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 Style French Bronze Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Empire style French bronze inkwell. Dark patinated cast bronze encrier/ink-stand on paw feet with original pine cone lidded glass ink-wells and...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pressed Wood Snuff Box of Place Vendome, French, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The circular box depicting Place Vendome with quote on bottom 'COLON DE LA PLACE VENDOME.' The interior with collectors label 'EVAN THOMAS COLLECTION 408.’
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century Empire Mantel Clock with Cupid in a Chariot
By Marie Prevost
Located in Paris, FR
Exceptional gilt bronze mantel clock with its key depicting a winged Cupid in a chariot. The chariot is pulled by two doves that are resting on a platform adorned with water-leaf. Th...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Danish Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Danish Empire painted and bone candlesticks, circa 1810, of baluster form carved bone bandings and a circular base.
Category
19th Century Danish Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Pair of French Empire Bronze Dore Ram Head Candelabras
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire bronze dore 6 arm candelabras with 3 ram heads and 3 claw feet supported on a 6 sided triangular base. (PRICED AS Pair)
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French Empire Period Four Light Bronze Candelabra
Located in Montreal, QC
This Hommage a Egypte pair were made at the time of Napoleon's unsuccessful foray into Egypt. The shaped bases, winged feet and triangular columns are surely inspired by the campaig...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Empire Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Figural Clock
Located in New York, NY
An Exquisite Antique French Period Empire Neoclassical gilt bronze figural clock embellished with figure of a neoclassical woman and bird.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu, Steel, Enamel
Empire Patinated Bronze Clock
Located in Atlanta, GA
Beautiful patinated bronze clock featuring Cupid and Psyche with a Sienna marble base
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
A pair of Empire gilt and patinated bronze candelabra. Each with a winged Victorian female figure carrying a torchère on their hea...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
Pair of Sceaux Faux Porphyry Tobacco Jars, 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The pair of jars with covers with old repairs and chips.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Faience
Pair of French Early 19th Century Gilt Bronze Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A pair of French gilt bronze and patinated bronze four-light candelabra.
France, early 19th century.
Measures: H 22 in.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Rooster Clock
Located in Stamford, CT
A 19th century French gilt bronze rooster clock with brass eight-day spring driven movement. Newly cleaned and operational.
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Neoclassical Green and Gilt Faux Marble Samovar Coffee Urn
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical green and gilt faux marble samovar coffee urn. Gilt and green faux marble painted samovar with Greco Roman mask issuing spout on pedestal abov...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Baccarat Crystal Clock Garniture, French Empire with Gilt Bronze
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
French Empire clock garniture with gilt bronze and Baccarat crystal.
An important French Baccarat cut-crystal and ormolu mantel clock with four Corinthian style columns. The cut-crystal features a cross hatched diamond patterns throughout. The clock comes with two large Baccarat crystal and gilt...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
A Palatial 19th Century French Second Empire Ormolu Mounted Bronze Garniture Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An Palatial 19th Century French Second Empire Ormolu Mounted Bronze and Green Marble Three Piece Garniture Set
circa 1820.
Origin: France
Measures: Clock
Height 32"
Width 21"
Dept...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of 19th c. French Empire Style Electrified Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
Pair of nineteenth century French Empire style candelabra. Each gilt-trimmed bronze candelabrum features a central urn-top arm surrounde...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
Elegant French Empire Doré Bronze Crystal Three-Light Fixture Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
Very fine, beautifully detailed French doré bronze and crystal three-arm chandelier with flame top urn centre in the neoclassical style.
Category
20th Century French Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Empire style candelabra
Located in Atlanta, GA
Magnificent pair of gilt bronze and marble Empire style candelabra
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Empire Period Gilt Bronze Clock
Located in Montreal, QC
Empire period gilt bronze figural clock representing Amour & Psyche.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Period Marble and Ormolu Clock, Early 19th Century
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Early 19th century French Empire period marble and ormolu clock.
French Carrara marble Portico clock with extensive ormolu fretwork mounted on two finely decorated marble columns ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Antique Empire Style Candelabra
Located in Atlanta, GA
Incredible pair of Empire style candelabra of gilt and patinated bronze. The backs are flat in order that they might be close to a wall.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Style Fire Gilded Bronze Mantle Clock
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
19th century French Empire style fire gilded bronze mantel clock.
French fire gilded bronze mantel clock with separate bronze base and po...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Grand Pair of French, Second Empire Candelabra
Located in Newport Beach, CA
An elegant pair of 7 arm, cast metal and gilded bronze candelabra with flame finials, mounted on marble bases.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Metal, Bronze
18th Century Viennese Dark Green Painted and Giltwood Mantle Clock
Located in Berlin, DE
18th century Viennese dark green painted and giltwood pendule of unusual size in the form of a classical urn, the gilt-bronze dial with Roman numerals, surmounted by giltwood flowers...
