Empire Animal Sculptures
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
Large Sculpture of an Eagle in Silver Plated Metal, 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large sculpture of an eagle in silver plated metal, 20th century.
Sculpture of an eagle in silver plated metal, could be a sculpture for a desk or a nice centerpiece, Empire style, ...
Category
20th Century French Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Silver Plate
French Antique Stately Bronze Napoleon on Prancing Horse Sculpture, Marble Base
Located in Lisse, NL
Handcrafted. Practical size sculpture of imperator Napoleon Bonaparte.
If you are a collector of good quality antiques having to do with (French) historical figures then this rare a...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th France bronze circa 1850 "Two hares"
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible france bronze circa 1850 representing "Two hares" perfect patina.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Auguste Cain Silvered Bronze Lion & Ostrich Sculpture 19th Century.
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Auguste Cain Silvered Bronze Lion & Ostrich (1822-1894). This fine bronze shows a male lion standing proud, his front right foot is perched on a rock and his left stands firmly on his pray, an ostrich; he has a full mane and a curling tail, has good detail in the fur and the feathers of the ostrich. Signed "A. Cain" and a foundry mark. Perfect Size to locate on a desk.
Auguste Nicholas Cain (1821 – 1894) was a Paris born French sculptor in the Animaliers school who was known for his bronze sculptures...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Lioness Figures Andirons or Chenets
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Early 19th century French Empire gilt bronze lioness figures andirons or chenets
Two figures of lionesses facing each other made of patined bronze lying on rectangular gilt-bronze...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Antique Carved Giltwood Eagle Statue
Located in Dallas, TX
This carved giltwood eagle statue is portrayed with outstretched wings and legs pulled up as though just landing upon something. There is a wooden peg on ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Giltwood
Wide Antique Carved Wooden Eagle from France, Circa 1810
Located in Dallas, TX
With a wingspan of five and a half feet wide, this wooden eagle has a commanding presence. Hand-carved in France, circa 1810, the eagle was crafted by a master-level woodworker. Notice how each feather has been carved with incredible detail, showing slight separations in the barbs that make up feathers.
The eagle is presented with wings displayed, as if in the midst of flight. Both legs are tucked under the body, as you might see on a gliding bird. The beak is open with a large hole that runs through to the back side, possibly indicating that at one time the eagle held something in its mouth.
When Napoleon became Emperor of the French in 1804, he brought about a striking shift in artwork and architecture, embracing the styles of ancient empires...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Stunning Signed by Barye Strong Large Lion Bronze Statue
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
This intimidating lion takes a break and relaxes. He lies down and looks as if he puts his paw in paw and waits patiently for the next encounter. He is the gate keeper he stays alert at all times and watches for any unknown creatures to cross into his territory. The features on the lion are magnificent and are very life like. His undercoat is long and you can see the fur stringing off of his underside while he puts his legs to the side. His mane is grand and he has gigantic paws which will take anyone or thing out in one swift swipe. You can see the details beautifully. This lion has a brown patina and was casted using the “Lot Wax Method” it is mounted on a black marble base. This sculpture is signed by Barye...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
After E. Lancere, E. Naps, Tsar's Falconer, Patinated Bronze Sculpture, ca. 1890
By Evgeny Aleksandrovich Lansere
Located in New York, NY
Sculpture: Tsar's Falconer.
Description: Excellent and detailed quality of the composition, very lifelike, finely detailed representation of a Tsar’s falconer, a main personage of every Tsar's grand hunting event.
Designer; Evgeny Alexandrovich Lansere (1848 - 1886) was a famous Russian sculptor of the 19th century; Lansere came from a family who came to Russia from France; he studied with the animal sculptor Nikolai Iwanowitsch Lieberich and specialized in the representation of horses and riders. In search of appropriate motifs, he traveled through the interior of both European and Asian Russia every year, and Algeria in 1883.
Artist: Evgeny Ivanovich...
