Empire Jewelry Boxes
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
Egg style Faberge Blue Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Large egg on smooth tripod with 8-day mechanical skeletal Swiss movement with alarm, in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché with Russian E...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg style Faberge Blue Ocean Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on engraved tripod in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché, Russian Empire style inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé, late 19th centur...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg style Faberge folding photo holder Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on engraved tripod with octagonal folding photo holder for 6 photos inside, in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated, with translucent fired enamels on guilloché and pure gold “pa...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold
Egg style Faberge Aquamarine Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on tripod engraved in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on fire on guilloché, Russian Empire style inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé late 19th century, early 20th...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Set of Two Midcentury White Opaline Cenedese Glass Box with Bronze Mounts Italy
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A set of two beautiful jewelry boxes with glass lids made of opal glass. This type of jewelry box was mainly made in France, Italy and earlier in Bohemia. They were made from the early 19th century to the mid 20th century. However, the heyday of opal boxes...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Bronze
Beautiful Empire Period (1810) Russian Ormolu Mounted White Opaline Covered Box
Located in New York, NY
An Unusual, Fantastic, and Quite Beautiful Empire Period (1810) Russian Ormolu Mounted White Opaline Covered Box. Of oval form the highly translucent opalescent or opaline crystal i...
Category
1810s Russian Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Decorative Jewelry Box
Located in Firenze, IT
This French Empire 19th century rectangular porcelain dresser box or jewlery decorative casket has a wonderfully patinated powder blue/cerulean light blue background color and features grotesque masks, architectural vase, fruit, flowers and leafy scrolled design throughout painted as a trompe l’oeil in the round. Ormolu mounts enrich the whole box.
The paintings on this casket are striking as is the color palette used, a wonderful mix of light purple, cream, blue and soft brown.
The lid is centered by a grotesque mask inspired by antiquity. The front, back and sides are profusely decorated with architectural elements, cartouches and volutes. The design is centered by a vase with a fruit arrangement that appear to be plums. The decoration could refer to the allegory of autumn and the mask painted on the lid could refer to Bacchus.
Both the color of the porcelain and the paintings are very unusual and a sign of high quality and uniqueness.The box was most probably given to a high-ranking lady as a gift on the occasion of her marriage, or perhaps after the birth of a child.
The lidded box is fitted with ormolu mounts, hinges and clasp. A gilt bronze band finelly chiseled in the form of a rope adorns the upper part. The trinket box rests on four gilt bronze lion paw feet.
This striking French porcelain box...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th Century Miniature Writing Desk Jewelry Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This vintage miniature wood box has six drawers and lots of character and patina. Some of the drawers are lined in faux marbleized paper. We see this wonderful piece being used to st...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass
Late 19th-Early 20th Century Ottoman Empire Silver Jewelry Casket
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Late 19th-early 20th century Ottoman Empire Grand Scale Silver Jewelry Casket. Velvet lining; with a presentation case. 900 standard silver guarantee hallmark, SK mark unidentified, ...
Category
Early 20th Century Turkish Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Silver
Large 19th Century Continental Neoclassical Between Dresser Vanity Box
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An extensively filled 19th century ormolu-mounted ebonized wood dresser vanity box fitted with silver gold washed lidded glass gars and sewing tools. The ...
Category
1880s European Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Ormolu
Egg White with blue garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimb
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg White with blue garlands is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg White with blue garlands has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg White with blue garlands i...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 19th Century Gold and Enamel Box, Swiss Work
Located in Paris, FR
Rectangular box with three tones of gold and royal blue enamel. The hinged lid is embellished with a multicolored gold medallion in relief featuring a bouquet of roses and tulips, se...
Category
Early 19th Century Swiss Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold
Egg Navy Blue enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg Navy Blue enamel is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg Navy Blue enamel has fired enamels on guilloché has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg Navy Blue en...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Small Egg style Faberge Enamel hand painted wreaths Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Small egg in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché and an hand-painted miniature of garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the e...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
Silver Plated Rectangular Dolphin Footed Box with Lid
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
We see this charming 2 piece box for used as a trinket box for jewelry or keepsakes. Could also function standing alone on a coffee table or nightstand.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate
Pocket Pill Box like Egg sea color Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Pocket pill box shaped like a small egg.
