Empire Decorative Objects
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
Empire Clock, "Cupid & Psyche"
Located in Atlanta, GA
A superb gilt and patinated bronze Empire clock. Rouge griotte marble.
Signed bled a Paris. Silk thread suspension. France, circa 1804
Dimensions: Height 32" x width 21" x depth 11...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Empire Period Gilt Bronze Figurative Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Empire period gilt bronze figurative mantel clock
French, early 19th century
Measures: Height 33cm, width 31cm, depth 12cm
This superb mantel clock is a wonderful example of the...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century French Empire Miniature Commode
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Empire miniature commode. A well executed miniature chest made of walnut and veneer of walnut with two large drawers below a smaller top drawer and with solid walnut columns. Inscription written in ink on the back of each of the large drawers: Don D...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Walnut
1800 Empire Nast Porcelain Griffins Masks Roses Flowers Garlands France Vase
Located in Munich, DE
This very high quality French vase in caramel hue with guilding is most probably made by the Nast Porcelain Manufacture ( 1754 - 1817 ). It's handles ar...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of French Empire Style Candelabras
Located in New York, NY
Stunning pair of bronze candelabras with a male figural base.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Bronze Candelabra
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of French Empire bronze candelabra, sleek and sophisticated in design, each one fitted with three lights, fire gilt details, raised on an...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Large Fuseau Vases in Porcelaine de Paris, Empire Period
Located in Paris, FR
Large pair of painted fuseau vases in Porcelaine de Paris from the Empire period. The neck and the pedestal of the vases are in burnished gold and feature laurel crowns and stylized ...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock 'Pendule au char'
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The rectangular base decorated with a wheat and foliate frieze and raised on four ball feet, the goddess of agriculture Ceres standing while leaning against a Roman chariot with harv...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Antique French Empire Marble and Bronze D'ore Candelabra
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair of antique French empire marble and bronze D'ore candelabra.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
Pair of French Empire Candleabra
Located in Westwood, NJ
Pair of French Empire bronze doré three-light candelabra with nautical motifs, dolphins and shells.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Composition
Gilt French Empire Table Clock, Early 1800s
Located in New York, NY
A French Empire table clock, first half of the 19th century.
Measures: Width 30, depth 11, height 38 cm. Key included.
Later added hatch at back....
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Pair 19th Century French Empire Candlesticks
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A handsome pair of 19th century French Empire candlesticks, an urn atop a column supported by lions paw feet... lovely on a dinner table, in...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Pair of Empire Style Silvered and Gilt Bronze Candelabra with Marble Bases
Located in New York, NY
Pair of very large French 19th century Empire style silvered and gilt bronze candelabra with marble bases.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock, Fidelity
Located in Paris, FR
Early 19th century Empire clock crafted of gilt bronze, or ormolu, featuring an allegorical scene with a woman sitting at her work table play...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Snake Handled Meissen Urns
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Stylish and chic pair of Meissen urns in Classic glazed white porcelain with gold accents. These urns are classical in form and feature entwined snakes as ...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
French Empire Period Ormolu Mantel Clock by Michelez
Located in London, GB
French Empire period ormolu mantel clock by Michelez
French, circa 1815
Measures: Height 47cm, width 20cm, depth 15cm
This beautifully formed and crafted mantel clock, dating to...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th Century Gold and Enamel Box, Swiss Work
Located in Paris, FR
Rectangular box with three tones of gold and royal blue enamel. The hinged lid is embellished with a multicolored gold medallion in relief featuring a bouquet of roses and tulips, se...
Category
Early 19th Century Swiss Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Gold
19th Century Swedish Candelabra
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Pair of fine 19th century Swedish Empire gilt and patinated bronze candelabra,
circa 1830, Stockholm, Sweden.
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Set of Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This precious Set of Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features many finely hand chiseled details. This model is typical of French Empire period due to ...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Gold, Bronze
Late 18th Early 19th Century Italian Silver Wax Jack
Located in Firenze, IT
SHIPPING POLICY:
No additional costs will be added to this order.
Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included).
The round-shaped bowl flat chased ...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
Rare French Empire Clock in Gilt and Patinated Bronze Signed Lepaute
By Jean-André Lepaute 1
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An extremely rare and important French Empire mantle clock signed by the master clock making dynasty of Jean-Andre Lepaute and his brother Jean-Baptiste Lepaute.
