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.
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
Empire Style Ormolu & Cut Crystal Compote/ Tazza
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Empire Style Ormolu and Cut Crystal Compote/Tazza Made in Austria, circa 1920s An elegant Empire Style Ormolu and Cut Crystal Compote/Tazza made in Austria during the 1920s, present...
Crystal, Ormolu
$2,850 / set
A Pair of French Tole Urns
Located in Greenwich, CT
A pair of French Empire period toleware vases with black and gilt decoration the body with anthemion and patera decoration, standing on acanthus leave...
Tin
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Bronze Garnitures
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of bronze and dore bronze compote/tazas with finely chased details. Can be used to hold a topiary or a thick candle. Base is 7" Top is 11.5".
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...
Bronze
Pair of French Neoclassical Style Lapis and Gilt Bronze Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of French neoclassical style lapis and gilt bronze vases French, late 19th century Measures: Height 46cm, diameter 19cm Each vase in this pair, crafted from gilt bronze mou...
Lapis Lazuli, Ormolu, Bronze
Pair of Empire-Style Neoclassical Gilt and Patinated Bronze Stands
Located in London, GB
A pair of Empire-style Neoclassical gilt and patinated bronze stands French, 20th Century 42cm high x 31cm wide x 31 cm depth Made from patinated bronze and gilt bronze in the French Empire style, with Neoclassical influences, these excellent stands were made in France in the 20th century. Placed upon four small gilt feet...
Bronze, Ormolu
$38,850 / set
Pair of Napoleon III Royal Rouge Griotte Athenienne
Located in New Orleans, LA
Royal Rouge Griotte Marble Athenienne After Pierre Gouthière Late 19th Century This monumental pair of Napoleon III gilt bronze-mounted Royal Rouge Griotte athenienne perfume vases ...
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Classic Neo Bronze Samovar, Italy, 19th Century
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Classic Neo Bronze Samovar, Italy, 19th Century
Bronze
$24,000Sale Price / set|52% Off
Ferdinand Barbedienne Set of Gilt Bronze-Mounted Champleve Onyx Garniture
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Ferdinand Barbedienne set of gilt bronze-mounted champleve onyx garniture. It consist of two urns and one large oval vase/jardiniere. The vase...
Onyx, Bronze
Pair of French Neoclassical Style Swan Handle Porcelain Vases
Located in London, GB
This pair of comprises pendant krater-shaped porcelain vases. Each vase’s wide-lipped ovoid body is supported by a flared stem, which stands on a square-sided podium. Most strikingly...
Porcelain
Pair of Patinated Bronze Ewers on Sienna Marble Bases — Early 19th Century
Located in NICE, FR
Elegant pair of large ewers in dark-patinated bronze, mounted on yellow Sienna marble bases adorned with a finely detailed patinated bronze frieze. The proportions and material contr...
Siena Marble, Bronze
Pair of Fine Antique French Empire Gilt Bronze and Patina Bronze Urns
Located in New York, NY
The superb pair of urns is formed in the classical Empire style, dating to the Empire period, and constructed in gilt bronze and patinated bronze. Each featuring a shallow, rounded b...
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
French Three Piece Jardinière Garniture of the Empire Period
By Jacques-Louis David
Located in London, GB
A Three Piece Jardinière Garniture of the Empire Period Constructed in tole, being hand painted and decorated in the French Empire Neo-Classical manner of Jacques-Louis David; the...
Tin
Pair of Tazzas, France Empire Period
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Tazzas from the late part of the Empire period. Made in Red French Marble with a bowl in dark patinated bronze. Base decorated with gilt bronze.
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Rare Empire French Fire Gilded Center Piece Tazza Warrior Horses Harp
By Pierre-Philippe Thomire, Thomire & Cie.
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
More than 200 years old showpiece for on the table. Made from glass, fire-gilt bronze and green veined marble. Beautiful horses with a warrior and mythological figures with harp and ...
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Bronze NIKE Figural Candelabra
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This stately patinated and fire gilt bronze candelabrum is of the finest quality, and retains its original finish. The figure of Nike (Winged Victory) standing on a gilt globe holds...
Bronze
$1,200 / set
H 14.25 in W 6 in D 6 in
Pair of Early to Mid-19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine pair of bronze Empire style candlesticks. In excellent original condition. France, early 19th century.
