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.
$2,640Sale Price|20% Off
Early 19th C. Sicilian Glass Pharmacy Jar Set, 3 Pieces
Located in Ross, CA
Originally handblown in Sicily in the early 19th century, this impressive pharmacy pot incorporates two separate containers and a lid, and would have been...
Blown Glass
Pair French 19th C. Blue & 2-Tone Gold Ground Porcelain Vases w/ Gold Handles
Located in New York, NY
A Beautiful Pair of French 19th Century Empire Blue and Two-Tone Gold Ground Porcelain vases with White Medallion Gold Handles. Each piece is beautifully hand-painted with gorgeous l...
Porcelain
1870 French Empire Style Bronze Dore Candleholders, a Pair
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine pair of French Empire style bronze dore candelabra with tapering malachite stems resting on three lion paw feet on triform malachite bases. Circa 1870.
Malachite, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Onyx and Gilded Bronze Tazzas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant pair of hand carved and polished onyx tazzas in the Empire style with gilded bronze mounts.
Onyx, Bronze
Pair of Superb Antique Italian Neoclassical Empire Bronze Figural Candelabras
Located in New York, NY
A pair of superb antique Italian empire neoclassical gilt bronze and patinated bronze figural candelabra lamps with royal markings, 19th century. Measure: Overall height 38.50”.
Bronze
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.
Bronze
$9,650 / set
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.
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Oval Ormolu Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French 19th century Empire st. oval ormolu inkwell. The inkwell is raised by pawed feet below a lattice design with rosettes in the center. Above are two ink dispensers ...
Ormolu
$4,000 / set
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...
Bronze
$8,700Sale Price / set|40% Off
Grand Pair of French, Second Empire Candelabra
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant pair of 7 arm, cast metal and gilded bronze candelabra with flame finials, mounted on marble bases.
Marble, Metal, Bronze
$32,500 / set
Pair of Empire style candelabra
Located in Atlanta, GA
Magnificent pair of gilt bronze and marble Empire style candelabra
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of French Mid-19th Century Empire Style Ormolu Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and large scale pair of French mid 19th century Empire st. ormolu and marble candelabras. Each candelabra is raised on a marble base with concave sides below the ormolu...
Marble, Ormolu
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.
Brass
$6,000 / set
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...
Bronze
Pair of Continental Faux Painted Malachite Wooden Pyramids
Located in Southampton, NY
Pair of continental faux painted malachite wooden pyramids.
Grandvoinnet In Paris - Bronze Clock From The Empire Period
Located in Beaune, FR
Very beautiful gilded bronze pendulum from the Empire period (18th century) representing Cupid seated in the chariot of Venus pulled by two doves. The enamel dial is signed "Grandvoi...
Bronze
Early 19th Century Gilt Bronze Cut-Glass Centerpiece
Located in New York, NY
Cut-glass centerpiece with gilt bronze mounts. Hair line crack in bowl.
Bronze
$6,850 / set
Pair of Gilded, Mirrored, Period Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of period, hand carved, gessoed, and 22-karat gold gilded, Second Empire, French sconces. Each with gilt bronze arms, and inset with original, mercury glass mirrors. Each with...
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Dore Bronze Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century French Empire doré bronze clock, France, 1880s.
Bronze
Empire Period Gilt Bronze Clock
Located in Montreal, QC
Empire period gilt bronze figural clock representing Amour & Psyche.
Bronze
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century (Early) French Clock Marble & Ormolu
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century (Early) French Clock Marble & Ormolu Unique clock purchased in France. Gorgeous Marble. impeccable condition. See Detailed Pics.
Marble, 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 ...
Marble, Bronze
19th France bronze circa 1850 "Two hares"
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible france bronze circa 1850 representing "Two hares" perfect patina.
Bronze
Candelabra in Empire Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved. Column-shaft as holder for four Sweeping candelabra arms. Diameter:30cm height:52 cm.
Brass
Antique German Iron Coffer with Griffins, Empire Style, Circa 1810
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, black antique German coffer made of hand crafted iron, particularized with griffins, torchères and tendril motifs on the wall and pinecone mode on the lid, in good condition. The small detailed decor piece represents the Empire time period...
Metal, Iron
19th Century French Empire Pair of Antique Gilded Bronze Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold-black, antique French pair of dark patinated candle sticks made of hand crafted gilded bronze, in good condition. The detailed candle holders are particularized with flowers decoration, resting on a tripod foot. The Parisian décor...
Metal, Bronze
Important Empire Period Paris Porcelain & Ormolu-Mounted Casket/Box/Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
An Important and very rare Empire period Paris porcelain ormolu-mounted Empire rectangular shaped two-handled casket decorated and assembled by ...
Bronze