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Empire Lighting

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
Basket Chandelier Brass Empire Crystal Ceiling Antique Art Nouveau
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing our beautifully restored old chandelier from Berlin! This exquisite piece has been professionally refurbished with love, making it suitable for use in the US with its rew...
Category

1970s European Vintage Empire Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Brass, Wire

Pair of Empire Style Lamps
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Beautiful Empire style lamps. Cut glass or pressed glass oil reservoirs with flame tops and key detail. 3 portraits adorn the top of the highly ornate bases. Heavy. Curbside to NYC/P...
Category

20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting

Materials

Metal

Empire style twelve light crystal and bronze antique chandelier
Located in Houston, TX
Fine antique clear crystal chandelier having 12 lights. It is in the empire style with the lights surrounding the Outer rim of the fixture. The wiring is good and the crystal is Comp...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Empire Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Pair of French Empire Period Giltwood Eagle Sconces, Circa 1815
Located in Dallas, TX
This pair of giltwood sconces dates to circa 1815, at the end of the period of French history when Napoleon was the emperor, known as the Empire Style. As Napoleon envisioned himself...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Wood, Giltwood

Large French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Large French Empire style chandelier in finely chased gilt bronze and hand cut crystal. 12 exterior lighted candles and eight interior fittings for chandelier sized bulbs.
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

20th Century Magnificent, Classical Swedish Ceiling Crown, Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
Magnificent, classical Swedish ceiling crown, chandelier Polished brass. Curved, star shaped body with teardrop-shaped, faceted glass hangings, starti...
Category

20th Century Swedish Empire Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Pair Montgolfièr Empire Chandelier Crystal Classic traditional Brass Glass four
Located in Berlin, DE
**Set of 6 Available - Vintage Chandeliers from a Baltic Sea Castle** Here's a unique opportunity to acquire a set of 6 exquisite vintage chandeliers, each originating from a castle...
Category

Early 18th Century European Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Brass, Wire

French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
French Empire style gilt bronze and enamel chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi has got twelve lights. This chandelier is characterized by classical plate embellished with gilt bron...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Antique Corinthian Column Brass Floor Lamp with Fringed Lampshade, England, 1890
By OTHR
Located in Rijssen, NL
Antique corinthian column brass telescopic floorlamp, Hinks pattern, with wonderful handmade fringed lampshade. Made in England, in the style of James Hinks & Son in 1890. The lamp ...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Brass

Empire Style Bronze & Crystal Tent & Basket Chandelier, France, Circa:1910
Located in Alexandria, VA
This armless tent-and-basket chandelier was hand crafted in the Empire style in Paris in the early days of electrified light fixtures. Inside the bronze frame, hidden by the tent of ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

19th century French Empire Period Bronze Wall Light
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very nice wall lamp dating from the Empire period in gilded bronze with three palmette lights, the frame is leafy. Good condition. Electrification up to standards.
Category

1850s French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Rarity Low Plafonnier Basket Chandelier Crystal Empire Brass Lustre Antique
Located in Berlin, DE
Presenting our exquisite basket chandeliers, meticulously restored to their former glory with love and care in Berlin. The electrical wiring has been upgraded to work seamlessly in t...
Category

1930s European Vintage Empire Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Brass, Wire

Excellent Italian Made French Empire Style 8 Light Bronze Chandelier 42 X 30
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Excellent Italian Made French Empire Style 8 Light Bronze Chandelier 42 X 30 Dimensions : 42" Tall X 30" Wide X 30" Deep This fine quality large chandelier was made in Italy and ve...
Category

1990s Italian Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Glass and Bronze Two-Light Pendant Chandelier, 1950s
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire-style glass and bronze two-light Pendant Chandelier, circa the 1950s. This absolutely adorable Empire-style chandelier features a bronze frame with two arrows and two b...
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Lighting

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Early 20th Century French Empire Style Crystal Chandelier
Located in Chicago, IL
This chandelier features a bronze crown adorned with an acanthus leaf design at its peak. Its structure is beautifully composed of a series of shimmering crystal beads and baguettes ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Empire Swan Bronze Sconces 1930 Lighting France
Located in Bastogne, BE
An exquisite pair of two-light Empire style gilt bronze wall sconces from the 1930s. Drawing inspiration from the eighteenth century, these beautiful light fixtures demonstrate supe...
Category

