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 Gilt Bronze Sphinx Paperweight on Marble Base, France, Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Empire Gilt Bronze Sphinx Paperweight on Marble Base, France, Early 19th Century A charming Empire-period paperweight featuring a finely cast gilt bronze sphinx resting on a rectan...
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Cast Iron Sphinx Paperweight, Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
French Empire Cast Iron Sphinx Paperweight, Early 19th Century A charming cast iron paperweight in the shape of a reclining sphinx, dating fr...
Iron
Swedish Paperweight in Marble, Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Swedish paperweight in the marble in the shape of a cannon barrel. Beautiful patina. Empire, early 19th century. Minor chips (se pictures) Wear con...
Marble
Elegant Paperweight in dark patinated bronze and marble. Empire 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant Paperweight in dark patinated bronze and marble. Empire, made during 1820s-1830s in Europe. Classic Laurel Wreath from the Empire Era. Wear c...
Marble, Bronze
$9,305Sale Price|28% Off
Early 19th Century Empire Russian Malachite and Ormolu Paperweight Spaniel Dog
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very fine Russian giltbronze mounted malachite veneered paperweight dating from the early to mid-19th century. The plinth of rectangular form surmounted by a fully sculpted giltbro...
Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze
Antique French Empire Style Gilt Eagle Motif & Emerald Glass Paperweight
Located in Atlanta, GA
French, early 20th century. An antique French empire style paperweight. The paperweight features an emerald green glass base adorned with gilt bronze laurel wreaths surrounding a ce...
Brass, Bronze
Antique Marble Paperweight with Figural Bronze Bird of Prey 19th century
Located in Sweden, SE
Late 19th century nice quality bronze and dark green marble work. The finely detailed plumage of the bird with its fierce gaze demonstrates the handiwork of the craftsman. In a world...
Marble, Bronze
An Italian Grand Tour Specimen Marble Paperweight, Late 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The round paperweight framed in black marble, with porphyry and sienna marble and other marble specimens. The center in sienna marble with carved bea...
Belgian Black Marble
Grand Tour Inlaid Specimen Marble Paperweight, Late 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The paperweight inset with a plaster cast of the Coliseum, outlined in 'marmo nero' and marmo giallo.
Marble
French Empire Style Green Glass Inkwell with Gilt Mounts
Located in Nashville, TN
Second Empire green glass inkwell circa 1870 .rare color .Encased in gilt metal Empire styled mounts ,swans drinking from a fountain. The lid shows a woman with bust . The ovoid gree...
Glass
Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Inkstand 'Encrier'
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The rectangular base mounted with a round lidded ink pot with a porcelain container and a sand pot, each raised on winged lion feet, centered by a ...
Bronze
$650
H 3.75 in W 8 in D 3 in
Antique French Animalier Bronze Marble Greyhound Sculpture Desk Paperweight 1900
Located in Portland, OR
A very handsome antique French Animalier bronze greyhound sculpture, paperweight, circa 1900. The bronze in the style of Emmanuel Fremiet, mad...
Marble, Bronze
$1,300
H 8 in W 12 in D 6.75 in
19th Century French Marble and Bronze Rooster Sculpture Signed Melotte
By Melotte
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate your desk or study with this elegant antique inkwell, crafted in France, circa 1880, and situated on a rectangular green marble base, the desk accessory features a bronze ro...
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
$2,207
H 3.15 in W 3.94 in D 3.15 in
1914 René Lalique - Paperweight Deux Aigles Two Eagles Glass with Sepia Patina
By René Lalique
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Paperweight "Deux Aigles" (two eagles) made in glass with sepia patina by René Lalique in 1914. Molded signature. Perfect condition. height: 8 cm base: 10 cm x 8 cm Félix Marcilh...
Blown Glass
$750
H 7.29 in W 9.85 in D 9.06 in
Early Swedish 19th Century Wooden Folk Art Box with Originally Paint
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish original painted Folk Art box. From the beginning of the 19th century, most likely used to keep writing supplies and office materials.
