Sold|$12,000
Rare Exceptional French Straw Work Box
Located in New York, NY
A rare exceptional French straw work box Early 19th century An exception box in both its depiction of romantic Napoleonic scenes, quality of execution and remarkable scale. We have...
Straw
Vintage French Faux Malachite Glass Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage glass and brass box made in France -reverse painted to mimic malachite.
Brass
A French Empire ebonised ormolu mounted documents' chest, circa 1800
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Rectangular ebonized case lined with ormolu mouldings, the lid with a mother-of-pearl relief and fine ormolu lock to the front, blue felt interior with leather document folder.
Ormolu
Bronze Mounted White Opaline French Trinket Box Circa 1900
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful bronze mounted white opaline jewelry box in empire style, French Circa 1900.
Glass
Sold|$7,492
Important Crystal Box
Located in Paris, FR
Box in Crystal, set by golden bronze.
Crystal, Bronze
French Charles X Gilt Bronze Mounted Black Cut Glass Petite Box
Located in New York, NY
The rectangular cover with canted corners on a conforming base banded with an egg and dart frieze and scroll clasp, the glass surface cut in a diamond pattern grid with each square c...
Gold
French 19th century Guilloché Silver Snuff-box
Located in St. Catharines, ON
An elegant French silver tabatière or snuff box, overall decorated with guilloché or engine-turned panels, in a regular wavy pattern creating the illusion of movement. In fine condit...
Silver
19th Century Big Dimension Marquetry and ceramic Painted Jewelery Box
Located in Torino, IT
A french 19th century marquetry and painted on sevres jewelery box circa 1830s France magnificent piece of art has been stand in exhibition of parma / Italy in 2021. in big remarkab...
Ceramic, Ebony, Rosewood, Walnut
Gold Snuff Box with Portrait of Napoleon by Jean-Baptiste Isabey '1767–1855'
Located in New York, US
Our gold snuff box is distinguished by its exceptional portrait of Emperor Napoleon I (1769-1821) by the revered miniature painter, Jean-Baptiste Isabey (1767–1855), signed and dated...
Gold, Enamel
Antique Gold Snuffbox by Adrien-Maximilien Vachette, Paris, 1795-1797
By Adrien-Maximilien Vachette
Located in Paris, FR
Chased yellow and pink gold hunting snuffbox with a guilloché pattern framed with broad matt borders relieved by a continuous raised burnished scroll and foliage pattern. Gently sh...
Gold
Puiforcat French Sterling Silver Fish Servers Two Pieces Box Empire, Swan
By Emile Puiforcat
Located in TRIAIZE, PAYS DE LOIRE
Puiforcat Gorgeous French sterling silver fish servers two-piece with original box Empire, Swans.
Silver Plate, Sterling Silver
Lapparra French Sterling Silver Tea/Coffee Spoons Set 12 pc w/box Empire
Located in Triaize, Pays de Loire
LAPPARRA French Sterling Silver Tea/Coffee Spoons Set 12 pc w/box Empire A rare set with torches, swans wings, palmettes, laurel wreath and flowers decoration.
Sterling Silver
Puiforcat French Sterling Silver Dessert Hors d'Oeuvre Set Box Empire, Swans
By Emile Puiforcat
Located in TRIAIZE, PAYS DE LOIRE
Puiforcat French sterling silver dessert Hors d'Oeuvre set box Empire, Swans Head of Minerve first titre on the handles for 950/1000 French sterling silver guarantee.
Silver Plate, Sterling Silver
Puiforcat Gorgeous French Sterling Silver Fish Servers 2 pc w/box Empire, Swans
Located in Triaize, Pays de Loire
Puiforcat Gorgeous French Sterling Silver Fish Servers 2 pc with original box Empire, Swans Head of Minerve 1 st titre on the handles for guarantee 950/1000 French sterling silver.
Silver Plate, Sterling Silver
Antique French Sterling Silver Ebony Dinner Knife Set of 12 Pieces Box, Empire
Located in TRIAIZE, PAYS DE LOIRE
Antique French sterling silver ebony dinner knife set of 12 pieces, box, Empire 12 dinner knife set with ebony handles, sterling silver ferrules and collars.
Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel
Soufflot French Sterling Silver Four Salt Cellars, Spoons, Box, Swans
By Henri Soufflot 1, Olier & Caron 1
Located in TRIAIZE, PAYS DE LOIRE
Head of Minerve first titre for 950/1000 French sterling silver guarantee. Fabulous French sterling silver salt cellars four-pieces.
Sterling Silver
Puiforcat Rare French Sterling Silver Tea or Coffee Spoons Set 12 pc box Swans
Located in Triaize, Pays de Loire
PUIFORCAT Rare French Sterling Silver Tea or Coffee Spoons Set 12 pc with box Swans Head of Minerve 1 st titre for 950/1000 French Sterling Silver guarantee Exceptional French ...
Sterling Silver
Soufflot French Sterling Silver 18-Karat Gold Salad Serving Set Box Cornucopia
By Henri Soufflot 1
Located in TRIAIZE, PAYS DE LOIRE
Soufflot French all sterling silver 18-karat gold salad serving set two pieces with original box, cornucopia Empire pattern.
Gold, Sterling Silver
Canaux French All Sterling Silver 18k Gold Dessert Hors D'oeuvre Set Box Torches
By Paul Canaux and Company 1
Located in TRIAIZE, PAYS DE LOIRE
CANAUX fabulous French all Sterling Silver 18k Gold Dessert Hors D'oeuvre set of four pieces with original box Torches A set of truly exceptional quality, for the richness of thei...
Gold, Sterling Silver
Ormolu-Mounted French Crystal Jewelry Box/ Casket in Empire Style, circa 1900
By Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
Ormolu-mounted French crystal jewelry box/ casket in Empire style, circa 1900.
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Period Fragrances Necessary Attributed to Ravrio, circa 1805-1810
By André-Antoine Ravrio
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Very rare and gorgeous fragrances necessary topped with a Cobra socket handle, finely carved masks, patinated bronze and beautiful original mercury gilding, including four covered bo...
Crystal, Ormolu, Bronze
Large Antique French Baccarat Att. Crystal Glass Brass Jewelry Vanity Box Casket
By Baccarat, Josephinenhutte Moser
Located in Nierstein am Rhein, DE
Large rare and beautiful Empire style antique hand-cut and faceted crystal glass box with decorative gilt brass metal rim made by Baccarat France attribution, circa 1900-1920.
Crystal, Metal, Brass
Rare French 18K Pink Gold Sterling Silver Ice Cream Set Two Pieces Empire Box
Located in TRIAIZE, PAYS DE LOIRE
Rare French 18-karat pink and yellow gold sterling silver ice cream set two pieces empire with original box.
Gold, Sterling Silver
CHRISTOFLE French Silver Spoon Set 12 pc Empire Pattern with Original Box
Located in Triaize, Pays de Loire
Rare French Silver-Gilt Tea or Coffee Spoons 12 pc with original box Empire Pattern Extremely Rare Model Empire of the Christofle silver plated spoons, the bowls are gilded on the...
Gold Plate
Stunning Mid-19th Century French Ormolu & Enamel Circular Patch Box
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French ormolu and enamel patch box that dates back to between 1840-1850. The circular sides and bottom of the box are embossed with rich gold ormolu arab...
Enamel
Bergeron French Sterling Silver 18k Gold Four Salt Cellars, Spoons, Box, Swans
By Emile Bergeron
Located in TRIAIZE, PAYS DE LOIRE
Fabulous French sterling silver salt cellars four-pieces. Each ornately decorated in Empire styling with laurel wreath, shell and swan-shaped handles.
Sterling Silver, Gold
1900s Rare French Sterling Silver & Horn Dessert Hors D'oeuvre Set 4 pc w/box
By Désiré Leprince
Located in TRIAIZE, PAYS DE LOIRE
1900s rare French sterling silver and horn dessert Hors D'oeuvre set 4 pc with box.
Sterling Silver
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.