Skip to main content

Empire Candle Holders

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.

to
29
275
11
1
7
232
36
12
12
7
3
3
2
1
1
1
3
1
1,548
924
742
483
356
302
270
223
185
181
177
165
131
128
110
36
8
273
217
52
34
31
147
124
267
215
24
13
8
Height
to
Width
to
287
276
287
11
1
1
1
1
Style: Empire
19thc French Empire Gold Bordered Crystal Candle Holder /Candlestick by Baccarat
Located in Opa Locka, FL
19thc French Antique Cut Crystal/ Gold Bordered Deluxe Candle Holder. This piece is stunning! The detail is amazing.
Category

1850s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Crystal

Belgian Empire Gilt Metal Three-Piece Garniture Clock Candelabras Set
Located in Germantown, MD
Belle Epoque Belgian Empire style Gilt Metal Three-Piece candelabras and Clock Garniture set with Asian inspiration. They measures 11" in width,...
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Brass

Pair of 19th Century Bronze Candelabras
Located in Skanninge, SE
A pair of European Mid-19th Century bronze-gilt candelabras. For two candles each. Very nice original condition.
Category

Mid-19th Century European Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

A beautiful pair of small Empire candlesticks in gilt bronze from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A beautiful pair of small Empire candlesticks in gilt bronze from the 1820s. Very period design. Wear consistent with age and use
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of 19th Century Empire Candelabra Italian Gilt Bronze Three-Arm Flambeaux
Located in Milano, MI
Coppia di Candelabri a Tre Fiamme Impero in Bronzo Dorato della prima metà del XIX secolo, di origine italiana, si presentano in buono stato di conservazione con segni di usura nell...
Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Italian Empire Classical Sterling Silver 5-Light Candelabrum
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire sterling silver 5-light candelabrum. Raised socket on ovoid shaft to which are mounted four leaf-mounted arms terminating in same. Sockets bellied on wax pan. Shaft mo...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Sterling Silver

Pair of Early 19th c Empire Gilt Bronze Cassolettes
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Early 19th C Empire Gilt Bronze Cassolettes. With a classic egg and dart pattern on the rim, the pair are adorned with two sets of winged male figures. The pair rest atop rec...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire Candelabra with Green Marble Bases & 4 Candle Holders
Located in Atlanta, GA
These pair of Empire candelabras feature angles holding 4 candleholders atop a green marble base.
Category

19th Century European Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble

4 sterling silver candlesticks - Empire period circa 1810
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine set of 4 Empire sterling silver candlesticks, beautiful early 19th century production decorated ornamented with acanthus leaves, circa 1810. Each candlestick bear the French h...
Category

Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Sterling Silver

French Pair of Empire Patina Dore Bronze Winged Lady Victory Candelabras
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful pair French Napoleon III Empire style gilt doré and patinated bronze neoclassic three-arm candelabra with finely cast detail, each featuring a classical winged lady victory...
Category

20th Century French Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

A large pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A large and beautiful pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Very period design. Wear consistent with age and use
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Exquisite French Empire Gilt Bronze Two-Light Candelabra ca 1810
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
These candlesticks are ornate artifacts from the French Empire period, which dates back to the early 19th century, typically considered as the reign of Napoleon I from 1804 to 1814. ...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Gold, Bronze

Scandinavian Brass Push Up Chamber Candle Holder with Tray
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic patina on this candleholder from the early 1800's. We see this chamber candlestick on a coffee table with antique books. Wonderful addition to any collection of these sough...
Category

1810s Scandinavian Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Brass

Pair of French Empire Style Candelabras
Located in New York, NY
Stunning pair of bronze candelabras with a male figural base.
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Candelabras 5 Arms French Silver Plate 19th Century France
Located in New York, NY
Candelabras 5 Arms French Silver Plate 19th Century France . A pair of French silver plated candelabras. Decorated with leaves and flowers.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Silver Plate

Pair of Early 19th Century Empire Trajan's Column Ormolu Candlesticks
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of early 19th century Empire Trajan's column ormolu candlesticks in the manner of P.-P. Thomire (1751-1843): Pair of large Empire ormolu candlesticks, the stem ressembling th...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Ormolu

Very Fine Pair of Empire Parcel Gilt Bronze Three Light Candelabra, Circa 1830
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very fine pair of early 19th century Empire Period patinated & parcel gilt bronze three branch candelabra. Both showing a trio of finely cast scrolled & foliate shaped branches fit...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Empire Style Beaded Crystal Basket Chandelier, Late 20th Century
Located in Milano, MI
A late 20th century Empire style beaded crystal basket chandelier with a classical circular brass structure and three E27 lights inside.Light bulbs can be replaced unscrewing the bro...
Category

