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.
19th Century Empire Old Paris porcelain tea and coffee set
Located in Delft, NL
19th Century Empire Old Paris porcelain tea and coffee set An early 19th Century Old Paris porcelain coffee, tea set with green painted French country scenes and gold paint. The gol...
Porcelain
Early 19th Century Paris Porcelain Tea Service with Rich Gilt Decoration
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This refined Paris porcelain tea service dates from the early 19th-century and beautifully reflects the elegance and technical mastery of F...
Porcelain, Paint
$249Sale Price / set|68% Off
Deshoulières Limoges Empire Tea Set, 15-Piece Fine Porcelain Set
Located in London, England
This Empire-style tea service, from Sologne, is a real jewel of the 20th century. Composed of 15 pieces in fine porcelain, each element is delicately decorated with fine gold, testif...
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Large Russian Imperial Brass Samovar Set
Located in Germantown, MD
A gorgeous, early 20th century large Russian imperial brass samovar set. Tray and bowl included. Measures 16" in width, 16" in depth and stands 22.5" tall.
Brass
Italian Solid 800 Silver Tea-Coffeset Empire Style with oblong tray
Located in VALENZA, IT
Impressive Empire-style tea and coffee set on a base with a tray. The set is in the classic Napoleonic Empire style, with a base and gilded interior for the milk jug and sugar bowl. ...
Silver
$3,850 / set
Set of Six Bird Coffee Cup Trios
By Flight, Barr & Barr Worcester
Located in New York, NY
Set of six bird coffee cup trios. Strikingly modern looking antique set of six FB&B Worcester trios of six teacups and six coffee can with six saucers ...
Porcelain
Puiforcat (Hermes) - 6pc. French Sterling Silver Tea Set, Empire Model
By Puiforcat
Located in Wilmington, DE
Direct from Paris: Direct from private mansion in Paris, a magnificent 6 piece antique French sterling silver Empire style tea set by France’s premier silversmith “Puiforcat” – curr...
Sterling Silver
White and Gilt Neoclassical Cupid Arrow Cup & Saucer
Located in New York, NY
White and gilt neoclassical cupid arrow cup & saucer. Empire period designed white and gilt porcelain Valentine cupid's arrows and floral sprays. Under-glaze marks for Vienna. ...
Porcelain
Fabergé Porcelain Tea, Coffee Cups Set of Four in a Velvet Case
Located in Moreno Valley, 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...
Porcelain
$8,446Sale Price|38% Off
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Silver Coffeepot Empire Style, Rome, Italy
Located in VALENZA, IT
Impressionante caffettiera italiana in stile impero, realizzata alla fine del 18° Secolo. Di forma tonda, è caratterizzata dalle classiche palmette che la collocano con il pieno sti...
Silver
$757Sale Price|20% Off
Capodimonte Porcelain, Bronze and Gold Teapot Late 1800s
By Capodimonte
Located in Milano, MI
Capodimonte porcelain teapot, bronze and pure gold, made in the late 19th century Ø cm 23 Ø cm 14 h cm 30 Capodimonte porcelain is an excellence of Italian craftsmanship, with a ri...
Bronze
Darte Frères Faux Tortoise and Gilt Partial Coffee Service
By Darte Frères
Located in New York, NY
Darte Frères Faux Tortoise and Gilt Partial Coffee Service. Antique Empire Paris porcelain by Darte Frères 1795-1825 in a rich mocha faux tortoise pattern with neoclassical decorativ...
Porcelain
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...
Silver
$328Sale Price|54% Off
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...
Porcelain
Set of 3 Silver Tea and Coffee, France by Henri Gauthier, 1902 - 1920
By H. Gauthier
Located in Rīga, LV
Silver three-piece tea and coffee set, Henri Gauthier (HG), France, Paris, 1902 - 1920 Additional Information: Materials: gilding, silver 950*, wood Vintage from the 1900s Arti...
Silver
Silver Tray With A Booths Old Willow Pattern Tea Service
Located in Kent, Dover
A silver tea tray, engraved from a Dorset army regiment as a gift c.1919, complete with an English 'Booths Old Willow Pattern', tea service with six place settings. The tea service a...
Silver Plate
Antique Chinese Porcelain Tea Set, 3 Person, Early 20th C., Hand-Painted
Located in Bastogne, BE
This charming antique porcelain tea set, crafted in China at the dawn of the 20th century. Hand-painted with exquisite detail and accented ...
Porcelain
$14,950 / set
H 15 in W 7.38 in D 8.5 in
Early 20th Century Five-Piece Louis XV Style Sterling Silver Tea and Coffee Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine early 20th century five-piece Louis XV style sterling silver tea and coffee service set. The finely chased ovoid shaped ...
Silver
$1,250 / set
H 12.5 in W 11 in D 5.5 in
Fabergé Porcelain Tea, Coffee Cups Set of Four in a Velvet Case
Located in Moreno Valley, 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...
