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.
16th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
A refined sixteenth century Brussels tapestry fragment showcasing stylized fruit and foliage in a beautifully aged palette of soft sand beige warm wheat tan golden taupe muted olive ...
Wool, Cotton, Feathers
Antique 18th Century French Tapestry Aubusson Pillow 18'' X 18''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique 18th century French tapestry aubusson pillow. 18'' x 18''
Wool
Leopard Fur Pillow, Springbok Skin 16x16" 40x40cm
Located in Dural, AU
It's the season of wild and exotic leopard prints, so set your interiors free with this glamorous leopard fur pillow. A beautifully designed print, ...
Fur
Mid 18th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-18th Century French Aubusson Pillow 20'' X 14'', handmade french piece in great condition
Wool, Feathers
Circa 1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Wool, Cotton
16th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
A striking sixteenth century Brussels tapestry fragment showcasing beautifully aged tones of antique taupe warm stone beige dusty mushroom brown deep indigo muted teal soft ivory and...
Wool, Cotton, Feathers
Circa 1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Wool, Cotton
$28,471Sale Price / set|65% Off
Napoleon Empire 1809 Historic Palais Beauharnais Curtains Paris France 1809
By Josephine de Beauharnais
Located in La xara, VC
Dear collector, please find this unique and exceptional piece of French History .Napoleon Bonaparte private pair of curtain from the most exclusive Palais in France from Beauharnais. This curtain was made for the Palais and go after Restauration of the Palais to another Private collection around Paris .Please don't hesitate for any request! Unique opportunity to get this exceptional private life of The Napoleon Emperor bedroom curtain! he Palais Beauharnais was a palace located in Paris, France, that was built in the 18th century for the Beauharnais family. The palace was purchased by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1809 for use as a residence for his stepson, Eugene de Beauharnais...
Textile
$1,600Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 20" x 10"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
Mid-18th Century French Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-18th Century French Tapestry Pillow 28" X 13", Circa 1850s
Wool
Aubusson French 1800 - 15" x 15"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
$1,840Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 24" x 8"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 30" x 10"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
$1,840Sale Price|20% Off
Antique French Aubusson Pillow 19" X 10"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
Circa 1640 Antique Flemish Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1640 Antique Flemish Tapestry Pillow
Wool, Cotton
$2,080Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 23" x 15"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
$1,920 / item
1880 Antique French Needlepoint Pillow - 19 X 18
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1880 antique French needlepoint pillow. 19 X 18, tribal and traditional, handmade and authentic.
Wool
17th Century Florentine Velvet Metallique Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Florentine Velvet Metallique Pillow
Metal
Circa 1850 Antique French Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1850 Antique French Pillow
Wool, Cotton
$2,640Sale Price|20% Off
Antique French Aubusson Pillow - 19" X 21"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Fabric, Wool
19th Century French Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
19th Century French Tapestry Pillow 19" X 13", it also has it's pair as well for whom that is interested, … more
Wool
Circa 1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow - 25'' X 22''
Wool
Circa 1900 Antique Ikat Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1900 Antique Ikat Tapestry Pillow
Wool, Cotton
Circa 1900 Antique Ikat Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1900 Antique Ikat Tapestry Pillow
Wool, Cotton
17th Century Flemish Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Woven in Flanders during the 17th century, this Flemish tapestry pillow preserves a striking fragment of early European textile art. The design emphasizes abstract geometry and rhyth...
Wool
$1,440Sale Price|20% Off
English Needlework Pillow 1850 - 24" x 11"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Wool, Cotton
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Florentine 18th Century Pillow - 15" x 14"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
Antique 19th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow 21'' X 21''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique 19th century French Aubusson tapestry pillow. 21'' x 21''
Wool
Circa 1850 Antique Portuguese Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1850 Antique Portuguese Pillow
Wool, Cotton
1880 Antique Needlepoint Tapestry Pillow - 21'' X 18''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1880 antique needlepoint tapestry pillow 21'' X 18. " Features needlework. Handmade.
Wool
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Florentine 18th Century Pillow - 21" x 16"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow - 20'' X 14'', Needlework and Handmade, Brussels.
Wool
17th Century Florentine Velvet Metallique Pillow 24" x 12" Inch
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Florentine Velvet Metallique Pillow 24" x 12" Inch
Metal
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 24" x 12"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
17th Century Brussels Botanical Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Brussels Botanical Tapestry Pillow
Wool, Feathers
Ca.1700 Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1700 Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow - 21'' X 19'', Handmade and Needlework, Extremely Fine and Unique
Wool, Feathers
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Wool, Cotton
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
Brussels 16th Century - 19" x 9"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 25'' x 10"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
$1,600Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 21" x 11"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
Mid 19th Century French Aubusson Decorative Pillow with Botanical Swag Motif
Located in Los Angeles, US
This Circa 1850 Antique French Aubusson pillow showcases the timeless charm of mid 19th century decorative weaving. A graceful botanical swag of roses stretches horizontally across t...
Wool, Cotton
$2,200 / item
17th Century Florentine Silk & Metallique Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Florentine Silk & Metallique Pillow
Metal
$1,440Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 14" x 12"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
Aubusson French 1800 - 19" x 19"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
$1,840Sale Price|20% Off
Aubusson French 1800 - 23" x 13"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
Mid-18th Century French Part Metallic Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-18th Century French Part Metallic Tapestry Pillow - 23" x 9"
Wool, Feathers
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 17" x 12"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
Mid-18th Century French Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-18th Century French Tapestry Pillow 28" X 13" - Circa 1850s
Wool
Circa 1700 Antique Brussels Baroque Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1700 Antique Brussels Baroque Tapestry Pillow
Wool, Cotton
French Silk Tapestry Pillow 1850
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 17" X 13"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Fabric, Wool
Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Wool, Feathers
Antique 18th Century French Tapestry Pillow - 23'' X 10''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique 18th century French tapestry pillow. 23'' x 10'' x 6''.
Wool, Feathers
$1,440Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 18" x 11"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
Throw Pillow Made from 16th Century Flemish Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
16th Century Flemish Tapestry Pillow 19" X 12", handmade piece , from mid-16th century
Wool
17th Century Woolen Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Woolen Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Wool, Feathers
$1,600Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Florentine 18th Century - 16" x 9"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Wool, Feathers
$1,280Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 18" x 10"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers