Empire Pedestals and Columns
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
Antique Alabaster Marble Empire Style Carved Column Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Alabaster Marble Empire Style Carved Column Pedestal Plant Stand. Item features a revolving top, nice slender form, good antique item. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements:...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Alabaster
Neoclassical Empire Mahogany Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Germantown, MD
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Empire style Mahogany Pedestal Plant Stand. Measures 15" in diameter at the base, 12" in diameter at the top and stands 55.75" tall.
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Mahogany
Early 20th century Scandinavian gilt pedestal column
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century Scandinavian gilt pedestal column circa 1900.
Good quality decorative pedestal in original gilt finish. Roman doric style with white painted top, fluting down th...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Pine, Paint
Marble and Brass Round Pedestal Lion Paw Feet Plant Stand
Located in New York, NY
A substantial European round marble and brass pedestal with Lion paw feet base in the Empire style, circa 20th century. Images #5 and 6 show size comparison. Marble top is a combinat...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble, Brass, Chrome
French Gilt Bronze Pedestal Plant Stand Empire Style
Located in New York, NY
A substantial French gold gilt bronze pedestal column plant stand, in the Empire design style, attributed to maker, Maison Jansen, circa 20th century, France. Round top is a copper g...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Bronze
Royal Empire column with malachite and gilt bronze
Located in Berlin, DE
Royal Empire column with malachite and gilt bronze
Impressive and regal wooden column with bronze mounts in Empire style. Solid wood coated with malachite painting technique. Such a...
Category
20th Century French Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Malachite, Brass, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Black Lacquer Pedestals
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire black lacquer column pedestals with bronze dore festoon trim.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Bronze
Empire columns, France, ca. 1880.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Empire columns, France, ca. 1880.
Wood: mahogany
dimensions height 103 cm. top 30 cm x 24 cm
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Pair of Antique Swedish Neoclassical Late Empire Pedestals
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of antique Empire Neoclassical Swedish pedestals painted ebony with gold accents.
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Wood
Pair of French Empire Style Malachite and Gilt Bronze Pedestals
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Empire style malachite and gilt bronze pedestals
French, 20th Century
Height 115cm, width 35cm, depth 35cm
This pair of 20th century French pedestals is crafted fro...
Category
20th Century French Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
Giltwood Carved Eagle on Verde Antico Fluted Marble Column
Located in London, by appointment only
A superb and richly carved giltwood eagle perched on rocks with open wings, the eagle's head looking to its left and fitted with a separate giltwood wreath...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble
Gilded Classical Wooden Column / Pedestal, 20th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
This exquisite hand-carved wooden column, adorned with gleaming gold leaf, exudes timeless elegance and grandeur. Standing at an impressive 43.9 inches (111.5 cm) tall, the column fe...
Category
20th Century French Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century Empire Column
Located in Ljungby, SE
A decorative Empire column made of plaster. It was likely produced in Sweden during the early 19th century. The color is the original, restored finish. The column features decoration...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Plaster
Two Neoclassical Empire Style Bronze and Marble Pedestals
Located in London, GB
Two neoclassical Empire style bronze and marble pedestals
French, 20th century
Dimensions: Height 100cm, width 48cm, depth 48cm
This pa...
Category
20th Century French Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Amethyst Empire Style Columns
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amethyst columns. Gilt bronze capitols.
Category
20th Century Italian Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Amethyst, Bronze
Pair French Empire Green Marble Gilt Bronze Urn Pedestal Pillars
Located in New York, NY
Standing at an impressive 6 feet tall, they were procured from an esteemed estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, which adds a layer of history and significance to the pieces. They are pr...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Ormolu, Wood and Marble Pedestals
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Empire style ormolu, wood and marble pedestals
French, 20th Century
Height 83cm, diameter 52cm
This superb pair of French 20th century pedestals celebrates the ver...
Category
20th Century French Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Italian imperial style green ceramic columns pedestals bows and flowers, 1930s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian imperial style green ceramic columns pedestals bows and flowers, 1930s
Pair of pedestals with a round base. The tapered structure narrows at the top and then widens at the ba...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Ceramic
Two Reclaimed Tall Outdoor Braziers or Torchieres
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
Each standing at 165cm (64.96 inches) tall, these spectacular reclaimed 20th century outdoor braziers or vintage garden torchieres bring grandeur and prestige to any property. Imagine the pair placed either side of an entrance to a lavish mansion or framing the steps at the bottom of the courtyard to a countryside estate. They are of a huge and prominent scale and deserve to be in equally impressive surroundings.
Sourced from a property in London, these reclaimed outdoor braziers date from the early 20th century. Each features a domed steel dish...
Category
Early 20th Century English Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Limestone, Steel, Iron
Black Empire Era Pedestal Made in Austria, 1800s, Original Condition, Pearwood
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Unique Art Deco pedestal.
Source: Czechia
Period: 1920-1929
Original well preserved condition.
Category
19th Century Czech Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Pearwood
19th C. French Empire Onyx & Bronze Ormolu Revolving Statue Column Pedestal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th C. French Empire Onyx & Bronze Ormolu Revolving Statue Column Pedestal. Item features a revolving top, bronze ormolu, beautiful green and beige onyx stone, and timeless classica...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Onyx, Bronze
Empire Style Marble-Top Giltwood Pedestal
Located in Dallas, TX
Empire style marble-top giltwood plant stand, having square top over four carved foliate columns, rising on marble base, ending in paw feet.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble
Pair of Torcheres
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine pair of Torcheres in Empire style. These are contemporary composite reproductions of the best quality.
CW3566
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Composition
Italian Neoclassical French Empire Green & Gold Painted Wooden Column Pedestal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Italian Neoclassical / French Empire Style Green & Gold Painted Carved Wood Column Pedestal. Circa 1900, (painted finish appears to...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Wood, Paint
Empire Column with fire-gilt Appliqués, 2nd Half 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Fluted column in mahogany veneer, with a white marble top and fire-gilt appliqués in the fluting. The chest of drawers stands on a round, multi-profiled base over gilded paw feet. Th...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble
Century French Empire Style Cherry Wood Black Column 1 Drawer End Tables - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Century French Empire Style Cherry Wood Black Column 1 Drawer End Tables - Pair. Item features one dovetailed drawer, solid wood construction, finis...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Cherry
Pair of Empire Style Pedestals, 19th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Empire style pedestals with gilt bronze and flame mahogany wood, France, 19th century.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Mahogany
Pair Marble Pedestal Stands - French Empire Table Column Supports
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Elegant pair of French Empire style marble pedestal stands
Classical pair of stands perfect for displaying marble busts or vases
Big pair with intricate ormolu fixtures which are ori...
Category
1980s Vintage Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble
French 19th Century Empire St. Sèvres Porcelain, Gilt, Onyx, And Ormolu Pedestal
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Sèvres Porcelain, Gilt, Onyx, and Ormolu pedestal. This beautiful pedestal is raised by a square stepped Onyx base with fou...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu and Marble Pedestal
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and high quality French 19th century Empire st. ormolu mounted on Alabastro Sardonico and black Belgian marble pedestal. The pedestal is raised by a protruding square ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Pedestals and Columns
Materials
Marble
Empire pedestals and columns for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire pedestals and columns 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 pedestals and columns created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, tables, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with stone, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire pedestals and columns made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 pedestals and columns differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $695 and tops out at $93,331 while the average work can sell for $3,200.