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Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

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
Crystal and Gilt Bronze Vase by Boin-Taburet
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A classic and opulent crystal and gilt bronze Louis XVI-style vase, its goblet-shaped heavy crystal bowl diamond cut and fluted to refract the light...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Sterling Silver Salt Cellar Lion Head and Paw Feet
Located in New York, NY
A sterling silver salt cellar with Lion head and paw feet detail, in the Empire style, circa early-20th century. Piece is a salt or pepper cellar vessel. A great piece for a dining t...
Category

Early 20th Century English Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Sterling Silver

Tripod Cachepot Brass Bowl
Located in Sheffield, MA
Charmingly elegant antique Empire style brass bowl centerpiece on tripod hoofed feet and decorative handles in an 'abstract' animal form. Lovely aged brass patina all-over, can easil...
Category

19th Century European Antique Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Brass

Tripod Cachepot Brass Bowl
Tripod Cachepot Brass Bowl
$850 Sale Price
29% Off
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Contemporary Artisan Oolitic Limestone Bowl
Located in Houston, TX
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21st Century and Contemporary English Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

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Limestone

Edward Moulthrop Wild Cherry Bowl
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An unusual solid wild cherry bowl by Ed Moulthrop. A great example of American craft and wood working. A quick not note about EM. "Ed Moulthrop (1916-2003...
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1960s American Vintage Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

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Cherry

Edward Moulthrop Wild Cherry Bowl
Edward Moulthrop Wild Cherry Bowl
$5,800
H 6 in Dm 7.5 in
Hammered Silver Plate Bowl with Medallions and Lion Handles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful hammered silver bowl with medallion details and lion head handles - the perfect size to be used for a serving piece, center piece, fruit bowl or catch all for mail, flowers.
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20th Century European Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

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Silver Plate

By and Documented Gabriella Crespi Gilded "Walnut" Salt Spice Cellar, Italy 1970
Located in Roma, IT
Exceptional and unique half walnut-shaped salt or spice container made in finely sculpted bronze and gilded in gold. Designed by Gabriella Crespi in Italy during the 1970s, the item ...
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Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

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Bronze

Silver Travertine Eclipse Bowl
Located in Eindhoven, NB
Stunning, aesthetic, timeless are words that can be used to describe this elegant and modern travertine Eclipse bowl from Kiwano. Expertly craf...
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2010s Dutch Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

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Travertine

Silver Travertine Eclipse Bowl
Silver Travertine Eclipse Bowl
$345 / item
H 3.15 in Dm 11.82 in
Large Green Ceramic Decorative Chasepot on a Metal Tripod Stand by Trio, 1965
Located in Den Haag, NL
Large green ceramic decorative chasepot on a metal tripod stand by Trio, Netherlands, 1965 The Atelier of Trio is based in The Netherlands in a traditional ceramic area. The facto...
Category

1960s Dutch Vintage Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

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Metal

Turned Walnut Bowl by Rude Osolnik
Located in South Charleston, WV
Measures: 9" wide and 7.5" tall. An important American craftsman of the 20th century. A precision vessel hand-turned by master American craftsman and wood turner Rude Osolnik, 1985. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Walnut

Bowl 002
Located in Ridgewood, NY
Hand-cast bowl for indoor and outdoor use. Can be used for planting as well; drainage holes can be added. At the intersection of art, craft, and design, Concrete Poetics' debut co...
Category

2010s American Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Concrete, Cement

Bowl 002
Bowl 002
$1,295 / item
H 11.25 in W 14.5 in D 20 in
Rare Gucci Solid Sterling Silver Lion's Paw Letter Opener
Located in Bath, GB
I have only ever had one other of these and it was silver over bronze; I was amazed to find this heavy solid silver example fully marked "925" on the underside and signed by the famo...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Sterling Silver

Contemporary Bowl in Walnut, Goblet Bowl by Arno Declercq
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporarybowl in walnut, goblet bowl by Arno Declercq Material: African Walnut Dimensions: Dimensions: 40 cm H x 14 cm W x 14 cm D Made by hand, in Belgium. Arno Declerc...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Italian Majolica Ceramic Bowl in the Shape of a Lion's Head 1960
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Italian handcrafted Majolica ceramic bowl, ashtray in the shape of a lion's head. Decorate a shelf or a kitchen counter with this elegant Majolica bowl hand painted and is be...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-Century French Blown Clear Crystal Vase
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, hand blown crystal art vase was crafted in France, circa 1950. The large antique piece features a pulled feathered technique with an intricate elongated design and scal...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Crystal

Mid-Century French Blown Clear Crystal Vase
Mid-Century French Blown Clear Crystal Vase
$750
H 12.5 in W 12 in D 12 in
Previously Available Items
Late 19th Century Mirrored Glass Brass Jewelry Tray
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
French Mirrored Brass Jewelry Tray, Late 19th Century Charming French tray featuring an elaborate floral motif.. The attention to detail is appare...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Bronze, Brass

Empire Table Plateau in Gilted Bronze
Located in Knivsta, SE
Empire table plateau in gilt bronze from France. Early 19th century. Beautiful patina with worn original glass. The legs of the table plateau are decora...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Gold Plate, Bronze

Empire Table Plateau in Gilted Bronze
Empire Table Plateau in Gilted Bronze
H 1.97 in W 12.6 in D 9.06 in
Early 20th Century Crystal Bowl Vide-Poche Made by Baccarat
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful crystal bowl from the French brand Baccarat. With bronze gilt frames in Empire style. It is a so-called vide poche, a dish that you place in a central place to put small ne...
Category

1930s French Vintage Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

French Pair of Ormolu Bronze Twin Handled and Marble Mounted Lidded Tazzas
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine and stylish pair antique French ormolu bronze lidded tazzas dating from the latter 19th century. The tazzas stand mounted on rounded polished grey marble bases with a rounded ...
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1870s French Antique Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

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Ormolu

Pair of Sèvres Bisque Porcelain Swan Dishes and Saucers
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of early 19th century bisque porcelain gilt swan dishes by Sèvres. Each swan and dish varies slightly.
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Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century French Toleware Vierriere / Plant Holder
Located in San Francisco, CA
Lovely 19th century French Toleware Vierriere Scalloped border with a crimson body accented with a musical themed gilt medallion, and lion head handles. Dimensions 9 1/2" x 7 1...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Metal

20th Century Italian Silver Comport. Round smooth dish. Empire style revival
Located in VALENZA, IT
Solid silver comport in Empire style. The hexagonal base and the stem have been made in cast and finely chiseled, while the top cup is round and completely smooth. Measure: 1,220 ...
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1980s Italian Vintage Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Silver

19th Century French Empire Marble Vide Poche with Brass Mounts Roman Figures
Located in Dallas, TX
Place this elegant decorative dish or vide-poche on your office desk to catch odds and ends. Crafted in France circa 1880, the green marble dish has two brass swan handles and a decorative Roman chariot with horses...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Marble, Brass

Empire Rouge Marble Model Sarcophagus
Located in London, by appointment only
An Italian early 19th century rouge marble model of a roman sarcophagus standing on a verde antico plinth, Italy, circa 1820. Measures: Height ...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche

Materials

Marble

Empire decorative dishes and vide-poche for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire decorative dishes and vide-poche for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative dishes and vide-poche created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire decorative dishes and vide-poche made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Hungary pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative dishes and vide-poche, popular names associated with this style include Boin-Taburet, and Roberto Malagola. 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 decorative dishes and vide-poche differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $420 and tops out at $5,395 while the average work can sell for $850.

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