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Empire Building and Garden Elements

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
Maitland Smith Italian Tole Wall Sculpture Lavabo 3 Piece Set
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Elegant wall lavabo or wash basin with beautiful detail throughout including floral and various instruments. Lavabos are gracious religious bowls for the lavabo ceremony of washing t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Metal

Pair of Wood and Bronze Planters, France, Late 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of wood and bronze planters. France, late 19th century.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Composition

Pair of Torcheres
Pair of Torcheres
$14,500 / set
Antique French Empire Paw Foot Brass Pierce Decorated Fireplace Mantle Piece
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire style paw foot brass pierce decorated fireplace mantel (fireplace) piece, circa late 19th century. Measurements: 7" H x 48" W x 15.5" D.
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Rare Antique French Empire Neoclassical Gilt and Patina Bronze Fire Screen
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent and rare antique French Empire neoclassical fire screen composed of gilt and patinated bronze. The structure follows a rectangular form with a sloping upper section and...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Antique Sienna Marble Mantel
Located in Atlanta, GA
Unique French Empire style Siena marble mantel with gilt bronze ormolu and original bronze surround.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Siena Marble, Bronze

Bronze and Sea-Green Marble Table Planter with Caryatids, Empire Style, 19thC
Located in Paris, FR
Gilded and patinated bronze planter mounted on a stepped sea-green marble base, with women in long tunics at the corners and a central amphora with swan-shaped handles. Like the colu...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Maitland-Smith Empire Style Brass & Chrome Pedestal Jardinière Planter
Located in St. Louis, MO
1980s vintage jardinière in the Empire style manufactured by Maitland-Smith with cylindrical polished-chrome planter trimmed with brass. Planter connects to cast tripod brass base with claw feet by Directoire style intersecting chrome rods with brass disc at intersecting points. In fine condition, some scratches to base, light marks to interior of planter, appears never to have had live plants inside...
Category

1980s Hong Kong Vintage Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Chrome

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu fire screen
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A decorative and most handsome French 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu fire screen. This stunning square fire screen is raised by a long slender rectangular patina...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Antique Green & Sienna Marble Fireplace Mantel
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
This surround was reclaimed from a property in Ascot, UK. It features carved Sienna marble end blocks and fluted Sienna frieze and jambs. Opening Height 90 cm (35.43 in) Opening Wi...
Category

Early 20th Century English Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Siena Marble, Marble

Large 18th or 19th Century Antique Iron Anduze Style Garden Vase / Planter / Urn
Located in Lisse, NL
Very rare and highly decorative, architectural cast iron vase. If you are a private collector or an interior designer with an eye for the rare and wonderful, then this very rare and timeless garden vase could be perfect for your home or for one of your projects. You may have seen French terracotta Anduze vases before, but we are pretty certain that you have never seen one made of cast iron. This large and possibly one of a kind specimen of cast iron has a wonderfully calm design and it is hand painted in a beigy-gray color which makes it even more timeless. Handcrafted using cast iron...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

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, circa 20th century, France. Round top is a copper gilt bronze, pillar and tripod hoof b...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Vintage French Empire Style Large 30" Cast Iron Urn Form Garden Planters - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage French Empire Style Large 30" Cast Iron Urn Form Garden Planters - a Pair. We...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble, Brass

Empire style fireplace fender with dogs
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century French Empire style fireplace fender with dogs. Bronze, brass, steel, and gilded bronze decoration.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Ormolu

Early 19th Century Two Piece Set of Brass Fireplace Tools
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
These Danish fireplace tools makes a wonderful addition to any fireplace surround. This two piece set was found at a market down town Copenhagen, Denmark. This set can be used in any...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Bronze, 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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wood, Lacquer, Pearwood

20th Century Empire Sryle Cast Brass Figural Chenets, Pair
Located in Germantown, MD
A pair of 20th Century Empire Sryle Cast Brass Figural Chenets. Measure 8" in width, 8" in depth and 18" in height.
Category

Early 20th Century American Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Gilded Classical Wooden Column Pedestal, 20th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
This exquisite hand-carved wooden column, adorned with gleaming gilted, exudes timeless elegance and grandeur. Standing at an impressive 43.9 inches (111.5 cm) tall, the column feat...
Category

20th Century French Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Chestnut

A Pair Of Empire Style Swan-Neck Circular Fruitwood Planter Jardinières
Located in London, GB
A Pair of Empire Style Swan-Neck Circular Fruitwood Planter Jardinières These circular fruitwood planters feature an elegant lipped edge and come with inset metal liners. Each is s...
Category