1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Antique Spelter Table Lamp In Empire Style. French C.1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful spelter table lamp Amazing old bronze patina The lamp has been re-wired. Shade not included The measurement relates to the lamp base not including shade Free UK shipp...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting

Materials

Spelter

Gilt Bronze / Black Marble Seven-Light Candelabra Pair Table Lamp
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Illuminate your space with the enchanting charm of our Late 20th Century Italian Gilt Bronze and Black Marble Seven-Light Candelabra Table Lamps. This exquisite pair of lamps seamles...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting

Materials

Marble, Brass, Bronze

19th century French Pair of Empire Period Gilded Bronze Sconces
Located in LEGNY, FR
18th century French very beautiful pair of gilded bronze sconces from the Empire period in good condition. Caryatid heads. Very elegant model. Electrification up to standards. Nice q...
Category

1850s French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Table Lamp by Danish Sculptor TH Stein Denmark 1850’s
Located in Valby, 84
Artist made Bronze lamp attributed Danish Sculptor TH Stein and is made in the 1850’s. The lamp has clear references to both Pompeii and Herculanum. The lamp is made in solid bronze ...
Category

1850s Danish Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Bouillotte Lamp Empire Period
Located in BARSAC, FR
Lampe bouillotte en bronze doré finement ciselé à trois bras de lumière figurant des cygnes. Abat-jour en tôle laqué vert orné de frises dorées. Bras de lumière et abat-jour réglab...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Small Table Lamp From The 19th Century
Located in BARSAC, FR
Charming little bouillotte lamp in gilded and chiseled bronze, with one arm of light and red lacquered sheet metal lampshade. Old work from the beginning of the 19th century, empire...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Fine Pair of Italian Ormolu Wall Lights or Appliques in the French Empire Style
Located in Benington, Herts
Fine Pair of Italian Ormolu Wall Lights or Appliques in the French Empire Style, two pairs are available. Italian - Circa 1880 These lovely wall lights are conceived as notched...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Ormolu

empire brass column lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
empire lamp stem in solid brass with contemporary lampshade from the 1950's base is 44 centimetres high ( 17 1/3")
Category

1970s French Vintage Empire Lighting

Materials

Brass, Steel

Pair Basket Chandelier Crystal Empire Brass Sac a Pearl Lustre Ceiling Antique
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing two exquisite basket chandeliers, available as a pair! Both have been lovingly and professionally restored in Berlin, with electrical wiring compatible with the US. They ...
Category

1840s European Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Brass, Wire

Fine Set of Four of Italian Ormolu Wall Lights or Appliques in the French Empire
Located in Benington, Herts
Fine Set of Four of Italian Ormolu Wall Lights or Appliques in the French Empire Style. Italian - Circa 1880 These lovely wall lights are conceived as notched arrows with lion ...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Ormolu

French Bouillotte Lamps Napoleonic Empire Green Gold Gilded Vintage Table Lamps
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Vintage classic French green and gold gilded bronze Bouillotte style table lamps Style: Napoleonic, Empire, Regency, Neoclassical, Louis XVI, Antique, Vintage, classic table lamps. D...
Category

20th Century French Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Mid century vintage Italian brass and porcelain whimsical decorator lamp
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a mid-century vintage Italian made decorator table lamp. The table lamp features a botanical inspired bouquet flowers with handmade porce...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting

Materials

Metal

Italian, Lucca, Empire Period Silver Gilt / Mecca 12-light Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Of traditional basket form with two tiers of 6 removeable arms each, the arms connected to vertical gilded gesso bands of ascending diameter, the top tier having beautifully sculpted...
Category

Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Silver Leaf

NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel Empire Hanging Chandelier Pendant
Located in New York, NY
20th Century Empire style chandelier pendant with cast glass dish and bronze details. These elegant lights graced many of the main corridors of the NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel...
Category

