Empire 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
Original Empire Sculpture, Wood, Polychrome, Gold, Austria, 1800s
Located in Horomerice, CZ
In pristine original condition, the item has been professionally cleaned, and its polish has been revived by our refurbishing team in Czechia.
Polychrome and gilded wood carving
T...
Category
Early 1800s Austrian Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Gold
Pair French Early 19th Century Hand Carved Giltwood Empire Style bird Ornaments
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful pair of handcarved giltwood bird fragments.
France circa 1805-1820 . Weathered and small losses
Measurements individual and include the wooden base.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Giltwood
Napoleon Bonaparte Standing, Gilt Bronze Sculpture, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Gilded bronze sculpture, representing Napoleon Bonaparte standing, arms crossed, wearing his cocked hat and officer's outfit
Usual wear to the patina, black marble base
Height 12.5...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair French Early 19th Century Hand Carved Giltwood Empire Style Head Ornaments
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful pair of handcarved giltwood head ornaments.
France circa 1805-1820
Measurements individual and include the wooden base.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Wood
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 hand crafted gilded bronze attributed to Friedrich Bergenfeldt, in good condition. Eac...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Standing Napoleon Bonaparte Sculpture - Figure. circa 1900 France
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Standing Napoleon Bonaparte Sculpture - Figure. circa 1900 France.
Very nice Napoleon Sculpture, perfect size to decorate a desk. Silvered metal over a dark green marble base.
Very n...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Metal
Fine 19th Century European Gilt Bronze Ormolu Monstrance Reliquary
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce fine quality neoclassical Empire style vasiform gilt bronze ormolu church religious relic altar monstrance reliquary.
Exquisitely hand-crafted in Continental Europe in the second half of the 19th century, most likely French Napoleon III Period (1852-1870), having a fanned cross crest, above winged angel mask, central oval display...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Arc De Triomphe And Vendôme Column, Bronze, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Bronze reduction with a brown patina, on a black marble base of 2 of the most emblematic monuments of Paris: Arc de Triomphe and Vendôme Column
The Arc de Triomphe was built on the initiative of Napoleon I, following the victory of Austerlitz, in 1806, so that its victorious troops, like the Roman...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Marble, 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 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 Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
French Terracotta Bust of an Officer
Located in Essex, MA
In the Napoleonic style with much later faux marbre plinth.
Category
1850s European Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
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 Sculptures
Materials
Gesso, Wood
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 Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Marble and Bronze Inkwell Signed Ferdinand Barbedienne, Paris, circa 1870
Located in Milan, IT
A Verona red marble remarkable inkwell, pure Empire style representing a gilded bronze of the bust of Antinous as Dioniso. Empire style, Generous size, excellent state of preservatio...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Marble, 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 Sculptures
Materials
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 Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Large Plaster Bust of Napoleon
Located in New York, NY
Large plaster bust of napoleon.
Stained.
Category
20th Century European Empire Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
19th Century Pair of French Patinated Bronze Sculptures Candelabra Candleholders
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of heavy patinated bronze sculpture candelabra, France, mid-19th century. Two female sculptures holding a candleholder raised on a b...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Figurines Candelabras, 19th Century
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
Pair of Empire style patinated and doré bronze figurines male and female candelabras, France, circa 1860-1870. Raised on a monumental marble plinth with doré bronze ormolu-mounted ba...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Crystal, Marble, Bronze
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 Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Atelier Musee Du Louvre after Pilon Germain, King Henri II Bust, 1850s, France
By Germain Pilon, Atelier de moulage du Louvre
Located in Biebergemund, Hessen
A French Grand Tour 19th century plaster, bust of French King Henri II made by Atelier de moulage du Louvre between 1854-1865 after Pilon Germain...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Plaster
Fine Early 19th Century Empire Russian Inkstand, St. Petersburg, circa 1810
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine Russian Empire gilt- and patinated bronze desk top inkstand, St. Petersburg, circa 1810. Rectangular shaped base raised on four turned fee...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Pair of French Patinated Bronze Sculptures Candelabra Candleholders
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of heavy patinated bronze sculpture candelabra, France mid-19th century. Two female sculptures holding a candleholder raised on a br...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Aigle de la Garde Imperiale
Located in Paris, FR
Jean-Auguste Barre
1811-1896, French
Aigle de la Garde Impérial,
Second Empire, circa 1870.
Bronze - Casted by MARRION.
