Empire Desk Accessories
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
Table Decoration in Empire Style after J.B. Claude Odiot
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, engraved and silvered. Three-columns, shafts with full-plastic,
finely engraved swans. Funnel-shaped insert.
Category
20th Century French Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Napoleon Bonaparte Letter Opener
Located in Lučenec, SK
This is one of a kind bronze letter opener from the period just after Napoleon's death. It is a testament to his popularity that even letter openers featured his face.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Open letters by C. villain
By Jean Garnier
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Open letters by C. villain
Origin France Circa 1915
Empire style patinated bronze
Soldier motif
Excellent condition signed on the side
FRENCH, 1853-1910
Jean Garnier was born in Mou...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Inkwell with Imperial Eagle in Portoro Marble and Gilt Bronze
Located in NICE, FR
We would like to present you with this magnificent 19th-century Empire-style inkwell from the Napoleon III era adorned with a raised imperial eagle motif positioned between the two i...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire Style Table Clock and Inkwell
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Empire style table clock and inkwell
Origin France Circa 1900
The watch has a Paris machine and it works
Golden bronze and Onix materials
Very good general condition
the marble ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Elegant Paperweight in dark patinated bronze and marble. Empire 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant Paperweight in dark patinated bronze and marble. Empire, made during 1820s-1830s in Europe. Classic Laurel Wreath from the Empire Era.
Wear consistent with age and use
Category
1820s European Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Baccarat Antique Sand Dunes Rock Paperweight
By Baccarat
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine antique French Baccarat Sand Dunes (or Rock) paperweight of small Size dating from the mid 19th century. The paperweight of small rounded and domed form contains sand-like designs mottled with translucent green drawn up in two peaks. With a polished pontil and slightly concave base the paperweight is not marked but a well recorded design by renowned French glass makers Baccarat.
Provenance: Acquired in the UK Art...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
19th Century Brown-Black German Small Empire Iron Coffer, Antique Table Decor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, black antique German coffer made of hand crafted iron, particularized with griffins, torchères and tendril motifs on the wall and pinecone mode on the lid, in good condition. The small detailed decor piece represents the Empire time period...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Iron
Empire Style Malachite on a Bronze Doré Gilded Stand Desk Decorative Object LA
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A Beautiful Empire style malachite orb on a bronze doré stand retour d'Egypte of 3 figures of standing maidens with a pine cone in the center an detailed crown holder hosting a large...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Malachite, Bronze
Gardener’s Delight, Antique French Empire Gilt Bronze Beehive Model Encrier
Located in New York, NY
Great fun for a gardening afficionado - a delightful desk accessory wether you're planning a beautiful garden, tending a beehive, ordering new seeds for the season or wish for a an uplifting reminder at your work space of the bounty and beauty of nature...
France, 19th century
This fabulous antique French gilt bronze inkstand has a beehive central well with a hay stack cover, several bees on the surface, flanked by two bronze baskets with covers laden with fruit, flowers and wheat sheaves, at the base of one sits a bird leaning over a large basket with a container for sand in the shape of a large bunch of wheat tied with a rope and a bird perched on top as a cover. The back of this fantasy is composed of a group of garden implements which include a sickle, a spade, a trowel, a scythe, ring pliers and a pitch fork tied with an attractive bow and hung with garlands of flowers, masses of grapes, wheat forming a support for a quill. The base designed as naturalistic wood logs topped with rustic wood...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Bronze Inkwell with Roman Figure on Brown Marble Base
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate your office desk with this large Empire style inkwell. Created in France circa 1870 and rectangular in shape, the inkwell features a bron...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Crystal and Gilt Bronze Seal, Empire Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Crystal and gilt bronze seal, Empire Period"
Cachet of Empire period in crystal and gilt bronze, XIXth century, with the initials CC, very ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Armor and Venus Early 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Sculpture Gilt Bronze
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This beautiful Empire bronze sculpture shows winged Amor carrying Venus, she is holding a wreath in her right hand, surrounded within a circula...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Small Round Tray with Red Carrara Marble Top and Brass Edging
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small round barware tray with red carrara marble top and brass edging.
This tray was most likely an old table top, that is now being used as a tray.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass
Small Empire Inkwell in Gilded and Dark Patinated Bronze from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A small and beautiful inkwell in gilded and dark patinated bronze with cups in porcelain. French Empire from the 1820s.
Wear consistent with age and use.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Plate, Bronze
Austrian Clock Holder, Granite and Steel with Picture St Stephans Dome
Located in Stockholm, SE
A beautiful and exclusive clock stand made of steel and granite. Holding a picture of the Stephans-dome. The most famous church in Wienna, Austria.
