Empire Decorative Objects
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
Empire German Ormolu Mntd Mahogany Turtle Feet Jardiniere, Klinkerfuss & Münch
By Johannes Klinkerfuss
Located in New York, NY
A Fantastic and Very Important Empire Period German Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Jardiniere Mounted on Dore Bronze Turtle Feet, In The Manner Of Johannes Klinkerfuss And Casimir Münch. Th...
Category
1810s German Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
18th-19th Century French Empire Pair of Antique Gilded Bronze Candle Holders
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold, antique French pair of candle holders made of hand crafted matted and polished burnt gilded bronze, in good condition. Each of the detailed sticks is composed with a face mascarons, a crowned man and woman, carrying a mug with flowers, loose cuffs supported by a round plinth, standing on square base. The Parisian décor...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal, Bronze
19th Century French Empire Period Walnut Eight-Day Comtoise Longcase Clock
Located in Birmingham, AL
A stunning early 19th century French Empire period chateau longcase clock with eight-day comtoise movement handcrafted of solid walnut, circa 1815, all original. This tall, handsome chateau longcase clock, with a deep, rich patina that reveals the beauty of age, features a hood with a stepped cornice over a shaped front dial case door...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century Pair of Empire Bronze Female Caryatids Candelabras
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of early 19th century French empire gilt and patinated bronze female caryatids candelabras à la Grècque.
A beautiful pair of Empire gilt and patinated bronze candelabras deco...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of vase Porcelain, Valentine, Old Paris, flowers pattern, France 1860
By Old Paris
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Porcelain Pair of Vase Ofs Valentine Old Paris Decor Of Bouquet Of Flowers XIXth Century
Manufacture of "Valentine" in Saint-Gaudens. Decorated with a bouq...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire
Located in Warsaw, PL
Empire style figural mantle clock from the beginning of the 19th century. This mantel clock is known also as the “Allegory of love”, as the woman featured in this clock is holding on...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Large Malachite and Ormolu Mounted Empire Style Vases
Located in London, GB
These splendid malachite and ormolu mounted vases are executed in the French Empire style, and are emblazoned with gilt decoration that has an unmistakable air of confidence, pride, ...
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
French 1st Empire Period Dore Bronze Grouping of Lovers, Att. Thomire A Paris
Located in New York, NY
An Exceptional Antique French 1st Empire Period Dore Bronze Grouping of Lovers, Attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire a Paris. Exceptionally cast, hand-chiseled and further burnished and matted with two-tone gold, this dore bronze grouping of two neoclassical lovers is of the upmost quality and craftsmanship. As Pierre-Philippe Thomire is regarded as one of the greatest bronzier's of the late 18th century and early 19th century, this dore bronze piece could only be made by someone with his artistic talents. The lovers are seen with the man seated on a cushioned bench with tasseled...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Huge KPM Berlin Vase Rare, Empire
Located in Berlin, DE
Vase with satyr heads. Urn shape with cloth draped on octagonal plinth.
Colorful painted flower garlands, bouquets, streublums and butterflies.
The satyr heads painted in color.
P...
Category
19th Century German Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Early 19th Century Ormolu Mantel Clock, Atala freeing Chactas, Paris, circa 1810
Located in Greven, DE
Mantel Clock "Atala and Chactas"
Paris
Bronze (fire-gilt and patinated), enamel
Empire around 1810
Dimensions: H x W x D: 40 x 32 x 11 cm
Description:
Very rare and extremely high quality French mantel clock, so-called Pendule Au Bon Sauvage.
Depicted are scenes from the love story "Atala or the love of two savages in the desert" written by Francois René Vicomte de Chateaubriand in 1801. At the beginning of the 19th century, this was probably the most famous love story in Europe, but today it has been forgotten.
The story, set in present-day Louisiana (USA), is roughly rewritten about the forbidden love between Chactas, a young Indian, and Atala, the beautiful daughter of a Spaniard.
Chactas is captured in a battle between two Indian tribes, chained to a palm tree and is to be sacrificed. Atala wants to save his life and convert him to Christianity. She unties him from the palm tree at night and they flee together into the wilderness of North America. Their love for each other grows stronger and stronger and they have prospects for a future together.
The story takes a tragic turn when Atala, who must remain a virgin due to a vow made by her mother, can no longer withstand the conflict of her feelings and commits suicide.