Bronze
$2,100 / set
H 23.5 in Dm 10.5 in
Pair of 19th Century French Neoclassical Painted and Gilt Porcelain Vases
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a console or a buffet with this elegant pair of antique urns from Paris. Crafted circa 1890 and signed on the bottom, each tall neoclassical vase features a long neck with side handles. The "Porcelaine de Paris" urns are gilt hand painted with a central medallion of classical decor...
Porcelain
$47,500 / set
H 22 in W 12 in D 12 in
Fantastic 19th Century Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Marble 3 Piece Garniture
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Fantastic Late 19th Century Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Fleur De Pecher Marble 3 Piece Garniture The tazza modeled with three classical muses supporting ionic capitals and a fla...
Marble, Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Urns
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of French Empire style (19th Cent) gilt bronze urns with finial top and handles with claw feet on square base (matching clock: Inv. #032441) (PRICED AS PAIR)
Bronze
Pair of Snake Handled Meissen Urns
By Ernst August Leuteritz, Meissen Porcelain
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 ...
Porcelain
French Pair of Petite 19th Century Empire Period Urns
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A pair of French Empire period Old Paris Porcelain vases, circa 1810, with painted landscapes and figural scenes on each side. The Classical amphora profile features a gold-banded mo...
Gold
Pair of Chinoiserie Decorated Tole Urns, Late 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of large late 19th century chinoiserie decorated black and gold tole urns with lids.
Metal
$5,970 / item
H 25.99 in Dm 13.78 in
Neoclassical Style Marble and Gilt Bronze Vase by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This neoclassical style marble and gilt bronze vase by Gherardo Degli Albizzi is made by monolithc pieces of marble and high quality chiseled bronzes. The highlights of this vase are...
Marble, Bronze
$2,100Sale Price|40% Off
H 15 in W 7 in D 5 in
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
Bronze, Ormolu
A fine 19th century French Empire gilt bronze plateau
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine 19th century French Empire gilt bronze mirrored plateau
Bronze
Sold
H 9.65 in W 5.91 in D 3.94 in
Empire style cassolettes in sea green marble and gilt bronze, 19th century
Located in NICE, FR
Empire style sea green marble and gilt bronze cassolettes, 19th century Pair of polished sea green marble and gilt bronze cassolettes resting on square bases decorated with laurel l...
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Bronze Tazzas on Sienese Marble Pedestals, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of amphorae of fire-gilt bronze with oak leaf decoration on the walls. The tazze stand on square pedestals of yellow Siena marble.
Siena Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 14.25 in W 6.75 in D 6 in
Exceptional Pair of Baccarat Quality Crystal Dore' Bronze Cassolettes with Swans
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Crystal, Bronze
Malachite Spice Bowl, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Small malachite spice bowl with fire-gilded bronze atlases on round base.
Malachite, Bronze
19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Plateau
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautiful 19th century French Empire pierced gallery gilt bronze plateau.
Bronze
Pair of Gilt Paris Porcelain Vases with Painted Urban Scenes
Located in London, GB
This pair of Paris porcelain vases feature finely painted urban scenes: a depiction of Amsterdam on one vase and a view of Brussels on the other. The Amsterdam vase portrays a view of Dam Square...
Porcelain, Wood
19th C Empire Tole Painted Green & Bronze Jardinières Urns Cachepot, Pair
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A beautiful pair of tole jardinière Empire, 19th century Measures: Height 6” These pieces are an elegant touch to any room in the house. Very decorative in an office, entryway, a liv...
Tôle
Set of Grand Tour Empire Bronze Tazza and a Coffer on Sienna Marble Bases
Located in Nashville, TN
The tazza with intertwined dolphins supporting an open dish. The coffer in sacophogi form with gilt bronze accents. As a set of three. As garnitures for a chest or mantel or as desk...
Bronze
Sold
H 24 in W 15 in D 6 in
Important 19th Century French Marble and Bronze Mantel Clock with Cassolettes
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate your mantel with this large antique Empire clock garniture set; crafted in Paris, circa 1860, the time keeper sits on a grey and beige ma...
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Pair of Empire Gilt Bronze and Cut Glass Empire Tazzas, Surtout De Table
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of Empire gilt bronze and cut-glass Empire tazzas, surtout de table.
Bronze
Pair of Empire Gilt Bronze Tazza, Early 19th Century
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pair of gilt bronze tazza, early 19th century.
Bronze