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
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 Empire-Style Bronze and Siena Marble Candlesticks – Circa 1830
Located in Milano, IT
This exquisite pair of Empire-style candlesticks from circa 1830 features intricate bronze detailing atop rich Siena marble bases. Resting on tripod bases with lion paw feet, these c...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
Pair of Girandoles, Candle sticks, Candelabras, bronze, ~ 1810 Empire, France
Located in Wien, AT
Stunning pair of so called Girandoles, made in France around 1810, in the famous Empire period.
The stepped pedestals are beautifully designed with masks and garland décor. On each...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Metal, Bronze
19th Century Pair of French Empire Candlesticks in Gilded Brass
Located in Madrid, ES
French Empire candlesticks made of gold-plated brass, with an octagonal column on lion-claw-shaped legs on a round base.
Rich ornamentation with garlands, reliefs and guilloches typi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Brass
Pair Empire Style Bronze Candle Holders
Located in San Francisco, CA
each heavy candle holder surmounted by a shallow candlecup with flared lip raised on a gadrooned support above a ring of stylized leaves; all over a cylindrical base adorned with app...
Category
1960s French Vintage Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Elegant Gilded and Dark Patinated Empire Candlesticks, circa 1810
Located in Knivsta, SE
A pair of extremely elegant gilded and dark patinated bronze Empire Candlesticks. Probably made i Paris around 1810. Beautiful contrast between the gilded and dark patinated bronze.
...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Set of Two Empire Giltwood Sicilian Torcheres
Located in Catania, Sicilia
A pair of giltwood Torcheres hand carved in Sicily in 1820, they are in original conditions, with consistent signs of use and age visible on the pics. The candlesticks were decorativ...
Category
Early 19th Century Sicilian Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Giltwood
French Empire Patinated Bronze Tripod Candelabras, Lion's Paw Feet, 19th c.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of French Empire bronze candelabras. These tall three light patinated bronze candelabras have a tripod base with very detailed lion's paws. The columns are fluted with palmettes...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
Empire Candlesticks, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
A pair of elegant Empire candlesticks crafted from partially fire-gilded bronze, dating to the early 19th century. Each candlestick stands on a round base, featuring a tapered, flute...
Category
Early 19th Century 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 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
Pair of large Empire Candlesticks, convertible into Candelabra. France 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A pair of large and elegant Empire Candlesticks, convertible into Candelabra, made in France during the 1820s. Gilded and dark patinated bronze. Can be used as large candlesticks or ...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
Large silver plated copper candlestick, France ca. 1900
Located in Meulebeke, BE
France / 1900 / candlestick / silver plated copper / Antique / Empire
A large French Empire style candlestick with very detailed graphic decorations. This silver plated copper candl...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Silver Plate, Copper
Pair of Early 19th Century French Ormolu & Bronze Empire Period Candelabra
Located in Dublin, IE
A stunning pair of early 19th century French Empire candelabra, with four scrolled candle arms supported by classical winged figu...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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
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 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
Patinated and Ormolu Bronze Candelabras
Located in Warsaw, PL
These pair of candlesticks are made from patinated bronze and finely embellished with ormolu. The base of the candlesticks are from interlocking two-layer of patinated bronze and gilded bronze circles that gives it a sturdy but refined look. The knop and stem of the candelabras are gilded and adorned in neoclassical features. Right below the candle cup is a bust statue of a woman in patinated bronze inspired by 19th century hair style and a bit Directoire.
The motif adorning the top of the nozzle in the gilt bronze is the acanthus leaf, commonly used in Greek decorative art. Just below the acanthus gilt bronze pattern is a rose band...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Pair of Empire Style Gilt Bronze Figural Three-Light Candleholders
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of gilt bronze three-light candelabra with kneeling putto holding the candleholders raised on richly elaborate base, France, late 19th century.
Measures:
Height 12.50 in / 3...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
Gilt Bronze Ink Stand with Candlestick, French Empire
Located in Knivsta, SE
Rare and beautiful gilt bronze ink stand with candlestick. French empire, probably made in Paris around 1810. The gilt bronze with some patina.
Wear...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Empire "Retour d' Egypt" Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
Pair of "Retour d' Egypt" candlesticks.
Patinated Bronze shafts toped with fire gilt bobeches
on top of figural Caryatids standing on a round base
encircled with floral decoration.
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Bronze Candelabra
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of French Empire bronze candelabra, sleek and sophisticated in design, each one fitted with three lights, fire gilt details, raised on an...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Chicago, IL
An incredible pair of spirited early 19th century French Empire bronze candlesticks celebrating the arts with individually cast and applied painters' palettes with brushes, sculptors' hammers and compasses, writers' books, musicians' harps, drama masks...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
Two 19th Century French Bronze Partially Gilt Candlesticks on Hoofed Faun Feet
Located in Haarlem, NL
Two 19th century French partially ormolu bronze candlesticks on cloven hoofed hocked faun legs and feet
Cast in bronze, adorned with floral and acanthus leaf motif.
The candle inse...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Candle Holders
Materials
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 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
Wonderful Pair French Patinated Dore Bronze Empire Neoclassical Candelabras
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Pair Of French Patinated & Dore Bronze Empire / Neoclassical Candelabras
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
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...