The main group of characters thus shows Chacta's liberation through Atala. Atala is leaning against a pile of logs. The animal fur thrown over the logs and the weapons leaning against the stack on the right give the impression of a night camp.
The bronze is of rarely beautiful quality, finely chiselled and makes the scene appear very lively. The contrast of fire-gilded and patinated bronze adds tension to the composition.
In the base we see the Entombment as the end of the tragic love story. This bronze work is also very detailed, the interplay of bright and matt gilding makes the flat relief appear much deeper than it is.
The depiction of the mantel clock presented here shows that the exotic was only known from stories and that the bronzier had his own ideas about the appearance of this distant world. The Indian, for example, has very European facial features and his skin was not black in reality, of course. The palm tree was also certainly not found in the North American wilderness.
The heart of the clock is a French pendulum movement, integrated into the wooden pile, with an eight-day power reserve and a lock plate striking a bell on the half and full hour. The pendulum is suspended on a thread, typical of the period. The classically shaped hands, so-called Breguet hands, are also typical of the time.
The enamelled dial has black Roman hour numerals, Arabic quarter hours and bears the signature: Le Roy hr. de Madame A PARIS.
Interesting facts:
The period from 1795 to about 1815 saw the creation of probably the most spectacular group of bronzes: The "Au bon Sauvage" pendulums - depictions of the "Noble Savage".
Today's viewers react to these objects with both fascination and irritation. Enthusiastic on the one hand about the obvious quality of the detailed bronzes and the allure of the exotic, on the other hand distanced and cautious because of the possible discrimination that is suspected behind them. The ambivalence of this feeling motivates the search for the conditions of origin of these pendulums.
Europeans found their new ideal of the natural man primarily in fictional and realistic travelogues about the Indians of North America...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
Empire Mantel Clock by H.Robert-Horloger De La Reine, Paris, circa 1820
Located in Madrid, ES
An Empire Mantel Clock by H.Robert-Horloger De La Reine, Paris, date circa 1820-1830
A superb Empire gilt and patinated bronze mantel clock of eight day duration signed on the white enamel dial H.Robert-Horloger a la Reine . The dial with Roman numerals and gilded steel Breguet style hands for the hours and minutes. The movement with anchor escapement, silk thread suspension, striking on a single bell, with outside count wheel. The extremely fine case featuring the standing figure of Urania, Muse of Astronomy holding a pen in her left hand which points to a star-studded globe adorned with the signs of the zodiac around its circumference, the globe set on the back of four putti upon a plinth, containing the dial with a serpent-wrapped
Paris, date circa 1820-30
Height 73 cm, width 50cm, depth 22 cm.
In addition to the above prestigious locations, clocks of this model can be found at Warsaw Castle and in the Bayerischen Nationalmuseum, Munich. The Parisian clockmaker Bailly (d. after 1818) was one of the finest of his day and as such earned the title of Horloger de LL. MM. II. Et RR (Clockmaker to Their Imperial and Royal Majesties). Working from rue de Richelieu he was with Lepaute one of the main suppliers to the Garde-Meuble. Bailly, who retired in 1818 had the responsibility of maintaining the clocks at Compiègne and the Trianons and is known to have used cases by the leading Parisian bronziers including Pierre-Philippe Thomire and Claude Galle as well as Ferdinand Schwerdfeger who supplied him with a case for a regulator surmounted by a star-studded and zodiac banded globe...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Paper
Isaac Pearson Reading PA Walnut Tall Clock with Rare Jacob Kunsman Case, C 1845
Located in Milford, NH
A splendid Empire walnut veneered tall clock with swan’s neck split pediment crest with bullseye rosettes and three wooden ball & spire finials surmounting an arched front glass door...
Category
1840s American Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Pair of Gilt Bronze Empire Period 'Dolphin' Centrepieces attributed to Thomire
By Thomire & Cie.
Located in London, GB
A Pair of Late Empire Ormolu Centrepieces "aux dauphins"
Each constructed from gilt bronze, with burnished highlights, the oval plinth bases supported on lion paw feet and with ornaments derived from Pergolesi, two addorsed mythical dolphins supporting a pierced foliate basket with accompanying cut-glass dish.
