Empire Furniture
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.
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Terracotta
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Carrara Marble
Mid-20th Century Empire Furniture
Wood, Burl
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Fruitwood
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Fabric, Mahogany, Satinwood
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Stone, Bronze
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Fabric, Beech, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
1990s American Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Spelter
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Walnut
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Marble, Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Walnut
Late 19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Glass, Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Alabaster, Bronze
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1850s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
1890s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century Empire Furniture
Wood
1890s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Metal, Bronze
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Silk, Mahogany
1820s Belgian Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Metal, Brass
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
1850s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Brass, Bronze
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain, Wood
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Brass, Tôle
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Bronze
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany, Giltwood, Lacquer
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton