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
A Pair of Gilt Bronze and Patinated Candelabra with Winged Victories.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A pair of gilt bronze and patinated candelabra with winged victories, Empire period, 19th century.
Pair of Empire period candelabra from the 19th century, Napoleon 1st, gilt and pat...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Small Danish Empire Veneered and Brass Trinket Box, Circa 1825
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small Rectangular Period Empire Trinket Box in Veneered Mahogany and Brass Panels on the Edges, Denmark Circa 1825.
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
$300 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Pair of Empire Four Light Bronze Candelabra
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of Empire period parcel-gilt and patinated bronze four-light candelabra, the patinated column raised on triform scrolled feet over incurved plinth supporting a gilt bronze stand...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$3,600 Sale Price / set
44% Off
Pair of Antique Austro-Hungarian Silver Candlesticks with Chased Flowers
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of silver candlesticks are hallmarked by an unknown maker, and believed to have originated from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and date to approximately 1850, and done in the ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
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
EARLY 19th CENTURY VIENNESE EMPIRE CLOCK
Located in Firenze, FI
Beautiful clock in walnut root, enriched with maple fillets and with an ebonized wooden base. The decoration of the clock features gilded bronze friezes, inspired by classical elemen...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
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
Tripod Cachepot Brass Bowl
Located in Sheffield, MA
Charmingly elegant antique Empire style brass bowl centerpiece on tripod hoofed feet and decorative handles in an 'abstract' animal form. Lovely aged brass patina all-over, can easil...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
$850 Sale Price
29% Off
Table Clock Empire France
Located in New York, NY
A table clock made in France during the Empire 1790-1820. Made from blackened wood and burnt-gilt bronze. Godronned urn-formation, lion mascarons, pine cone all Empire attributes
Category
1790s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Empire Centerpiece with Putto Decor, Bronze and Glass, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Empire centerpiece made of cut glass and fire-gilded bronze with griffin decor and small putto figure in the center.
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
French 1870 Third Empire Napoleon III Pair of Urns in Marble with Gilded Ormolu
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of mythological Urns from the French third Empire period.
Fabulous decorative pieces, created in Paris, France during the period of the Third French Empire under Napoleon III...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
$3,988 Sale Price / set
20% Off
19th Century French Empire Candlesticks
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century French Empire Candlesticks. Beautiful pair purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Empire clock bronze
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Magnificent empire clock in its original gilding , one of the most beautiful models
executed at this time.The beauty of this woman standing ,the base decorated with children
one of w...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$15,000
A Homer bust ormolu empire clock in the manner of Thomire
Located in Harrington Park, NJ
AN EMPIRE ORMOLU BUST OF HOMER
After the Antique
The bearded bust of Homer on a rectangular clock decorate with lyres and gryphon heads on the side
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Wonderful French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Two-Tone Pair Fine Candelabras
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire / neoclassical bronze two-tone pair of fine candelabras.
Category
20th Century French Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Antique Bronze Statue Of Napoleon Bonaparte
Located in Bilzen, BE
Old bronze statue from the beginning of the 19th century of Napoleon Bonaparte of fine quality.
Original aged patina
Total height 22 cm, base 8.8 x 8.8 cm, heigth figure 9 cm
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Candelabras, Antique Pair w/Dore' Gold Finish, 5 Arms
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great looking pair of 5 arm Candelabras. In two colors and Marble bases. In very good condition from an Antique collector in New Orleans. They have been well kept. These will require...
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Vase Pendule, Pendulum-Clock, Tardy à Lyon, Empire circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Antique vase clock
France
Fire gilded bronze
Empire around 1820
Dimensions: H x W x D: 41 x 13 x 12
Description:
Beautiful all gilt French mantel clock.