French, circa 1815
An important suite of four centrepieces signed "Thomire à Paris...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
Empire Bowl w Winged Lady's and Dolphins Base Gold Finish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare find of this centerpiece bowl in a golden Dore' finish. With two winged nude Angles for handles. All supported by four Dolphins in a bronze patina finish. Still has the Origin...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Mid-19th Century, French, Gilt Bronze Monkey Chef
Located in London, GB
A fantastically modelled gilt bronze monkey chef, he stands proudly on a black polished stone base.
Category
1840s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Large Vienna Empire Column Clock With Jacquart Automaton, Around 1820
Located in Vienna, AT
Splendid Viennese clock, ebonized fruitwood, with four alabaster columns in front of mirrored glass, above, flanking the cylindrical clock case, carved ...
Category
1820s Austrian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Pair of crystal and bronze vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of french empire style late 19 century crystal cut ormolu bronze original gilting
You have eagle that embeds the base at the 4 corner, on the side of the vase you have magnifi...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Late 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Candelabra
Located in Fairfax, VA
Pair of late 19th century empire Dore bronze woman column candelabras with marble base.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire Portal Clock, France, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Portal clock on a rectangular, stepped base in mahogany veneered with small bun feet. The stepped architrave is supported by four smooth columns, the capi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of early 19th century French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks. Stunning condition.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Preparatory Drawings Empire Antique Inspirations 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very nice sketches of characters. Representing different emotions, clothes and personalities. We have a portrait of a strong woman with arrows. Below this woman, there is a representation of oriental characters, also called barbarians during Antiquity. Finally, on the left, another woman is represented with her head in her hands and sitting on a Klismos chair. This chair is typical of the ancient period. It is written at the bottom right "March 15", surely the date of creation of this sketch.
The Empire style and period are inspired by Greco-Roman art, it is called the neoclassical. The woman on this drawing wears an empire style dress...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Paper
Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire by Drouot Place Moubert
Located in Warsaw, PL
The clock is in excellent and perfect working condition. In addition, it was recently cleaned and serviced by a professional clockmaker who specializes in maintaining museums.The eig...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Italian Empire Early 19th Century Silver Candlesticks, Rome, circa 1811
Located in Firenze, IT
This pair of elegant 19th century Italian Empire period (1811-1817) silver chiseled candlesticks show a simple but elegant design and shape.
The conical structure embellished with festoon and garlands rests on an unfilled round base decorated with acanthus leaves offset olive-shaped grommets adorned with a frieze of palmettes and a flat, plate-shaped drip edge. Smooth design of the surface divided by delicate leaf and cord friezes.
These candleholders were crafted between 1811 and 1817 in Rome during the occupation of city by the French Empire. The style was called ‘Regency’ in England and USA, ‘Empire’ in France and Italy.
Branded by the Roman French occupation control hallmark dated 1811-1814
Fineness mark: Silver 800 for large objects...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
Pair of Empire Style Bronze and Siena Marble Candlesticks circa 1830
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of Empire style bronze and siena marble candlesticks on tripod base with lion paws circa 1830.
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Vases in Blue and Gold Porcelain
Located in Prato, IT
Germany, mid-20th century
Empire style
Blue and gold painted porcelain and white background band with floral decoration
Dimensions cm W28 x D20...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Mantel Clock 19th Century Empire
Located in Warsaw, PL
Figural mantel clock signed “Al. dre Destape Palais Royal”
The bronze figural mantel clock depicting one of the mythical heroes - Orpheus originates from the Empire period. The cloc...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of English Empire Candlesticks, Early 19th C
Located in Stockholm, SE
A rare and finely designed Empire candlesticks made in the early 19th c. Standing on a rectangular marble base are cast bronze eagles that holds gilt bronze unshaped candleholders. An interesting and good...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Bronze Figure of Napoleon
Located in London, GB
An early 19th Century well-cast bronze statue of Napoleon in full uniform, standing on square socle with applied ormolu laurel leaf wreath, ending o...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Large Blue and Gold Porcelain Vase
Located in Prato, IT
Germany, mid-20th century
In blue and gold painted porcelain
Dimensions cm W38 x D25 x H52 approx.