Category
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Crystal Glass Chandelier, Parisian Candelabra
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...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Crystal, Metal, Brass
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
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
19th Century French Pair of Bronze Girandoles Attributed to Friedrich Bergenfeld
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold-black, antique French pair of girandoles made of handcrafted gilded bronze attributed to Friedrich Bergenfeldt, in good condition. Each...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
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 French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks with Hoofed Faun Feet, circa 1890
Located in Miami, FL
A fine Pair of French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks on hoofed faun feet, late 19th century.
A fluted column rises on three cloven-hoofed hocked faun legs and feet.
These antique c...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
19th c Second French Empire Pair of Silver Plated Brass Candlesticks
Located in Savannah, GA
This classic pair of antique French candlesticks are hand crafted of silver plate and brass Details include downward tapering on fluted shafts supported by a round heavily embossed f...
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Silver Plate, Brass
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...
Category
1950s Danish Vintage Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Brass
Pair of 19th c. French Empire Style Electrified Candelabra
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of nineteenth century French Empire style candelabra. Each gilt-trimmed bronze candelabrum features a central urn-top arm surrounde...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Pair of 19th Century Empire Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of Empire candleholders in fire-gilded bronze. Manufactured in France around 1810/1820. The candleholders are decorated with beautiful acanthus leaves. A decorative meander ba...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Seven Lights Italian Solid Silver Candelabra Empire revival
By Arno Fassi
Located in VALENZA, IT
Magnificent Empire style candelabra in solid 800 silver
The base is square with lion paw-shaped feet.
Two frames with the typical palmettes of the Empire style frame a second smaller square decorated with 4 central flowers. The stem of the candelabra is a statue of a woman (goddess) with her hair gathered and holding a cornucopia in one hand ending with the main candle holder.
The candelabra has 7 lights.
The arms of the candelabra, made with the casting technique, have candle holders and wax collectors also made with the casting technique and finely chiseled.
The central candle holder stands out for its height which surpasses all the other candle holders, making the candelabra slim and balanced in shape and proportions.
A classic example of high quality Italian silverware suitable to be placed in elegant and prestigious homes.
Made in Milan - Italy by Fassi silverware
Silver 800°°/°°° Candelabra Empire...
Category
20th Century Italian Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Silver
Pair Italian Empire Period Brass 3-Light Figural Candelabras, Early 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Finely cast and supported by circular bases, the tops issuing two arms with single candleholders with a central figural candleholder.
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Brass
Pair c1810 French Empire Gilt Bronze Detailed Ovoid Form Candle Holders
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Pair c1810 French Empire Gilt Bronze Ovoid Form Candle Holders/ Candlesticks. Highly detailed antiquity.
Category
1810s Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
Pair 19th Century French Empire Candlesticks
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A handsome pair of 19th century French Empire candlesticks, an urn atop a column supported by lions paw feet... lovely on a dinner table, in...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Brass
Princely Pomp Candlestick After Pierre Philippe Thomire
Located in Berlin, DE
Extremely finely chased and cast bronze. Fully sculpted figures (Viktoria). Carrying on the head and supporting with the hands torch-shaped shaft with 12 cornucopia, curved lighthous...
Category
20th Century French Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Candelabra
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique bronze candelabra with antique crystal, with 3 candleholders. Marble beige base 4" x 6".
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century Candlestick Lightshade Vienna by Balthasar Wigand Mother of Pearl
Located in Epfach, DE
Mother of pearl light shade or candlestick by Balthasar Wigand Vienna about 1810-1820 with very fine painting from the Galitzerberg in Vienna.
B...
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
Pair Of 19th Century Empire Siena & Ormolu Candelabra In The Neoclassical Style
Located in Dublin, IE
A stunning & most attractive pair of early 19th century Empire three-light figural candelabra ‘A la Victoire’ in the Neoclassical style. Each candelabra is raised by four wreathed to...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Empire Period Silver Candlesticks England circa 1820
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of Empire period standard silver candlesticks from England circa 1820.
Each stick has a squared tapered shaft decorated with still-leafed border as well
as beaded bandi...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Silver
Pair of gilt bronze Retour d'Egypte candlesticks, Empire period, 19th century
Located in NICE, FR
The pair of candlesticks from the Empire period featuring caryatids are exquisite examples of neoclassical design, typical of the early 19th century, particularly during the reign of...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
Pair of 19th c. French Empire Bronze Dore Nike Candelabra
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of nineteenth century French Empire style bronze dore three arm candelabra, each featuring a classical winged victory or Nike figure positioned atop a tiered, architectural pede...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Gilded Brass Bronze Figural Elephant Small Candlesticks, a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Gilded brass bronze figural elephant small candlesticks - a pair. Item features a gold gilded finish, great elephant form casting, nice small Size, very nice vintage item, gr...
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Brass
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
Gilded Empire Hoop Sconce for Candles with Winged Figure and Three Eagles, 1860s
Located in New York, NY
AIS3010
A single gilded and patinated bronze candle sconce composed of a winged cherub or angel figure holding a fine, spiral bead-wrapped, reeded hoop, mounted with three eagles ho...
Category
1860s Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Brass, 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
Candlesticks Empire France
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. Cannelated frame.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Silver, 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
Pair of French Ormolu Bronze Cassolettes or Censers/Candlesticks
Located in Stamford, CT
A pair of early 19th century, French ormolu bronze cassolettes. The censers having pierced tops and Candlestick receivers on the revers.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Bronze
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...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Female Figures Vestals Candlesticks
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
A beautiful French early 19th century Empire pair of ormolu and patinated bronze candlesticks with female figure decoration in the manner of Claude Galle:
Each candlestick with a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders
Materials
Griotte Marble, 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.