 A magnificent early 19th-century Paris porcelain vase, finely painted and richly gilded. The front panel features...
Porcelain
Pair of French 1st Empire Period Bronze and Ormolu Three-Light Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A high quality and stunning true pair of French 1st empire period, ca. 1810 patinated bronze and ormolu three light candelabras.
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Silver Spice Box Garnet Flower Friesland Secret Compartment 1834 Wedding
Located in Munich, Bavaria
The influence of the Empire for objects in classical antique manner is still felt in this elegant silver spice box designed in the shape of an amphora on a pedestal with two handles....
Garnet, Silver
Pair of Early 19th Century Miniature Portraits in Flamed Birch Frames
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Early 19th Century Miniature Portraits in Flamed Birch Frames A charming and evocative pair of miniature portraits from the early 19th century, one of which is dated 1813. E...
Glass, Birch, Paper
Pair Of Viennese Imperial Porcelain Glass Coolers, Cobalt And Gold, Dating 1811
By Viennese Imperial Porcelain Manufactory
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare pair of elegant oval porcelain vessels on offset, fluted feet, with bulging, raised walls, fluted, indented straight opening rim with ten crenellated-like cut-out small segments...
Porcelain
Pressed Wood Snuff Box Depicting the Battle in Paris of 30th March 1814
Located in Bilzen, BE
Combat of March 30, 1814. On the heights of Saint Chaumont where an Artillery post served by students of the École Polytechnique fought fiercely and was saved from death by General S...
Wood
19th Century French Mahogany Chest of Drawers with a Dark Gray Stone Top
Located in Dallas, TX
An early 19th century French Empire mahogany commode with bronze mounts and a dark gray stone top. The chest of drawers is very handsome and functional and is in very good condition...
Stone, Bronze
$36,000Sale Price|40% Off
American Mahogany Classical Acanthus Carved Four Poster Tester Bed. Circa 1815
By Anthony Gabriel Quervelle
Located in Charleston, SC
American mahogany Classical carved four poster bed with molded edge tester, flanking swan necks headboard, acanthus carved bulbous post, original rails, and terminating on brass cup ...
Brass
Scandinavian Brass Push Up Chamber Candle Holder with Tray
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic patina on this candleholder from the early 1800's. We see this chamber candlestick on a coffee table with antique books. Wonderful addition to any collection of these sough...
Brass
Set of 2 Swedish Brass Chamber Candle Holders with Tray
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic patina on these candleholders from the early 1800's. We see these chamber candlesticks on a coffee table with antique books. Wonderful addition to any collection of these s...
Brass, Metal
American Cherry Two Drawer Stand on Brass Casters. NY, Circa 1815
Located in Charleston, SC
American Cherry two drawer stand with a straight edge one board top, oval brasses, bulbous squared tapered legs, and terminating on original brass casters. New York. Early 19th Century
Brass
$10,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pr. 19th Century Russian Cobalt Blue & Gold Ground Swan Handle Porcelain Vases
Located in New York, NY
A fantastic quality pair of Russian Empire cobalt blue and gold ground swan handle porcelain vases. Each piece is of Amphora form with a gorgeous 24K gold matted, burnished, and shin...
Porcelain
American Mahogany Marble Top and Gilt Stenciled Ormolu Console, NY, Circa 1815
Located in Charleston, SC
American mahogany marble top console with gilt stenciling skirt, flanking ormolu mounted mahogany columns, and terminating on the original gilt carved floral melon bulbous feet. Cons...
Marble, Ormolu
American Classical Gilt Mirror with Acorn, Shell, and Medallion Carvings C. 1815
Located in Charleston, SC
American Classical gilt carved wood mirror with decorative acorn, shell, medallion, and rope carvings. Mirror retains the original glass and wood backing. Early 19th century.
Glass, Wood, Giltwood
American Classical Eglomise Gilt Mirror with Rope and Medallion Carvings C. 1815
Located in Charleston, SC
American Classical gilt carved wood eglomise mirror with decorative sphere, medallion, and rope carvings, and painted eglomise of American frigate ships at war. Mirror retains the o...
Glass, Giltwood, Paint
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.