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Empire 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
Large Sewing Box Lacquer Work with Pastoral Scenes, Early 19th Century
Large Sewing Box Lacquer Work with Pastoral Scenes, Early 19th Century

Large Sewing Box Lacquer Work with Pastoral Scenes, Early 19th Century

$1,275

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...

Category

Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Boxes

Materials

Lacquer, Beech

Small Square Brass Box With Angel Insignia, America Early 20th Century
Small Square Brass Box With Angel Insignia, America Early 20th Century

Small Square Brass Box With Angel Insignia, America Early 20th Century

$125

Small Square Brass Box With Angel Insignia, America Early 20th Century

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Small Square Brass Box With Angel Insignia, America Early 20th Century. This Empire style box makes a wonderful addition to a collection of these classic brass boxes. This box is ve...

Category

Early 20th Century American Empire Boxes

Materials

Brass

Sterling Silver Box Striped Fire Enameled Salimbeni
Sterling Silver Box Striped Fire Enameled Salimbeni

Sterling Silver Box Striped Fire Enameled Salimbeni

$7,842

Sterling Silver Box Striped Fire Enameled Salimbeni

By Salimbeni, Giorgio Salimbeni

Located in Firenze, FI

Sterling silver Jewel box with Rectangular rounded corners gold plated with translucent fire enamel stripes on guilloche and hand engraved with late Russian Empire style ornament app...

Category

1980s Italian Vintage Empire Boxes

Materials

Gold, Enamel, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate

Table Box Enamel Miniature Moscow Kremlin and Red Square Salimbeni
Table Box Enamel Miniature Moscow Kremlin and Red Square Salimbeni

Table Box Enamel Miniature Moscow Kremlin and Red Square Salimbeni

$31,672

Table Box Enamel Miniature Moscow Kremlin and Red Square Salimbeni

By Salimbeni, Giorgio Salimbeni

Located in Firenze, FI

Rectangular shaped table box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fine hand-engravings fire enameled hand-painted like lapis lazuli stone and beautiful hand-painted enameled ...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Empire Boxes

Materials

Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Early 20th century burr yew desktop box with clock
Early 20th century burr yew desktop box with clock

Early 20th century burr yew desktop box with clock

$742

Early 20th century burr yew desktop box with clock

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Early 20th century burr yew desktop box with clock circa 1920. Empire revival burr yew cigar box with clock.  Strung and inlaid to outer edges, decorated with an ormolu mount to the...

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Boxes

Materials

Brass

X-Small Egg style Faberge Enamel hand painted wreaths Sterling Silver Salimbeni
X-Small Egg style Faberge Enamel hand painted wreaths Sterling Silver Salimbeni

X-Small Egg style Faberge Enamel hand painted wreaths Sterling Silver Salimbeni

$1,310

X-Small Egg style Faberge Enamel hand painted wreaths Sterling Silver Salimbeni

By Salimbeni, Franco 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 Boxes

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

19th Century Lacquered Papier-mâché Snuff Box with Parrot and Lady
19th Century Lacquered Papier-mâché Snuff Box with Parrot and Lady

19th Century Lacquered Papier-mâché Snuff Box with Parrot and Lady

$296Sale Price|68% Off

19th Century Lacquered Papier-mâché Snuff Box with Parrot and Lady

By Stobwasser

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Early 19th century hand painted black lacquered Papier-Mâché snuff box or vanity box Crafted in Austria in the early 1800's, the decorative box features a hand painted scene of a yo...

Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Boxes

Materials

Wood, Lacquer, Paper

Pressed Wood Snuff Box Depicting the Battle in Paris of 30th March 1814
Pressed Wood Snuff Box Depicting the Battle in Paris of 30th March 1814

Pressed Wood Snuff Box Depicting the Battle in Paris of 30th March 1814

$486

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...

