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.
Pair of French Empire Period Fire-Gilt Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
An exceptional pair of French Empire period candlesticks executed in finely chased fire-gilt ormolu and contrasting dark patinated bronze, dating to the early 19th century. Each cand...
Bronze, Ormolu
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 ...
Bronze
A Pair of Empire Style Sterling Silver Three Arm Candelabras
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
A pair of Empire-style removable arms, weighted sterling silver three-arm candelabras by Gorham. Nice patina to the silver, dating to the 1930's.
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century French Empire Bronze NIKE Figural Candelabra
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This stately patinated and fire gilt bronze candelabrum is of the finest quality, and retains its original finish. The figure of Nike (Winged Victory) standing on a gilt globe holds...
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...
Crystal, Bronze
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
Single French Empire Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Winged Victory Candelabra
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A late 19thC French Empire style candelabra in yje manner of Thomire featuring a finely chased patinated bronze statue of Nike or Winged Victory holding aloft five gilt bronze can...
Marble, Bronze
Large 19th Century French Empire Period Floor Candelabrum
Located in Forney, TX
An extraordinary period Empire gilded gold dore bronze rolling floor candelabrum. Born in France, the stunning Neo-classical style architectural antique...
Bronze, Ormolu
French Empire Snake Candlesticks
Located in Hudson, NY
French Empire Snake Candlesticks
Bronze
Pair of 19th C. French Empire Bronze and Patinated Brass Four-Light Candelabra
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring stately elegance and classical refinement to a mantel, buffet, or console with this striking pair of French Empire candelabra, crafted in France circa 1880 from finely chased g...
Bronze, Brass
$3,900Sale Price / set|25% Off
A Pair of Christofle Malmaison Silver-Plated Candelabra For Two Candles
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This silver plated Malmaison candelabra, which can hold up to two candles, adds refinement and elegance to any room. One of Christofle's most historic patterns, Malmaison typifies th...
Silver Plate
Pair Russian Dog Head Dore Bronze Mounted, Rock Crystal, Marble 3 Arm Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A Fantastic Pair of 18th-Century Russian Dore Bronze Mounted, Rock Crystal, and Marble Three-Arm Candelabra with Dog’s Heads. Each candelabrum is set on a circular white marble base ...
Rock Crystal, Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Candlesticks - Empire Style - Gilded and Patinated Bronze - France
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Elegant pair of French candlesticks in Empire style, circa 1880–1890. Made of finely cast and engraved bronze with a beautiful contrast between the gilded and dark patinated sections...
Bronze
A pair (2) of figural Empire candelabra candles. Paris, 19th century.
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair (2) of figural Empire candelabra candles. Paris, 1815s Gilt bronze. Recessed pedestal base with palmette and floral decoration on a square plinth. The pair, dressed in antiqu...
Bronze
$1,100 / set
French Pair of Brass Empire Style Candlesticks
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French 19th century brass candlesticks, Empire in taste, like miniature columns to add instant glamor to a mantel or table. Typical of the French Empire period, inspiration from anci...
Brass
Candlesticks with Caryatids in Gilt and Dark-Patinated Bronze – Empire, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
French Candlesticks with Caryatids in Gilt and Dark-Patinated Bronze – Empire, 1820s A magnificent pair of French candlesticks in gilt and dark-patinated bronze, made during the he...
Bronze
$3,996Sale Price / set|20% Off
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,...
Brass
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-chiseled details. The backplate of this sconce is a central round plate wit...
Bronze
Antique French Candle Holders in Marble & Bronze, Circa 1830-1850
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique French pair of Egyptian women figure candle holders made of hand crafted marble and patinated bronze, in good condition. The candle sticks are resting on an urn-shaped base. The particularized Parisian décor...
Marble, Metal, Bronze
Mid 19th Century Empire Style Bronze Patinated Candleholders
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A pair of fine French Empire style brown patinated bronze candlesticks from the Napoleon III period. A fluted column beautifully decorated with ivy, rises on a tripod with claw-shape...
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Pair of Antique Gilded Bronze Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold-black, antique French pair of dark patinated candle sticks made of hand crafted gilded bronze, in good condition. The detailed candle holders are particularized with flowers decoration, resting on a tripod foot. The Parisian décor...
Metal, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Bronze and Mercury Gilt Candelabra
Located in Newark, England
FRENCH BRONZE EMPIRE CANDELABRA FROM THE REIGN OF NAPOLEON I From our Decorative collection, we are pleased to present this fine pair of French Empire Bronze Candelabra dating to ci...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, 1820s A refined pair of Empire candlesticks in gilt bronze, crafted in France around the 1820s. The design features the elegant, flu...
Bronze
Antique French Wrought Iron Candelabra with Seven Candle Holders, 1890
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black antique, late 19th century French floor candle holder, candelabra hand crafted in very ornate fer forge work with wrought iron scrolls and seven candle holders, in good condi...
Metal, Wrought Iron
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Marble Candelabra By Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This Empire style gilt and burnished bronze candelabra by Gherardo Degli Albizzi, with its marble base, resume the great taste of Napoleon period decoration. Base is characterized by...
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, 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 br...
Bronze
$1,424Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair, French Empire Gilt Bronze Crane Motif Candlesticks Circa 1815
Located in Atlanta, GA
French, circa 1815. This exquisite pair of French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks, crafted circa 1815, embodies the opulence and grandeur of the Empire style. Each candlestick feat...
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...
Bronze
$113,052Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Bronze
Pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Beautiful decorated with flowers and a dark patinated column in the center of the cand...