Category
Mid-20th Century German Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Large Empire Period Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Large Empire period gilt bronze mantel clock
French, early 19th Century
Measures: Height 52cm, width 28cm, depth 17.5cm
This superb Empi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
Early 19th Century Pair of Empire Gilt Bronze Female Caryatids Candlesticks
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Gilt Bronze Female Busts Candlesticks, circa 1820
A beautiful pair of Empire gilt-bronze ormolu c...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Pair of Antique Gilded Bronze Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold-black, antique French pair of dark patinated candle sticks made of hand crafted gilded bronze, in good condition. The detailed candle holders are particularized with flowers decoration, resting on a tripod foot. The Parisian décor...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Antique French Empire Ormolu Striking Library Clock
Located in London, GB
A fascinating Antique French Empire Striking Ormolu mantel clock
A fascinating clock in the form of a library bookcase, with two children sitting at each side. Raised on a plinth ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Steel, Ormolu
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
1870 French Empire Style Bronze Dore Candleholders, a Pair
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine pair of French Empire style bronze dore candelabra with tapering malachite stems resting on three lion paw feet on triform malachite bases. Circa 1870.
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Malachite, Bronze
Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire by Chaussee D'aulin À Paris
Located in Warsaw, PL
Very beautiful Empire clock on the theme of music. rare model, signed “Caillouet in Paris” Watchmaker referenced in the Tardy at the date of 1810. Scene decorated with a musician sit...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Vert Patricia Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Empire st. ormolu and Vert de Patricia marble clock, signed Armingault à Paris. The clock is raised by an impressive rectang...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire Bronze and Ormolu Cartel Clock by Bailly, Paris
Located in Essex, MA
A wall clock with gilt bronze ribbon bow joining a gilt bronze ribbon attached to the clock case with patinated bronze back section and laurel leaf mounted surrounding a circular glass hinged cover opening to an enamelled dial signed Bailly a Paris. An eagle with spread wings at the base seated on a plinth. All finely cast. The laurel leaves signify victory and the eagle represents strength and power. Bailly is considered on of the finest French clock makers...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Gilt Bronze Table Clock « the Gardener Angel » French Work, Circa 1805
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
"L''Amour jardinier" is a gilt bronze table clocks with a garden angel and garden decors.
The garden angel is on a scale and catches a butterfly. The m...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
French Terracotta Bust of an Officer
Located in Essex, MA
In the Napoleonic style with much later faux marbre plinth.
Category
1850s European Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire by Lefevre De Belle
Located in Warsaw, PL
The clock is in a excellent and perfect working condition. Also it has recently been cleaned and serviced by a professional clock maker.
The eight-days going movement has a wire su...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Monumental 19th Century French Empire Sèvres Style Porcelain Urns, a Pair
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent pair of French antique gilt bronze mounted pink Sèvres porcelain style vasiform urns.
Born in France in the 19th century, hand-crafted in rich grandiose Empire taste, palatial awe-inspiring large scale, featuring ornate finely chiseled and sculpted dore' bronze hinged handle mounts, partial gilt pink ground baluster form amphora - pithos form body surmounted by patinated brass final topped cover affixed to the flaired narrowing neck rising from voluptuous bulbous tapering body, embellished with elaborate gilded gold enameled scroll flourish filigree decoration framing central oval medallion showcasing hand painted polychrome classical landscape and pastoral figural scenes, over doré bronze mount fillet adorned porcelain foot ending in substantial sturdy octagonal cast gilt metal plinth base.
A superb example, high quality craftsmanship, construction, and materials, exceptionally executed design, this pair makes for a wonderful decorative object and most impressive statement piece!
Exceedingly rare, boldly beautiful and absolutely stunning, this majestic pair is sure to become the focal point in any room. Placed in beside a fireplace, flanking an door, entry or hall, atop a massive sideboard...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire by Petit Pizze À Dijon
Located in Warsaw, PL
Early 19th century Empire clock crafted of gilt bronze, or ormolu, featuring an allegorical scene with a woman sitting at her work table play...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Ormulu Bronze Mantel Clock, Lepaute, Thomire, Paris, circa 1815
Located in Greven, DE
Ormulu pendule with depiction of friendship and love
Paris (Lepaute, Thomire)
fire-gilt bronze
Empire around 1815
Dimensions: H x W x D: 44 x 36 x 13 cm
French pendulum movement with eight days duration. Thread suspension and lock disc striking movement with strike on bell on the half and full hour.