The case, in the form of an antique portal...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Large Antique French Empire Style Bronze and Marble Figural Clock
Located in New York, NY
A Large Antique French Empire style figural patinated bronze, gilt bronze and green marble clock depicting two neoclassical figures.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Late 19th Century Empire-Style Longcase Clock
Located in Paris, FR
Impressive mahogany longcase clock with gilt and sculpted decorative bronze elements such as fantastic animals, diamond-shaped patterns, scrollwork, and foliage. This floor clock is ...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Early 19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock by Claude Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Claude Galle, (1759–1815, master in 1786) is one of the most renowned bronziers active during the Napoleonic period, such as Pierre-Philippe Thomire, André-Antoine Ravrio and Louis-S...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Large Pair of French Empire Period Candelabra, Attributed to Claude Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent large pair of five-light doré bronze and patinated bronze Empire period candelabra, attributed to Claude Galle made in the early 1800s. This pair of candelabra are set ...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Important Pair of 1st Period French Empire Pat. & Dore Bronze 6-Light Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and important pair of antique French 1st period Empire patinated and two-tone matte and burnished doré bronze six-light candelabras. Each modeled with figures of Goddess D...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Mantle Mantel Table Chiming Clock Caryatides Empire Austria, Vienna
Located in Vienna, AT
Viennese mantle / mantel / table chiming clock Empire style
Date of manufacture: circa 1810-1820
Material:
The clock's chest is made of stained dark mahogany wood / refurbished and hand-polished
ENAMEL CLOCKFACE (Arabic numerals) / BRASS (applied decorations and mechanism) /
GLASS (lunette edged by brass border) / INLAYS made of nacre and different woods
Technique:
Mantel / Table Clock, the clock is striking the quarter and half hour and the hour on two sound spirals, A Pendulum And Feather Lift Work / Key For Winding Up The Clock's Mechanism Existing
Detailed informations:
Mantel / table clock consists of a threepart stage-like chest with pointed arches at lateral sides and an elevated centerpart. A special feature is the pair of caryatides flanking the middle area that are partly gilt. The surface is partially decorated with brass applications and nacre inlays...
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Onyx Marble Gold Gilt Bronze Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful onyx and gold gilt bronze inkwell [ink well] box in the Empire style, circa 19th century, Europe. In addition to its intended use, piece makes a gorgeous standalone decor...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Onyx, Bronze
French Empire Ormolu Inkwell
Located in London, GB
A fine French Empire ormolu desk standish. Set upon a circular base with top and bottom mouldings cast with leaf and dart decoration. The space be...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
Early 19th Century Empire Candelabra with Caryatids
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of Empire bronze and marble candelabra with three branches each. The lights are supported by bronze caryatids with dark brown patina, who are dressed in long tunics à l’antique ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Empire Period Sèvres Porcelain Pale Blue and Faux Porphyry Ground Vases
Located in New York, NY
A very unusual and quite large pair of Empire period Sèvres Porcelain pale Celeste blue and faux porphyry ground vases. Each vase is intricately hand painted with meticulous detail and further adorned with 24-karat hand painted gilt decoration. The bases are a very unusual hand painted faux porphyry porcelain. Each vase and base is marked with various pressnumera and Sèvres signs...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Empire Clock The Spinner by Rossel in Rouen
Located in Paris, FR
French Empire pendulum clock finely crafted of gilt bronze, featuring a young spinner wearing a classical dress, seating on the dial near a lyre ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Antique Empire Head of Hermes Carved Wood Messenger of Zeus God of Merchants
Located in Munich, DE
This beautiful head of Hermes wearing his winged helmet is carved out of boxwood and has preserved the original gilding. The head is mounted on a blacke...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Boxwood, Oak
Early 19th Century Russian Empire Malachite and Ormolu Inkstand Encrier Swans
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very fine Russian giltbronze mounted malachite veneered inkstand from the first quarter of the 19th century. Of rectangular form with an acanthus leave decorated border on round fe...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Malachite, Bronze
French Empire Allegorical Clock Depicting Roman Triumph and Power
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A figural gilt bronze French Empire clock, ‘Allegory to Triumph and Power’. A Roman emperor stands to the right of the central rectangular plinth housing the movement; atop the plint...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Gilt Bronze and Lapis French Empire Period Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This exquisite early 19th century mantel clock is mounted with gilt bronze and has benefited from the addition of a later lapis lazuli veneer. The clock is formed of a cylindrical clock...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Bronze, Ormolu
20th Century Empire Style Handmade Sterling Silver Inkwell, Italy, 1991
Located in Cagliari, IT
Wonderful handcrafted sterling silver inkwell.
