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.
to
113
1,013
11
23
823
167
11
50
55
35
11
7
4
2
4
28
14
11
4
26,272
14,181
9,282
5,445
3,966
3,082
2,288
1,737
1,417
1,336
1,157
1,155
1,024
934
887
675
656
592
848
586
252
161
138
499
434
948
721
94
42
23
Height
to
Width
to
1,024
1,013
1,024
45
33
11
10
5
Style: Empire
Pair of Empire Gilt Chinoiserie Vases
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Empire gilt chinoiserie vases. Pair hand-painted and gilt French vases of the Empire period with mask handles and gilt surrounds centering on ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
$3,600 / set
Egg White with blue garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimb
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg White with blue garlands is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg White with blue garlands has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg White with blue garlands i...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique French Empire Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Figural Clock By Jouquet a paris
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite antique French Empire neoclassical gilt bronze figural clock signed by Jouquet a Paris.. This unusual clock is surmounted by a s...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu, Enamel
Beautiful French Empire Caryatid Candlesticks with Carrara Marble Bases
Located in Knivsta, SE
French Empire Caryatid Candlesticks with Carrara Marble Bases
An elegant and finely composed pair of French Empire candlesticks, crafted in the early 19th century and embodying the...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Large 19th Century Continental Neoclassical Between Dresser Vanity Box
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An extensively filled 19th century ormolu-mounted ebonized wood dresser vanity box fitted with silver gold washed lidded glass gars and sewing tools. The ...
Category
1880s European Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
A Pair French 1st Empire Period Ormolu & Verde Antico Marble Figural Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A Fine and Unusual Pair of French 1st Empire Period Doré Bronze and Verde Antico Marble Figural Neoclassical Five-Arm Candelabra. Each candelabrum features a tall central shaft issui...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Empire Period Ormolu Mounted Malachite Allegorical Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Empire period ormolu mounted malachite allegorical mantel clock
French, early 19th century
Measures: Height 50m, width 21cm, depth 14cm
This fine mantel clock is an excellent ex...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu, 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
French Empire Pendulum In Gilt Bronze Early 1800s With Putti and Bookcase
Located in Milano, MI
French Empire gilt bronze pendulum dating from the early 1800s, charming table clock with allegory of the Arts, arched case, flanked by two putti, one seated with a book and the oth...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Style Bronze Mantel Clock, circa 1870
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th century French Empire style gilt bronze mantle clock. The foliate and fruit engraved gilt-brass dial with enamel painted roman numerals. Inside with eight day movement w...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Enamel
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
Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clock, Portal Pendule, Paris circa 1820
By Duval
Located in Greven, DE
Antique French round arch portal clock
France (Paris)
Bronze, enamel
Empire circa 1820
Dimensions: H x W x D: 47 x 26 x 12 cm
Description:
Very beautiful, strictly architecturally...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
19th Century Tribute Box to Napoleon Bonaparte
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
A very beautiful rectangular box made of fine porcelain, decorated in the imperial style of the First Empire. The decoration, dominated by green and gold tones, illustrates the refin...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Large and Very Fine French Empire Period Ormolu and Malachite Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Large and very Fine French Empire period ormolu and malachite mantel clock
French, circa 1825
Height 89cm, width 57cm, depth 23cm
This very Fine, sculpturally decorated mantel clock dates to the first French Empire period, and combines excellent antique clockmaking with Fine Classically-inspired sculpture to make a beautiful decorative piece. Both the backplate and the silvered brass dial, painted with Roman numerals, are stamped 'JACQUIER, A PARIS.' It bears the serial number 146 to upper left hand margin, and features steel moon hands set within a generous gilt laurel wreath cast bezel; it is cased in malachite (a later veneer), and richly adorned with gilt-bronze.
The case is surmounted with a gilt-bronze sculpture of the Roman leader Caesar who wears a toga and a laurel crown...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
Allegorical Gilt Bronze Clock Depiction Clio, the Muse of History and Music
By Louis-Charles Boileau
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An Allegorical gilt bronze French Empire clock Depiction Clio, the the Greek Muse of History and Music. Clio is shown here sitting on the clock plinth playing her harp. To the left of the clock dial are placed wreaths, and a plaque with the names of Roman Poets “Pline”, “Homere”, “Tasse”, and “Virgile”. The lower section of the clock is decorated with a large mount and a relief of Apollo.
