Empire Glass
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.
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Glass
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Cut Glass
1920s French Vintage Empire Glass
Crystal
1950s French Vintage Empire Glass
Glass
1930s French Vintage Empire Glass
Blown Glass
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Glass
Brass
19th Century French Antique Empire Glass
Glass
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Glass
Brass, Iron
Mid-20th Century French Empire Glass
Brass
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Glass
Bronze
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Glass
Crystal, Bronze
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Glass
Glass
2010s Brazilian Empire Glass
Glass
1930s French Vintage Empire Glass
Glass, Art Glass
Mid-20th Century Czech Empire Glass
Glass
1960s French Vintage Empire Glass
Crystal
1930s French Vintage Empire Glass
Glass
Early 20th Century French Empire Glass
Crystal, Gold
1990s Japanese Empire Glass
Glass
19th Century French Antique Empire Glass
Art Glass
20th Century French Empire Glass
Crystal
1930s French Vintage Empire Glass
Art Glass
Late 20th Century British Empire Glass
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Glass
Glass
Late 20th Century French Empire Glass
Crystal
Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Glass
Bronze
1950s German Vintage Empire Glass
Crystal
Late 20th Century French Empire Glass
Crystal
Late 20th Century French Empire Glass
Crystal
Late 20th Century French Empire Glass
Crystal
1920s French Vintage Empire Glass
Brass
20th Century French Empire Glass
Glass, Cut Glass
20th Century French Empire Glass
Crystal
Early 20th Century Empire Glass
Glass
1950s French Vintage Empire Glass
Crystal, Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Glass
Crystal, Bronze