Category

1810s French Antique Empire Boxes

Materials

Wood

Egg Plum enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Egg Plum enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni

Egg Plum enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni

$4,963

Egg Plum enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni

By Salimbeni, Franco 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 Boxes

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

X-Small Egg style Faberge Yellow Enamel hand painted wreaths Salimbeni
X-Small Egg style Faberge Yellow Enamel hand painted wreaths Salimbeni

X-Small Egg style Faberge Yellow Enamel hand painted wreaths Salimbeni

$1,310

X-Small Egg style Faberge Yellow Enamel hand painted wreaths Salimbeni

By Salimbeni, Franco 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 Boxes

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Egg White with blue garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimb
Egg White with blue garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimb

Egg White with blue garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimb

$9,361

Egg White with blue garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimb

By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni

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 Boxes

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Egg style Faberge Dark Brown Enamel Small Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Egg style Faberge Dark Brown Enamel Small Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni

Egg style Faberge Dark Brown Enamel Small Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni

$1,486

Egg style Faberge Dark Brown Enamel Small Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni

By Salimbeni, Franco 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 Boxes

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

X-Small Egg style Faberge Aquamarine Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
X-Small Egg style Faberge Aquamarine Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni

X-Small Egg style Faberge Aquamarine Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni

$1,226

X-Small Egg style Faberge Aquamarine Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni

By Salimbeni, Franco 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 Boxes

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Table Box blue and gold with handpainted miniature fire-enameled on guilloche Sa
Table Box blue and gold with handpainted miniature fire-enameled on guilloche Sa

Table Box blue and gold with handpainted miniature fire-enameled on guilloche Sa

$5,876 / item

Table Box blue and gold with handpainted miniature fire-enameled on guilloche Sa

By Salimbeni, Franco 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...

Category

1980s Italian Vintage Empire Boxes

Materials

Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Table Cigar Box two-tone stripes enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Table Cigar Box two-tone stripes enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni

Table Cigar Box two-tone stripes enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni

$10,606

Table Cigar Box two-tone stripes enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni

By Salimbeni, Giorgio 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...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Empire Boxes

Materials

Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Vintage Marble Lidded Box with Brass Accents and Dolphin Handle
Vintage Marble Lidded Box with Brass Accents and Dolphin Handle

Vintage Marble Lidded Box with Brass Accents and Dolphin Handle

$193

Vintage Marble Lidded Box with Brass Accents and Dolphin Handle

Located in Hamburg, DE

This cylindrical marble box with a lid is a sophisticated decorative piece that blends vintage charm with historical design influences. Crafted in the 1970s, it features a lightly pa...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Empire Boxes

Materials

Marble

Danish Early 19th Century Empire Tobacco Box
Danish Early 19th Century Empire Tobacco Box

Danish Early 19th Century Empire Tobacco Box

$905

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, ...

Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Boxes

Materials

Bone, Mahogany

Danish Late Empire Tobacco Box in Nobel Wood, Lid with Walrus Tooth
Danish Late Empire Tobacco Box in Nobel Wood, Lid with Walrus Tooth

Danish Late Empire Tobacco Box in Nobel Wood, Lid with Walrus Tooth

$849

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.

Category

Early 19th Century Antique Empire Boxes

Materials

Hardwood

Pressed Wood Snuff Box of Place Vendome, French, Early 19th Century
Pressed Wood Snuff Box of Place Vendome, French, Early 19th Century

Pressed Wood Snuff Box of Place Vendome, French, Early 19th Century

$950

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.’

Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Boxes

Materials

Wood

Pair of Sceaux Faux Porphyry Tobacco Jars, 19th Century
Pair of Sceaux Faux Porphyry Tobacco Jars, 19th Century

Pair of Sceaux Faux Porphyry Tobacco Jars, 19th Century

$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.

Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Boxes

Materials

Faience

Empire French Pressed Wood Snuff Box, Early 19th Century
Empire French Pressed Wood Snuff Box, Early 19th Century

Empire French Pressed Wood Snuff Box, Early 19th Century

$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.

Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Boxes

Materials

Wood

19th Century French Empire Style Salesman Sample
19th Century French Empire Style Salesman Sample

19th Century French Empire Style Salesman Sample

$1,815

19th Century French Empire Style Salesman Sample

Located in Dallas, TX

Charming French late 19th century Empire style salesman sample. Makes a fine accessory.

Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Boxes

Materials

Wood

Empire boxes for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire boxes 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 boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Scandinavia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original boxes, popular names associated with this style include Franco Salimbeni, Giorgio Salimbeni, Ivan Ivanovich Futikin, and Olle Hermansson. 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 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 $88,000 while the average work can sell for $1,480.

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