Category
1790s Austrian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Giltwood, Wood
Pair of Empire Period Four-Arm Bronze Candelabra
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of Empire period four-light candelabra, on tripod lion's feet over stepped incurved plinth, supporting a palmette form base with reeded column and central gilt candle stem, the ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Clock
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Modelled as a potted flower, the pot decorated with gilt bronze classical figures. With an 18th century English movement.
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Italian Neoclassical Parcel-Gilt Clock
Located in New York, NY
Italian neoclassical parcel-gilt clock. Roman military Empire period mantel clock of obelisk form topped by an extraordinary eagle with outstretched wings on a red orb, above gilt-ca...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
19th Century Pair of Gilded & Patinated Bronze Two Light Candelabra
Located in Hudson, NY
This lovely pair of candelabra, crafted in both gilded and patinated bronze, are 19th century French. Cast as female figures in Egyptian headdress and classical robes standing upon R...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Clock
Located in Hudson, NY
A very finely cast gilt bronze clock depicting Psyche at her toilet. The reflective mirror of polished bronze and that each element is cast separately then screwed on is an excellent...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Empire Style Carved, Painted and Gilded Wooden Urns
Located in Hudson, NY
This dramatic and decorative pair of urns made in France in the 1920's are in the popular empire revival style. Turned as a rather stretched Campania urn on a stand the vases are the...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood, Paint, Gesso
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
Paris Porcelain Vase with Landscape Scene, France c. 1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large Paris porcelain vase of good quality, almost two feet in height. The body with painted figural and landscape vignettes on opposing sides, contained by acid-etched gilt border...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Empire Gilt-Bronze & Variegated Green Marble Desk Set, c.1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
The base is composed of variegated green marble with a pen tray, ormolu trim and patarae motif. The ormolu well with lid is beautifully decorated with laurel wreath garland surround...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
Vase in Sevres Hand-painted Porcelain and Bronze from 1800
Located in Milano, MI
Vase in Sevres porcelain and hand-painted bronze made in 1800
Ø cm 15 h cm 32
The Sèvres ceramics are one of the most famous ceramic manufacturers in all of Europe, born in France ...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair Of Antique 3-Flame Empire Silver Candle Holders, by Anton Köll, Vienna 1807
Located in Vienna, AT
Two elegant 3-flame silver girandoles on a round base, smooth shaft raised in the centre, the lower third constricted by a profiled beaded ring, the shaft widening conically towards ...
Category
Early 1800s Austrian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
Elegant inkwell with lid in gold-patinated bronze. french empire
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Elegant inkwell with lid in gold-patinated bronze
French Empire
Made in France during the Empire, circa 1820s with a very period design with stylized dolphins.
Wear consistent with ...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Mid century vintage bronze obelisk after Maitland smith.
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a handsome mid century vintage bronze obelisk. This bronze obelisk stands on fort ball feet that stands on a black Lacquered and walnut plant. This bronze obelisk has a dark ...
Category
1970s Philippine Vintage Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Pendule Portefaix, Firegilt Bronze, Empire, Circa 1810
Located in Greven, DE
Pendule Portefaix
France (Toulouse)
bronze, enamel
Empire around 1810
Dimensions: H x W x D: 36 x 28 x 11 cm
Description:
Beautiful fire-gilded and patinated bronze pendulum from the early 19th century. Depicted is a young man carrying a large cotton package on his back. In his right hand he holds a letter, with his left he is leaning on a bamboo stick. His tobacco pipe is stuck in his hat string, and he carries his water bottle on his belt.
In interesting color contrast is not only the fire gilding to the deep black patinated bronze, but also particularly striking are the white glass eyes.
The ciselleur has managed to make materials tangible through different surface treatments. For example, the skin is discreetly hatched differently from the cotton fabric of the trousers; the bottle, bracelets and pannier are polished in gold. The proportions of the figure are perfectly struck, and the drapery on the trousers emphasizes the dynamic movement.
The heart of the watch is an 8-day movement with date from the Prevost Freres workshop, which is attested in Toulouse from 1809.
The Breguet hands are blued, the pendulum is suspended on a thread, typical of the time. The clock strikes a bell on the half and full hour.
Fun Facts:
The depiction of Le Portefaix is by Parisian bronze caster Jean-André Reiche, who registered his artistic design in Paris in 1808. In addition to the depiction of the cotton picker, there are numerous other pendulums that deal with the theme of colonization. Other themes from the "new world" were also treated artistically - exotic animals and plants - butterflies, birds of paradise, tobacco and spices....
Today's viewers react to the objects with both fascination and irritation. Enthusiastic on the one hand by the obvious quality of the detailed bronzes, on the other hand distanced-cautious because of the possible discrimination that is suspected behind it. The ambivalence of this feeling motivates the search for the conditions of origin of these pendulums.
Europeans found their new ideal of the natural man mainly in fictional and realistic travelogues about the Indians of North America...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Bust of General Pierre De Pelleport by Gaston Leroux-Veuvenot
Located in BORDEAUX, FR
Very beautiful plaster bust, with a terracotta patina, of General Pierre de Pelleport (1773-1855), Peer of France (1841-1848), Mayor of Bordeaux (1842). Viscount, Grand Officer of th...