Jean-Auguste Barre: born the September, 25th, 1811, ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Wax Reliefs Attrib. to Pierre-Phillips Thomire of Napoleon and Josephine
Located in valatie, NY
Pair of Wax Reliefs attributed to Pierre-Phillips Thomire, (French 1751-1843). "Napoleon and Josephine," 1807, inscribed "Josephine/Thomire 1807." With pain...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Sculptures
Rare Pair of Early 19th Century Empire Bronze Vases, French or German
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A rare and decorative pair of early 19th century Empire gilt and patinated bronze vases of campana form on a stepped square marble base. The everted egg-and-dart rim above a finely chased frieze depicting putti playing music.
This or a similar pair of vases belonged to the collection of the Queen Louise of Prussia...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Venus with the Turtle After Antoine Coysevox, Probably, France, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Representation of the sitting Venus with turtle after the original by Antoine Coysevox (1640-1720, Louvre 1686) on a round black truncated column with...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Terracotta Bust Of Alexandre Brongniart After Jean-antoine Houdon
Located in BARSAC, FR
Patinated terracotta bust representing Alexandre Brongniart (1770-1847) son of the architect Alexandre Théodore Brongniart (1739-1813), future mineralogist and director of the nation...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Art Nouveau Symbolism: Marble Sculpture of a Flower Woman - 1Y99
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Art Nouveau symbolism with this exquisite marble sculpture, depicting a woman's face gracefully merging into a flower. Crafted from pristine white marble, this early 20th-century masterpiece bears the signature "Lion" on its right side.
Key Features:
Stunning Art Nouveau marble sculpture...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Vintage Bronze Sculpture of Standing Woman by Frédéric Broniewski - 1Y106
Located in Bordeaux, FR
This contemporary bronze sculpture by French artist Frédéric Broniewski, born in 1958, features a nude young woman standing with her arms crossed behind her neck. The sculpture is si...
Category
1980s French Vintage Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Nickel-Plated Metal Sculpture: Stylized Maternity - 1Y101
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Embrace the beauty of motherhood with this captivating vintage nickel-plated metal sculpture, depicting a stylized embrace between a mother and child. The sculpture stands gracefully...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Antique Bronze Sculpture of Young Man in Reeds by Germain-Thill - 1Y104
Located in Bordeaux, FR
This stunning bronze sculpture, crafted by the French sculptor and painter Alphonse Léon Germain-Thill (1873-1925), represents a young man among reeds. The piece features a green and...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Antique Jeanne d'Arc Ceramic Vase - 1Y105
Located in Bordeaux, FR
This antique ceramic vase features an intricate depiction of Jeanne d'Arc in armor. The vase is numbered on the base, highlighting its unique and collectible nature. It is an elegant...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Italian Carved Wood Gold Gilded Eagle Holding Arrows Wall Decor by Palladio
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Beautiful Italian carved wood gold gilded eagle holding two arrows wall decor by Palladio, it has the label in the back. It is in good condition. It has no damages. No broken parts. ...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Empire Sculptures
Materials
Gold Leaf
Vintage “Knife Wrestlers” After The Statue By Johan Peter Molin
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage “Knife Wrestlers”, After The Statue By Johan Peter Molin, Stockholm 1867
Introducing the Vintage "Knife Wrestlers" figurine, inspired by Joha...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Bronze Sphinx Sienna Marble Base Grand Tour 19th Century
Located in Cheltenham, GB
A French Empire finely cast bronze model of recumbent sphinx on a sienna marble base, circa 1840.
The bronze with the warm golden patina of age is in good condition with minor chip...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Siena Marble, Bronze
19th Century Continental Gilt Bronze Sculpture of Soldier
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century Continental Gilt Bronze Statue of Soldier. Continental gilt bronze figure of a Classical soldier, late 19th century, with sword extended, resting on a gilded octagonal m...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair 19th Century French Bronze Sphinx on Verde Antico Marble Bases
Located in Stamford, CT
A pair of French Empire bronze models of recumbent Sphinxes on Verdi Antico marble bases. The bronze with the warm golden patina of age. The custom marble bases, stepped on one side ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
A Very Fine Gilt & Patinated Bronze Centerpiece in the Empire style.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine Gilt & Patinated Bronze Centerpiece in the Empire style.
France, circa 1890.