Pocket pill box like egg hinged opening.
Pocket pill box like egg in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated 24ca...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg “music box” mechanism by the Swiss Maison Reuge Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg “music box” is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg “music box” has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg “music box”on smooth tripod containing a “music box”...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg Purple Red enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg Purple Red enamel is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg Purple Red enamel has fired enamels on guilloché has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg Purple Red...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg Plum enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg Plum enamel is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg Plum enamel has fired enamels on guilloché has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg Plum enamel is Russian...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century French Empire Miniature Commode
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine early 19th century French Empire miniature sample commode with four dovetailed drawers. Made of burl of walnut veneer with oak and pine as secondary woods. Working locks with ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Egg on Tripod with folding frame for 6 photos Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on tripod with folding photo frame for 6 photos, inside, in 925/1000 sterling Silver gold plated, with translucent fired enamels on guillochè. ...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold, Enamel, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate
Antique French 19th Century Jewelry Box Flap Door Miniature Wood Cabinet
Located in Firenze, IT
This beautiful French late 19th century chest of drawers in black ebonized wood and cherrywood reproduces with perfect proportions in scale a miniature cabinet with three drawers and an upper flap door that opens to reveal a white marble top and an oval mirror inside, nice hand carved band on top with geometrical pattern and molded base.
The black lacquered wood creates a wonderful contrast with the beautiful honey-colored wood grain. Despite its convenient size, extremely detailed, this chest of drawers is equipped with a white Carrara marble top and a small mirror that make it even more special and useful.
The model of a piece of furniture was originally created by cabinet makers to show their skills to the customer and to present the sample of the furniture which would then have been produced on a larger scale. These commode miniatures, along with other specimens, were displayed in the craftsman's workshop to serve as examples to aid the potential client in making a selection. Some also think that these little chests were used as doll and puppets...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Carrara Marble, Metal
Empire-Style Crystal and Brass 'Bonbonnière', or Sweet Box
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very decorative Empire-style crystal sweet box, or Bonbonnière, intricately clad in a gilt-brass frame, with elaborately worked gilt metal mounts of the ar...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Brass
X-Small Egg style Faberge Aquamarine Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
X-Small egg in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on fire on guilloché in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé late 19th century, early 20th c...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
X-Small Egg style Faberge Ruby Red Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
X-Small egg in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on fire on guilloché in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé late 19th century, early 20th c...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg style Faberge Blue Sapphire Enamel Medium Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on tripod in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè, Russian Empire style inspired by Carl Fabergè eggs late 1800s, early 1900s. Measurem...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
X-Small Egg style Faberge Enamel hand painted wreaths Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
X-Small egg in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on fire on guilloché and hand-painted miniature of garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the eggs of Carl F...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
Egg style Faberge Blue Savoia Enamel Medium Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on tripod in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè, Russian Empire style inspired by Carl Fabergè eggs late 1800s, early 1900s. Measurem...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
X-Small Egg style Faberge Yellow Enamel hand painted wreaths Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
X-Small egg in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on fire on guilloché and hand-painted miniature of garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the eggs of Carl F...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg 4 Picture frames in Dark Red enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg 4 Picture frames is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg 4 Picture frames has fired enamels on guilloché has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg 4 Picture fr...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg style Faberge Savoia blue Enamel Small Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Small egg in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché, Russian Empire style inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé, late 19th century, early 20th...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
X-Small Egg style Faberge Sapphire Blue Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
X-Small egg in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on fire on guilloché in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé late 19th century, early 20th c...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg style Faberge Ruby Red Enamel Small Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Small egg in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché, Russian Empire style inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé, late 19th century, early 20th...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg style Faberge Dark Brown Enamel Small Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Small egg in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché, Russian Empire style inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé, late 19th century, early 20th...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Empire jewelry boxes for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire jewelry boxes for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage jewelry boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire jewelry boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original jewelry boxes, popular names associated with this style include Franco Salimbeni, and Pavel Sazikov. 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 jewelry boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $170 and tops out at $10,957 while the average work can sell for $2,029.