The basic form is in the shape of an urn vase with lid...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
19th C. French Empire Tole Pedestal Jardiniere Cachepot Urn With Floral Paint
Located in Atlanta, GA
This pair of exquisite tôle peinte planters exemplifies the elegance and craftsmanship of 19th-century decorative arts. Each planter is crafted from hand-painted metal, featuring a r...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
$1,036 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Pair of gilt bronze Retour d'Egypte candlesticks, Empire period, 19th century
Located in NICE, FR
The pair of candlesticks from the Empire period featuring caryatids are exquisite examples of neoclassical design, typical of the early 19th century, particularly during the reign of...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Miniatur Mantel Clock, Gare La Bombe, Cupido, France, Gilded Bronze
Located in Greven, DE
Pendulette "Gare La Bombe"
France
gilded bronze
first half 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 20 x 15 x 7 cm
Description:
Antique miniature mante...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
A Set Of Gilt Iron Lion Heads Door Knockers
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Set of Gilt Iron Door Knockers. It depicts a pair of large and heavy lion heads with a ring in their mouths. The rings are decorated with some acanthus leaves in the bottom...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
$1,600 / set
Gold and White Paris Porcelain Urn
Located in New York, NY
Gold and white Paris porcelain urn. Elegant white and gilt painted Empire handled vase in the Campana urn form. Unusual unpainted floral gilded outlines against a white background re...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
French Empire Allegorical Clock Garniture of "Psyche Crowning Amor"
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A large scale French Empire figurative allegorical clock showing “Psyche Crowning Amor”. Psyche stands to the right of the domed clock plinth, holding her ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
19 Century Italian Clock Landscape Painting
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An early/mid-19th century Italian clock painting indistinctly signed on the lower right corner. The oil painting is set in a period Empire gilt frame and d...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Canvas
Period French Empire Mantle Clock Depicting a Winged Cupid Playing a Lute
By André-Antoine Ravrio
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine quality chased and gilded French Empire mantle clock depicting a standing winged cupid to the right of the clock plinth playing a lute. He looks to his right reading his sheet music and other elements including a torch, flambeau, wreath etc. On the left side of the clock plinth is a three legged...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$3,040 Sale Price
20% Off
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
Pair of 19th Century Empire Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of Empire candleholders in fire-gilded bronze. Manufactured in France around 1810/1820. The candleholders are decorated with beautiful acanthus leaves. A decorative meander ba...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$4,000 / set
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Tortoise Shell
Paris Porcelain Cameo Vase Attributed to Nast
By Nast
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A classical French Empire Paris porcelain twin handled vase featuring a signed cameo of Caracalla on the front and gilded military attributes on the back. The very well painted profi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage Marble Lidded Box with Brass Accents and Dolphin Handle
Located in Hamburg, DE
This cylindrical marble box with a lid is a sophisticated decorative piece that blends vintage charm with historical design influences. Crafted in the 1970s, it features a lightly pa...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
Pair of Patinated Bronze Empire Period Medici Urns
Located in Montreal, QC
Paire of Patinated Bronze Empire Period Medici Urns
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair 19thc French Empire Bronze Male Figural Candelabra
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Pair 19thc French Gold Bronze Male Mask Figural Candelabra. Very nice detail and stately candelabra.
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$3,420 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Bronze French Empire Style Candelabrum
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Bronze French Empire style candelabrum.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$495 Sale Price
37% Off
Gilt and Opaline Glass Urn
Located in Dallas, TX
An Empire style gilt and opaline glass urn.
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Opaline Glass
$4,720 Sale Price
20% Off
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Attributed, Val St-Lambert, Empire Style Vase, 19th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
Superb and large empire style vase attributed to the Val Saint Lambert manufacture, 19th century Belgium. Openwork of gilt bronze in arches and wreat...
Category
Mid-19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Princely Pomp Candlestick After Pierre Philippe Thomire
Located in Berlin, DE
Extremely finely chased and cast bronze. Fully sculpted figures (Viktoria). Carrying on the head and supporting with the hands torch-shaped shaft with 12 cornucopia, curved lighthous...
Category
20th Century French Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Empire Period Porcelain Campana Vases, Parisian, circa 1815
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine pair of Paris porcelain vases, designed in campana form with the front featuring circular vignettes with landscape scenes, on the reverse are framed musical trophies created t...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Table Clock Empire Period France
Located in New York, NY
A mantel clock made during the Empire period 1790-1820 in France. Made from burnished gilt bronze. The Greek God Apollo is playing the lyre with his feet resting on a guilded stool.
Category
1790s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pressed Wood Snuff Box, 19th Century "Fete Flamande"
Located in Spencertown, NY
Dancing scene with violinist and dancing couple.
Category
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
19th c Second French Empire Pair of Silver Plated Brass Candlesticks
Located in Savannah, GA
This classic pair of antique French candlesticks are hand crafted of silver plate and brass Details include downward tapering on fluted shafts supported by a round heavily embossed f...
