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.
Empire Pendulè Junger Apoll vergoldet um 1810-1830
Located in Berlin, DE
This is an absolutely breathtaking piece! What you have before you is a classic French mantel clock from the Empire era (or the Restoration period), likely dating from the early to m...
Gold
Empire Mantel Clock by H.Robert-Horloger De La Reine, Paris, circa 1820
Located in Madrid, ES
An Empire Mantel Clock by H.Robert-Horloger De La Reine, Paris, date circa 1820-1830 A superb Empire gilt and patinated bronze mantel clock of eight day duration signed on the white enamel dial H.Robert-Horloger a la Reine . The dial with Roman numerals and gilded steel Breguet style hands for the hours and minutes. The movement with anchor escapement, silk thread suspension, striking on a single bell, with outside count wheel. The extremely fine case featuring the standing figure of Urania, Muse of Astronomy holding a pen in her left hand which points to a star-studded globe adorned with the signs of the zodiac around its circumference, the globe set on the back of four putti upon a plinth, containing the dial with a serpent-wrapped Paris, date circa 1820-30 Height 73 cm, width 50cm, depth 22 cm. In addition to the above prestigious locations, clocks of this model can be found at Warsaw Castle and in the Bayerischen Nationalmuseum, Munich. The Parisian clockmaker Bailly (d. after 1818) was one of the finest of his day and as such earned the title of Horloger de LL. MM. II. Et RR (Clockmaker to Their Imperial and Royal Majesties). Working from rue de Richelieu he was with Lepaute one of the main suppliers to the Garde-Meuble. Bailly, who retired in 1818 had the responsibility of maintaining the clocks at Compiègne and the Trianons and is known to have used cases by the leading Parisian bronziers including Pierre-Philippe Thomire and Claude Galle as well as Ferdinand Schwerdfeger who supplied him with a case for a regulator surmounted by a star-studded and zodiac banded globe...
Bronze
Wonderful French Empire Dore and Patinated Bronze Cherub Putti Wreath Clock
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire doré and patinated bronze Cherub Putti wreath clock, not currently in working order, back cover is missing as is bel...
Bronze
Antique 19th-Century French Marble & Gilt-Bronze Figural Mantel Clock Neoclass
Located in Berlin, DE
Elevate your interior with this exceptional antique French figural mantel clock, beautifully crafted in the 19th century in a refined Neoclassical / Empire style. Featuring a strikin...
Marble
Empire clock, table clock, mantel clock, pendulum clock, bronze, fire-gilt
Located in Berlin, DE
.That is a stunning piece of horology! Based on the aesthetics and construction, you are looking at a French Empire-style ormolu mantle clock, likely dating from the early to mid-19t...
Gold Plate
EARLY 19th CENTURY VIENNESE EMPIRE CLOCK
Located in Firenze, FI
Beautiful clock in walnut root, enriched with maple fillets and with an ebonized wooden base. The decoration of the clock features gilded bronze friezes, inspired by classical elemen...
Bronze
French Empire Bronze Mantle Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Of majestic scale with the ormolu gilding in very good condition in working order.
Bronze
$2,509Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Empire Bronze Fire-Gilded Pendule
Located in Berlin, DE
Great bronze pendulum. Base and pedestal with lavish floral and figurative embellishments such as rocaille, acanthus leaves, cartouches, garlands, putti and central masks. Additional...
Bronze
$3,995Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century French Empire Style Portico Clock
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
19th century French Empire style portico clock. This e Empire style clock features Carrara marble, bevelled glass, bronze accents and a crystal r...
Table Clock Empire France
Located in New York, NY
A table clock made in France during the Empire 1790-1820. Made from blackened wood and burnt-gilt bronze. Godronned urn-formation, lion mascarons, pine cone all Empire attributes
Bronze
19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Table Clock
Located in Madrid, ES
19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Table Clock 19th century French. in gilded bronze, surmounted by birds. Profusely enamelled circular dial with Roman numerals. Relie...
Bronze
Italian Neoclassical Parcel-Gilt Clock
Located in New York, NY
Italian neoclassical parcel-gilt clock. Roman military Empire period mantel clock of obelisk form topped by an extraordinary eagle with outs...
Metal
French Empire-era Ormolu bronze mantle watch of Demeter, circa 1820
Located in Berlin, DE
Empire Bronze Pendant "Demeter" A beautiful & rare decorative clock ,don't miss it! Beautiful bronze fireplace pendant from the Empire period, debuted in the 19th century, above th...