The finely chased and gilt bronze clock has its original movement. The white enamel dial signed Boileau a Paris, with its silk string suspension system ringing the hours and halfs on a bell. An identical clock sitting on a white and gilt console...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Early 19th Century Empire Trajan's Column Ormolu Candlesticks
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of early 19th century Empire Trajan's column ormolu candlesticks in the manner of P.-P. Thomire (1751-1843):
Pair of large Empire ormolu candlesticks, the stem ressembling th...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
$5,920 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Empire Mantel Clock - La Bibliotheque, Ormolu, France, Paris, circa 1820
By Le Roi
Located in Greven, DE
Mantel Clock - La Bibliotheque - In the study room
Paris
fire-gilt bronze, enamel
Empire around 1820
Dimensions: H x W x D: 38 x 28 x 19 cm
Description:
Scenery mounted on an oval...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Empire Paris porcelain vases - early 19th century
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine antique pair of Paris porcelain vases, early 19th century high-end French production circa 1830 (Empire style, Restauration period).
Fully decorated model : polychromatic hand...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Perfume Holder Handbag Silver Sterling with stripes two-tone Enamel Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Cylindrical handbag perfume holder in 925/1000 sterling silver gold-plated with screw cap and stripes with translucent two-tone fired enamels on guilloché and hand-engraved motifs in...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Large Antique French Empire Style Bronze and Marble Figural Clock
Located in New York, NY
The large and elegant antique French Empire style bronze and marble figural clock features a rectangular stepped base of dark green marble, raised on four gilt bronze feet cast with ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
A Palatial 19th Century French Second Empire Ormolu Mounted Bronze Garniture Set
Located in Tarzana, 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
19th Century Paris Porcelain Basket Vase
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A stunning openwork corbeille, or basket vase, dating from the early 19th century Empire Period, beautifully crafted from Old Paris Porcelain and richly gilded all over its delicatel...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Early 20th century burr yew desktop box with clock
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century burr yew desktop box with clock circa 1920.
Empire revival burr yew cigar box with clock. Strung and inlaid to outer edges, decorated with an ormolu mount to the...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Gardener’s Delight, Antique French Empire Gilt Bronze Beehive Model Encrier
Located in New York, NY
Great fun for a gardening afficionado - a delightful desk accessory wether you're planning a beautiful garden, tending a beehive, ordering new seeds for the season or wish for a an uplifting reminder at your work space of the bounty and beauty of nature...
France, 19th century
This fabulous antique French gilt bronze inkstand has a beehive central well with a hay stack cover, several bees on the surface, flanked by two bronze baskets with covers laden with fruit, flowers and wheat sheaves, at the base of one sits a bird leaning over a large basket with a container for sand in the shape of a large bunch of wheat tied with a rope and a bird perched on top as a cover. The back of this fantasy is composed of a group of garden implements which include a sickle, a spade, a trowel, a scythe, ring pliers and a pitch fork tied with an attractive bow and hung with garlands of flowers, masses of grapes, wheat forming a support for a quill. The base designed as naturalistic wood logs topped with rustic wood...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Empire Style Ormolu Bronze Mantel Clock with Goddess 'Ceres'
Located in Madrid, ES
Following a model by early 19th century Paris sculptor and bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire, and showcasing many of the neoclassical design elements common to the Empire Style popula...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19thc French Empire Gold Bordered Crystal Candle Holder /Candlestick by Baccarat
By Baccarat
Located in Opa Locka, FL
19thc French Antique Cut Crystal/ Gold Bordered Deluxe Candle Holder. This piece is stunning! The detail is amazing.
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal
$448 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of French 19th Century Gilt & Patinated Bronze Sphinxes on Porphyry & Bron
Located in Hudson, NY
Made in France circa 1840s this finely cast pair of sphinxes are represented in the recumbent position most associated with the form. Showing on both figures are two hieroglyphic car...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porphyry, Bronze
Claude Galle - Pair of Directoire ormolu urns circa 1800
By Claude Galle
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine pair of ormolu amphora-shaped urns standing on marble pedestals, late 18th century or Empire period circa 1800. High end production attributed to French bronze maker Claude Ga...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Pair of Early 19th c Empire Gilt Bronze Cassolettes
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Early 19th C Empire Gilt Bronze Cassolettes. With a classic egg and dart pattern on the rim, the pair are adorned with two sets of winged male figures. The pair rest atop rec...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$12,000 / set
Elegant French Empire Candlesticks in Gilt and Patinated Bronze, 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
Pair of 19th Century French Gilt Bronze and Patinated Bronze Candlesticks
An elegant pair of 19th century French Empire-style candlesticks, crafted in gilt and patinated bronze. Each...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Troubadour Mantel Clock
By Le Roy
Located in New Orleans, LA
This resplendent French Empire gilt bronze mantel clock features an extraordinarily detailed scene of a singing troubadour with his lyre along a rocky river bank. Accompanied by a wi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Large Pair Of Covered Vases In Damm Porcelain From Aschaffenburg
Located in BARSAC, FR
Exceptional pair of porcelain vases from the Damm factory in Aschaffenburg, featuring a rich purple monochrome decoration of gallant scenes and landscapes, the handles gilded with fi...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Green Glass Inkwell Bottle
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an Empire style parallelogram shaped emerald green glass heavy inkwell. It’s guilt bronze mounted with a scene of sphinxes statues, bell shaped vases, and maidens moving and ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
$720 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Gold French Empire Pair of Embossed Brass Candlesticks
Located in Savannah, GA
This graceful pair of antique French candlesticks are made of hand crafted brass and are in very good condition. Details include downward tapering on fluted shafts supported by a rou...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Pair Antique Paris Porcelain Golden Mantle Vases Made in France Circa 1830
Located in Katonah, NY
We are pleased to offer this pair of golden Paris Porcelain mantle vases made in the Empire style, circa 1840. The gilding on these vases is dazzling. The delicate band of flowers an...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair Antique French Empire Patinated Bronze & Gold Bronze Candelabra, Circa 1860
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique French Empire patinated bronze & gold bronze candelabra, Circa 1860.
