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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.

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Style: Empire
Wonderful Pair French Patinated Dore Bronze Empire Neoclassical Candlesticks
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Pair Of French Patinated & Dore Bronze Empire / Neoclassical / Napoleonic Substantial Candlesticks Each With 3 Eagles, In The Manner Of Claude Galle.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Empire Candlesticks in Gilt and Patinated Bronze, circa 1820
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of French Empire Candlesticks in Gilt and Patinated Bronze, circa 1820 Elegant and richly detailed pair of French Empire candlesticks from the 1820s. Crafted in gilt and dark ...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

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...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Pair of Bronze Egyptian Candle Holders - Marble Sticks
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...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble, Metal, 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 combin...
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1920s French Vintage Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze, Brass

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

c1810 Pair Antique Empire Dore Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Pair c1810 French Empire Dore Bronze Candlesticks/ Candle Holders. Highly detailed. When I saw these I was thinking that they are stunning.
Category

1810s Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair Of Large Empire-Style Silver Candle Holders, Hermann Südfeld, Vienna, c1890
Located in Vienna, AT
Two large, elegant, simple silver candlesticks on a round base, round foot grooved on the sides, smooth shaft raised in the centre with a profiled constriction, shaft widening conica...
Category

1890s Austrian Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Silver

Pair of Early to Mid-19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine pair of bronze Empire style candlesticks. In excellent original condition. France, early 19th century.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

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

Elegant Pair of Empire Candlesticks in Gilt Bronze, France c. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant Pair of Empire Candlesticks in Gilt Bronze, France c. 1820s A refined pair of French candlesticks from the 1820s, crafted in gilt bronze and richly decorated in the classic ...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

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...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Brass

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

Fine Pair of Early 19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Miami, FL
A fine pair of French 19th century Empire candlesticks. We are pleased to present you a gorgeous pair of French Empire period, original gilt bronze candlesticks, finely chiseled of ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Two Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Plain Candlesticks with Lion Heads
Located in København, Copenhagen
Two Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Plain candlesticks with lion heads. Dated 1969-1974. Model number 1/15. Measures: 23 x 8 cm. In excellent ...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Porcelain

Pair Italian Heavy Brass Empire Style Candle Sconces
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of heavy, un-wired single arm sconces from Florence, Italy. Features a sunburst back plate with concave bowl and eagle-head motif. Masterful casting with wonderful detail. Candle cup measures...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Brass

French Bronze and Marble Two-Armed Candelabrum, 19th Century
Located in Toronto, CA
A wonderful 19th century candelabra in the French Empire style, made of patinated bronze, gilt bronze and marble. The stem represents a woman holding aloft a two-armed torch, the who...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Wonderful Pair of French Empire Gilt Patinated Bronze Figural Regency
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful large pair of French Empire gilt and patinated bronze figural Regency candelabra raised on paw feet, each figure holding a 6-branch cand...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of bronze and black stone candlesticks in Empire style, France ca. 1870
Located in Meulebeke, BE
France / 1870 / 2 candlesticks / bronze, stone / Antique / Empire A set of two French Empire candlesticks in bronze with feet and body of black natural stone. The striking contrast...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Stone, 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

A Pair French 1st Empire Period Ormolu & Verde Antico Marble Figural Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A Fine and Unusual Pair of French 1st Empire Period Doré Bronze and Verde Antico Marble Figural Neoclassical Five-Arm Candelabra. Each candelabrum features a tall central shaft issui...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Candlesticks France Empire Gilt Bronze
Located in New York, NY
A pair of candlesticks made in France during the late Empire period. Made from gilt- bronze. Standing on a round foot with a baluster shaped stem. Loose cuffs.
Category

Late 18th Century 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

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

Early 19th Century Empire Candelabras
Located in Paris, FR
Stunning pair of gilded and patinated bronze candelabras, featuring a winged cupid. He is standing on a sphere and holding a torch, which is surrounded by three curving candle branch...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

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 ...
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair Antique French Empire Gold Bronze Candelabra, circa 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair Antique French Empire Gold Bronze Candelabra, Circa 1890.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

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.
Category

1930s Vintage Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Sterling Silver

Pair of Empire Style Patinated and Gilded Bronze Candelabra
Located in Hudson, NY
This impressive pair of candelabra made in the era of Napoleon III in France circa 1870 are very powerful and impressive. Heavily cast with references to the classical past and profu...
Category

1870s Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

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 Empire Style Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome pair of bronze candlesticks feature Classical motifs including acanthus leaves and reeded tapering shafts.
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Early 19 Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Candlesticks
Located in Berlin, DE
Excellent pair of early 19 century French empire gilt bronze neoclassical candlesticks. A tapering stem with rich and finely chased ...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire girandoles, France, early 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
A pair of French girandoles made of burnished and partly fire-gilt bronze, on a red marble base over spherical decoration. The candelabra figures, designed as Apollo and Diana, carry...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair of French Empire Bronze Dore Ram Head Candelabras
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire bronze dore 6 arm candelabras with 3 ram heads and 3 claw feet supported on a 6 sided triangular base. (PRICED AS Pair)
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Ormolu