Gold, Bronze
19th Century French Empire Style Fire Gilded Bronze Mantle Clock
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
19th century French Empire style fire gilded bronze mantel clock. French fire gilded bronze mantel clock with separate bronze base and po...
Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Clock, Early 19th Century, Austria
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Modelled as a potted flower, the pot decorated with gilt bronze classical figures. With an 18th century English movement.
Bronze
$1,440Sale Price|20% Off
Empire Style Table Clock and Inkwell
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Empire style table clock and inkwell Origin France Circa 1900 The watch has a Paris machine and it works Golden bronze and Onix materials Very good general condition the marble ...
Bronze
Empire-style portal clock, France, early 19th century, black
Located in Berlin, DE
Empire-style portal clock, France, early 19th century. Open portal case made of black stone with gilt bronze appliqués, enamel dial with Roman numerals, movement with hook escapement...
Belgian Black Marble
Birth of the King of Rome, Bronze Clock, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Patinated bronze clock representing The Birth of the King of Rome or the allegory of the Birth of Love Empress Marie-Louise is standing near a cradle filled with roses with a winged cupid in the middle; decor of an Athenian woman with rams' heads and a curtain draped...
Bronze
Elegant 19th Century Bronze Clock Empire
Located in Madrid, ES
Elegant 19th century bronze clock. 19th Century French clock in gilded bronze. The machinery works and has its pendulum and key. Difficult ...
Bronze
19th Century, French Chiselled and Gilt Bronze Table Clock
Located in IT
19th century, French chiselled and gilt bronze table clock This table clock was made of chiselled and gilded bronze in the early 19th centur...
Bronze
Empire period gilt bronze clock with Cupid and Psyche by Le Roy et fils
Located in London, GB
This beautiful mantel clock was crafted in c.1810 by the famous Parisian clock-making firm, Le Roy et fils. The company was founded by Basile Charles Le...
Enamel, Ormolu, Bronze
French Portico Clock – Black and White Marble, Gilt Bronze – Early 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Refined French Empire-style portico clock, dating from the early 1800s, in black and white marble, richly adorned with finely chiseled gilt bronze. The enameled dial with Roman numer...
Marble, Bronze
Gilt and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock, Machine Signed L. Moinet, France
By Louis Moinet
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Gilt and patinated bronze mantel clock, machine signed L. Moinet A Paris. France, early 19th century.
Bronze
Important Empire Clock in Bronze with Two Patinas Alexander the Great 19th Cen
Located in Madrid, ES
Important Empire clock in bronze with two Patinas Alexander the Great 19th century Weight: 11.00 kg Sizes: H 51cm x L 39cm France very good condition.
Bronze
Empire Clock The Spinner by Rossel in Rouen
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
French Empire pendulum clock finely crafted of gilt bronze, featuring a young spinner wearing a classical dress, seating on the dial near a lyre ...
Bronze
French Ormolu Table Clock, Bacchant Sitting On Wine Barrel, Paris, Around 1840
Located in Vienna, AT
Fire-gilded bronze table clock: a childlike bacchanal seated on a wine barrel under an arched vine arbour, holding grapes and a wine glass in his hands, on an oval base with an appli...
Bronze
Seated Female Figure in French Fire-Gilt Clock from Empire Era
Located in 263-0031, JP
A French fire-gilt clock depicting a seated female figure - Urania, I presume, judging from the iconography. Empire Era, 1800-1815. The gilding sh...
Bronze
Important Pendulum in Gilded Bronze and Onyx, 19th Century
By France"
Located in Madrid, ES
Important pendulum in gilded bronze and onyx from the nineteenth century. The enamel dial. Made for the russian market. Large: 60 x 55 x 18 cm.. With pendulum and key 6550 euros.
Bronze
Viennese Empire Portal Clock With Caryatids And Gilded Fittings, Around 1810
Located in Vienna, AT
Complete Vienna clock on six stocky ball feet made of alabaster, architecturally structured wooden case with fruitwood veneers in the shape of a portal, steps in front flanked by two...
Alabaster, Brass
19th Century French Empire Dore Bronze Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century French Empire doré bronze clock, France, 1880s.
Bronze
Early 19th Century Vase-Shaped Porcelain Clock
By Normant
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Vase-shaped mantel clock in gilded porcelain. Breguet hands track the hours and minutes on white, enamel dial with hours marked in Roman numerals. The porcelain is interspaced with g...
Porcelain