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.
$952Sale Price|29% Off
Louis XVI-Style Crystal and Gilt Bronze Vase by Boin-Taburet, c. 1900
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...
Crystal, Bronze
Sterling Silver Salt Cellar & Spoon
Located in New York, NY
A sterling silver salt cellar vessel and sterling silver spoon with Lion head and paw feet detail, in the Empire style, circa early-20th century. Piece is a salt or pepper cellar ves...
Sterling Silver
French Porcelain Compote Basket
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful French oval white and gold pierced Paris Porcelain compote basket tazza bowl in the Empire style, circa late 19th century, France...
Porcelain
French Empire Old Paris Porcelain Winged Nymph Basket, circa 1820
By Darte Frères
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Empire Old Paris Porcelain Winged Nymph Basket, circa 1820 French Empire Old Paris porcelain centerpiece basket, or corbeille, dating to approximately 1820. This exceptionall...
Brass
Large Russian Empire Porcelain Gold-Ground and White Bisque Figural Centrepiece
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent and large Russian Empire porcelain gold ground and white bisque figural reticulated centrepiece. A large filigree basket supported by three a...
Gold
French Empire Period Wastepaper Basket
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French Empire period wastepaper basket.
Brass
Pair of French Empire Bronze Tazzas, C. 1800-25
Located in Chicago, IL
A pair of French Empire bronze tazzas raised on dolphin supports, cast in the early 19th century. Each shallow dish has a knurled rim and rests on three dolphins standing on a tripod...
Bronze
19th Century French Bronze Dore Compote with Ebonized Figures
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) bronze dore compote with 3 Egyptian ebonized figures and crystal bowl.
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century French Empire Malachite and Gilt Bronze Centerpiece
Located in Dallas, TX
Fine 19th century French Empire malachite and gilt bronze centerpiece. Cut crystal top bowl .Fine mercury gilt bronze sphinx's.
Malachite
Empire Bowl w Winged Lady's and Dolphins Base Gold Finish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare find of this centerpiece bowl in a golden Dore' finish. With two winged nude Angles for handles. All supported by four Dolphins in a bronze patina finish. Still has the Origin...
Bronze
19th-Century Antique French Vieux Paris Gilt Porcelain Fruit Basket Centerpiece
Located in Buisson, FR
A monumental and exceptionally elegant early 19th-century antique French Vieux Paris (Old Paris) porcelain corbeille, dating to the Empire / Restauration period, circa 1810–1830. Mas...
Porcelain
19th Century French Gilt Bronze Empire Figural Basket
Located in Atlanta, GA
First quarter 19th century, in the manner of Pierre-Philippe Thomire (French, 1751–1843), gilt bronze and marble, figural basket, possibly Nike, holding aloft a flared, reticulated b...
Bronze
Pair of Russian Empire Malachite, French Bronze Centrepiece/Tazzas by Thomier
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent pair of Russian Empire Period malachite, French doré bronze and cut crystal Tazzas, signed THOMIRE A PARIS. The square malachite bowls are...
Crystal, Malachite, Bronze
Wonderful French Empire Gilt Doré Bronze & Cut Crystal Round Centerpiece Bowl
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful French empire gilt doré bronze & cut crystal round centerpiece bowl raised on paw feet
Crystal, Bronze
Circa 1810-1820 French Empire Tole Monteith
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1810-1820 French Empire tole monteith. Originally for chilling wine glasses, it can be used for many purposes from a decorative bowl to a jardiniere. Decorated with gilt grape ...
Metal
$20,000 / set
Paris Porcelain Gilt Banded Hunting Service
Located in New York, NY
Paris porcelain gilt banded hunting service. Set of sixteen complementary serving dishes with hunt paintings attributed to Jacques Francois Joseph Swebach-Desfontaines, a painter for Serves porcelain as well as Royal Russian Porcelain manufactory; his work found at The Met, Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lyon and Marseille. Scenes include red and blue coated hunters riding to the hounds, running stag, wild boars, foxes and groupings of hounds. Each scene bordered in thick gilt band on white ground with filigree border and further gilt banding. Sweet meat dishes...
