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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
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

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Alabaster

Maitland Smith French Empire Iron Bronze Figural Maiden Plant Stand Jardinière
Located in Dayton, OH
An impressive cauldron or planter by Maitland-Smith, circa 1990s. Made from iron and bronze in French Empire styling. Features a tessellated marble plater or bowl over a figured scro...
Category

1990s Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

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

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...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Walnut

French Empire Marble Bronze Statue Ormulu Black Mantel
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style ornate white marble mantel with black figural statues positioned on each side and bronze ormulu details. This was acquired from an estate located in Greenwich, Co...
Category

19th Century European Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Large Rectangular Empire Floor Jardinière Planter, France 1810-1830
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Period French Empire Floor Jardinière in Amazing Wooden Veneer and Period Zinc Insect, circa 1810-1830's. Classic plant stand with removable galvanized zinc liner. This stand has the...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Zinc

Brass Firewood Log Holder
Located in New York, NY
A brass firewood log holder with paw feet and adjustable handle, circa mid-20th century. Dimensions: 21" x 12.75" x 9 Height (or 16" to top of handle.)
Category

Mid-20th Century Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Antique French Empire Swan Faucet, Circa 1820
Located in Dallas, TX
A unique French faucet tap dating to circa 1820, this highly detailed spout has the appearance of a swan with a craned neck. Swan motifs were sometimes see...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Pair of French Empire Iron Plant Stands
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful classical pair of French empire iron plant stands. Great addition to your French architectural inspired interiors and outdoors. Each will hold 3 or 4 orchids!
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Cast Iron French Empire Style Lion Head Outdoor Garden Wall Water Fountain White
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cast Iron French Empire Style Lion Head Outdoor Garden Wall Water Fountain (Black). Item features heavy cast iron construction, desirable weathered patina, approx. 40 lbs each. Does ...
Category

Late 20th Century Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Pair of Large Early 19th Century French Terracotta Honey Coloured Lions
Located in London, GB
Fabulous pair of early circa 19th century French lions in a warm honey coloured terracotta. Both are stylised and life like, with manes, with one a bobbed tail seated upright and the...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Terracotta

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Mahogany

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

Empire Style Fireplace In Antique Green Marble And Gilded Bronze
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Empire style fireplace in antique green marble and gilded bronze Hearth dimensions: 85 x 102 cm
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

Period French Empire Patinated and Gilt Bronze Fireplace Fender, Circa 1815
Located in Dallas, TX
The era of history known as the Empire period coincided with the reign of Napoleon over France. It was considered the second phase of Neoclassicism, as Napoleon believed that his onl...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Metal, Bronze, Steel

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

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wood

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble, Bronze

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 be a vintage addition) Measurements: Over...
Category

Early 1900s Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wood, Paint

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

Mid-Century Empire Style Bronze and Iron Fireplace Four-Piece Tool Set on Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
Place this elegant antique fireplace tool set next to your mantel. Crafted circa 1980, the "Serviteur" sits on an intricate iron bottom base decorated with a bronze gallery around th...
Category

Late 20th Century American Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze, Iron

French Napoleon III Period 'Cupid' Fireback / Backsplash, 19th C.
Located in Amerongen, NL
19th century French Empire fireback with a cupid. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a natural brown patina. Upon request it can be made black / pewter. It is in a good condit...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

Large Reclaimed ‘King’ Wall Hanging Sign
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A large reclaimed ‘King’ wall hanging sign dating to the early 20th century. Bold and stylish cast bronze letters are mounted onto a smooth mahogany boa...
Category

Early 20th Century English Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

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 Fireplace Mantel Gray Marble Carved with Lion's Paws, Empire Style, 1800
Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)
Antique fireplace mantel in gray marble hand carved by an Italian artist, with lion's feet and wavy columns, Empire style, early 1800s, from an Italian noble home. Thanks to its refined color and its gentle shape, it lends itself to all those classy, elegant and suitable to be inserted even in a very modern context. Empire lion paw fireplace...
Category

1810s Italian Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Cherry

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 large cast iron fireback inspired by " The Oath of the Horatii by David
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This antique fireback was made in the first half of the 19th century. In the center, in an octagonal medallion, four armed soldiers in antique-inspired outfit vigorously raise their ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Iron

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 Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

20th Century Empire Neoclassical Mahogany Wood Pedestal Plant Stands, a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Late 20th century French Empire neoclassical style mahogany wood pedestal plant stands - a pair. Item features solid wood construction, beaut...
Category

Late 20th Century Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Mahogany

A French Fireplace in Sarrancolin Marble
Located in London, GB
A 19th century French fireplace in Sarrancolin marble. The moulded jambs with scrolls to top surmounted by curved frieze with carved shell to centre. Moulded shelf above. Original br...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

Twin Star International 62" Cherry Wood Empire Style Heater TV Stand Fireplace
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Heavy solid wood construction, nicely carved details, working heater and lighted fireplace with various settings, large impressive size, great style and form. Circa 21st Century, Pre...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Cherry

