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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
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

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

Pr. of Old Paris Miniature, Gilt Decorated Footed Urns With Garden Scenes, c1800
Located in valatie, NY
Pair of Old Paris Miniature, Gilt Decorated Footed Urns with garden scenes, c1800. Miniature urns of this type are rare and the decoration is exceptional. The urns have bolted construction with scrolling handles and molded face mask terminals. The beautiful hand painted panels are of a seated young man and woman in traditional dress in a neoclassical garden with classical urns, landscaping, architecture and a fountain. Fine condition with mild typical wear to the gilt. Trent Antiques has been a respected name in antiques for...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

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

Grey/Black Marble Bilboquet with Gilded Bees, Empire Classic Style
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This elegant bilboquet in grey and black marble is inspired by classical designs from the previous century. It is finely adorned with small gilded bee motifs, popular during the Empi...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Marble

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

Large Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Urn, Amphora Table Lamp
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
Large, heavy Empire style gilt and patinated bronze Amphora table lamp decorated with fine ornaments and garlands on a square base supported by four feet covered with leaves. Five-li...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

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

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

Meissen Snake Handled Vases 19th Century Pair
Located in Hudson, NY
A large and decorative pair of Meissen porcelain vases, of ancient Roman krater form, with handles shaped as entwined serpents. Highly ornamental, these vases represent an interesti...
Category

Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Gold Leaf

Black and Gold Carved Vase Statues - Set of 2
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand carved painted black and gold vase statues, the vase and base can be separated. Sits very tall at 7 feet but is very lightweight being made from wood. Likely originated in Franc...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Wood

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...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Tin

Pair Antique French 'Sevres' Red Porcelain Gilt Bronze Pot Pourri Urns 1804-1809
Located in Portland, OR
Pair of Antique French 'Sevres' porcelain lidded pot pourri and gilded bronze lidded urns, 1804-1809. The urns having a rich red ground with gilded panels, the domed lids with gilded bronze eagle...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

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

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 Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

French 19th Century Empire St. Three Piece Porcelain from Limoges, France
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very handsome 19th century French Empire st. three piece Limoges porcelain set, from Limoges, France. The three pieces, one bowl and two vases, are hand painted with wonderful scen...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

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

Pair 19th Century French Empire Period Gilt Bronze and Marble Vases
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique French Empire period gilt bronze campana form vases, each 13 3/4 by 6 7/8 inches, circa 1810, with flared neck with gadrooned bronze rim, decorated with Bacchic putti...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair French Empire Bronze & Ormolu Medici Putti Vases on Grey Marble Plinths
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of French Empire Period Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Medici form Vases on Grey Marble Plinths, with neoclassical Putti Motifs. The pair of vases are constructed in the Medici f...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Attractive Vintage Vase Kaiser, Pavillon, Germany Porcelain Large Vase
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

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

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...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

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

Tripod Cachepot Brass Bowl
Tripod Cachepot Brass Bowl
$850 Sale Price
29% Off
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

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

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

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

Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Urns
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire (19th Cent) gilt bronze urns with triangular shaped bases, finial tops and sphinx ram heads. (PRICED AS Pair)
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Bronze

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

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

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

Gilt and Opaline Glass Urn
Gilt and Opaline Glass Urn
$4,720 Sale Price
20% Off
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 crafted, offering a clear, radiant ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

19th Century French Paris Porcelain Campaign Urns
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century French Paris Porcelain Campaign Urns. Beautiful pair purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions. Please see photo with d...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

Large B&G, Bing & Grondahl Vase in Pink with Handles in Gold, Early Stamp
Located in København, Copenhagen
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

Paris Porcelain Cameo Vase Attributed to Nast
By Nast
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A classical French Empire Paris porcelain twin handled vase featuring a signed cameo of Caracalla on the front and gilded military attributes on the back. The very well painted profi...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

Fine Pair of French Gilt Bronze and Glass Ormolu-Mounted Neoclassical Urns
Located in Roslyn, NY
Pair of lovely French empire style bronze and glass urns. Please note, they are blown glass and one is slightly higher than the other. The base measures 3" x 3".
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Bronze

Cut Crystal Amethyst glass Vase w Gilt bronze Griffins and Lion paws Empire
Located in Sweden, SE
Such items were always made in small batches and only by hand. Mercury gilt bronze (ormolu, gilded) rim, hand chasing, lion's paws and heads of eagles-griffins, repeat the motifs of ...
Category

Late 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Crystal, Gold Plate, Bronze

Pair of French 19th C.Empire Period Old Paris Porcelain Swan Handle Vases
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of French 19th century Empire Period Old Paris porcelain swan handle vases. Each is beautifully hand-painted with a green colored ground and further adorned with 24K gold-painted accents around the neck, handles, and bases. The vases are of a slender amphora form with git swan handles and two-tone matte and shiny 24K gold decoration throughout. Each vases body is hand-painted with landscape decoration which depicts a beautiful outdoor gazebo...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

A Pair of French Empire Style Bronze and Sienna Marble Tazze, 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Pair of French Empire Style Bronze and Sienna Marble Tazze, 19th Century Provenance: Purchased from a private Melbourne collection, 2009. Description: Each with a shallow ovoid...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Marble, Bronze

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

19th Century Russian Dore Bronze Mounted Amethyst Crystal Scalloped Rim Tazza
Located in New York, NY
A fantastic quality 19th century Russian Empire period Dore bronze mounted amethyst crystal scalloped rim tazza/cache-pot. The crystal is of a beautiful rich amethyst purple color. The crystal is beautifully hand-cut and shaped with a scalloped rim. The crystal is mounted on an incredible dore bronze base with the finest quality. The base is all hand-burnished and matted with an acanthus leaf design and is resting on a square plinth with an acanthus leaf border. The Crystal is easily attributable to the Imperial Russian Glass...
Category

19th Century Russian Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Pair French Gilt Bronze and Champlevé Enamel Trumpet Vases, Late 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
This pair of French trumpet-form vases dates from the late 19th century and blends two luxurious materials: engraved clear glass and richly decorated gilt bronze mounts with champlev...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Crystal, Metal

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

Rare Empire French Fire Gilded Center Piece Tazza Warrior Horses Harp
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 ...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Marble, Bronze

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

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

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

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

Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Urns Wired as Lamps
Located in Long Island City, NY
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Urns, Wired as Lamps. Featuring ornate swag garlands and rams heads, with a frieze of dancing putti.
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Bronze

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

Pair Of Empire Vases In Polychrome Porcelain
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair Of Empire Vases In Polychrome Porcelain
Category

Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of vases Barbediene foundry France Napoleon III
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Pair of Barbadians of Napoleon III Pair of vases with enamel Barbediene French foundry Very good condition (some natural wear) Gilt bronze and enamel Attributed to Louis Constant Sevin...
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

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...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Bronze

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

Pair of 19th Century French Parisian Vases
Located in Dublin, IE
A fine pair of antique porcelain vases, dating from the early 19th century in the Empire period, set on a square base and spreading socl...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

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 Vases and Vessels

Materials

Gesso, Paint, Wood

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...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Bronze, Ormolu

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 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

Pair of Tazzas, France Empire Period
Pair of Tazzas, France Empire Period
$3,600 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Circa 1820 Pair of French Empire Bronze Handled Urns
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Circa 1820 Pair of French Empire Bronze Handled Urns Beautiful pair purchased in France, age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels

Materials

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.

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