Empire Vases and Vessels
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
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; th...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Tin
Antique French Glass & Marble Cornucopia Vase
Located in London, GB
A fantastic and rare antique French Empire Style glass cornucopia vase mounted on a marble and gilt bronze base. This was made in France, we believe it...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Fine Antique French Empire Gilt Bronze and Patina Bronze Urns
Located in New York, NY
Pair of fine antique French gilt bronze, patina bronze, black marble neoclassical champagne form urns of superb quality embellished on square hand carved black marble bases and furth...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
Two Empire Period Gilt Porcelain Vases by Dihl Et Guérhard
By Dihl and Guerhard
Located in London, GB
These beautiful painted and gilt vases were crafted in circa 1810 by the important Parisian porcelain factory, Dihl et Guérhard (French, 1781-circa 18...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Giustiniani Manufacture Mid-19th Century Earthenware Crater Vase, Naples
Located in Puglia, Puglia
The Giustiniani factory was founded in 1775 in Naples by Nicola Giustiniani known as Bel Pensiero, founder of a famous family of Neapolitan ceramists.
Like many Neapolitan factories,...
Category
1850s Italian Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Terracotta
Pair of crystal and bronze vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of french empire style late 19 century crystal cut ormolu bronze original gilting
You have eagle that embeds the base at the 4 corner, on the side of the vase you have magnifi...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Coppia di Vasi Impero Italiani Intagliati Dorati e Laccati in Color Avorio 1800
Located in Milano, MI
Coppia di Vasi Impero, due vasi con manici stilizzati, vasi portapalme in legno intagliato a motivi fitomorfi di gusto Impero e decorati con una finitura in lacca avorio e oro fino.
...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Wood
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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Richard Klemm Dresden Miniature Porcelain Portrait Cabinet Vase of Antoinette
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an excellent high quality porcelain vase. It is depicting a portrait of Antoinette in the center framed with gilt wreath of olives leaves against ...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Handbag perfume holder enamel on guilloché and fine hand engravings Salimbeni.
Located in Firenze, FI
4824-5542 - Rectangular handbag perfume holder with rounded sides in 925/1000 sterling silver gold-plated with screw cap and pin. With translucent 2-color striped fire enamel on gui...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Pair of Empire Bronze Ewers in The Manner of Claude Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine pair of empire gilt and patinated bronze ewers in the manner of Claude Galle.
French, Circa 1820.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Ceramic Vases from the First Empire period 1810
Located in Milano, MI
Pair of ceramic vases from the First Empire period - 1810, French manufacture
Ø 10 cm h 18.5 cm
The two vases are in really good conditions, hand painted and sculpted in the detai...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Empire Style Vases in Blue and Gold Porcelain
Located in Prato, IT
Germany, mid-20th century
Empire style
Blue and gold painted porcelain and white background band with floral decoration
Dimensions cm W28 x D20...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Dore' Bronze Mounted French Empire Verdi Marble Cassolettes with Serpents
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous pair of French Empire style cassolettes or urns that are perfect for a mantle or a buffet or sideboard. They are unique in that they have snakes that are naturalis...
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze
19th - 20th Century Gold-Red French Empire Pair of Porcelain, Gilded Cassoulette
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique French pair of small Cassoulettes made hand crafted porcelain, in good condition. Each of the Parisian Athenians are composed with four gilded bronze maidens, particulariz...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Early 19th Century empire toleware decorative urn
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century empire toleware decorative urn circa 1830.
Rare decorative urn that would have been used for incense or pot pourri. Original black ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Metal
Monumental 19th Century French Empire Sèvres Style Porcelain Urns, a Pair
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent pair of French antique gilt bronze mounted pink Sèvres porcelain style vasiform urns.
Born in France in the 19th century, hand-crafted in rich grandiose Empire taste, palatial awe-inspiring large scale, featuring ornate finely chiseled and sculpted dore' bronze hinged handle mounts, partial gilt pink ground baluster form amphora - pithos form body surmounted by patinated brass final topped cover affixed to the flaired narrowing neck rising from voluptuous bulbous tapering body, embellished with elaborate gilded gold enameled scroll flourish filigree decoration framing central oval medallion showcasing hand painted polychrome classical landscape and pastoral figural scenes, over doré bronze mount fillet adorned porcelain foot ending in substantial sturdy octagonal cast gilt metal plinth base.
A superb example, high quality craftsmanship, construction, and materials, exceptionally executed design, this pair makes for a wonderful decorative object and most impressive statement piece!