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate, Brass
Pressed Wood Snuff Box Depicting the Battle in Paris of 30th March 1814
Located in Bilzen, BE
Combat of March 30, 1814. On the heights of Saint Chaumont where an Artillery post served by students of the École Polytechnique fought fiercely and was saved from death by General S...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Fine Pair of Early 19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Miami, FL
A fine pair of French 19th century Empire candlesticks.
We are pleased to present you a gorgeous pair of French Empire period, original gilt bronze candlesticks, finely chiseled of ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$1,750 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Pair of French Fire-Gilded Empire Candleholders
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of French fire-gilded Empire candleholders from around 1800-1810. The candleholders are in the Egyptianizing style that was popular at the time, referencing Napoleon's campaig...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$6,000 / set
Empire Clock in representing a Horse and a Dog in Gilt Bronze, 19th Century
Located in NICE, FR
Restoration-period bronze clock with brown and gilded patina depicting a horse playing with a small dog.
Beautiful mercury gilding, the alternating patinas give a nice balance to th...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Italian Solid Silver Inkstans Empyre Style
By Arno Fassi
Located in VALENZA, IT
Empire style 800 silver inkstand
The base of the inkstand, completely handmade, is shaped like a "cathedral". The classic "palmettes" of the Empire style have been chiseled around i...
Category
1990s Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
$4,578 Sale Price
20% Off
Large B&G, Bing & Grondahl Vase in Pink with Handles in Gold, Early Stamp
Located in København, Copenhagen
Large B&G, Bing & Grondahl vase in pink with handles in gold.
Early stamp. Dated 1865.
1st. assortment. In perfect condition.
Measures 29.5 x 14.5 cm.
Category
1860s Danish Antique Empire Decorative Objects
$448 Sale Price
20% Off
Clock in Gilt Bronze, Empire Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Clock in chiselled and gilt bronze composed by a rectangular base on which stand the dial-plate and a statuette of Bacchus. Round dial-plate with Roman numbers off-center on the righ...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Fine Pair of French Empire Dore Bronze & Cut Crystal Ormolu-Mounted Candlesticks
Located in Roslyn, NY
An elegant French Empire or neoclassical pair of doré bronze and cut crystal ormolu-mounted candlesticks.
Measures: 4.75W x 11 H.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Gilt Bronze Brule-Parfums in Manner of Thomire 19th Century
Located in Essex, MA
A pair of Empire style gilt bronze Brule-Parfums in manner of Pierre-Philippe Thomire, 19th century
each openwork cover with an acorn finial above the body having a rim cast to show...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair Italian Empire Period Brass 3-Light Figural Candelabras, Early 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Finely cast and supported by circular bases, the tops issuing two arms with single candleholders with a central figural candleholder.
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Pair of French Tole Verrieres
Located in Essex, MA
Each painted green with gilt rinceaux decoration. Oval form with loop handles.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Tin
$1,500 / set
Pair of Empire-Style Bronze and Siena Marble Candlesticks – Circa 1830
Located in Milano, IT
This exquisite pair of Empire-style candlesticks from circa 1830 features intricate bronze detailing atop rich Siena marble bases. Resting on tripod bases with lion paw feet, these c...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
Two 19th Century French Bronze Partially Gilt Candlesticks on Hoofed Faun Feet
Located in Haarlem, NL
Two 19th century French partially ormolu bronze candlesticks on cloven hoofed hocked faun legs and feet
Cast in bronze, adorned with floral and acanthus leaf motif.
The candle inse...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$2,000 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Wonderful French Empire Dore and Patinated Bronze Cherub Putti Wreath Clock
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire doré and patinated bronze Cherub Putti wreath clock, not currently in working order, back cover is missing as is bel...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Empire Period Ormolu and Enamel Ceres Mantel Clock After Thomire
Located in London, GB
Empire period ormolu and enamel Ceres mantel clock after Thomire.
French, c.1810
Measures: height 46cm, width 38cm, depth 13cm.
This superb mantel clock was made in the First Fr...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
19th Century Meissen Style Porcelain Napoleon lll Bowl Vase Centerpiece
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a gilt bronze mounted and hand painted porcelain large bowl vase with lid. The hand painted continuous scene shows a town celebration with some peasants dancing & playing som...
Category
19th Century German Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$7,600 Sale Price
20% Off
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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