Empire Porcelain
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
Pair of Meissen Snake Handled Vases 19th Century
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 Porcelain
Materials
Gold Leaf
Pair Of Viennese Imperial Porcelain Glass Coolers, Cobalt And Gold, Dating 1811
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare pair of elegant oval porcelain vessels on offset, fluted feet, with bulging, raised walls, fluted, indented straight opening rim with ten crenellated-like cut-out small segments...
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century Meissen Egg Floral Gilt Trinket Box, France, 1875, Cobalt
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Egg-shaped box, Meissen (Germany) dated to 1875 based on its mark, with gilding, cobalt blue accents and tremendous floral design.
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
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 Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
White and Gilt Neoclassical Arrow Cup & Saucer
Located in New York, NY
White and gilt neoclassical arrow cup & saucer. Empire period designed white and gilt porcelain with cupid's arrows and floral sprays. Under-glaze ...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
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 Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Porcelain Urns, Empire circa 1800
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of porcelain urns from the empire period, probably Russian. Painted with flowers and gilded.
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Paris Porcelain Gilt Chinoiserie Cup
Located in New York, NY
Paris porcelain gilt chinoiserie cup. French footed coffee can with richly painted and gilt chinoiserie figures within gilt arcade on brown ground w...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
French Gilt and Painted Porcelain Pitcher
By Darte Frères
Located in New York, NY
French gilt and painted porcelain pitcher. Fine Empire period gilt painted milk pitcher with rich mocha brown ground and neoclassical gilt garlands and floral swags. Markings for Darte Frères...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Neoclassical Style Marble and Porcelain Pedestal
Located in London, GB
Neoclassical style marble and porcelain pedestal
French, late 19th century
Measures: Height 108cm, width 30cm, depth 30cm
This Fine column-form pedestal is crafted in the Neocla...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Marble, 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 Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Darte Freres (?) - Cup and saucer, chinoiserie decoration, early 19th century
By Darte Frères
Located in DELFT, NL
Marvelous cup and saucer, elaborately decorated with geometrical forms in red, blue and gold. Beautifully worked gilding, little details of Chinese figures and Chinese characters.
...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
French 19th Century Paris Porcelain Wash Jug and Bowls
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An elegant, three-piece set of old Paris porcelain in the style of Lebon-Halley with a pitcher, bowl, and deep plate in creamy porcelain accented by luxurious gold trim. The undersid...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Gold
Set of Six Porcelain Bird Teacup Trios
Located in New York, NY
Set of six porcelain bird teacup trios. Strikingly modern looking antique set of six BFB Worcester trios of six teacups and six coffee cups with six sh...
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Antique French Porcelain Plate with Children Playing by Dagoty 18th Century
By Dagoty
Located in Katonah, NY
We are pleased to offer this extraordinary Dagoty porcelain plate showing children playing.
The happy children are joined by their dog in a scene painted in grisaille.
On this plate, the border of deep cobalt blue is lavishly gilded in a dramatic geometric pattern.
As we see here, burnished gilt was another hallmark of Dagoty porcelains.
The formal border juxtaposes the informal scene of the children at play with the geometric design.
This type of contrast is typically French, and only the French made porcelains with this particular type of sophisticated contrast.
Romanticism had a strong influence on the Dagoty porcelains of the last decade of the 18th century. Anecdotal scenes, indoor scenes, and scenes showing children's games replaced neoclassical subjects.
The new themes were more human and had a much less rigid atmosphere.
Condition: Excellent
Diameter: 8 inches
Price: $420
Background:
The Paris retail shop was on the Boulevard Montmartre.
The Dagoty factory made hard paste porcelain. The factory was in the Rue de Chevreuse, Paris, leased for nine years in 1800 by brothers Pierre-Louis (1771-1840) and Etienne-Jean-Baptiste Dagoty (1772-1800). Pierre-Louis became sole owner in 1804, and in 1807 the lease was renewed for a further nine years. The factory was under the protection of the Empress Josephine and supplied porcelain for Versailles. In 1816, Dagoty went into partnership with Edouard Honoré...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Porcelaine de Paris - Ajour Centerpiece Coupe
Located in DELFT, NL
Gilt Porcelaine de Paris Openwork Coupe Centerpiece to be placed centrally on the table, for fruit or flowers. Empire Style. French, 19th century center basket, rond form with reticu...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Royal Copenhagen Figure H.C. Andersen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Royal Copenhagen figure H.C. Andersen
Measures: 19 cm.
In perfect condition.
Designed by Hanne Warming.
2. Factory quality.
Category
1970s Danish Vintage Empire Porcelain
Viennese Imperial Porcelain Collecting Cup, Cobalt and Gold, Sorgenthal, 1799
Located in Vienna, AT
Cylindrical white cup, the upper part wrapped in a cobalt blue band as a background for delicate gold painting: oval medallions and diamond surrounded by dense feather and berry tend...
Category
1790s Austrian Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
English Crown Derby Porcelain Potpourri Vessel, early 19th century
Located in New York, NY
An English porcelain potpourri vessel with gold gilt god-like heads and lion paw feet, Empire design, by Crown Derby, circa early-19th century, England. Red makers' mark date range c...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Porcelaine de Paris - Empire Centerpiece Reticulated Coupe
Located in DELFT, NL
Gilt Porcelaine de Paris Openwork Coupe Centerpiece to be placed centrally on the table, for fruit or flowers. Empire Style. French, 19th century center basket, rond form with reticu...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Limoges, France, Two Candlesticks and a Dish in Hand Painted Porcelain
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Limoges, France. Two candlesticks and a dish in hand painted porcelain with a green edge and gold decoration, 1930s-1940s.
The candlestick measures: 16 x 8 cm.
The dish measures: 2...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Porcelaine de Paris -Gilt Ajour Centerpiece Coupe
Located in DELFT, NL
Gilt Porcelaine de Paris Openwork Coupe Centerpiece to be placed centrally on the table, for fruit or flowers.
Empire period, French, 19th century center basket with reticulated rim,...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Bing & Grøndahl Empire Sauce Bowl in Hand-Painted Porcelain
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Bing & Grøndahl empire sauce bowl in hand-painted porcelain modelled with seahorses.
Early 20th century.
Measures: 23.5 x 15 x 11 cm.
In excellent condition.
Stamped.
2nd facto...
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Meissen Empire Coffee Pot with Gold Decoration, 19th Century
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Antique Meissen Empire coffee pot with gold decoration. 19th century.
Measures: 27 x 20 cm.
1st factory quality.
In good condition with wear in the ...
Category
19th Century German Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Large Antique B&G Bing & Grondahl Vase in Purple with Handles in Gold
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Large antique B&G Bing & Grondahl vase in purple with handles in gold with faun-face.
Early stamp. Dated 1888, with monogram.
1st. factory quality. In perfect condition...
Category
1880s Danish Antique Empire Porcelain
Paris Porcelain Teacup and Saucer Depicting Empress Josephine
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An exquisite teacup and saucer in Sèvres style Old Paris Porcelain, depicting the Empress Josephine in ornate dress and wearing her crown. Dating from the early 19th century First Em...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Porcelain Tea Service 19th Century, Empire Style
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Porcelain tea service with Napoleon decorations, Sèvres Imperial Manufactory, 19th century, Empire style.
A Sèvres porcelain tea service with Napoleo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Empire Vases Sevres, 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of vases
French, early 20th century in Sèvres porcelain, cobalt blue and gilt decoration with polychrome reserves "River Landscape" and "Flower Motifs". Marked on base and sign...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
A Fine Paris Porcelain Empire Coffee Service
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Fine Paris Porcelain Empire Gilt-Decorated and Floral Painted Coffee Service.
Comprising a coffee pot, hot-water pot, milk jug, sugar bowl...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Porcelain Coffee Set - Paroutaud Frères La Seynie - Limoges
By Limoges
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful antique porcelain coffee set from the French brand Limoges (Paroutaud Frères La Seynie). Beautiful slender design in Empire st...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Empire Period Porcelain de Paris Water Pitcher with Gilt Decoration
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A superb early 19th century Empire period water pitcher in Porcelain de Paris and finely embellished with gilt in a striking, hand-painted design of flowers, leaves and other decorat...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain, Paint
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Campaign Urns
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a stately pair of French Empire campaign urns with a central painting of a naturalistic setting on one side and a gilt medallion on the other on ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Empire Paris porcelain vase, early 19th century circa 1810
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine Paris porcelain vase or planter, early 19th century work, Empire period circa 1810.