Exceedingly rare, boldly beautiful and absolutely stunning, this majestic pair is sure to become the focal point in any room. Placed in beside a fireplace, flanking an door, entry or hall, atop a massive sideboard...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Brass, Bronze
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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Brass
Pair of French Empire Style Porcelain Urns
Located in Montreal, QC
Now fitted as lamps, these two handled Paris urns are painted with floral bouquets on one side and a courtship scene on the other. The gilding is rubbed but the painting is well exec...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Important Pair of Darte Frere early 19th C. French Empire Porcelain Vases
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Paris Darte Freres Porcelain Portrait Vases with Gold-Ground Acanthus Scroll Form Handles and etched gold back C. 1810
This set consists of two Baluster form vases with hand painted with portraits of peasant women protecting children from a lightning storm...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Gold
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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Tin
Impt Pair of French Empire Ormolu Covered vases/Potpourris, Att. Thomier A Paris
Located in New York, NY
An Incredible and Rare Pair of 19th Century French Ormolu Covered Potpourris, Attributed to Thomier A Paris. This pair dates to 1810, which is the illustrious French Empire period. These remarkable urns serve as prime examples of the impeccable artistry and superior craftsmanship that characterized the first empire era. Notably, the urns feature figural cherub handles positioned atop rams' heads, engaging in musical endeavors, which adds an alluring touch of sophistication to their design.
The captivating allure of these urns is further enhanced by their meticulously hand-chiseled gilded bronze composition, adorned with a splendid two-tone finish. Standing at an impressive height of 24 inches, these urns exemplify an unwavering dedication to detail. Each urn boasts a main body adorned with elegantly crafted relief dancers...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Ormolu
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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Metal
Pair Marble Cassolette Urns French Empire Decorative Vases 1890
Located in Potters Bar, GB
These are based in the US where we will ship from
You are viewing a gorgeous pair of French marble cassolettes urns
This highly decorative pair of antiques are circa 1890
Ormolu fixt...
Category
1890s Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble
Pair French Empire Bronze and Marble Campana Form Urns
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome pair of Classical style urns are finely cast featuring acanthus leaves, mask form handles, and laurel leaf wreaths on Sienna marble plinth form bases.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Attractive Vintage Vase Kaiser, Pavillon, Germany Porcelain Large Vase
By Kaiser
Located in Bastogne, BE
Attractive vintage vase with handles by Kaiser, Pavillon, Germany.
Baluster-shaped vase made of white high quality porcelain with gilding ...
Category
1980s German Vintage Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Wonderful French Empire Neoclassical Cut Crystal Bronze Ormolu Urn Centerpiece
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire / neoclassical cut crystal and bronze ormolu mounted urn with lady figure handles centerpiece.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of gilt bronze urns raised on a marble plinth with ormolu mounts.
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of gilt bronze urns raised on a marble plinth with ormolu mounts (CW5595). The quality is superb, chasing is 10 on 10. France, circa 1870. Dimensions: Height 15 1/2", the base i...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
1800 Empire Nast Porcelain Griffins Masks Roses Flowers Garlands France Vase
Located in Munich, DE
This very high quality French vase in caramel hue with guilding is most probably made by the Nast Porcelain Manufacture ( 1754 - 1817 ). It's handles ar...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
1900s Pair of Empire Style Petite Gilt Vases
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very pretty pair of quadrangular-shaped crystal vases, decorated with exceptionally detailed gilt-brass ormolu mounts in the Louis XVI style. These vases date from around 1900 and ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Brass
Gilt and Opaline Glass Urn
Located in Dallas, TX
An Empire style gilt and opaline glass urn.
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Opaline Glass
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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Siena Marble, 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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Bronze Ewers, Late 19th or Early 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
An important pair of Empire style bronze ewers, late 19th or early 20th century.
A pair of Empire style patinated bronze ewers with marble base, late 19th or early 20th century.
H: ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze
1900s Empire Style Urn Vase Pot, Rudolf Wächter, Germany
Located in Skien, NO
Elegant Vintage Empire-Style Urn Vase by Rudolf Wächter, 1960s
A stunning Empire-style urn vase or jardinière pot in glazed porcelain, adorned with exquisite rose decorations encirc...
Category
20th Century German Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
French Empire Style Porcelain Urn with Nautical Scene
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Cent) white and gilt trimmed urn with scene of boats by coast and 2 handles with lion heads.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Paint, Porcelain
Bisque Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Vase 19th century 4 Seasons Putti Allegory
Located in Sweden, SE
Empire Vase (Tazza) produced in bisque porcelain by top level manufacture, possibly in Germany or France, in the second half of the 19th century and decorated with finely crafted fin...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Gold, Bronze
Classic Neo Bronze Samovar, Italy, 19th Century
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Classic Neo Bronze Samovar, Italy, 19th Century
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Empire German Ormolu Mntd Mahogany Turtle Feet Jardiniere, Klinkerfuss & Münch
By Johannes Klinkerfuss
Located in New York, NY
A Fantastic and Very Important Empire Period German Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Jardiniere Mounted on Dore Bronze Turtle Feet, In The Manner Of Johannes Klinkerfuss And Casimir Münch. This is truly a masterpiece jardiniere and was crafted by two of the greatest cabinet-makers of all time Johannes Klinkerfuss and Casimir Münch. This piece has an octagonal form with foliate and swan-decorated dore bronze hand-chiseled and two-tone matted gold gallery above a molded top. The gorgeous mahogany wood glistens beside the dore bronze mounts. Each inch of this piece is crafted of the finest quality. The upper mahogany jardiniere is mounted on eight gorgeously life-like top-quality dore bronze turtles, each hand-chiseled, chased and matted with two-tone gold.
Stuttgart, Circa: 1815.
Provenance: The Tony Ingrao...
Category
1810s German Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Cup in Egyptian Porphyry and Bronze with Cupids
Located in Paris, FR
Imposing cup in red, Egyptian porphyry featuring three cupids on a circular base. The patinated bronze cupids serve as the supporting stem for the wide-rimmed cup. Two of the cupids ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porphyry, Bronze
Marble Vase, France, Second Half of the 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Large lidded vase with a gadrooned wall with acanthus leaves and pine node. Marbre griotte and gilt bronze.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze
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...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Large B&G, Bing & Grondahl Vase in Pink with Handles in Gold, Early Stamp
Located in Copenhagen, DK
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 Vases and Vessels
Pair Antique French Empire Cararra Marble and Bronze Cassolettes ~ Mantel Urns
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair Antique French Empire Cararra Marble and Bronze Cassolettes ~ Mantel Urns will make a stunning visual accent for any room! Hand-crafted from prized Carrara marble and gold-plat...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Antique French Empire Straight Crystal Vases with Ormolu Detail
Located in Toronto, ON
This gorgeous pair of Empire period French antique straight crystal vases epitomizes classic elegance and timeless beauty. The crystal is expertly cra...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Pair of Early 19th Century Neoclassical ‘Old Paris’ Porcelain Vases
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine pair of early French Empire porcelain vases, (unsigned but attributable to either the Nast or Dagoty factories in Paris). Each vase has a large gilded satyr’s heads to the sid...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of French Empire Period Matte and Burnished Gilt Porcelain Vases
Located in Firenze, IT
Pair of French 19th century Empire porcelain two handles baluster-shaped vases. The body of each vase is in two-toned gold exceptionally tooled with matte and glazed gold. The vases ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Crystal & Gilt Bronze Vase
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very high quality cut crystal and ormolu gilt bronze, France, by Baccarat, 19th century. Scroll handles featuring classic heads at the bottom.
Dimensions: Height: 12 1/4" Diameter...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
20th Century French Empire Blue Urn Vase with Gold Decoration, Jaget & Pinon
Located in Sofia, BG
Amphora-shaped vase and in the Empire style, circa 1920, France made of earthenware with a marine-blue background with gold decorations in the spirit of Sèvres. Round neck surrounded...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels
Large Neoclassical Cache-pot Vase in Green Marble Rome 19th Century Grand Tour
Located in Pistoia, IT
Imposing serpentine marble vase, also called "Prato green." Rome, neoclassical period, first half of the 19th century.
In the Neoclassical period Roman workshops produced fine marble...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble
Large Blue and Gold Porcelain Vase
Located in Prato, IT
Germany, mid-20th century
In blue and gold painted porcelain
Dimensions cm W38 x D25 x H52 approx.
Category
Mid-20th Century German Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Cachepots in porcelain circa 1870 signed H.B &Cie - Choisy le Roi pair.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible pair of planters in porcelain circa 1870 signed in the base H.B & Cie - Choisy le Roi representing "Chimeras winged"
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
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.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
A Pair of French Empire Style Gilt bronze Urns on Marble Stands, 20th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A pair of French Empire gilt bronze urns on marble stands, 20th Century
Height: 32 cm Width: 22 cm Depth: 18.5 cm
Provenance: Private New South Wales Collection.
Category
20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire vases and vessels for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire vases and vessels for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage vases and vessels 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 vases and vessels made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original vases and vessels, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Porcelaine de Paris, Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, and Old Paris. 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 vases and vessels differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $416 and tops out at $126,260 while the average work can sell for $4,573.