Late 20th Century Czech Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Pair of Empire Bronze Three Branched Candelabras
By Percier & Fontaine
Located in Paris, FR
Impressive pair of gilt and sculpted bronze candelabras with three branches. The stem of each candelabrum is a patinated bronze form of the winged goddess, Victory, who holds a gilt bronze torch in each of her hands. Her head is topped with a gilt bronze vase that transforms into the candelabra branches, which is embellished with griffins and rosettes. At the top of each candelabrum is a peacock standing on a globe, symbolizing the sun and immortality. Victory is standing on a cruciform-shaped base, which has a winged cupid on two sides and a caduceus on the other two sides. The intertwined snakes of the caduceus are a symbol of the Greek god Hermes (or the Roman god Mercury) and is a symbol of peace, eloquence and negotiation. Empire period. Perfect condition. Our model is inspired by the projects of Charles Percier and Franc¸ois-Leonard Fontaine, famous architects of the Emperor. Their most important work, entitled Recueil de decorations inte´rieurs (Collection of interior decorations), was published in France at the, end of the 19th century. The winged Victories, caduceus and griffins are some of the motifs present in this piece that demonstrate the adoption of Percier and Fontaine’s decorative...
Category

1810s Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Empire Patinated and Gilt Bronze Candelabra, 19th Century
Located in El Monte, CA
This impressive pair of gilt and patinated bronze candelabra is a quintessential example of the French empire style. Drawing from Greco-Roman influence, each candelabra features a ce...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Porphyry, Bronze

A Pair of Elegant Empire Candlesticks, Gilded and Patinated Brass, 1820s France
Located in Knivsta, SE
A pair of exquisite Empire candlesticks which combine gilt and patinated brass. Made in 1820s France. Various intricate rose, floral and leaf patterns adorn the bases in gilt brass. ...
Category

Early 18th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Brass

A Pair of Large French Empire Parcel-Gilt Floor Candelabras, 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Pair of Large French Empire Parcel-Gilt Floor Candelabras, 19th Century Description: Each with a tapered faux marble column shaft rising to double foliate collar and leaf carved d...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Wood

Candelabras Pair 19th Century France
Located in New York, NY
A pair of candelabras made of gilt bronze. Made in France In Late Empie Style during the 19th century. Top candle holder decorated with a loose torch.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of French burnished gilded Empire candlesticks with light collars. The stems are fluted and decorated with acanthus leaves.
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

French Pair of Gilt Bronze Candelabra with Putti Empire Period 19th Century
Located in Milano, MI
From a luxury villa at Como Lake a stunning pair of early 19th century Empire four-light gilt bronze figural candelabras, of French origin, dating back to circa 1810, measure: 31.50 ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Patinated Brass Candlesticks
Located in Barntrup, DE
Very nice pair of French Empire style gold-plated, patinated and burnished bronze and brass candlesticks. Each candlestick features finely engraved decors and is raised on a round or...
Category

1920s French Vintage Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze, Brass

Pair of 19th Century Empire Candelabras by Pierre Chibout
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of Empire candelabra for five candles each, crafted by Pierre Chibout in the early 19th century. The candelabra are made of patinated and fire-gilded bronze. The candelabras f...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Gilded French Empire Candlesticks with charming decor from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A pair of Gilded French Empire Candlesticks with charming decor from the 1820s. Beautiful decorated with flowers and other period empire decorations. Wear consistent with age and use
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiselled details. The backplate of this sconce features a lacquered round ...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Rare flashlight for a candle in brass from a Swedish Baron. Empire period
Located in Knivsta, SE
Extremely rare flashlight for a candle in brass from a Swedish Baron. Empire period around 1830. Provenance Baron Ehrenkrona, Hulterstad Manor, Mjölby, Sweden. The flashlight in bra...
Category

1830s Swedish Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Brass

Pair of French Early 19th Century Empire Gilt-Bronze Candlesticks, circa 1820
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of French early 19th century Empire gilt-bronze candlesticks, circa 1820 Pair of Empire gilt bronze candlesticks, each with a fluted stem, highlighted on top by a finely chas...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire Style Egyptian Caryatid Two-Light Ormolu & Patinated Candelabra
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Empire-Style Egyptian Caryatid Two-Light Ormolu and Patinated Candelabra, France, 20th Century  A pair of exquisite Empire-style Egyptian Caryatid Two-Light Ormolu and Patin...
Category

20th Century French Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Pair of Antique French Empire Style Gilt Brass Candlesticks, ca. 1890
Located in Barntrup, DE
Pair of antique French Empire-style gilt brass candlesticks from ca. 1890. A beautiful and compact-sized pair of French Empire-style gilt brass candlesticks with removable bobeches (...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century French Empire Period Giltwood Candlesticks or Prickets
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This pair of giltwood French Empire period prickets or candlesticks was originally used on the altar of a church. They were hand-carved and exquisitely gilded on only one side as a m...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Giltwood

Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt bronze from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Richly decorated in period decorations. Wear consistent with age and use
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Gold French Empire Pair of Embossed Brass Candlesticks
Located in Savannah, GA
This graceful pair of antique French candlesticks are made of hand crafted brass and are in very good condition. Details include downward tapering on fluted shafts supported by a rou...
Category

Early 18th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Brass

Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Period Candelabras
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning pair of period Empire gilt patinated brass and bronze candelabras. Born in France in the early 19th century, fine quality and detailing, elaborately decorated, unique d...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Ormolu

