Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
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
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 Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Porcelain
Gilt Silver Pink Enamel Miniature Vase early 20th century Finnish Master
By August Hollming 1
Located in Sweden, SE
Hallmarks: 'A*H' , mark '88' and image of a female head in a kokoshnik, leads to the time of Imperial Russia and Finish silversmith August Frederik Hollming (1854 – 1913), who worked at Faberge. Unusual and incredibly beautiful empire style miniature vase. The elegant jewelry work and design of the vase vaguely resembles a beautiful pearl drop. The color palette and tone of the vase changes surprisingly depending on the lighting. By level of jewelry craftsmanship and fantasi with which this vase is made, we assume that the vase was made by a very high class Finnish jeweler by A. F. Hollming, comparable to famous Russian jewelers such as Carl Fabergé. The design of his jewelry was surprisingly modern and ahead of its time. Full handmade: hand-drawn, embossing, hand chased, engraved and casting of finest quality. Besides the bottom there are few hallmarks on applied garlands. Comes from Swedish estate.
Size app.: 13 x 9 cm (roughly 5.11 x 3.54 in). Weight app. is 195 gram (app. 0.42 lb). Very good condition, minimal wear. Silver, enamel, gilding. Please study good resolution images for cosmetic condition. In person actual colors may appear darker or brighter than in our pictures, strictly depending on sufficient light in your environment. Volume weight measures some 1 kg packed for shipment.
August Frederik Hollming was born in Loppi, Finland. Hollming was apprenticed to the goldsmith Carl Friedrich Ekholm in Helsinki at the beginning of the 1870s. In 1876, he settled in St. Petersburg and registered as a goldworker. In 1880, he qualified as a master and opened his workshop at 35 Kazanskaya Street, St. Petersburg, he was soon thereafter hired by Fabergé. In 1900, the Hollming workshop moved to 24 Bolshaya Morskaya, St. Petersburg, under the same roof as Fabergé. The eldest son August Väinö Hollming...
Category
Early 20th Century Finnish Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Gold Plate, Silver, Enamel
British Silver Plated Tea Urn Samovar 19th century Egg Shaped with Lion Heads
Located in Sweden, SE
Neoclassical shape coffee and tea urn decorated with lion heads and solid silver plating and hand chased. Tea Urn Samovar is made in the so-called “Egoist” size for very few persons ...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Silver Plate, Stainless Steel
Viennese Empire Portal Clock With Caryatids And Gilded Fittings, Around 1810
Located in Vienna, AT
Complete Vienna clock on six stocky ball feet made of alabaster, architecturally structured wooden case with fruitwood veneers in the shape of a portal, steps in front flanked by two...
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Alabaster, Brass
Pair of Antique Empire Style Four Branch Gilt Bronze Candelabras
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of antique gilt candelabras are unmarked, but presumed to have been made in France between 1900 and 1920 in the Empire style. The can...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Marble and Bronze Antique Centrepiece by Robbe
Located in London, GB
In an ornamental style, with rouge griotte marble and burnished bronze depicting the three Graces, signed 'A. ROBBE. Paris.'
This stunning French centrepiece...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Marble, Bronze
$13,192 Sale Price
20% Off
Italian Empire Silver and Silver Gilt Inkstand
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Of oval shape, with a cupid holding a bow and arrow riding aloft a gilt dolphin forming a lid over a compartment, flanked by ink and sand pots on masked plinths cast with Medusa masks and mounted to a lion's-paw footed oval galleried tray...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Silver
Set of Four Elegant French Silver Open Salt Cellars
Located in Montreal, QC
Set of four 800 French silver oval open slat cellars decorated with eagle heads, Provincial hallmarks, 1798-1809.
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Photo Frame inserted into a harp-shaped object Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Oval photo frame inserted into a harp-shaped object, in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamels on guilloché inspired by a model created by Peter Carl Fab...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Coffee Pot Silver European 19th Century Empire Blackened Handle, Austria
Located in New York, NY
Coffee pot silver European 19th century blackened handle Austria. An exquisite example of a empire coffee pot made during the 19th century in Austria. Ov...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Silver
Set of Five 19th Century Glasses with Gold Leaf Motive
Located in Copenhagen, K
Very nice set of five German glasses with gold motives. Gilding very nicely preserved.