Antique French empire fireplace screen, late 19 century
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
Antique French empire fireplace screen, made of wood, faux bamboo, second Empire period, France, 2nd half of the 19th century It is in empire black color with touches of gold on the ...
Category

1870s French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Ceramic

French Antique “Somno” Column
Located in Austin, TX
Column; “somno” French Empire period originally used as a night stand. This period circular piece sits on a square base and is crafted of bent wood (mahogany) and features a brêche r...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

Antique Carrara Marble Bathtub from the Early 19th Century
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Antique handcarved Carrara marble bath in Empire style. This beatiful sculpted white-grey marble bath with rings is made in the early 19th century....
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Carrara Marble

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

Pair of square Pillars, original Marble-Imitation painted Wood. Early 19th C.
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of pillars made of wood and painted in marble imitation (original). Made around year 1800. These pillars are great in any interior to put sculpt...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wood

Antique Empire Transferware Lavabo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Antique mahogany column pedestal with marble inset hinge top covering transferware form mahogany lavabo (or bachelor table). Side panel opens. Circa 181...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Porcelain, Mahogany

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Malachite, Brass, Bronze

Baroque Style Great Brass Andirons With Iron Stands, France, 1950s
Located in Bastogne, BE
Pair of chased brass and cast iron baroque style mantelpieces from France, circa 1950s. The ball-shaped uprights with fleurons enhance the fleur-de-lys patterned legs. These elegan...
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

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

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

Early 19th Century French Empire Column Fireplace
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century French Empire fireplace, the plain frieze with carved foliate paterae supported by disengaged Tuscan columns and pilasters, in Carrara marble, hearth not includ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

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

English Brass & Steel Fire Grate
Located in London, GB
An English Brass and Steel fire grate in the Empire style. The rectangular fire basket with shaped polished steel fire bars flanked by brass reeded-column standards on urn feet with ...
Category

Early 20th Century English Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass, Steel

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 Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Limestone, Steel, Iron

Important and Impressive Pair of 19th Century Bronze Sculptures
Located in Cesena, FC
Important pair of sculptures depicting Achello and Helena (mythological famous figures) in bronze, made with the lost-wax technique, dating from the 19th century (second half of the 1800s but made in the Empire style). Standing on a quadrangular column base in golden robes, they hold magnificent cornucopias (a symbol of prosperity and wealth). The heads are adorned with laurel wreaths. Of great aesthetic impact given both by the impressiveness of the figures and the measures (245 centimeters high) as well as the bases that support and complement the bodies, richly decorated with floral festoons and anthropomorphic friezes that stylistically recall the eclectic style typical of the second half of the 19th century. Prominent in the decorations are large acanthus leaves, feet and lion masks. This large pair...
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Empire Style Marble Column
Located in San Antonio, TX
Step into a world of timeless elegance with this stunning 19th Century Empire Style Marble Column. A true masterpiece, this column is crafted from a rare and refined type of marble k...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Early 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Lioness Figures Andirons or Chenets
Located in Berlin, DE
Early 19th century French Empire gilt bronze lioness figures andirons or chenets Two figures of lionesses facing each other made of patined bronze lying on rectangular gilt-bronze...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

English Plant Flower Pot Holder Cachepot Jardiniere Lion Paw Feet
Located in New York, NY
An English copper plant or flower pot holder cachepot jardiniere w/Lion paw feet, circa early 20th century, England. Dimensions: 8" Diameter x 6.94" Height.
Category

Early 20th Century English Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Copper

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

Late 19th Century Empire Fireplace in Marble Vert de Grece
Located in Made, NL
Special antique fireplace carved in Greek marble 'Vert de Grece'. This Empire style Fireplace dates from the late 19th century (1890-1910). The provenance of this fireplace is an ol...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble

Set of Antique French Mirrored Double Doors
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A beautiful set of handcrafted early 20th century French antique mirror doors. These were salvaged from an apartment in Paris and feature origin...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Glass, Mirror, Pine

Italian Black & Gold Tole Cachepot Jardiniere Lion Head Planters, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Italian black and gold metal tole cachepot jardiniere planters in the Empire style, circa late 20th century, Italy. Pair are oval in shape with gold trimmed scalloped edge, black ground and gold star design, finish with gold lion head and loop detail on sides. Marked "Made in Italy" on bottom as shown. Dimensions: 4" D x 5.63" W x 4.25" Height. Larger Italian cachepot...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Metal

Antique English Brass Fireplace Trivet Ottoman or Stool
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Antique late 19th-century brass English fireplace footman trivet. The footman is an elegant nod to days gone by and would be a great decorative accent p...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Empire Wall Fountain, probably France around 1800
Located in Greding, DE
Wall fountain with semicircular basin and stand in Rosso Verona marble. Winged female iron herms support the basin.
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Marble, Iron

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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