1930s English Vintage Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Fruitwood

Danish Antique Brass Fireplace Neptune Toasting-fork
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Antique Neptune shared brass fireplace toasting-fork tool.
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

19th Century Original Empire Period Fireplace Mantel
Located in Beervelde, BE
This is one of a kind fireplace surround in Carrara marble was made by special order for the Castle of Fontainebleau. The identical but in grey mantel was ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Carrara Marble

Early French 19th Century Empire Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Firescreen
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early French 19th century Empire mahogany and gilt bronze firescreen Screen has a period embroidered flower decorated insert.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Monumental Antique French Empire Period Hall Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent over 200 year old French Empire Period (1804-1815) parcel gilt walnut armorial hall pedestal / plant stand. Born in France in the early 19th century, most likely near the Italian border or Napoleonic territory in present day Northern Italy, most impressive palatial scale, exceptionally executed one-of-a-kind sculptural work, having carved fiolate apron with H monogram, decorative scroll work, stylized grotesque satyr mask with acanthus leaf accent, over high relief crest mural crown depicting four towers representing fortified city walls, shield escutcheon coat of arms with three fleur-de-lis above wavy lines depicting sea water in front of castle tower, supported by figural winged female caryatid, flanked by volute supports, joined by turned stretcher. circa 1810 Provenance / Acquisition: An important San Antonio estate Acquired from highly reputable auction house Austin Auction Gallery, est.1983, Austin, Texas. Texas Mansion Carved French and Italian Antiques catalog...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Walnut

Pair of French Bronze and Iron Firedogs, Early 20th Century
Located in Barntrup, DE
A pair of antique firedogs made of bronze and iron, France, early 20th Century. These marvelous firedogs or andirons feature bronze construction in baluster form, raised on paw feet,...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze, Iron

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Pine, Paint

Pair of Empire Period Bronze Andirons with Lions, French, circa 1850
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
These andirons are made of bronze with lions lying face to face. This is a French Empire period pair of fireplace andirons, circa 1850.
Category

1850s French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Classical Chestnut Off White Column Pedestal, 20th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
Discover this stunning hand-carved wooden column, elegantly finished in a sophisticated off-white hue (color reference: #F2F0EF) that radiates timeless grace and grandeur. Rising t...
Category

20th Century French Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Chestnut

Antique Empire Brass Cast Iron Lion Head Spiral Twist Paw Feet Andirons - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Brass Lion Head Spiral Twist Paw Feet Cast Iron Andirons - a Pair. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 24" H x 10" W x 18" D.
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

T. Boone Pickens 19th Century French Empire Period Fire Fender
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and important period French Empire dore bronze mounted iron fire fender, with rich provenance, adding character and historic depth, it's from the home of iconic American busin...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze, Iron, Ormolu

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

Fine 19th Century European Original Antique Fireplace Mantle from Empire Period
Located in Beervelde, BE
This original vintage fireplace surround is a one of a kind chimney piece. A real eyecatcher. It is influenced of the wars by Napoleon to Egypt. The mantel is in perfect condition a...
Category

Early 18th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Carrara Marble, Brass

Set of Two 18th Century Brass and Iron Fireplace Tools
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Set of two 18th century brass and iron fireplace tools.
Category

Early 1800s Danish Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

Pair of French Empire Andirons in Wrought Iron with Brass Finials
Located in Kastrup, DK
A charming pair of French Empire andirons crafted from wrought iron, featuring elegant brass finials on the front tops. These fireplace supports are presented in their original, unto...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

Pair of Antique White Candlesticks XL Cast Iron France 19th Century 71cm
Located in Poperinge, BE
Beautiful and very rare pair of antique candlesticks in white patinated cast iron, XL size, France, ca 1850. Rare pair of high quality, the candlesticks have a beautifully decorated...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

An Antique French Empire Statuary White Marble and Ormolu Fireplace Mantel
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century Empire period Statuary white marble with ormolu mounted fireplace. Very fine quality marble and ormolu, with demi lune shaped shelf, frieze and jambs. The friez...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Statuary Marble, Ormolu

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

19th Century French Empire Style Fireplace Mantel in Breche Marble
Located in London, GB
An antique French fireplace in quality breche marble with ormolu mounts and original cast iron chamber. In typical Empire Style, and well-proportioned having fine tapering columns supported on square foot blocks and ormolu mounts, again caped with ormolu egg...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Breccia Marble, Ormolu