These handsome patinated candelabra would be a fine addition to any sideboard or large server...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Very Large French 19th Century Empire Period Ormolu Bronze Portico Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
French Empire Ormolu Bronze Portico Mantel Clock by Gaston Jolly, Paris, Circa 1810s, with original pendulum.
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire
Located in Warsaw, PL
This nineteenth-century gilded bronze clock exemplifies the grandeur of the Empire style, featuring a rectangular base with four legs, each intricately carved with subtle patterns. A...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
pair of French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu and patinated Bronze statues
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality pair of French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu and patinated Bronze statues. Each wonderfully decorative statue of a dancing maiden is raised on a square p...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Exceptional 19th Century French Bronze Frame w/ Portrait Painting of Josephine
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exquisite miniature portrait is attributed to Empress Josephine, capturing her regal presence with remarkable detail and sophistication. She is dressed in a sumptuous white gown...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of American Empire Bronze Dore Candelabras
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of American Empire bronze dore 5 arm candelabras with square shaped bases and wreath designs. (PRICED AS PAIR)
Category
19th Century American Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$12,000 / set
19th Century Gold French Empire Gilded Bronze Table Clock, Antique Pendulum
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold, antique French table clock, pendulum made of hand crafted fire-gilded bronze, in good condition. The circular enamel dial of the Pa...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Pair of Empire Period French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Multi-Arm Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A striking and finely cast pair of French Empire period multi-arm candelabra, dating to the early 1800's, executed in a sophisticated combination of ormolu and patinated bronze and n...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
French Empire period Inkwell, identical to the one of Elisa Bonaparte
Located in Paris, FR
Empire period gilt bronze and bird's eye maple veneer inkwell.
This model is an exact replica of the inkwell that belonged to Elisa Bonaparte, Princess of Lucca and Piombino, sister...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Grand French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock in the Empire Style
Located in London, GB
Constructed in bronze, patinated and gilt; the rectangular form case supported on engraved oblate spherical feet, the frieze dressed with a row of female masks capping pillars, linke...
Category
19th Century English Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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
19th Century Wooden Carved Painted Display Cabinet Chest Tabernacle
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
European 19th Century Wooden Carved Painted Display Cabinet featuring a mirror glass locking door. This versatile piece could be used to store jewelry or collectables. We also see th...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Mirror, Wood
$360 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair Russian Empire Ormolu Bronze Candlesticks
Located in New York, US
Our pair of ormolu bronze candlesticks feature acanthus leaf nozzles emanating from Roman style military helmets with plumage, with reeded acanthus stems...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$9,000 / set
Pair of French Empire Dore Patinated Bronze Urns on Pedestals
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful pair of quality bronze Dore Urns on Pedestals. The pair are in wonderful vintage condition. one small bend to the lip or edge of one - not greatly noticeable or offense...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Gold, Bronze
Sterling Silver Box Striped Fire Enameled Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Sterling silver Jewel box with Rectangular rounded corners gold plated with translucent fire enamel stripes on guilloche and hand engraved with late Russian Empire style ornament app...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Gold, Enamel, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate
French Pair of Gilt Bronze Candelabra with Putti Empire Period 19th Century
Located in Milano, MI
From a luxury villa at Como Lake a stunning pair of early 19th century Empire four-light gilt bronze figural candelabras, of French origin, dating back to circa 1810, measure: 31.50 ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Empire Mantel Clock in Mercury-Gilt Bronze, France, early 19th century
Located in Madrid, ES
Empire mantel clock in mercury-gilt bronze,
France, early 19th century
Magnificent French Empire-era clock, made in mercury-gilt bronze with a fine allegorical scene: an angel playin...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Pair of Paris Two Handled Vases in Gold and Cobalt Blue.