White enamel dial with Roman hour numerals and Breguet hands.
Signature: LePaute & Fils / Hrl. du Roi (Pierre-Basile Lepaute (1750 - 1843) with his son Pierre-Michel Lepaute (1785-1849); from 1811 in joint workshop).
Description:
The extremely high quality pendulum shown here takes up a profound theme: Friendship, which combines with love and can thereby outlast time and death. As it is typical for the epoch of classicism, personifications and symbols are taken from the fund of ancient mythology and art and then developed further.
The main figure is a young woman in an antique, girded garment, standing barefoot and with crossed legs next to an altar, on which she is leaning with her left elbow. She gracefully bows her head towards a tempestuously approaching Cupid, grasps his right hand with her left and draws him to her bosom, the seat of the heart. The delicate ambivalence of flying towards and being held culminates in the trustingly intimate look that the two cast at each other.
The young woman personifies friendship, the winged Cupid love. As a sign of their intimate connection, two burning hearts appear on the altar next to the two, framed by the puffed scarf, which are closely bound together by a chain of flowers.
Next to them, on the altar slab, one can see an erected book with the title "Amitie" (French: amitie, friendship). Supporting the book is a pomegranate held by a ring of pomegranate flowers. The bursting seeds spill out of the cracked skin. Since ancient times, the pomegranate and its blossoms have been dedicated to the goddess Persephone, symbolizing the underworld and death, but also life and fertility. The myrtle interwoven in the pomegranate flower wreath of "friendship" also has a far-reaching symbolic power: the plant was dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, stands for virginity, and was and is therefore obligatory in the bridal wreath...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Cupid and Psyche Clock after Claude Michallon
Located in Paris, FR
Clock representing the Coronation of Love or Love and Psyche after Claude Michallon. Psyche, dressed in a wet drapery held by a belt, leans over the central pillar in griotte marble to crown Amour, recognizable by his wings and his quiver at his waist. The gilded bronze dial with Roman numerals is set in the pillar decorated with a lyre surrounded by oak leaves. The rectangular base is decorated with leaves, crowns, garlands, trophies of arms and rosettes motifs. The ensemble is supported by four small winged claw feet in gilded bronze.
This figure created by Michallon (1751-1799) during the Directoire period, after an antique marble from the Capitol in Rome, was a great success due to its elegance and the popularity of the subject of Love and Psyche in the 19th century. It was declined many times notably by Feuchère and Thomire. Some examples are kept in renowned museums such as the Château de Fontainebleau, the Musée Marmottan-Monet, the Hôtel de la Marine...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Cast Bronze Figural Lion Sculpture Marble Top Pedestals After P.J Mene, a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cast bronze figural lion sculpture marble top pedestals after P.J Mene - a Pair. Item features right and left forms, heavy cast bronze lion figures, round black marble tops, signed "...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Danish Late Empire Tobacco Box in Nobel Wood, Lid with Walrus Tooth
Located in Kastrup, DK
Late empire tobacco box in rosewood.
The top of the lid is adorned with a walrus tooth.
Denmark 1830-1840.
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire
Located in Warsaw, PL
This ormolu clock from the 19th century has a rectangular base with four feet carved with small patterns. The figure on top represents a lady playing on the spinet and on sides of th...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
French Mid 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu Portico Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French mid 19th century Empire st. ormolu portico clock. The clock raised on a rectangular base with finely chased borders and satin and burnish finish interlocking circ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiselled details.
The backplate of this sconce features a lacquered round ...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Early 19th Century Empire Trajan's Column Ormolu Candlesticks
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of early 19th century Empire Trajan's column ormolu candlesticks in the manner of P.-P. Thomire (1751-1843):
Pair of large Empire ormolu candlesticks, the stem ressembling th...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Empire Style Ormolu Bronze 'Ceres' Mantel
Clock, After Thomire
Located in Madrid, ES
Following a model by early 19th century Paris sculptor and bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire, and showcasing many of the neoclassical design elements common to the Empire Style popula...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Empire decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire decorative objects 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 decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire decorative objects 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 decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Gherardo Degli Albizzi, Franco Salimbeni, and Alexandre Vossion. 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 decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $170 and tops out at $148,649 while the average work can sell for $4,772.
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