Category
1890s Russian Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Mid-19th Century, French, Gilt Bronze Monkey Chef
Located in London, GB
A fantastically modelled gilt bronze monkey chef, he stands proudly on a black polished stone base.
Category
1840s French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Eutrope Bouret Signed Antique French Bronze Sculpture of Boys Riding a Tortoise
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This whimsical antique bronze sculpture was done by Eutrope Bouret of France in approximately 1890 in the period Empire style. This very well executed bronze sculpture depicts two yo...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Patinated Bronze Eagle Statue
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French mid 19th century Empire st. patinated bronze eagle on a Vert de Patricia marble base. The richly detailed eagle is raised by a substantial and impressive square mottled Vert de Patricia base with cut corners. The fierce and richly chased open winged eagle stands...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Giltwood Eagle Sculpture
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Rare French, 19th century, Empire. Large size carved wood and gesso gilt eagle, with its full body, swept back wings, pronounced talons, perched on a ball. Important size.
Conditi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Gesso, Wood
Giltwood Carved Eagle on Verde Antico Fluted Marble Column
Located in London, by appointment only
A superb and richly carved giltwood eagle perched on rocks with open wings, the eagle's head looking to its left and fitted with a separate giltwood wreath...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble
French Empire Bronze Dore Eagle
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style bronze dore figure of perched eagle with spread wings (19/20th Cent.)
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Tiger or Lion Cat Paw Decorative Object or Bookend the Empire Style
Located in New York, NY
A substantial tiger or lion cat animal paw decorative object sculpture or bookend, in the Empire design style, circa late-20th century. A great decorative object for a shelf, mantel,...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Composition
French Folk Art Oak and Marble Eagle Figure
Located in New York, NY
French (19th Cent Napoleonic Era) folk art carved oak life size figure of an eagle with out stretched wings perched on a round globe with a marble base.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Related Items
Italian 18th Century Giltwood and Polychrome Statue of Two Eagles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking Italian 18th century giltwood and polychrome statue of two eagles. The statue is raised by a most decorative polychrome ground and branch like designed base. Above are two...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Giltwood
Bronze Sculpture of Venus on a Terracotta Marble Base
Located in Lincoln, GB
A bronze sculpture of Venus on a terracotta marble base,
circa 1900
Measures: Height 53cm
Width 19cm
Depth 16.5cm.
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Interesting Pair of Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Chenets
Located in New York, NY
An interesting pair of late 19th century gilt bronze chenets
Each depicting Bacchus, wrapped in grape vines, flanked by a cherub and standing on a bronze base.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
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Bronze
Antique Cast Bronze Elephant Figural Statue Sculpture on Marble Base
Located in San Diego, CA
Great cast bronze elephant sculpture mounted on a marble base. Elephant has wonderful details and appears the tusks were replaced over time. Base has one tiny edge chip. Elephant has...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Bronze Sculture Hares by Pierre-Jules Mène
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A refined small bronze sculpture with a group of hares. Accurate anatomical proportions. With the original patina. Signed on the base: PJ Mène.
Pierre-Jules Mêne (25 March 1810 – ...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Painted Moose Sculpture on Marble Base
Located in San Diego, CA
Very nice and detailed hand painted bronze moose sculpture on a black marble oval base. Th piece measures 6" wide x 4" deep x 6" high. Would mak...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Tribal Wood Carved Statue
Located in East Hampton, NY
Tribal wood carved statue. Unknown origin.
Category
20th Century Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Bronze Sculpture
Located in Houston, TX
19th century French bronze sculpture of a Classical Greek.
This meticulously executed antique French bronze sculpture is of a handsome male figure holdi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Bronze Wolf Sculpture
Located in London, GB
A mid-19th century bronze sculpture of a wolf, set upon a green marble plinth.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Horse Sculpture / Plastic Bronze Patented on Marble Base, circa 1920
Located in Berlin, DE
Horse sculpture / plastic bronze patented on marble base, circa 1920
Horse patinated in bronze. Aesthetic appearance of a horse on a black marble base, circa 1920.