Porcelain
19th century silver plate centerpiece
Located in Vigonza, Padua
19th century table centerpiece or double bowl in finely chiseled silver plated
Silver Plate
$850Sale Price|29% Off
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...
Brass
19th Century Old Paris Porcelain Reticulated Cherub Compote
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century Old Paris Porcelain: a reticulated gilt glazed compote featuring a kneeling cherub .
Porcelain
Small Painted Tole Trinket Tray Dish Floral Pattern, 1830's
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Charming black toleware metal tray with scalloped corners, featuring hand-painted flowers. We see this early 19th Century versatile piece on a cocktail table or used for trinkets in ...
Metal
19th Century Pair Cobalt Blue Glass Gilt Salt Pepper Cellars
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
As found in Denmark, we see this pair of cobalt blue salt cellars atop a formal or informal table or kitchen counter. Unbeatable wear and patina to the bases. Each side as well as th...
Gold Leaf
Large European Low Cut Crystal Glass Centerpiece Bowl
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Most likely an English bowl with floral decorations and unbeatable wear. Very versatile piece that is both form and function, standing alone on a coffee table or used as fruit bowl o...
Crystal
$300Sale Price|20% Off
Early 19th Century Pewter Bowl Planter With Handle, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Charming Danish Pewter Bowl or Planter With Handle and Makers Mark Circa 1800. This handmade piece would look wonderful sitting on a window sill holding ...
Pewter
Blue Marbleized Empire Wastebasket
Located in New York, NY
Blue marbleized empire wastebasket. Faux marble painted empire style wastebasket on gilt paw feet. France, 20th century Dimensions: 9" L x 9" W x 9.88" H.
Metal
Pair Empire Tazzas in Maple Root and dark Hardwood
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of elegant Empire tazzas crafted in solid maple root and ebony. The rounded stems feature profiled lower edges and rest on square ebony bases. Each shallow bowl is supported b...
Hardwood, Maple
$696Sale Price / set|30% Off
Mid Century Cut Crystal & Metal Delphin Dolphin Centerpiece Compote Bowls 10"
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of rare mid 20th century French Empire / Neoclassical compote bowls featuring cast metal pedestal bases in the shape of delphins / dolphins / fish, painted in off white, balanci...
Crystal, Metal
Pair of Paris porcelain standing baskets, Empire-period
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Important pair of openwork baskets in white hard porcelain with gold decoration. The body, of flared circular shape, features a regular openwork design with ogive motifs, enhanced by...
Porcelain
Beautiful Pair of Russian Imperial Glass and Ormolu Mounted Tazza Centerpieces
By Imperial Russia
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of Russian Empire Imperial Glass Manufactury and ormolu mounted white opalescent tazza centrepieces, each white opaline bowl beautifully hand cut and hand polished in flutted design with ribbed border; the Ormolu very finely hand chisseled and finished in two tome dore bronze gold...
Bronze
Empire German Ormolu Mntd Mahogany Turtle Feet Jardiniere, Klinkerfuss & Münch
By Johannes Klinkerfuss
Located in New York, NY
A Fantastic and Very Important Empire Period German Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Jardiniere Mounted on Dore Bronze Turtle Feet, In The Manner Of Johannes Klinkerfuss And Casimir Münch. This is truly a masterpiece jardiniere and was crafted by two of the greatest cabinet-makers of all time Johannes Klinkerfuss and Casimir Münch. This piece has an octagonal form with foliate and swan-decorated dore bronze hand-chiseled and two-tone matted gold gallery above a molded top. The gorgeous mahogany wood glistens beside the dore bronze mounts. Each inch of this piece is crafted of the finest quality. The upper mahogany jardiniere is mounted on eight gorgeously life-like top-quality dore bronze turtles, each hand-chiseled, chased and matted with two-tone gold. Stuttgart, Circa: 1815. Provenance: The Tony Ingrao...
Bronze
Early 19th Century Gilt Bronze Cut-Glass Centerpiece
Located in New York, NY
Cut-glass centerpiece with gilt bronze mounts. Hair line crack in bowl.
Bronze