A refined piece of Empire style silverware perfect for an extremely elegant home or office.
Made for us by Argenteria Auge, one of th...
Category
1990s Italian Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Sterling Silver
A French Empire Clock of the Roman Goddess Aurora Announcing a New Day
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A period French Empire allegorical mantel clock with a case of finely chased and gilt bronze. Aurora stands to the left of the circular clock plinth draping a starry cloak over the g...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Wonderful Pair Dore Bronze Two-Arm Winged Putti Cherub Neoclassical Candelabras
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful pair of doré bronze two-arm winged putti cherub neoclassical candelabras
Measures: 18" H x 6.5" W x 4" D.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Period Pair of Bronze Candleholders, Neoclassical
Located in Montreal, Quebec
French Emprie Period pair of bronze candleholders, neoclassical
A rare collector quality pair of French First Empire candleholders. A classical bi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze
Wonderful Empire Dore Bronze Rock Crystal Neoclassical Figure Candlestick Lamp
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful Empire doré bronze rock crystal neoclassical figure candlestick lamp
Stamped made in France on base
Completely rewired.
Category
20th Century French Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Rock Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Fine Antique French Empire Gilt Bronze and Patina Bronze Urns
Located in New York, NY
Pair of fine antique French gilt bronze, patina bronze, black marble neoclassical champagne form urns of superb quality embellished on square hand carved black marble bases and furth...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
French Empire Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock Signed Vaillaint a Paris
Located in London, GB
Superb quality French Empire ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock in a beautifully restrained case. The casting and gilding of the finest quality. A classically dressed maiden st...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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...
Category
Mid-19th Century Russian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Period Wastepaper Basket
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French Empire period wastepaper basket.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Empire Ormolu-Mounted Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
A fine quality empire ormolu-mounted patinated bronze and rouge royale marble mantel clock.
The patinated bronze figures depicting cupid and psyche. Attributed to Pierre-Victor Ledure...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Patinated Bronze Tripod Candelabras, Lion's Paw Feet, 19th c.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of French Empire bronze candelabras. These tall three light patinated bronze candelabras have a tripod base with very detailed lion's paws. The columns are fluted with palmettes...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Empire Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock by Michel-François Piolaine
Located in London, GB
This large and impressive gilt bronze mantel clock is by the French Michel-François Piolaine. The clock body is raised by an architecturally formed, plinth-shaped base, set to the fr...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century Empire Pendulum from "French National Furniture" Called "The study"
Located in Marseille, FR
Pendulum of national furniture called "The study" of Empire period double patina and gilded bronze with scientific attributes of astronomy, on the base we find cupid, Minerev and his...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Monumental Candelabra in Empire Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and silvered. Chanelled columns with
black patination, as holder for four sweeping candelabra arms.
Measures:
Diameter 33cm,
height 62cm.
Category
20th Century French Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
French Empire Figurative Gilt Bronze Clock of a Roman Youth Holding a Scroll
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French Empire figurative clock of a Roman youth holding a scroll in gilded bronze showing a seated classically draped youth sitting atop the clock case holding a lyre in one hand a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Patinated Bronze, Ormolu and Griotte Marble Vase
Located in London, GB
A magnificent quality French Empire/Directoire urn in superb original condition. Constructed of lovely patinated bronze, fire gilded Ormolu and griotte marble. In the gout d'Egypt or...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Fine Quality Pair of Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A highly decorative pair of 19th century French Empire gilt bronze and patinated bronze lamps on square base. Each of the four sides of the base having a reef design. The rest of the...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Giltwood
Antique German Drop-Shaped and Brass Decorated Iron, 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Antique German drop-shaped and brass decorated iron with wooden handle.
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Empire decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire decorative objects 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 decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Gherardo Degli Albizzi, Franco Salimbeni, and Alexandre Vossion. 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 decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $170 and tops out at $148,649 while the average work can sell for $4,772.
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