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.
Egg Purple Red enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, 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...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
X-Small Egg style Faberge Enamel hand painted wreaths Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, 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...
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
Egg Plum enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, 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...
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
$720Sale Price|40% Off
Empire French Pressed Wood Snuff Box, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The circular lidded box depicting a woman reclining on a Recamier playing the harp. The underside with a star surrounded by banding with stippling decoration.
Wood
Pocket Pill Box like Egg sea color Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Franco 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...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Table Cigar Box two-tone stripes enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Giorgio Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
This superb Table Cigar Box two-tone stripes enamel is in 925/1000 sterling silver. it has a rectangular shape with rounded sides Table Cigar Box has hand engraving, with orange and ...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Pressed Wood Snuff Box Depicting the Battle in Paris of 30th March 1814
Located in Bilzen, BE
Combat of March 30, 1814. On the heights of Saint Chaumont where an Artillery post served by students of the École Polytechnique fought fiercely and was saved from death by General S...
Wood
Large Sewing Box Lacquer Work with Pastoral Scenes, Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
A large and intricately decorated Empire lacquer work sewing box. Early 19th century Europe. The box is decorated with pastoral scenes and an intricate pattern on the edges. The ins...
Lacquer, Beech
X-Small Egg style Faberge Aquamarine Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, 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...
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
X-Small Egg style Faberge Sapphire Blue Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, 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...
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
$300Sale Price|20% Off
Small Danish Empire Veneered and Brass Trinket Box, Circa 1825
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small Rectangular Period Empire Trinket Box in Veneered Mahogany and Brass Panels on the Edges, Denmark Circa 1825.
Brass
X-Small Egg style Faberge Ruby Red Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, 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...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Table Box blue and gold with handpainted miniature fire-enameled on guilloche Sa
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Octagonal table box in 800/1000 silver gold plated with translucent enamel on guilloché and beautiful enamel miniature hand painted by the painter Renato Dainelli in early 1900s Engl...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Empire Sewing Box in the Form of a Nightstand, circa 1800.
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
An exceptional and rare Vienna Empire period Sewing box, ingeniously designed in the form of a miniature architectural nightstand and dating to the beginning of the 19th century. Crafted from solid mahogany and raised on a contrasting ebonized square plinth base, the cylindrical body is accented with finely chased ormolu vertical mounts featuring delicate neoclassical ornament. A diamond-shaped escutcheon reinforces the illusion of a functional cabinet, landing architectural character to the design. The piece is crowned with a white marble top set within a turned collar. The top unscrews by an integrated wooden threads to reveal a fitted interior with its original sewing implements executed in bone, ivory and glass with ormolu trim. The precision of the fittings and the clever mechanical construction reflect the refined craftsmanship of Period Viennese workshops. This example beautifully embodies the Viennese interpretation of Empire design with its architectural elegance, merging sculptural presence with function. A rare and sophisticated early 19th century Viennese sewing necessaire...
Marble, Ormolu
Table Cigar Box two-tone stripes enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Giorgio Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
This divine Table Box is in 925/1000 sterling silver. Table Box hand-painted miniature has a Rectangular shape with rounded corners. On the cover there is a beautiful hand-engraved...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Danish Early 19th Century Empire Tobacco Box
Located in Kastrup, DK
A charming mahogany tobacco box in an architecturally intriguing form. The top of the lid is adorned with a small knob of bone. Great quality and craftsmanship. Empire. Denmark, ...
Bone, Mahogany
Pressed Wood Snuff Box, 19th Century "Fete Flamande"
Located in Spencertown, NY
Dancing scene with violinist and dancing couple.
Danish Late Empire Tobacco Box in Nobel Wood, Lid with Walrus Tooth
Located in Kastrup, DK
Late empire tobacco box in rosewood. The top of the lid is adorned with a walrus tooth. Denmark 1830-1840.
Hardwood
$1,200Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Sceaux Faux Porphyry Tobacco Jars, 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The pair of jars with covers with old repairs and chips.
Faience
Pair of Two white Opaline Glass Flower Vases Italy 20th Century
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful collection of Vases made of opal glass made by Opalina Fiorentina, Italy. These types of articles and jewelry boxes were mainly made in France, Italy and earlier in Bohem...
Glass
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 ...
Walnut
19th Century Swedish Folkart Empire Chest / Box with Originalpaint
Located in Boden, SE
19th Century Swedish Folkart Empire Chest /box from Skelleftea Vasterbotten ,Northern Sweden. Decorative Wood imitaition painted small chest /box with...
Pine
Pressed Wood Snuff Box of Place Vendome, French, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The circular box depicting Place Vendome with quote on bottom 'COLON DE LA PLACE VENDOME.' The interior with collectors label 'EVAN THOMAS COLLECTION 408.’
Wood
19th Century French Empire Style Salesman Sample
Located in Dallas, TX
Charming French late 19th century Empire style salesman sample. Makes a fine accessory.
Wood
Important Empire Period Paris Porcelain & Ormolu-Mounted Casket/Box/Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
An Important and very rare Empire period Paris porcelain ormolu-mounted Empire rectangular shaped two-handled casket decorated and assembled by ...
Bronze