Pine
Vintage French Empire Bronze Hunting Dog Marble Base Desk Pen Holder
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Bronze Hunting Dog Marble Base Desk Pen Holder. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 3.5" H x 6.5" W x 3.25" D.
Marble
19th Century Victorian Cast Iron "Lion" Inkwell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Figural lion inkwell boasting original paint with hinged lion's head concealing the well, circa late 1800s Patina / paint loss consistent with age / use.
Iron
$720Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.63 in W 4 in D 2.75 in
Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Green Glass Inkwell Bottle
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an Empire style parallelogram shaped emerald green glass heavy inkwell. It’s guilt bronze mounted with a scene of sphinxes statues, bell shaped vases, and maidens moving and ...
Glass
$6,500
H 6.5 in Dm 5.5 in
Rare 19th Century Russian Ormolu, Hand-Diamond Cut Crystal and Jeweled Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
An Extremely Rare 19th Century Russian Empire Ormolu, Hand-Diamond Cut Crystal and Jeweled Inkwell. The inkwell features a circular base with a faceted crystal insert, framed by an ...
Crystal, Ormolu
Sold
H 1.97 in W 3.55 in D 2.37 in
Empire Style Marble & Gilt Bronze Paperweight with Helmet and Serpent.
Located in Knivsta, SE
Empire Style Marble and Gilt Bronze Paperweight with Helmet and Serpent, 19th Century A striking Empire style paperweight, France, 19th century, combining a finely veined black-and...
Marble, Bronze
Crystal and Gilt Bronze Seal, Empire Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Crystal and gilt bronze seal, Empire Period" Cachet of Empire period in crystal and gilt bronze, XIXth century, with the initials CC, very ...
Crystal, Bronze
Baccarat Antique Sand Dunes Rock Paperweight
By Baccarat
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine antique French Baccarat Sand Dunes (or Rock) paperweight of small Size dating from the mid 19th century. The paperweight of small rounded and domed form contains sand-like designs mottled with translucent green drawn up in two peaks. With a polished pontil and slightly concave base the paperweight is not marked but a well recorded design by renowned French glass makers Baccarat. Provenance: Acquired in the UK Art...
Glass
Paperweight in Cast Iron, Empire Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
A Paperweight in cast iron. Empire early 19th Century, with period decor elements. Wear consistent with age and use.
Iron
19th Century Empire Antique Bronze Sculpture Paperweight of Cherub
Located in Shippensburg, PA
Empire gilt and patinated bronze paperweight with putto figural, circa first half of the 19th century, unsigned Item # C104011 An Empire paperweight cast in bronze with a patinated putto raising a floral garland over his head while kneeling over a gilt bronze stepped base. This is raised over a stepped plinth with marble housed...
Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 3.35 in W 6.11 in D 2.96 in
Bronze Dog Paperweight on Marble Base, Swedish Empire Circa 1825-1850
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid 19th century bronze dog paperweight perched on beveled black marble base. The detailing of the dog's hair and body is exquisite. This sweet...
Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 3.55 in W 8.47 in D 4.65 in
Paper Weight with a Patinated Bronze of Napoleons Death Mask on a Green Marble
Located in Stockholm, SE
A paper weight with a patinated bronze of Napoleons death mask on a green marble base, France, early 19th century.
Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 9.45 in W 6.3 in D 4.14 in
Bronze Sculpture of Infant Hercules Wrestling with Snakes, Italy, 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
A bronze sculpture figure representing Hercules as a young child wrestling two snakes. Marked Ercole Bambino. Fantastic details. Hércules / Heracles had a god as one of his parents...
Bronze
Bronze Appliqués, France, First Half of the 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of disk-shaped wall appliqués or paperweights, formerly used as curtain garters. They are made out of gilt bronze, decorated with rose motives as well as bow, arrow and quiver.
Bronze