Modern cornet-shaped model enhanced with a refined gilt stars and palms pattern on an unusu...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Carl Thieme, Dresden Floral Painted & Gilded Porcelain Urn, Germany, 20th C
By Carl Thieme
Located in Chatham, ON
CARL THIEME (Factory / Manufacturer) - Potschappel (Village / Location) - Empire style Dresden floral decorated and gilded porcelain urn with cover - ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Empire Porcelain
Materials
Enamel, Gold Leaf
19th Century Gilt Paris Porcelain Jug and Basin
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A superb early 19th century Empire period wash basin (with saucer) and tall pitcher, beautifully crafted from Old Paris Porcelain and featuring a very striking hand-painted polychrom...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain, Paint
Empire Paris porcelain serving coffee set - 3 pieces - early 19th century
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
Paris porcelain coffee set composed of 3 serving pieces : a coffee pot, a sugar pot and a milk jug.
Beautiful early 19th century French production circa 1820 - 1830, enhanced with la...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Pair Old Paris 'Vieux Paris' Porcelain Urns, France, 19th Century
By Old Paris
Located in Chappaqua, NY
Pair Old Paris porcelain urns, France, 19th Century. Hand-painted classical form urns. A different landscape scene on each urn. Lovely co...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Antique " KPM " Empire Porcelain Cup
Located in Kastrup, DK
KPM Porcelain cup decorated with a finely hand painted depiction of two women in nature. Inside with gilding (light wear to the gilding).
KPM (Königlich...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Early 19th Century Darte Brothers Porcelain Plates
By Darte Frères
Located in Basildon, GB
Pair of antique Darte Brothers cobalt blue porcelain plates magnificently painted with the French countryside, featuring cows, goats and sheep, decorated with gold rims. Each with th...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Paris Porcelain Toiletry Bottle with Stopper
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This pretty little 'flacon' bottle, complete with its original stopper, is made from delicate white 'Porcelaine de Paris' and dates from the early 19th century. Both bottle and stop...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Meissen Costume Group, Couple Dressed In Empire Style, by H. Goeschl, Ca 1940
By Meissen Porcelain, Heinrich Goeschl
Located in Vienna, AT
Elegant couple costumed in Empire style:
The lady in a dress that softly hugs the body with a high waist that sits just below the bust, a short cape covering the neckline and shoulde...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Set of Old Paris Porcelain Wash Jug and Basin with Gilt Decoration
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A stylish vintage pitcher and matching wash basin, crafted from Old Paris Porcelain and featuring intricate gilt decoration of palmettes and leaves on a white background. The jug is ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
French Empire Period Paris Porcelain Basin and Pitcher with Napoleonic Emblems
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An extremely elegant Paris Porcelain wash basin and pitcher dating from the First Empire Period, around 1815, and featuring as its decoration th...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain, Paint
Pair of Worcester Barr Flight Barr Porcelain Saucers with Bat-Printed Shells
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A pair of early transferware English porcelain saucers, made by the Worcester Porcelain Factory during the Barr, Flight & Barr period, 1807-1813.
The late 18th and early 19th cent...
Category
Early 19th Century British Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Empire style Coffee Set Porcelain Darte Frères
By Darte Frères
Located in Paris, FR
Very rare coffee set composed of 5 pièces : 4 cups with their saucer, and 1 sugar bowl. Whole set in porcelain with stripes patterns made of gold. Handles are painted in red, with an Egyptian-style gilt figure on it. Inner part half gilt.
Work from the early 19th century period, in the style of Empire or made during it.
Signed with red letters stamped "DARTE / FRERES / A PARIS" on the saucer.
Darte Frères was a Parisian porcelain...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Sensational B&G 'Bing & Grondahl' Large Egg Shaped Vase in Empire Style
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Sensational B&G (Bing & Grondahl) large egg shaped vase in Empire style on stand. Lid with mythological figures in biscuit. Decorated with the Stock Ex...
