Empire Picture Frames
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
Period Giltwood Italian Empire Style Frame
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Italian Empire original giltwood frame.
Early 19th Century
Internal measurements cm 13 x 10
Every item of our Gallery, upon request, is accompanied by a certifica...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Wood
Picture Frame miniatures and borders in Russian Empire Fabergé style Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular table photo frame in gold-plated 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent fired enamels on guilloche and fine hand-painted miniatures of laurel friezes and borders in Ru...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Pair of Italian Carved and Gilded Frames Rome 18th Century
Located in Milano, MI
Pair Roman Gilded Frames 1700, rare pair of antique carved and gilded wooden frames, Rome 18th century. Rectangular in shape, with three orders of carving, this pendant of ancient Ro...
Category
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Giltwood
Picture Frame oval photos French Empire Napoleon III style Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular photo frame in 925/1000 gold-plated sterling silver with translucent enamel fired on guilloche and hand-painted miniature of a garland of flowers with oval border, intern...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Louis XVI White Photo Frame Sterling Silver Enamel on Guillochè Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular photo frame in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè and hand-painted miniature of a garland of flowers with oval border interna...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Exceptional 19th Century French Bronze Frame w/ Portrait Painting of Josephine
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exquisite miniature portrait is attributed to Empress Josephine, capturing her regal presence with remarkable detail and sophistication. She is dressed in a sumptuous white gown...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Bronze
Pair Of 19th Century Doré Bronze Portrait Medallions Mounted on Carrara Marble
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of 19th Century round French Royalty Doré bronze portrait medallions mounted on Carrara marble. Portraits are gold in color and trim and framed in 1.5" dark wood frame. Round br...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Picture Frame with two-tone enamel stripes on guilloché Salimbeni.
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular frame in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with two-tone enamel stripes on guilloché and fine hand engravings French Empire style. With 2 oval photo holders, internal ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Picture Frame internal border with enamelled leaves Salimbeni.
Located in Firenze, FI
Behold the epitome of elegance and craftsmanship: a square table photo frame, meticulously crafted from 925/1000 gold-plated sterling silver. This masterpiece features translucent fi...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Rare Empire Period Giltwood and White Rechampi Frame.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Rare Empire period giltwood and white rechampi frame.
Empire period frame in giltwood and white rechampi, very fine Greek frieze decoration, 19th century.
Interior dimensions: H: 73...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Wood
Pair of Late 19th Century French Empire Style Picture Frames
Located in London, GB
Pair of late 19th century French Empire style picture frames
French, Late 19th century
Height 16cm, width 11.5cm, depth 2/ 7 cm
Circular in shape and mounted in an easel style, this...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Metal
Red Photo Frame French Empire Louis XVI style Sterling Silver Enamel Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular photo frame in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè, with French Empire Louis XVI style border and rich ornamentation around th...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Empire Giltwood Carved Frame
Located in New Orleans, LA
Period Empire giltwood frame.
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Giltwood
Empire Gilt Bronze Picture Frame
Located in London, GB
Empire gilt bronze picture frame
French, 19th Century
Measures: Height 11cm, width 8cm, depth 0.5cm
The rectangular picture frame featur...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Ormolu
Turn of the Century Bronze Small Picture Frame
Located in Tampa, FL
A bronze empire style small picture frame is from the turn of the century. The precious frame still has its original silk moire fabric inside from when it...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Table Picture Frame in Brass, Velvet and Glass
Located in Milan, IT
French Empire Style Table Picture Frame in Brass, Velvet and Glass
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Brass
French Sevres Green Ground Porcelain Framed Charger Napoleon Courting Josephine
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Large and very fine French Sevres green ground porcelain framed charger depicting the consecration of the Emperor Napoleon I and coronation of the...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Porcelain
European Rectangular Silver Leaf Gilt Wood Art Frame
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage impressive wooden frame in silver gilt, with great patina, that would be suitable for most style artwork including prints, watercolors as well as oil on board paintings. Wond...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Silver Leaf
Photo Frame Heart-Shaped Fired Enamel on Guillochè Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Heart-shaped rounded frame with oval photo in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè. With hinged silver-gilt foot engraved in Empire style. ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
Picture Frame with enamel on a sunburst guilloché Salimbeni.
Located in Firenze, FI
Embrace a timeless treasure that echoes grandeur: an exquisite oval-shaped photo frame, sculpted from 925/1000 gold-plated sterling silver. Its translucent enamel adorns a sunburst g...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Photograph Frame Large Imperial Style White Enamel on Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Large gold-plated 925/1000 sterling silver shaped photograph frame with translucent fired enamel on guillochè and rich friezes in Louis XVI French Empire style. External measurements...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Picture Frame large size Red Enamel on Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Large shaped photograph frame in gold plated 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent fired enamel on guillochè with borders and laurel frieze in Louis XVI French Empire style. Exte...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Photo Frame with Interlacements in French Empire Louis XVI Style Sterling Silver
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular photo frame in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè and with convex border with enamelled lines, on which are applied interlace...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Photo Frame Large Imperial Style White and Green enamel on Sterling Silver Salim
Located in Firenze, FI
Large shaped frame for photographs in gold plated 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent two-tone fired enamels on guillochè and rich friezes in the French Empire Louis XVI style ...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Preparatory Drawings Empire Antique Inspirations 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very nice sketches of characters. Representing different emotions, clothes and personalities. We have a portrait of a strong woman with arrows. Below this woman, there is a representation of oriental characters, also called barbarians during Antiquity. Finally, on the left, another woman is represented with her head in her hands and sitting on a Klismos chair. This chair is typical of the ancient period. It is written at the bottom right "March 15", surely the date of creation of this sketch.
The Empire style and period are inspired by Greco-Roman art, it is called the neoclassical. The woman on this drawing wears an empire style dress...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Paper
Photo Frame inserted into a harp-shaped object Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Oval photo frame inserted into a harp-shaped object, in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamels on guilloché inspired by a model created by Peter Carl Fab...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Bronze Dore, Rectangle Photo Frame, French
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Bronze Dore, Rectangle Photo Frame, French
19th Century, 7 x 10
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Dore Antique Photo Frame 7" H x 9-1/2" W
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Bronze Dore Antique Photo Frame. Excellent condition.
7" H x 9-1/2" W.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Picture Frames
Materials
Bronze
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Empire Frame Gilded Wood Italy XIX Century
Located in Milano, IT
Empire frame in neoclassical style in carved and gilded wood, Italy, first quarter of the 19th century. Richly carved with serrated motif and floral elements alternating with pods in...
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Period Giltwood Italian Empire Style Frame
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Italian Empire original giltwood frame.
Internal measurements cm 28 x 25
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Empire Style Gilt Bronze Frame, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
An important Empire style square gilt bronze and green fabric frame, Napoleon III period, 19th century.
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Empire picture frames for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire picture frames for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage picture frames created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, silver and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire picture frames made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original picture frames, popular names associated with this style include Franco Salimbeni, Giorgio Salimbeni, and Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres. 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 picture frames differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $275 and tops out at $17,440 while the average work can sell for $2,989.