High quality craftsmanship on all...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Granite, Steel
Early English 19th Century Pewter Plate
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small round pewter plate with London and makers mark on the rear side.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Pewter
20th Century Italian Solid Silver Inkstans Empyre Style
By Arno Fassi
Located in VALENZA, IT
Empire style 800 silver inkstand
The base of the inkstand, completely handmade, is shaped like a "cathedral". The classic "palmettes" of the Empire style have been chiseled around i...
Category
1990s Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
French Marble and Bronze Inkwell Signed Ferdinand Barbedienne, Paris, circa 1870
Located in Milan, IT
A Verona red marble remarkable inkwell, pure Empire style representing a gilded bronze of the bust of Antinous as Dioniso. Empire style, Generous size, excellent state of preservatio...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Swedish Paperweight in Marble, Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Swedish paperweight in the marble in the shape of a cannon barrel. Beautiful patina. Empire, early 19th century.
Minor chips (se pictures)
Wear con...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Gilt Bronze Ink Stand with Candlestick, French Empire
Located in Knivsta, SE
Rare and beautiful gilt bronze ink stand with candlestick. French empire, probably made in Paris around 1810. The gilt bronze with some patina.
Wear consistent with age and use.
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Set of Four Gilt Metal Empire Style Candlesticks
Located in Hallowell, US
Set of four and priced as a set of four, custom made by a foundry taking my period candlestick and making duplicates at great expense from my original model. Gold plated by electroly...
Category
Early 2000s French Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Green Glass Inkwell Bottle
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an Empire style parallelogram shaped emerald green glass heavy inkwell. It’s guilt bronze mounted with a scene of sphinxes statues, bell shaped vases, and maidens moving and ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
French Empire Style Bronze Double Inkwell With Eagle
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) bronze double inkwell with eagle on top and rectangular green marble base.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Marble and Bronze Rooster Sculpture Signed Melotte
By Melotte
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate your desk or study with this elegant antique inkwell, crafted in France, circa 1880, and situated on a rectangular green marble base, the desk accessory features a bronze ro...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
Early 19th Century Empire Russian Malachite and Ormolu Paperweight Spaniel Dog
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very fine Russian giltbronze mounted malachite veneered paperweight dating from the early to mid-19th century. The plinth of rectangular form surmounted by a fully sculpted giltbro...
Category
Mid-19th Century Russian Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Lacquered Papier-mâché Snuff Box with Parrot and Lady
By Stobwasser
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early 19th century hand painted black lacquered Papier-Mâché snuff box or vanity box
Crafted in Austria in the early 1800's, the decorative box features a hand painted scene of a yo...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Lacquer, Paper, Wood
Empire Bronze and Marble Desk Top Inkstand by Lefebvre of Belgium, circa 1820
Located in Central England, GB
Empire bronze and marble desk top Inkstand by Lefebvre of Belgium.
This magnificent large scale empire period desk top inkstand has a true country house presence about it. The sig...
Category
19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century, French, Empire Bronze Dore Inkwell Signed
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style (19th century) bronze dore rectangular inkwell on 4 clawed feet with relief (signed BARBEDIENNE).
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
4-Piece French Empire Bronze Inkwell Set with Swan
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) 4 piece bronze inkwell set with swan design. Inkwell, paperweight, pen holder, sandwell for cleaning nibs.(PRICED AS SET...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Oval Ormolu Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French 19th century Empire st. oval ormolu inkwell. The inkwell is raised by pawed feet below a lattice design with rosettes in the center. Above are two ink dispensers ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Ormolu
Napoleon I Empire Encrier, Gilt Bronze and Verde Antico, Signed Basil, 1830
Located in New York, NY
Impressive gilt bronze and Verde Antico marble inkstand centered by a bust of Napoleon I, the sculpture signed on back Basil and dated 1830, with two inkwells flanking.
Beautifully...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique French Empire Style Ink Stand, Desk Inkwell, France 1880, H527
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique French Empire style ink stand, desk inkwell, France 1880, H527
France 1880
Floral mounts to the back
Gilt pierced three quarter gallery on top
Pair of gilt inkwells with lid...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
French Empire Napoleon III Bizantine Bronze Ormolu Inkwell or Inkstand
Located in Miami, FL
Exquisite Bizantine French 19th century Empire Napoleon III gilded bronze inkwell.
This handcrafted antique desk accessory bears the makers mar...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Desk Set, Viennese Empire, c. 1815
Located in Greding, DE
Seven-piece desk set from Vienna in granite with polished steel mounts.
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Granite, Steel
One Empire Style Silvered and Black Engraved Metal Table Lamp, France, 1930s
Located in IT
Empire style silvered and black engraved metal table lamp, France, early 20th century, 1930s
In the pictures you see two lamps but only one le...