Category
20th Century Danish Empire Porcelain
Paris Porcelain Gilt Banded Hunting Service
Located in New York, NY
Paris porcelain gilt banded hunting service. Set of sixteen complementary serving dishes with hunt paintings attributed to Jacques Francois Joseph Swebach-Desfontaines, a painter for Serves porcelain as well as Royal Russian Porcelain manufactory; his work found at The Met, Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lyon and Marseille. Scenes include red and blue coated hunters riding to the hounds, running stag, wild boars, foxes and groupings of hounds. Each scene bordered in thick gilt band on white ground with filigree border and further gilt banding. Sweet meat dishes...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
12 Limoges Raised Gilt Enameled Napoleonic Plates, circa 1900
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
12 Limoges raised gilt enameled Napoleonic plates, circa 1900, each one decorated with gilt laurel surround, filled with golden bees, the center with Napoleonic crest of laurel wreath and monogrammed 'N'.
The porcelain is made by Charles Ahrenfeldt Limoges...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Meißen Manufactory, Espresso Set with Silhouette Portrait Richard Wagner
Located in Epfach, DE
Richard Wagner lived in 1872 at the Hotel Fantaisie in Bayreuth for half a year until he was able to move into his later domicile with his family. As interior designer, Brigitte Mart...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Fabergé Porcelain Tea, Coffee Cups Set of Four in a Velvet Case
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Fine porcelain set of four Fabergé original porcelain coffee or tea cups, service for four.
Enjoy the start to your day with the classical sophistication only from Faberge.
These s...
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Vieux Paris 'Old Paris' Tea Caddy or Apothocary Jar Painted with Harbor Scene
By Old Paris
Located in Mobile, AL
This empire period Old Paris tea caddy, canister or jar from the 1830's is sure to delight. It was likely designed and sold as a tea canister, but a lidd...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Antique French Porcelain Pitcher Hand Painted Empire Period, Circa 1815
Located in Katonah, NY
Made in the Napoleonic period, this exquisite French porcelain pitcher was hand-painted
in the Empire style.
It boasts classical and rococ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
French Empire Paris Porcelain Vase Converted into a Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French Empire period porcelain vase. The vase is totally gilt with matte and burnished highlights. The twin handles each show a modeled classical female head and on the front of the vase is a painted classical scene. The scene depicts a Roman/Greek seated young warrior...
Category
Early 18th Century Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Gilt and Painted Neoclassical French Empire Bird Plate
Located in New York, NY
Gilt and painted neoclassical French Empire bird plate. Large old Paris Porcelain circular serving dish with hand painted gilt foliate scrolled border with wide bands centering a pai...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Le Tallec Golden Bees Porcelain Demitasse Cups and Saucers, circa 1957 Set/11-12
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Exquisite neoclassical demitasse set comprised of fine porcelain and 24K gold by Camille Le Tallec. The pattern is from the Abeilles Collection featuring Napoleonic golden bees hand ...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Porcelain
Materials
Gold
Richard Ginori Vintage Italian White & Gold Coffee or Tea Cup Saucer, Set of 12
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful vintage set of 12 Italian designer white porcelain with gold coffee or tea cup and saucer set by Richard Ginori, Italy, circa mid-20th century, 1960s. Colors include...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Porcelain
Materials
Gold
Dagoty Manufacture of Empress Joséphine Wife of Napoleon 1st Swan Cup
By Dagoty
Located in Paris, FR
This very rare set of 12 delicate cups swan shape with their saucers is signed by Dagoty, one of the favorite manufacturers of Empress Joséphine's first Napoleon wife well known for ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Porcelain
Empire Plate by Stone, Coquerel and Legros in Paris
By François Antoine Legros, Athanase Marie Martin Coquerel
Located in Paris, FR
Earthenware plate from the Creil factory, decorated with a mythological scene in a landscape. In this scene, a young man and Cupid are hunting together, accompanied by a Nymph who is...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Porcelain
Materials
Earthenware
Empire porcelain for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire porcelain 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 porcelain created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire porcelain 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 porcelain, popular names associated with this style include Porcelaine de Paris, Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, Meissen Porcelain, and Richard Ginori. 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 porcelain differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $160 and tops out at $88,000 while the average work can sell for $2,200.