(V-186).
Category
20th Century German Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Zinc
Large Early 20th Century Belgian Oak Folk Art Eagle Sculpture
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early 20th century Belgian oak Folk Art eagle sculpture.
Category
1920s Belgian Vintage Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Oak
Pair of 19th Century Gilt Bronze French Chenets
Located in Dallas, TX
This is a stunning pair of French fireplace bronze doré chenets from the 1800’s. Each chenet has a putto standing on a large cluster of curled acanthus leaves. Beneath the leaves are thick bases with cavetto molding adorned with a series of C-scrolls. Grapevines and wheat husks emanate upwards from the leaves, giving the chenets some additional height. One of the putti is pulling a grapevine over his shoulder, while the other one has a sickle in his hand.
French chenets...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Previously Available Items
Gilded Bronze Eagle Topped French Empire Watch Holder
Located in Wilmington, DE
A Chased and Gilded Eagle Pocket Watch Holder standing on a Green Marble column, itself decorated with gilded bronze details.
This particular eagle is a smaller edition of an eagl...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Gold, Bronze
19th Century, 2nd Empire Eagle Topped Gilt and Chased Bronze Flagpole
Located in Wilmington, DE
Beautiful Eagle topped flagpole in chased and gilded bronze, set on a base decorated with oak leaves and laurels, dating to the early part of the Second Empire.
The beautifully ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Free Shipping
H 13 in W 7 in D 5 in
Gilt Bronze Eagle on Green Marble Base
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This sculpture features a gilt bronze eagle with outstretched wing atop a green marble column.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Italian Empire Early 19th Century Gilt Wood Eagle
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A very large and impressive carved and gilded wood standing eagle with its wings fully spread; its long talons clutching a number of spears/lightning bo...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Giltwood
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...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Free Shipping
H 3.35 in W 6.11 in D 2.96 in
Antique & Large French 3rd Empire Bronze Figural Candlesticks with Birds, c1870
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique pair of large French 3rd Empire figural candlesticks offer bronze construction with bird form finial surmounting reeded column ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Metal, Bronze
H 24.75 in W 4.5 in D 4.5 in
Pair of His and Hers Empire Style Painted Swan-Form Armchairs
Located in Essex, MA
Slightly different sizes, carved and gilded wood.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Napoleon's Horse Sculpture, France, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Tall dimension, beautiful, elegant and expressive sculpture representing Napoleon's horse, made in patinated plaster with its marble base of 17 cm x 17 cm. Empire style, France 19th ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Empire Marble and Ormolu Double Inkwell
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Elegant and Regal French gilt bronze and marble double inkwell. The dark green highly figurative marble base with two cast gilt bronze inkwells with glass liners. The base with four ...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Bronze Doré Empire Swans Custom Mounted on Lucite Plinths
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of nineteenth century Empire style well modeled bronze doré swans with their wings folded back. They are well chased and now custom mounted on beveled Lucite plinths...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Two Large Fish Sculptures, early 19th c. 123 cm long.
Located in Stockholm, SE
Two large fish sculptures, Early 19th century. Probably for an exklusive outdoor sign. The fishes are sculpted of wood and covered with hundreds of thin rectangular copper plates.
Both the artistic design and the patina is fantastic with a greenish tone to the copper surface. This Empire design was quite often used on Swedish Empire tables...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Copper
Early 19th Century Empire Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Swan Table Clock
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The gilt bronze and patinated figural Napoleonic mantel clock, the drum mounted within a patinated swan, the white enamel dial with Roman hours and Arabic q...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
H 14.97 in W 10.24 in D 4.73 in
Empire animal sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire animal sculptures for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage animal sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, building and garden elements, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with bronze, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire animal sculptures made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original animal sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Auguste Nicholas Cain, Eutrope Bouret, Evgeny Aleksandrovich Lansere, and Susse Frères. 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 animal sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,299 and tops out at $93,331 while the average work can sell for $3,600.