20th Century American Empire Lighting

Materials

Steel

Pair of Paul Ferrante Empire-Style Six-Arm Chandeliers
Located in San Francisco, CA
A wonderful pair of Paul Ferrante empire-style six-arm chandeliers with 7 bulb sockets Gold gilded & green painted bronze 25" W x 36" H
Category

20th Century Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Wonderful French Empire Neoclassical Patinated Ormolu Bronze Chandelier Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful French Empire / Neoclassical Style Patinated & Ormolu Dore Bronze Chandelier 8 Candelabra Light Fixture
Category

20th Century French Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Fine Pair French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Figural Three Light Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Superb pair of antique French Empire period gilt bronze figural three light sconces Circa 1830 Striking figural sconces originally created for use with oil, now electified. This beau...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Empire Style Bouillotte Lamp In Gilt Bronze
Located in BARSAC, FR
Empire style bouillotte lamp in gilded bronze, with a green lacquered sheet metal shade. Illuminated by 3 lights. French work of quality from the 20th century (circa 1950) Perfect ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

French early 19th Century twelve light gilded chandelier attributed to Thomire
Located in Southall, GB
An impressive gilt and patinated bronze French Empire chandelier with twelve lights, attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751–1843). Winged Victory figures wearing classical robes stand...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Ormolu

Large Neo classical Empire style Chandelier in gilt bronze and green crystal
Located in Paris, FR
Imposing Neo-classical chandelier in pure Empire style, with castpalmettes motifs and mythological figures in fine gilded bronze In the center, a green cut crystal cup support a m...
Category

Early 19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Elegant pair of Empire Table Lamps, originally candlesticks from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant pair of Empire Table Lamps in silver-plated bronze. Originally a pair of Empire candlesticks from the 1820s, converted to table lamps in ...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

French Empire 68" Tall Bronze & Marble Lighted Candelabra Torchere Floor Lamps
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire 68" Tall Bronze & Marble Lighted Candelabra Torchere Floor Lamps - a Pair. Item featured is a tall impressive size, 7 electrified candelabras, stunning cast bronze ormolu with rouge marble supports, square black painted wooden bases, remarkable quality and overall presence. Approx 60 lbs each. Stunning and rare pair of floor candelabras...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Beautiful Antique Old Paris Porcelain Table Lamps Oil Lamps Franc 1880s
Located in BAAMBRUGGE, NL
Beautiful Antique Old Paris Porcelain Oil Lamps ca 1880s Beautiful antique Old Paris porcelain Lamps These lamps, originally oil lamps, we...
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

French Empire Bronze Figural Swan Chandelier
Located in Barcelona, ES
Very Fine Empire Style Neoclassical Six-Arm Bronze Swan Chandelier, France, 1930s Gorgeous six lights bronze chandelier with foliage and figural motifs. Rare French Empire style bron...
Category

20th Century French Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Early 20th Century French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Six-Light Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Brighten a entry or a powder room with this sophisticated antique Empire chandelier. Crafted of solid bronze in Paris France, circa 1920, the wall hanging fixture is circular in shap...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Early 20th Century French Empire Bronze Dore Eight-Light Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Brighten an entry or a powder room with this sophisticated antique chandelier. Crafted in Paris, France, circa 1920 and built of bronze, the wall hanging fixture is circular in shape...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

French Bouillotte Bronze Three Lights Table Lamp, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
A French Empire-style period bouillotte lamp, boasting three bronze lights and an adjustable screen, is complemented by a verdant tole shade in hues of green.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass, Bronze, Copper

Pair Vintage Roman Column Form Green Marble and Brass Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of vintage Empire style table lamps of Roman column form, finely crafted from variegated green marble with brass mounts including Corinthian style capitals and square stepped ba...
Category

20th Century Empire Lighting

Materials

Marble, Brass

French Antique Bronze Sconces
Located in Austin, TX
Sconces from France in the French Empire style in the manner of Pierre-Philippe Thomire. The pair is made of finely cast gilded bronze and features a female figure as an antique Gree...
Category