Category
1840s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Plaster
Pair of Empire Style Bronze Candelabra
Located in New Orleans, LA
These late 19th century/early 20th century candelabra are so alluring they demand closer inspection. The details are astounding in a combination of matte black and gilded bronze.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Late 19th Century Marble Tazzas
Located in Charleston, SC
Fantastic pair of late 19th century marble tazzas.
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
French Empire Mantel Clock, Pendule, Firegilt Bronze, Claude Galle, circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Empire Pendule, Mantel clock cupid and Psyche
Paris
Fire-gilt bronze
Around 1820
Dimensions: 36 x 27 x15 cm
Description:
Depiction designed ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Mid-Century Hand-Painted Decorated Leather Square Waste Bin or Planter
Located in Germantown, MD
Authentic Cowhide on wood Nailhead top and oil Handpainted throughout. Each of the 4 sides depicts a different scene. Primary used as an executive waste bin and may also be used as a...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
19th Century Empire Thomire Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock Pendule French
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Antique French 1st Empire pendulum clock fire gilded bronze.
Attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire.
Depicting Laura de Noves
Laura was the wife of Count Hugues de Sade.
She married in the year 1325 at the age of 15.
Laura had a great influence on the life and work of the Italian Poet Fransesco Petrarca.
He sang about her in his work Il Canzoniere
The fineness of the casting and the original fire gilding and varied chasing show the highest quality.
Like almost all pendulums of this period it isn't signed.
The quality , the bronze work, the composition, the gilding and the chasing allow to consider Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751 - 1843) as maker.
Origin France about 1810 - 1820.
An identical clock was part of the the Louvre collection...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Gold Plate, Bronze
19th Century Pair of French Empire Style Glass Cornucopia Vases
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is an elegant pair of French Empire style glass cornucopia vases, situated on white marble bases, 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
Pair of French Mid-19th Century Empire St. Patinated Bronze & Ormolu Candelabra
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome pair of French mid 19th century Empire st. patinated bronze and ormolu candelabras. Each candelabra is raised by a square base with ormolu supports and foliate design...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Empire Candelabra Made circa 1800, Claude Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of French candelabra made circa year 1800. Dark patinated and gilt bronze. On columns are two mermaids sitting. The columns have ornaments of roosters facing each other.
At...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Beautiful Empire Style Gilt Wall Pendulum
Located in New York, NY
An Empire style Rydberg wall pendulum from the 20th century.
Gilded & bronzed, with carved decorations of sphinxes.
Item has not been function tested, no key.
Category
20th Century Swedish Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Giltwood
Pair of Napoleon III Gilt Bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble Four-Light Candelabrum
Located in Houston, TX
Empire style four light candelabrum, cupid-form standards poised on
Turned half spheres, holding a bow in one hand and an arrow supporting
Candle arms set with anthemion-molded cup...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Wonderful Pair of French Empire Bronze Two-Tone Patinated Figural Candelabras
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful pair of French Empire bronze two-tone gilt and patinated, figural 4-arm candelabras.
Category
20th Century French Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Empire Ormolu-Mounted Malachite Ewers Attributed to Claude Galle, Russian, Pair
By Claude Galle
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Empire Ormolu-Mounted Malachite Ewers attributed to Claude Galle, circa 1805, Possibly Made For The Russian Market. Each with an ovoid body applied with an ormolu band depi...
Category
Early 1800s Russian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Malachite, Bronze
Impressive Empire Period, Bronze Gilded Pendulum Clock, Stockholm
Located in New York, NY
Stunning and majestic in its size and proportion, Empire Period Pendulum Clock, made in Stockholm (1810-1835)
Sculpted, bronze-gilded clock featuring flanking cornucopia and crowned...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Marble France Clock Mainet à Paris, 1810s
Located in Roma, RM
Temple clock of French origin, Paris city, Empire era, silk thread mechanism.
Bardiglio gray marble. With capitals in gilded bronze. Functioning and over...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
Life-size Gliedermann, Denmark, Circa 1860, Featured Ralph Lauren Madison Avenue
Located in New York, NY
19th century, life-size Gliedermann, origin: Denmark, circa 1860, original color
Featured in Ralph Lauren Madison Avenue Spring Fashion Windows, pho...
Category
19th Century Danish Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
French Empire Mahogany Jardinière
Located in Westwood, NJ
A large French Empire mahogany Jardinière with brass lining, brass trim and mounts on a tripartite plinth base.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Pair of Probably Russian Three-Branch Wall Lights, circa 1900
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of finely cast gilt-bronze wall lights, each with a circular back plate with a central lion's mask holding a ring issuing three swan neck outscrolling candle-arms with circular ...
Category
1890s Russian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Medicine Safe Cabinet
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Painted metal cabinet with Goddess of medicine in relief. Secret secondary key-mechanism hiding extra keyhole.
NB:
Complimentary delivery wit...
Category
19th Century Danish Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
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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