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Glass
$630 Sale Price / set
30% Off
Meißen Manufactory, Vide Poche 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 in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
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 Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$3,600 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Napoleonic Silverplated Tray by Christofle circa 1850
By Christofle
Located in New York, US
Our Christofle silverplated tray features fine engraved designs including the French coat-of-arms, and Napoleonic cipher and imperial bees. Reverse has the maker's mark in oval carto...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Silver Plate
Gilded and Painted Paris Porcelain Vase, France circa 1815
Located in CH
A large gilded and painted Paris Porcelain Vase, France circa 1815
The picture in the front reproduces a painting by the French artist Louis Ducis (14 July 1775, Versailles - 2 March 1847, Paris) of Torquato Tasso...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Porcelain
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 Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Porcelain
Sugar Box Russia
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous box made of blue glass beautifully decorated with white details. Frame of brass. original lock and key. Made during 19th Century Russian Empire period. Small lockable boxes...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Brass
$3,400
Sterling Silver Set of 6 bar spoons, long handle for cocktail mixing
Located in Milano, IT
Sterling Silver Set of 6 bar spoons, long handle for cocktail mix.
The perfect gift for Cocktail and Bar Admirers. Elegant Empire Style spoons, very well hand re...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Sterling Silver
Pair of 19th Century Empire Bronze Center Pieces
Located in London, GB
A fine large pair of 19th century French Empire bronze center pieces modeled as classical figures holding a loft acanthus capped crystal bowls.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Bronze
$13,054 / item
Antique Vienna Empire Silver Sugar Urn, Budapest, Hungary, Circa 1805
Located in Vienna, AT
Empire silver sugar vase, pressed bulbous body on a high, offset round stand with a fluted rim, the upper half of the vessel chased with flowers and feathered...
Category
Early 1800s Hungarian Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Silver
Paris Porcelain Floral Ewer and Basin
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A Paris porcelain ewer; (finial repaired) and matching basin, having brightly painted flowers to both; some rubbing to the ewer.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Porcelain
$760 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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 Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
$9,894 Sale Price
20% Off
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 Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Porcelain
Silver Candy Dish, Egyptian Style, First Empire
Located in Paris, FR
Early 19th century silver drageoir or candy dish adorned with Egyptian head and on the collar with openwork palmette motifs. On the two spiral handles are suspended two twisted rings. The base is decorated with curving tubular patterns. The removable lid features floral finial. The interior of the candy dish is entirely lined with vermeil. The candy dish is characteristic of the Egyptian style that developed after the return of the Egyptian campaigns of Napoleon the first. With the «Description of Egypt...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Silver
19th Century Silver and Cut Crystal Candy Dish
Located in Paris, FR
A candy dush in silver and blown crystal cut in oves and cut known as "diamond point". The candy dish is decorated with antique motifs representing deities: on one side, Poseidon emerging from the wave trident by hand, on the other side Hermes god...
Category
1830s European Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Crystal, Silver
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 Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Porcelain
French, Early 19th Century, Empire Style, Pierced Porcelain Basket
Located in Lantau, HK
French Empire Paris porcelain gilt reticulated centerpiece basket.
Ideal decorative centerpiece to hold flowers or fruits on a dinning table
Ref AACPO18
Shipping included
Free and...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Porcelain
$3,900 Sale Price
40% Off
Empire Plate by Stone, Coquerel and Legros in Paris
By Athanase Marie Martin Coquerel, François Antoine Legros
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 Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Earthenware
19th Century Sevres Style Porcelain Pedestal
Located in Southall, GB
This outstanding pedestal beautifully exhibits the style and grace of the famed Sèvres porcelain manufactory. This exceptional piece features a lustrous light blue base, which provid...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Porcelain
$3,847 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Italian Empire Silver Candlesticks, Milan, circa 1810
Located in Vienna, AT
Pair of elegant Empire candleholders on an unfilled base, conical structure, offset olive-shaped grommets with a flat, plate-shaped drip edge, smoo...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Silver
Swedish Gilt Heavy Silver Mustard or Sauce Cup Antique Empire Mug 1827
Located in Sweden, SE
Fine and solid creation by unidentified Swedish silver works presumably in Stockholm, date mark is 1827. Stylish and authentic creature of classical geometry would accomplish your Em...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Gold Plate, Silver
Important Empire Period Paris Porcelain & Ormolu-Mounted Casket/Box/Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
An Important and very rare Empire period Paris porcelain ormolu-mounted Empire rectangular shaped two-handled casket decorated and assembled by ...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Bronze
Empire serveware, ceramics, silver and glass for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire serveware, ceramics, silver and glass 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 serveware, ceramics, silver and glass 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 metal, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire serveware, ceramics, silver and glass made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, popular names associated with this style include Baccarat, Giorgio Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni, and Christofle. 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 serveware, ceramics, silver and glass differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $56 and tops out at $126,260 while the average work can sell for $2,396.
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