Width 15 1/2" Height 18" Depth 5 1/2"
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
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 Sculptures
Materials
Silver Plate
Napoleon Bronze Sculpture Desk Inkwell, Signed Emile Pinedo
By Émile Pinedo
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Napoleon Bonaparte bronze desk inkwell, signed Pinedo with foundry mark. Mounted over a Green Alps marble.
Antique signed 19th large bronz...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Grand Santon Napolitain en terre cuite, aux yeux de verre - Pêcheur - 18ème
Located in TOULON, FR
Grand Santon Napolitain en terre cuite, aux yeux de verre églomisé
Pêcheur
Italie 18ème siècle
signé Chanato, Porto (quartier de naples) sous le socle
32 cm
1,3 kg
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Vintage Marble Pedestal with Greek Key Carving
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Marble Pedestal with Greek Key Carving
This white marble column with grey streaks has a Greek key band and other minimal carvings. It ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Beautiful Set of Two Antique French Old Paris Porcelain 'Porte Plume" Statues
Located in BAAMBRUGGE, NL
Beautiful set of two antique French Old Paris Porcelain "Porte Plume" - Statues for ink pens.
These 2 antique French Porcelain Porte Plume from around 1820-1850 are beautiful hand decorated with a man and woman in oriental Arabic traditional style. This style is characteristic and popular from that time with oriental scenes atmospheres.
The "Porte Plume" was used at the secretary desk for inserting the feather ink...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Meissen Costume Group, Couple Dressed In Empire Style, by H. Goeschl, Ca 1940
By Heinrich Goeschl, Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vienna, AT
Elegant couple costumed in Empire style:
The lady in a dress that softly hugs the body with a high waist that sits just below the bust, a short cape covering the neckline and shoulde...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Empire Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Mid 20th century framed Italian bisque Taglio
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a mid 20th century Italian framed bisque Taglio. This Greco Roman style bisque porcelain medallion is framed in a gold leaf shadowbox frame with pink interior and gold detail...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
ORIGINAL EMPIRE BATHTUB IN RED VERONA MARBLE WITH RINGS began 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
ORIGINAL EMPIRE BATHTUB IN RED VERONA MARBLE WITH RINGS began 19th Century
Impressive and rare Empire bathtub in red Verona marble with rings.
early 19...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Marble
J A Houdon france bronze 1790 "Diane" by Barbedienne founder.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible J A Houdon bronze 1790 representing "Diane" with bow and arrow by Barbedienne founder.
Category
1790s French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Large Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux 1872 bronze "Le genie de la Danse" france.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible rare and large bronze for JEAN-Baptiste CARPEAUX 1872 representing "Le GENIE de la Danse".
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Patinated Bronze Sculpture of Boys and Amphoras by Auguste Moreau
Located in North Miami, FL
French Empire patinated bronze sculpture of a group of boys and amphoras by Auguste Moreau
By: Auguste Moreau
Material: bronze, copper, metal
Technique: patinated, cast, carved, pol...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Copper, Metal, Bronze
A.Carrier French bronze 19th Neapolitan musician playing a tambourine.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible A.CARRIER bronze 19th Neapolitan musician playing a tambourine.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Malachite on a Bronze Doré Gilded Stand Desk Decorative Object LA
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A Beautiful Empire style malachite orb on a bronze doré stand retour d'Egypte of 3 figures of standing maidens with a pine cone in the center an detailed crown holder hosting a large...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Malachite, Bronze
Bronze sculpture from the Empire Period
Located in Paris, FR
Very important bronze sculpture with brown patina from the Empire period. The bronze depicts an antique woman with a crown, or "La Victoire". The young woman, standing, holds a laure...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Italian old black bronze bust for 'Roman Emperor' with marble base circa 1800.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible natural size italian old black bronze bust of "Roman Emperor" circa 1800 with rare marble base.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
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 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 Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Original large pair of "Chevaux de Marly" france bronzes circa 1850
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and large pair of "Chevaux de Marly" in bronze with spectacular work on the bases. Circa 1850 in perfect conditions.
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Imperio Obelisk in Tortoiseshell Inlaid with Semi-Precious Stones
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Huge obelisk from the French imperial period in tortoiseshell with semi-precious stones resting on balls.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Materials
Tortoise Shell
Empire sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire sculptures 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 sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, building and garden elements, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire sculptures 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 sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Jean-Antoine Houdon, Atelier de moulage du Louvre, and Auguste Nicholas Cain. 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 sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $200 and tops out at $110,955 while the average work can sell for $4,617.
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