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Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

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
Late Empire Chatol Made In Elm Wood From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
This late empire chatol is a fine representation of furniture style from the 1840s. Made of elm wood and adorned with intarsia details, it exudes both noble craftsmanship and histori...
Category

1840s Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Elm

French 19th Century Petite Empire Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A petite French Empire commode made of mahogany, is topped with its original black fossil marble. Three easy-to-use drawers with brass lion head pulls are...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Brass

XX Century Empire Style Dressing Table with Ivory and Bronze
Located in Lisboa, PT
Empire Style Dressing Table, features a mirror and a small compartiment, that can be closed with a key. European made, from the 20th Century. Empire-style furniture draws its inspiration from the Napoleonic era, particularly the designs that flourished during Napoleon Bonaparte's reign in France. This style is characterized by grandeur, symmetry, and classical motifs. The use of bronze and ivory...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

Mid 19th century Danish empire mahogany mirror on cabinet
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century danish mahogany mirror on cabinet circa 1860. Beautiful piece of mid 19th century danish furniture strong in the influence of the regency period. Comprising of 2 p...
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1860s Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mirror, Mahogany

Early 19th century Scandinavian empire flame mahogany breakfront bookcase
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century Scandinavian empire flame mahogany breakfront bookcase circa 1820. Stunning bookcase of grand proportions veneered in golden flame mahogany.  Bookcase comprises of 7 sections which screw together to.  3 sections to the base, 3 glazed sections and a cornice. Central double door glazed...
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Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

Elegant 19th Century French Empire Napoleon III Commode
Located in Hopewell, NJ
French Empire style mahogany commode, 19th c., having marble top, hidden frieze drawer, over three additional drawers, flanked by turned columnar supports, rising on block feet. All ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Brass

19th Century French Empire Period Walnut Bookcase or Vitrine, Bronze, 15-in deep
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This early nineteenth century Empire period walnut bookcase features half columns that flank its glass doors. The columns are capped in bronze detailed with diamond and a Vitruvian s...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

Dutch Empire Style Tall Chest
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A tall Dutch Empire style chest made of mahogany and ebonized wood during the 1800’s. This mahogany case piece has six bookmatched drawer fronts each with two ring drawer pulls for e...
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19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Brass

French Empire Fruitwood Four-Drawer Commode with Ebonized Corinthian Columns
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire fruitwood four-drawer commode from the early 19th century with ebonized columns, gilt Corinthian capitals and bronze hardware. This exquisite French Empire style frui...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

Dresser, Chest of Drawers, Mirror, stamped Jean-Joseph Chapuis, Brussels c. 1810
Located in Greven, DE
Antique dressing table - stamped Chapuis Brussels Mahogany Empire around 1810 Dimensions: H x W x D: 178 x 91 x 56 cm, height without mirror: 82 cm Description: Elaborately crafted early 19th century dressing table...
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Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century French Empire Period Bleached Walnut Commode with Marble Top
Located in Birmingham, AL
A fine 19th century French Empire period four-drawer commode handcrafted of walnut, circa 1810. Having a bleached finish, this handsome antique French chest of drawers features a boo...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Brass, Bronze

Antique Empire Ebonized Dresser: Timeless Craftsmanship Restored
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Immerse yourself in the timeless elegance of our antique empire dresser, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and style brought back to life by our sk...
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Early 1900s American Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Brass

French Empire Jacob Desmalter et Cie mahogany two door commode with marble top
Located in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire
French Empire oak lined two door mahogany commode with brass mounts and marble top by Jacob Desmalter et Cie Interior reveals 3 linen slides “Tiroir à l’anglaise” Stamped to the t...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble

Antique Pair of English Mahogany Cellarettes circa Mid-1800s with Lion Paw Feet
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique pair of Cellarettes or Liquor Cabinets imported from England, that were generally custom made wooden chests intended to transport or store a small number of alcoholic beverag...
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1860s English Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Antique Swedish Late Empire Black-polished Birch Bookcase
Located in Kastrup, DK
Swedish late empire bookcase / display cabinet in black-polished birch. In 2 parts, upper case having mullioned glass front with cathedral arch cornice. Lower part with a pair of pa...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Wood

Dutch 19th Century Oak Empire Chest
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A classic Dutch Empire chest made of oak during the 1800’s. The top drawer protrudes forward over three drawers flaked with ebonized columns featuring brass capitals at the top and b...
Category

19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Late 19th century French empire mahogany and ormolu cabinet
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fine quality french empire revival mahogany cabinet circa 1890. Generous proportions and as with all furniture of this scale and period it was built to come apart. Central glazed d...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Ormolu

Fine Empire Four Drawer Chest In Flame Mahogany With Gris Marble Top
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine diminutive Empire Chest dating to the 1st half of the 19th Century in original condition. The Chest with book matched flame mahogany drawer fronts with great color, refined ro...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Brass

French Empire Wood Mirror Front Gold Lion Storage Bar Black Marble Top
Located in New York, NY
This piece was acquired from an estate located in Greenwich, Connecticut. French Empire mirrored front wood bar with black marble top. It features two drawers and storage shelves on ...
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Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble

Mid 19th Century French Empire Walnut Chest
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A handsome French Empire commode. Beautiful color and patina
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Empire Chest of Drawers With Four Drawers Made In Mahogany From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
This exquisite Empire chest of drawers boasts a timeless design and is crafted from rich mahogany, reflecting the elegance of the 1840s. With its stately presence and intricate deta...
Category

1840s Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Napoleonic French Empire Walnut Chest of Drawers Grey Marble Circa 1810
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Circa 1810 French Empire (Napoleon) Empire Walnut Chest of Drawers with a gray marble top; four drawers, three inset with lion head form pulls and shield ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Brass

Empire Secretaire à abattant, Vienna circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Empire secretary adorned with flanking caryatids around the flat writing flap, top drawer, and a two-door base cabinet. The caryatids are elegantly ebonized and gold-patinated, compl...
Category

1810s Austrian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

Antique Period French Empire Two Door Mixed Woods Cabinet W/ Ormolu Circa 1810
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Circa 1810 French Empire (Napoleon) Empire Two Door Cabinet Comprised of Mixed Woods (Walnut, Elm & Oak), having a rectangular top above a pa...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

Italian Empire Style 1890s Marble Top Four-Drawer Commode with Bronze Hardware
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Empire style walnut commode from circa 1890 with black marble top, four drawers, column shaped side supports and ornate bronze hardware. Step into the grandeur of late 19t...
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Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century Secretary Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very handsome late American Empire Mahogany Secretary Desk. Very good condition overall with an old refinished surface exhibiting a beautiful color and patina to the figured Mahoga...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

French First Empire Period Chest of Drawers / Commode / Dresser, c. 1810
Located in Weehawken, NJ
Classic French Empire Chest made from rosewood veneer and featuring ebonized front columns, c. 1810. Iconic of the Empire style, two ebony black round columns flank the bank of dovet...
Category

1810s Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Rosewood

Elegant Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Pedestal Cabinet
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant, architectural Empire pedestal cabinet in 2 parts, crafted in mahogany. Features a frieze with ormolu mounts of typical Empire period over a cupboard door that opens to revea...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Danish Late Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
Very special late Empire chest of drawers with opaline glass inlay, 19th century, Denmark, 1830. Mahogany with Ivory colored glass inlay. Having four drawers with working locks, 1 ...
Category

1830s Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Opaline Glass, Mahogany

Provincial Empire Marble Top Commode, France, Circa:1815
Located in Alexandria, VA
This handsome 3-drawer commode has an incomparable restrained beauty. While it has all the design elements of French Empire furniture, the application is more provincial than Parisia...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble

Pair of Empire Sideboards, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of trumeau sideboards with flanking carved caryatids in the Retour d'Egypte style. The sideboards are fitted with two doors and a wide drawer. The carved figures are blackened a...
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Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Secrétaire á Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome 19th century Empire secrétaire à abattant made of rich bookmatched and figured walnut. This desk has a black fossil marble top resting above a drawer, accessible with a hidden pull. Below is a fold front door revealing a fitted interior with a functional writing surface, inset with worn green leather with gold tooling. The interior has an open storage shelf flanked with empirical styled columns over a set of six drawers of varying sizes. The writing surface is supported with rounded brass hinges. Below are three easy to use drawers...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Brass

19th Century Empire Period Sideboard or Buffet
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century Empire Period Sideboard or Buffet France, 1830 Cherrywood, This early nineteenth century French Buffet is constructed of solid Cherrywood. Three drawers of dovetail con...
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1830s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Cherry

French 19th Century Empire Style Petite Bookcase
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome petite Empire style bookcase from France, circa 1850. Crafted from warm and patinated mahogany with a more recently painted interior in Farrow & Ball Oval Room blue paint....
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19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Metal, Brass

19th Century Walnut Pair of Bookcases Boiserie de Bibliothèque
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A rare pair of heliocodal French Directoire library bookcases in solid walnut. This type of bookcases is also known as 'boiseries de Bibliothèque' a...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

French 19th Century Solid Walnut Semainier
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This wonderful French 19th century, solid walnut semainier is the perfect way to add more organizational storage to your space without sacrificing style. The design of the semainier ...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Metal, Brass

19th Century French Empire Marble Top Carved Veneer Elm Commode Chest of Drawers
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique chest of drawers was crafted in France, circa 1870. With small proportions, and built of elm, the traditional commode sits on round feet over a straight bottom p...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French Empire Solid Walnut Armoire
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome solid walnut Empire armoire, made in France during the 19th Century. This armoire features a pair of large bookmatched and paneled doors on hidden hinges, flanked by colum...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Empire Secretaire, Ebonized Wood, Maple, Ink Painting, Vienna circa 1815
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very fine neoclassical Empire Secretaire or writing cabinet from Austria, Vienna around 1810/15. Ebonized hardwood body, veneered on oak. Pilaster columns with gilded capitals. All g...
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1810s Austrian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Brass, Iron, Gold Leaf