1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Brass Steel Pool Table Double Lantern Light
Located in New York, NY
This piece was acquired from an estate located in Greenwich, Connecticut. This pool table light holds two metal shaded lamps. The arm of the light is made of cast brass. Good conditi...
Category

Early 20th Century Empire Lighting

Materials

Brass, Steel

An Outstanding 1950's Italian Cross Sword and Gilt Rope Tassel Wall Light
Located in Hastings, GB
An extremely rare and incredibly ornate Italian wall light, dating to the 1950's, in the empire style and modeled as a pair of crossed swords, in gilt and silver gilt, decorated with...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting

Materials

Metal

Vintage French Iron and Brass Torchiere Floor Lamp
Located in New Orleans, LA
Stunning patinated wrought iron torchiere floor lamp with solid brass details stands on three legs and features three lights with red, black and gold shades. Time earned patina and b...
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Lighting

Materials

Brass, Iron

Pair Signed Antique E.F. Caldwell Empire Gilt Bronze High Detail Wall Sconces
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Stunning and Rare Pair Antique c1890's Fire Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces Signed by E.F. Caldwell. Please look closely at pictures as these sconces are beautiful beyond words. Originally ...
Category

1890s North American Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

French Toleware Converted Oil Lamp, Circa 1875
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Painted Toleware Converted Oil Lamp, France Charming French Tole Lamp on a frosted lucite base. Wonderful patina on this vintage piece. Certainly a statement piece in any home libr...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Metal

Pair French Empire Caryatids Gilded Bronze Cut Glass 4-Light Lantern Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Beautiful pair of antique large French Empire caryatids cast bronze lanterns. Fire gilded solid heavy bronze and cut glass shade with four-light. Measures: Diameter 12 in/ 30 cm Heig...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Painted Boillotte Lamps.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Painted Boillotte Lamps. A large pair of Empire style gilt bronze and painted bouillotte lamps with sheet metal shades, 20th century, beautifull...
Category

20th Century French Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Mid 20th Century Italian Tole Lamp
Located in Doylestown, PA
Mid 20th century Italian tole lamp with original shade. Fine Italian tole column form table lamp in a warm ochre hue. It is intricately painted with...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Lighting

Materials

Tôle, Brass

1920s Italian Empire Style Brass & Crystal Wall Sconces - a Pair
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a pair of enchanting sconces, circa the 1920s. These Empire-style sconces exude an aura of class and elegance, transporting any room to a time of timele...
Category

1920s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Pair 1960s Austrian Empire style 24K Framed w/ Glass Bag/ Tent Form Wall Sconces
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Pair Austrian Empire style 24K Gold Framed "Bag and Tent" form Wall sconces. Manufactured by Palwa. Labelled.
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Empire Lighting

Materials

Glass

Marvelous MARBRO Mid Century Polished Brass Table Lamp! Huge Showpiece Lighting
Located in Peoria, AZ
SENSATIONAL! MID CENTURY MONUMENTAL BRASS MARBRO LAMP! MID CENTURY DECORATION ICON! DUAL PULL STRING SOCKETS! POLISHED BRASS ORIGINAL SHADE & BRASS FINIAL DIMENSIONS: 40" x 21" In the forties and fifties, decorators would choose the most impressive lamp they could obtain and place it in a home's "picture window" so that all passerby and visitors could glimpse just how well the occupants lived! Picture windows started disappearing in the late sixties, but demand for monumental lighting...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Empire Lighting

Materials

Metal, Gold

French Empire Green Painted Table Bouillotte Candlestick Lamp
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
19th Century Green Painted Library Table Lamp, France Charming French desk lamp with narrow brass center support in between two bases best used for candles, or just left alone for ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze, Metal

Empire Chandelier Made Around 1810
Located in Stockholm, SE
Gilt bronze chandelier with eight candleholders. Great design with be winged putts holding the urns that in turn holds the candles. Good quality and condition.
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Empire lighting for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire lighting for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage lighting created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire lighting made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original lighting, popular names associated with this style include Gherardo Degli Albizzi, Edward F. Caldwell & Co., Alexandre Vossion, and Maison Baguès. 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 lighting differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $194 and tops out at $220,000 while the average work can sell for $4,434.

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