French Empire Style Putty Cherub Large Brass Cannonball Andirons - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Empire Style Putty Cherub Large Brass Cannonball Andirons - a Pair. Items features heavy brass forms, large round cannonballs, figural...
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

French Napoleon III Carved Griotte Marble and Ormolu Mounted Fireplace Mantel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Important French Napoleon III carved Rouge Griotte Marble and ormolu mounted figural fireplace mantel chimneypiece. The rectangular carv...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Griotte Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Antique French Empire Style Bronze Brass Spiral Column Andirons- a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Style Bronze Brass Spiral Column Andirons- a Pair. Circa 1900. Measurements: 20" H x 9" W x 17.5" D.
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

Pair of Antique French Ormolu Mounted Marble Fireplaces with Cast Iron Insets
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique French ormolu mounted marble fireplaces with cast iron insets French, Late 19th Century Fireplaces: Height 112cm, width 152cm, depth 33cm Iron inserts: Height 89cm,...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Statuary Marble, Iron, Ormolu

Antique French Empire Brass Bronze Urn Finial Slender Column Andirons - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Brass Bronze Urn Finial Slender Column Andirons with Desirable Patina and Branch Feet - a Pair. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurements: 22" H x 11.5" W x 18" D.
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

19th Century, French Gilt Bronze Fireplace Fender
Located in IT
19th Century, French Gilt Bronze Fireplace Fender Initials "B.d." on the back Dimensions: W 112 x H 26 x D 7. Maximum W 128 cm This refined fireplace fender was made in France in th...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

French Antique Classical Fireplace in Bleu Turquin and Statuary Marble
Located in Beervelde, BE
Exceptional French Antique Classical Fireplace Surround in Bleu Turquin and Statuary Marble – Musical Theme This rare and refined original period French neoclassical fireplace surrou...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble, Statuary Marble

A pair of Antique English Brass Andirons
Located in Charleston, SC
Likely mid to late 19th century. The pair have a bold form with scrolling base atop orbs with log support at backside in iron. H21" L22" W11" Providence: from the collection of a Pawleys Island...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Cherry

Antique French Empire Style Bronze Column Form Flame Finial Andirons - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Style Bronze Column Form Flame Finial Andirons - a Pair. Item features flame finials, reeded column form shafts, paw feet, very nice antique set. Circa Early 19...
Category

Early 1900s Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze, Iron

Antique French Empire Style Flame Finial Brass and Cast Iron Andirons - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Style Flame Finial Brass and Cast Iron Andirons - a Pair. Circa Early to Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 20" H x 9" W x 16" D.
Category

Early 20th Century Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

Antique French Empire Cast Iron & Silvered Bronze Paw Foot Andirons - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Cast Iron & Silvered Bronze Paw Foot Andirons - a Pair. Item featured has Distressed/weathered finish, ornate casting, heavy construction, very nice antique pai...
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze, Iron

A Pair of Large French 18th century Brass Chenets
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Pair of Large French 18th century Brass Chenets This is a VeryAttractive pair of French Chenets, the ultimate in Chateau Chic They are sculptured on brass in the shape of classi...
Category

18th Century Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Pair of French Empire Bronze Panther Andirons
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire-style (Mid-19th Century) bronze andirons with a panther standing next to a gilt urn with a classical Egyptian head (PRICED AS Pair)
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

French Ormolu Bronze Table Screen
Located in New York, US
Our ormolu bronze table screen from the early 19th century is unique for its red wax seal depicting an officer on horseback, mounted to brilliant blue gl...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Empire Marble Fireplace Mantelpiece, Carved Columns and Lion Heads
Located in Southall, GB
19th century unique Empire style brown Bois-Jourdan marble fireplace mantelpiece, with a white statuary Carrara hand carved Roman Rosette on the cent...
Category

Early 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Statuary Marble

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Athenian Carved Wood, Red Patina in the Imitation of Antique Red Marble
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Athenian Carved Wood, Red Patina in the Imitation of Antique Red Marble, Early 19th Century
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wood

Swedish Brass Jardiniere
Located in New York, NY
A jardiniere made in brass with beautiful details and lions heads with twisted ring handles standing on lions feet. Made during the 20th century.
Category

20th Century Swedish Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Empire building and garden elements for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire building and garden elements 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 building and garden elements created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire building and garden elements made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original building and garden elements, popular names associated with this style include Maitland Smith, and A. Kenrick & Sons. 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 building and garden elements differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $235 and tops out at $220,000 while the average work can sell for $2,445.

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