Empire Sculptures
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.
Early 20th Century French Empire Sculptures
Marble, Metal
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Metal, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Empire Sculptures
Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Marble
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Sculptures
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Marble, Bronze
20th Century American Empire Sculptures
Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Linen
19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Marble, Bronze
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Sculptures
Marble, Bronze
Mid-19th Century Antique Empire Sculptures
Bronze
19th Century Antique Empire Sculptures
Bronze
1920s Belgian Vintage Empire Sculptures
Oak
19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Lapis Lazuli, Ormolu, Bronze
1960s Vintage Empire Sculptures
Horn, Hardwood
20th Century Mexican Empire Sculptures
Textile, Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century French Empire Sculptures
Spelter
19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Marble
1880s French Antique Empire Sculptures
Terracotta
Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Sculptures
Wood
1980s American Vintage Empire Sculptures
Ormolu
1990s American Empire Sculptures
Ormolu
19th Century French Antique Empire Sculptures
Bone, Paint
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Sculptures
Iron