By Old Paris
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Pair of Paris Two Handled Vases in Gold and Cobalt Blue.
Pair of early 19th century Paris baluster shaped porcelain vases. Elaborately painted on each side with the most intricate p...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Large French Empire Patinated and Gilt Bronze Footed Bowl
Located in Essex, MA
French Empire bowl with snake handles and beaded edge, reeded shallow bowl, square base with censor and wreath mounts, plinth base.
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Other
A.Carrier French bronze 19th Neapolitan musician playing a tambourine.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible A.CARRIER bronze 19th Neapolitan musician playing a tambourine.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Monumental Pair of Italian Empire Gilt Bronze Candleholders or Floor Lamps, 1800
Located in Rome, IT
Impressive pair of Italian Empire finely chiseled ormolu Flambeaux, on triform base, each with 25 scrolled gilt-bronze candle arms. Attributed to Luigi Manfredini the famous bronze a...
Category
Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
$114,741 Sale Price
20% Off
Italian Green Marble Lidded Bonbonnière with Brass Mounts, Early 20th Century
Located in Hamburg, DE
This exquisite lidded bonbonnière was crafted in Italy during the first half of the 20th century and showcases the elegance of fine materials and skilled craftsmanship. Made from a f...
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Alabaster, Brass
European Rectangular Silver Leaf Gilt Wood Art Frame
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage impressive wooden frame in silver gilt, with great patina, that would be suitable for most style artwork including prints, watercolors as well as oil on board paintings. Wond...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Leaf
French Empire Ormulu Bronze Mantel Clock, Lepaute, Thomire, Paris, circa 1815
Located in Greven, DE
Ormulu pendule with depiction of friendship and love
Paris (Lepaute, Thomire)
fire-gilt bronze
Empire around 1815
Dimensions: H x W x D: 44 x 36 x 13 cm
French pendulum movement with eight days duration. Thread suspension and lock disc striking movement with strike on bell on the half and full hour.
White enamel dial with Roman hour numerals and Breguet hands.
Signature: LePaute & Fils / Hrl. du Roi (Pierre-Basile Lepaute (1750 - 1843) with his son Pierre-Michel Lepaute (1785-1849); from 1811 in joint workshop).
Description:
The extremely high quality pendulum shown here takes up a profound theme: Friendship, which combines with love and can thereby outlast time and death. As it is typical for the epoch of classicism, personifications and symbols are taken from the fund of ancient mythology and art and then developed further.
The main figure is a young woman in an antique, girded garment, standing barefoot and with crossed legs next to an altar, on which she is leaning with her left elbow. She gracefully bows her head towards a tempestuously approaching Cupid, grasps his right hand with her left and draws him to her bosom, the seat of the heart. The delicate ambivalence of flying towards and being held culminates in the trustingly intimate look that the two cast at each other.
The young woman personifies friendship, the winged Cupid love. As a sign of their intimate connection, two burning hearts appear on the altar next to the two, framed by the puffed scarf, which are closely bound together by a chain of flowers.
Next to them, on the altar slab, one can see an erected book with the title "Amitie" (French: amitie, friendship). Supporting the book is a pomegranate held by a ring of pomegranate flowers. The bursting seeds spill out of the cracked skin. Since ancient times, the pomegranate and its blossoms have been dedicated to the goddess Persephone, symbolizing the underworld and death, but also life and fertility. The myrtle interwoven in the pomegranate flower wreath of "friendship" also has a far-reaching symbolic power: the plant was dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, stands for virginity, and was and is therefore obligatory in the bridal wreath...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Pair of Antique French Empire Style Gilt Brass Candlesticks, ca. 1890
Located in Barntrup, DE
Pair of antique French Empire-style gilt brass candlesticks from ca. 1890.
A beautiful and compact-sized pair of French Empire-style gilt brass candlesticks with removable bobeches (...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
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.
Still Thinking About These?
All Recently ViewedMore Ways To Browse
Vintage Ceramic Mermaid
Vintage Cologne Bottles
Vintage Copper Decor
Vintage Lion Figurine
Vintage Murano Glass Cat
Vintage Pot Plant Holders
West Germany Yellow
White Horse Porcelain
Wood Ram Sculpture
Wooden Carved Dog
Wooden Cow
1920s Royal Copenhagen
1960 Italy Cats
19th Century Bronze Stag
Acrobats Bronze
Alexandrite Murano
Amsterdam Clock
Antique Bronze Hare