Vintage Regency Empire Glass Etagere
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fantastic vintage Empire glass cabinet. A chic mahogany with gorgeous Ormolu detail. Interior mirror and glass make the cabinet really light up. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate
Category

Late 20th Century Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mirror, Mahogany

Empire Secretary à abattant, France early 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
French Empire secretary à abattant with a two-door base, two wide drawers and a flat writing flap surrounded by smooth full columns with fire-gilt bronze capitals and bases. The bure...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Leather, Mahogany, Maple

Early 19th Century French Empire Bookcase with Safe-Deposit-Box, Mahogany
Located in Greven, DE
Empire bookcase with safe deposit box France Mahogany Empire around 1820 Dimensions: H x W x D: 227 x 154 x 49 cm Description: Impressive Empire ...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Napoleonic French Empire Parcel-Gilt Mahogany Wine Cabinet Armoire 1810
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine quality French Empire Napoleonic period Mahogany & parcel gilt wine cabinet/armoire, circa 1810. Made of the finest mahogany this cabinet has the shape of a secretaire ab...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Empire French Semainier Commode
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Empire Semainier, Mahogany, France, 1825-1830 ,,The Empire style is an early-nineteenth-century design movement in architecture, furniture, other de...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century French Empire Commode
Located in Madrid, ES
XIX Century Empire Commode 19th CENTURY EMPIRE CHEST. LARGE FRENCH EMPIRE CHEST IN MAHOGANY AND DECORATED WITH GOLDEN BRONZE.130X59X89 CM
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19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Danish Oak Chest of Drawers, ca. 1800.
Located in Asaa, DK
Antique Danish Oak Chest of Drawers, ca. 1800. Amazing Empire oak dresser made by Danish master carpenter 1790-1810. Solid oak body and drawer fronts. Ebonized trim and concealed top...
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Late 18th Century Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Fine quality Swedish 19th century birch cabinet
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fine quality Swedish 19th century birch cabinet circa 1870. Good quality architectural birch cabinet from the mid-19th century. Cabinet comprises of 2 parts with rich quarter sawn v...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Birch

19th Century French Empire Commode or Chest of Drawers
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th Century French Empire Period commode from Normandy made of solid cherry wood. Three dovetailed drawers with brass knobs and one hidden top drawer. Large brass mounted turned c...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Cassettiera o comò italiano di antiquariato in legno con fregi in bronzo, 1800s
Located in MIlano, IT
Cassettiera di antiquariato in legno con cassettoni decorati con fregi in bronzo. Risalente al periodo Impero, 1800 ca. Buone condizioni. Misure in cm 123x59x90h Bellissima e prezios...
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Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

French 19th Century Empire Neoclassical Mahogany Commode Chest of Drawers
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Impressive Empire mahogany commode hand crafted in 19th century France; four drawers and neoclassical details comprise this outstanding chest of drawers. This case piece has patinate...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Brass

French Empire 19th Century Painted Wood Four-Drawer Commode with Gilt Busts
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style painted wood four-drawer commode from the 19th century with ebonized columns, carved giltwood female busts and bracket feet. Step into an era of refined eleganc...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wood

19th Century Empire French Chest of Drawers with marble on top
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Empire Chest od Drawers with white marble on top, France, Ca. 1830 Spectacular Commode with original white marble on top and original empire legs. Front of d...
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

French Empire Commode
Located in Austin, TX
1st Empire French Commode comprised of 4 drawers and original brass hardware. Key included as well. Beautiful relief work on the brass ormolu. All drawers are solid wood boxes with d...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Brass

c1810 French Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1810 French Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary. Opens to reveal lovely storage space. There are nooks, shelves, a pull out writing surface. There are gilt bronze adornments and there a...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wood

EARLY 19th CENTURY LUCHESE EMPIRE SIDEBOARD
Located in Firenze, FI
This beautiful empire sideboard, made in Lucca, represents a superlative example of Italian period furniture from the early 19th century (ca. 1810). Its combination of fine materials...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wood

19thc French Large Gilt & Wood Exotic Inlay Bookcase Empire- Burl Wood
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Stunning and Majestic 19thc French Empire Large Bookcase in Exotic Burl Amboyne with Exotic Wood Inlay, Artist Masterpiece! There is also gilt bronze elements, incredible full figura...
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1880s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Antique French Empire Flame Mahogany Abattant with Figural Ormolu 19thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Empire abattant secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper drawer over drop front desk opening to interior with p...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Petite Empire Neoclassical Mahogany Commode with Marble Top
Located in Hopewell, NJ
This wonderful Empire mahogany commode was hand crafted in 19th century France; four drawers and neoclassical details comprise this outstanding chest of drawers or commode. This case...
Category

1860s Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Brass

Empire case pieces and storage cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire case pieces and storage cabinets 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 case pieces and storage cabinets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire case pieces and storage cabinets made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Scandinavia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original case pieces and storage cabinets, popular names associated with this style include Modenese Gastone, Europa Antiques, Baker Furniture Company, and Maison Krieger. 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 case pieces and storage cabinets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $800 and tops out at $445,969 while the average work can sell for $5,989.

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