1st Empire Period patinated Bronze and Ormolu candlesticks, circa 1805
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive and high quality pair of French early 19th century 1st Empire Period patinated Bronze and Ormolu candlesticks, circa 1805. This wonderful pair of ewer designed candlest...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Pair of French Empire Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Two Branch Candelabra
Located in London, GB
A fine pair of French Empire patinated bronze and ormolu figural two branch candelabra. Set on square ormolu socle with cylinder ormolu stem wit...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Pair of French Gilt Bronze and Slate Candelabras, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This regal pair of bronze and slate candelabras originated in 19th-century France and are beautifully detailed with molded and gilt embellishments. Crafted in the style of Empire furniture, each candlestick rests on a tiered, triform bronze base of gilt foliate scrollwork surrounding a central baluster post. From each base, a sleek stone stem of polished black slate rises to support the cast bronze top of three curved arms and four candle dishes, embellished with further gilt elements and bobèches, or drip pans. A gorgeous example of French opulence...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Slate, Bronze

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

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

Four French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
This magnificent set of four antique candelabra come as a pair of pairs: one slightly larger pair and one smaller pair. They date from roughly 1805, during the period of the Napoleon...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

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 Early 19th Century French Empire Bronze Candlesticks, circa 1830
Located in Central England, GB
A superb pair of early 19th C French empire bronze candlesticks. This very fine pair of early 19th century French candlesticks are...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

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

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

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 French Empire Candleabra
Located in Westwood, NJ
Pair of French Empire bronze doré three-light candelabra with nautical motifs, dolphins and shells.  
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of 19th Century French Empire Style Candelabras with 7 Lights
Located in Dallas, TX
This is a pair of 19th Century French Empire Style candelabras with 7 lights, featuring a luxurious design typical of the French Empire period. These decorative collectibles exude el...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Metal, Bronze

A pair of Empire candlesticks, silvered bronze
Located in Stockholm, SE
This exquisite pair of Empire-period candlesticks, likely of English origin, showcases a striking neoclassical design. Crafted with an intricate attention to detail, each candlestick...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Swedish Candelabra
Located in Allerum, SE
Pair of fine 19th century Swedish Empire gilt and patinated bronze candelabra, circa 1830, Stockholm, Sweden.
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Wall Lights
Located in London, GB
Pair of French gilt and patinated bronze wall lights French, 20th Century Height 103cm, width 50cm, depth 44cm Drawing inspiration from the sophisticated Empire style, these wall li...
Category

20th Century French Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Large Pair of French Empire Period Candelabra, Attributed to Claude Galle
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent large pair of five-light doré bronze and patinated bronze Empire period candelabra, attributed to Claude Galle made in the early 1800s. This pair of candelabra are set ...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair Of Antique Empire Silver Candle Holders, by Viennese Master, Dated 1804
Located in Vienna, AT
Two elegant, plain silver candle holders on a round stand, foot laterally profiled, centred raised smooth shaft, in the lower third constriction by profiled bead ring, shaft widening...
Category

Early 1800s Austrian Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Silver

Pair of Empire Candelabra of Ormolu and Patinated Bronze and Marble
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of late 19th century Empire bronze and ormolu candelabra. - Caryatid herm female figures on marble block plinths. - Three ormolu candle arms/cups - Well modeled.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble, Bronze

High-Quality Pair of Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, France, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
High-Quality Pair of Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, France, 1820s An exquisite pair of Empire candlesticks in finely chiseled gilt bronze, likely crafted in Paris during the 1820s...
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 central round pla...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Empire Silvered Bronze Candlesticks, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of French Empire Silvered Bronze Candlesticks, 1820s A refined pair of Empire candlesticks crafted in silvered bronze, dating from France, circa 1820s. These elegant pieces d...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Silver Plate, Bronze

French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces Set 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

19th century pair of French Empire ormolu candlesticks
Located in SON EN BREUGEL, NL
A magnificent pair of Empire ormolu candlesticks in the maner of Jean Demosthene Dugourc. Each with fluted, tapered shaft and delicate ornamentation, surmounted by three female heads...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Candlesticks in Silvered Bronze, Empire Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of candlesticks in silvered bronze. Fluted shaft. Base adorned with a frieze of palmettes. Circular molded feet. English work realized under the French Empire (1804-1815). !Th...
Category

Early 1800s European Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Important Pair of 1st Period French Empire Pat. & Dore Bronze 6-Light Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and important pair of antique French 1st period Empire patinated and two-tone matte and burnished doré bronze six-light candelabras. Each modeled with figures of Goddess D...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

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.

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