Bronze
Antique French Chandelier, Brass & Crystal, Empire Style, Circa 1860
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A round, antique French chandelier, pendant made of hand crafted polished brass, in good condition. The hand blown cut crystal prisms are attached, halted to the ceiling lamp brass f...
Crystal, Metal, Brass
Beautiful Pair of Gilt Bronze Empire Appliques from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A beautiful and rare pair of gilt bronze Empire Appliques. Made in France during the 1820s. Some wear on the gilding exists, but also carries a beutif...
Gold Plate, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze & Brass Candlesticks
Located in Barntrup, DE
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt, Patinated, and Burnished Bronze & Brass Candlesticks, circa 1920 Elegant pair of French Empire style candlesticks, crafted from a harmonious co...
Bronze, Brass
$2,500 / set
Pair of Empire Silvered Four-Light Candelabra
By Claude Galle
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Pair of silver-plated four-light candelabra, likely French or Russian Empire style from the 19th Century, exhibiting characteristics associated with the Neoclassical period. The top ...
Silver Plate
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
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...
Bronze
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...
Bronze
Beautiful pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A small 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
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...
Brass
Set of 2 Swedish Brass Chamber Candle Holders with Tray
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic patina on these candleholders from the early 1800's. We see these chamber candlesticks on a coffee table with antique books. Wonderful addition to any collection of these s...
Brass, Metal
Pair French Empire Figural Bronze Candelabra Signed Chibout
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This finely detailed, and hand chased pair of bronze candelabra were made by Pierre Chibout. Active 1806-24, he worked with Claude Francois Rabiat who's workshop he took over in 181...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French Empire Gilt Patinated Bronze Three-Light Candelabra ca. 1815
Located in Shippensburg, PA
PAIR OF EMPIRE GILT AND PATINATED BRONZE THREE-LIGHT CANDELABRA Paris, France ca. 1815-35 raised on antico verde marble plinths 25 1/2" H x 9" W x 4 1/2" D A very finely chiseled ...
Marble, Bronze
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...
Giltwood
Italy Mid-18th Century Empire Pair Brass Candle Holders
Located in Brescia, IT
Italy Mid-18th Century pair of brass Empire five lights candleholders or table lamps This wonderful pair of brass candle holders, is a magnificent hand made work by Italian artisan...
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
Bronze
$8,714 / set
Pair of Empire Torchères, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of torcheres on triangular bases with gilded carved paw feet, acanthus leaf decoration and palmettes on the base, conical shaft, and wide candle cup. Wood, finished in black fau...
Wood
Pair of Antique French Empire Style Figural Patinated and Gilt Bronze Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A pair of spectacular and prominent antique French Empire-style figural patinated and gilt bronze candelabra. Each candelabrum takes the form of a fully modeled winged female figure,...
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Vintage Danish Malm Candle Holders, 1950s. Set of 4.
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish Malm Candle Holders, 1950s. Set of 4. Two pairs of candleholders in malm, which is a brass alloy with added copper. The cobber gives the brass a darker color. The hei...
Brass
Pair of French Empire style Bronze and Bronze Dore Candelabra
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine & Spectacular Pair of French Empire style Bronze & Bronze Dore 12 light Figural Candelabra, late 19th Century, each depicting a standing winged Victory with outstreached ...
Marble, Bronze
Empire Giltwood Candleholders with Stylized Palms, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Executed as stylized palms on rectangular landscape bases. The girandoles, each with four nozzles, are crafted in gilt-patinated wood with stucco elements. In unrestored original con...
Wood, Giltwood
A Pair of French Empire Polychrome Gilt-Wood Torchères, 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Pair of French Empire Polychrome Gilt-Wood Torchères, 19th Century Description: Each torchère with a circular stone top above a concave triform capital with a rosette to each face...
Wood
19th Century Pair of Empire Girandoles in Bronze & Griotte Marble
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of Italian girandoles on triangular marble bases with pyramidal Rouge Griotte marble plinths, resting on gilded bronze paw feet. Each features three black-patinated caryatids su...
Griotte Marble, Bronze
$2,850 / set
French Empire Doré Bronze Candlesticks, A Pair
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of French Empire Doré Bronze Candlesticks. These candlesticks feature a fluted and diamond-patterned shaft rising from a circular molded base with guilloché border. The upper se...
Bronze
Pareja de candelabros; Francia, época Imperio, c. 1810
Located in MADRID, ES
Pareja de grandes candelabros; Francia, época Imperio, c. 1810, siglo XIX. Bronce dorado al mercurio y mármol negro belga. Estos candelabros de siete luces son un gran ejemplo del...
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
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...
Porphyry, Bronze
19th Century French Candlestick
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 19th-century French candlestick is a stunning example of French craftsmanship, made of brass with intricate detailing. The candlestick features a textured body resembling scales...
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...
Wood
$12,000 / set
Pair of American Empire Bronze Dore Candelabras
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of American Empire bronze dore 5 arm candelabras with square shaped bases and wreath designs. (PRICED AS PAIR)
Bronze
A Rare Pair of French 19 Century Gilt Bronze Dolphin Candelabra
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
These are an exceptionally rare pair of stylized standing gilt bronze dolphin six arm candelabra plus a central stem raised on a rectangular gilt bronze malachite veneered bases. T...
Malachite, Bronze
$12,963 / set
Two French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Sconces
Located in London, GB
These two sconces have been crafted in the Empire style, which was popularised by the French Emperor, Napoleon I. The Empire style is characterised by its grandeur and use of opulent...
Ormolu, Bronze
Pair of Antique Austro-Hungarian Silver Candlesticks with Chased Flowers
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of silver candlesticks are hallmarked by an unknown maker, and believed to have originated from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and date to approximately 1850, and done in the ...
Silver