Empire Folk Art
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.
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Folk Art
Coconut
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Folk Art
Mirror, Giltwood
Late 20th Century American Empire Folk Art
Paint
21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Folk Art
Canvas
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Folk Art
Canvas, Paint
19th Century European Antique Empire Folk Art
Bronze, Ormolu
1850s French Antique Empire Folk Art
Canvas, Paint
Late 18th Century Danish Antique Empire Folk Art
Pewter
19th Century French Antique Empire Folk Art
Oak
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Folk Art
Ceramic
1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Folk Art
Wool
1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Folk Art
Wool
19th Century French Antique Empire Folk Art
Marble
1880s American Antique Empire Folk Art
Iron
Mid-20th Century Empire Folk Art
1960s Israeli Vintage Empire Folk Art
Canvas, Acrylic
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Folk Art
Wood
1890s British Antique Empire Folk Art
Glass, Wood, Paint
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Folk Art
Wood
1970s French Vintage Empire Folk Art
Chrome
19th Century Antique Empire Folk Art
Glass, Wood
Late 19th Century American Antique Empire Folk Art
Rope, Oak
Late 20th Century American Empire Folk Art
Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Folk Art
Mirror, Softwood
Late 19th Century English Antique Empire Folk Art
Wool
19th Century French Antique Empire Folk Art
Bronze
1880s English Antique Empire Folk Art
Brass, Copper, Steel
19th Century French Antique Empire Folk Art
Gesso, Mirror
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Folk Art
Copper, Silver Plate
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Folk Art
Paint
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Folk Art
Stucco
1820s Austrian Antique Empire Folk Art
Beech, Pine
19th Century French Antique Empire Folk Art
Metal
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Folk Art
Terracotta