Category
Early 20th Century European Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Empire Painted and Lacquered Spyglass, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The adjustable spyglass with gilt brass trim and original leather case.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Lacquer
French Empire Style Ormolu Mounted Marble Desk Stand
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning French ormolu mounted Empire style marble desk stand dating from the 19th century. This stylish stand is of rectangular shape with rounded polished ends and is made from a...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
French Empire Period Wastepaper Basket
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French Empire period wastepaper basket.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Russian Empire Malachite and Ormolu Inkstand Encrier Swans
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very fine Russian giltbronze mounted malachite veneered inkstand from the first quarter of the 19th century. Of rectangular form with an acanthus leave decorated border on round fe...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Malachite, Bronze
Late 18th Early 19th Century Italian Silver Wax Jack
Located in Firenze, IT
SHIPPING POLICY:
No additional costs will be added to this order.
Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included).
The round-shaped bowl flat chased ...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
20th Century Empire Style Handmade Sterling Silver Inkwell, Italy, 1991
Located in Cagliari, IT
Wonderful handcrafted sterling silver inkwell.
A refined piece of Empire style silverware perfect for an extremely elegant home or office.
Made for us by Argenteria Auge, one of th...
Category
1990s Italian Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
French Empire Ormolu Inkwell
Located in London, GB
A fine French Empire ormolu desk standish. Set upon a circular base with top and bottom mouldings cast with leaf and dart decoration. The space be...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Ormolu
Onyx Marble Gold Gilt Bronze Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful onyx and gold gilt bronze inkwell [ink well] box in the Empire style, circa 19th century, Europe. In addition to its intended use, piece makes a gorgeous standalone decor...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Bronze
Antique German Drop-Shaped and Brass Decorated Iron, 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Antique German drop-shaped and brass decorated iron with wooden handle.
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Inkstand 'Encrier'
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The rectangular base mounted with a round lidded ink pot with a porcelain container and a sand pot, each raised on winged lion feet, centered by a ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Italian Empire Silver and Silver Gilt Inkstand
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Of oval shape, with a cupid holding a bow and arrow riding aloft a gilt dolphin forming a lid over a compartment, flanked by ink and sand pots on masked plinths cast with Medusa masks and mounted to a lion's-paw footed oval galleried tray...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
19th-Century French Empire Bronze Napoleon Commemorative Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
French Empire (19th Century) bronze inkwell in the form of Napoleon's casket covered by a shroud with a crown finial top and resting on a tiered base with...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Lidded Service Terrine in Empire Style after J.B. Claude Odiot
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze engraved and silvered. Four columns with full moulded and finely
engraved swans.
Diameter:26cm,
height: 28 cm.
Category
20th Century French Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Lidded Terrine in Empire Style after J.B. Claude Odiot
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, engraved and silvered. Both sides handle in the form of a pair of
snakes.
Category
20th Century French Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Napoleon Bronze Sculpture Desk Inkwell, Signed Emile Pinedo
By Émile Pinedo
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Napoleon Bonaparte bronze desk inkwell, signed Pinedo with foundry mark. Mounted over a Green Alps marble.
Antique signed 19th large bronz...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Steel And Gilt Bronze Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
French Empire (19th Century) steel inkwell with gilt bronze trim with four original glass inserts and a side drawer.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze, Steel
Fine Early 19th Century Empire Russian Inkstand, St. Petersburg, circa 1810
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine Russian Empire gilt- and patinated bronze desk top inkstand, St. Petersburg, circa 1810. Rectangular shaped base raised on four turned fee...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style French Bronze Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Empire style French bronze inkwell. Dark patinated cast bronze encrier/ink-stand on paw feet with original pine cone lidded glass ink-wells and...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Empire Gilt-Bronze & Variegated Green Marble Desk Set, c.1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
The base is composed of variegated green marble with a pen tray, ormolu trim and patarae motif. The ormolu well with lid is beautifully decorated with laurel wreath garland surround...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Mid century vintage bronze obelisk after Maitland smith.
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a handsome mid century vintage bronze obelisk. This bronze obelisk stands on fort ball feet that stands on a black Lacquered and walnut plant. This bronze obelisk has a dark ...
Category
1970s Philippine Vintage Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Elegant Empire Inkwell with Original Gilding, Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant Empire inkwell in gilded bronze with the original gilding. French Empire from the early 19th century, circa 1820.
The gilding is partly worn, but original since 200 years....
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Plate, Bronze
Empire desk accessories for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire desk accessories 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 desk accessories created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire desk accessories 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 desk accessories, popular names associated with this style include Argenteria Auge, Arno Fassi, Arval Argenti Valenza, and Baccarat. 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 desk accessories differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $276 and tops out at $18,322 while the average work can sell for $2,066.
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