Pair 20th Century Empire Patinated and Green Marble Urn Form 7-Light Candelabra
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of 20th Century Empire Style Patinated and Green Marble Urn Form Seven-Light Candelabra. Each candelabrum has seven candle holders.They are made of patinated bronze and green...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century Pair of French Patinated Bronze Sculptures Candelabra Candleholders
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of heavy patinated bronze sculpture candelabra, France, mid-19th century. Two female sculptures holding a candleholder raised on a b...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of French fire-gilded candleholders in the Empire style. They feature acanthus leaf decorations. The candle sleeves are removable.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Pair of French Patinated Bronze Sculptures Candelabra Candleholders
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of heavy patinated bronze sculpture candelabra, France mid-19th century. Two female sculptures holding a candleholder raised on a br...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Beautiful pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Beautiful pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Very period design. Wear consistent with age and use
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Antique Heavy French Brass Empire Candlesticks, a pair
Located in Malibu, CA
This pair of beautiful brass candlesticks have classical simplicity. Exquisitely crafted in the distinct style of the 1st empire period in France. Quite heavy with a smooth patina, ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Brass

Pair of Empire Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of French Empire candleholders in fire-gilded bronze. They feature decorations of fluting and acanthus leaves. The candle sleeves are removable.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Elegant pair of Candlesticks i bronze. Empire, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant pair of Candlesticks i bronze with dark patinated column. French Empire during the 1820s. Wear consistent with age and use
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilded and darkpatinated bronze from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A beautiful Pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilded and darkpatinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Richly decorated with leaves and other period ornaments as well as a dar...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Three-Light Sconce, Wall Candelabra
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
French Empire gilt bronze three-arm wall candleholder finely ornate with foliate, acorn motifs and three female faces, circa 1850-1870. This wall candelabra can easily be converted ...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Candlesticks on Hoofed Faun Feet
Located in Barntrup, DE
Pair of French empire style gilt bronze candlesticks on hoofed faun feet, late 19th century. A pair of fine French Empire-style gilt bronze candleholders. A fluted column rises on three cloven-hoofed hocked faun legs and feet. These antique candleholders...
Category

1890s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

A large pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A large and beautiful pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Very period design. Wear consistent with age and use
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Very period design. Cool and unusual composition between gilded and dark patin...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Empire Period Four Light Bronze Candelabra
Located in Montreal, QC
This Hommage a Egypte pair were made at the time of Napoleon's unsuccessful foray into Egypt. The shaped bases, winged feet and triangular columns are surely inspired by the campaig...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

A large pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A large and beautiful pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Very period design. Wear consistent with age and use
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Antique Pair of Danish Soap Stone Square Base Candlesticks
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Very classic antique period Empire hand-made candlesticks carved from soapstone. These candlesticks certainly would enhance any living room or dining room, sideboard or end table.
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Soapstone

Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks after C. Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of excellent early 19th century French empire gilt bronze candlesticks in the style of Claude Galle (1758-1815): A tapering stem with rich trelliswork relief divided into thr...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire Candlestick, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of candlesticks made of burnished and fire-gilt bronze. The spouts are surrounded by three satyr masks crowned by flames. The pyramidal shaft is decorated with torchbearers in r...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Very Handsome Pair of French Empire Period Gilt Brass Candlesticks, Circa 1820
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome & tall pair of early 19th century French Empire gilt brass candlesticks. Both showing reeded columns rising up from circular bases decorated by hand with finely chiseled motifs, to similarly addressed urn-shaped nozzles with detachable bobeches. Constructed in three sections, with the nozzle and column firmly attached to the base by means of a full length threaded metal post...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Brass

Pair of 19th Century Empire Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of French Empire candleholders from around 1820. They are made of fire-gilded bronze. Decorative acanthus leaves adorn the candleholders, along with fluting. Removable candle ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Monumental Pair of Italian Empire Gilt Bronze Candleholders or Floor Lamps, 1800
Located in Rome, IT
Impressive pair of Italian Empire finely chiseled ormolu Flambeaux, on triform base, each with 25 scrolled gilt-bronze candle arms. Attributed to Luigi Manfredini the famous bronze a...
Category

Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

18th - 19th Century French Pair of Antique Empire Gilded Bronze Candle Holders
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold, antique French pair of candle holders made of hand crafted matted and polished burnt gilded bronze, in good condition. Each of the detailed sticks is composed with a face mascarons, a crowned man and woman, carrying a mug with flowers, loose cuffs supported by a round plinth, standing on square base. The Parisian décor...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Pair French Empire candelabra, circa 1800
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality pair of French Empire bronze and gilded ormolu candelabra, each having Caryatid supports to the scrolling foliate four branch candle sconces. Raised on classical gilde...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Empire candle holders for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire candle holders for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage candle holders created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, lighting, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire candle holders 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 candle holders, popular names associated with this style include Gherardo Degli Albizzi, Alexandre Vossion, Baccarat, and Arno Fassi. 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 candle holders differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $313 and tops out at $148,649 while the average work can sell for $3,788.

Recently Viewed

View All