Porcelain
$375 / item
H 11.25 in W 7 in D 4.75 in
Silver Plated Tiered High Tea Serving Trays or Cake Stand, Sold Singly
Located in Sheffield, MA
Vintage silver plated three-tier afternoon tea stand for high tea service. perfect for tidbits, appetizers, small finger sandwiches, small pastries...
Silver Plate
$192Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 2.25 in Dm 3.35 in
Le Volte Celesti, Six Contemporary Decorated Tea Cups with Plates
By Vito Nesta
Located in Milano, Lombardia
From the encounter between the historical archives of the Duomo di Milano and the imagery of Grand Tour by Vito Nesta, this unique collections of porcelains and fabrics were born. “Le Volte Celesti” creates, through the use of some historical sketches of frescoes dedicated to the naves of the Duomo, some geometric, almost kaleidoscopic games. Buyers, through the purchase of these collections, will contribute to the restructuring of the spiers of the Duomo as part of the proceeds will be donated to the Veneranda Fabbrica for this purpose. Set of 6 tea cups and plates.
Porcelain
Paris Porcelain Tea Service, circa 1860
Located in New York, NY
Comprising 2 pots, creamer (handle restored), covered sugar (finial restored), and 8 cups and saucers.
Porcelain
Limoges Tea Set, Service for 6, Plus 1
Located in Vista, CA
Limoges tea set, service for 6, plus 1. Gold Farmhouse collection, France, perfect condition, 7 cups and saucers, coffee/tea pot, creamer and sugar.
Porcelain
Raynaud Limoges 23-Piece Porcelain Tea & Coffee Service with Gold Trim
By Limoges
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This 23-piece tea and coffee service by Raynaud & Cie embodies the elegance and artistry for which Limoges porcelain is renowned. Each piece is crafted from fine, translucent por...
Porcelain, Paint
Limoges Unique Porcelain Tea Service, Burgundy & Gilt, 20th Century
By Limoges
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An elegant and refined French porcelain tea service by Limoges Unique, France, dating from the mid-20th century, circa 1940–1960, beautifully showcasing the timeless sophistication associated with Limoges porcelain. Marked to the underside “Limoges France Unique...
Paint, Porcelain
20th Century Czech Demitasse Coffee Set
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Demitasse coffee set, 2nd quarter 20th century, Czechoslovakia. Comprised of the pot, creamer, covered sugar and 2 cups (1 with tiny chip on rim) and ...
Porcelain
$192Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 2.25 in Dm 3.35 in
Cabinet De Curiosités, Six Contemporary Decorated Tea Cups with Plates
By Vito Nesta
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The cabinet de Curiosités collection takes inspiration from the rooms of the same name which in the sixteenth century collected objects and subjects of various kinds. In this collect...
Porcelain
English Silver Plate Biscuit Box or Tea Caddy
Located in New York, NY
An English sterling silver plate covered biscuit box or tea caddy with hinged finial lid top, attached claw footed gallery tray, and exterior repou...
Silver Plate
Mid Century Gold Lustre Fine Porcelain Tea Pot British Royal Worcester
Located in London, by appointment only
Imbued with a radiant opulence characteristic of the discerning tastes of the 1970s, this exquisite Royal Worcester teapot commands attention with its captivating gold lustre finish....
Porcelain
1868-1900 German Silver 5-Piece Tea & Coffee Service
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
1868-1900 German silver 5-piece tea & coffee service with tray. Empire taste. Tray, coffee pot, teapot, cream jug & covered sugar (the 2 latter with gilt wash interiors, expected wea...
Silver
Christofle Coffee & Tea Set with Rosewood Handles & Large Tray
By Christofle
Located in Ross, CA
Christofle silverplated coffee and tea set of five, made in France in the 1980's. The set includes a large oval tray with handles on each end, a coffee pot, tea pot, lidded sugar bow...
Silver Plate
1868-1900 German Silver 4-Piece Tea & Coffee Service
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
1868-1900 German silver 4-piece tea & coffee service. Empire taste. Comprised of: coffee pot, tea pot, cream jug & covered sugar. All raised on scroll legs with bell flowers & acant...
Silver
Goldsmith G. Keller - Teapot In Sterling Silver Nineteenth
By Georges Keller
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Ovoid-shaped solid silver teapot decorated with palm leaves, zoomorphic spout, cover taken represented by a swan with outstretched wings, blackened pear handle. empire style. Dimensi...
Sterling Silver
Pair of Paris Porcelain Three-Footed Gilded Coffee Cups. Empire Period
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A superb pair of opulent 'Porcelain de Paris' three-footed coffee cups with matching saucers – one blue, one burgundy – each richly embellished with hand-painted gilt detailing in ey...
Porcelain
1948-1951 Bing & Grondahl coffee service for 8, Denmark
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
1948-1951 Bing & Grondahl coffee service for 8, Denmark. In their rare & elegant "Empire" pattern with swags of flowers over fish scale molded borders. Consisting of 8 cups & saucers, 8 cake plates, leaf shaped sweetmeat, round shaped sweetmeat, cream & sugar with tray, and coffee pot with cover...
Porcelain
Porcelain Tea Service, 1900
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Porcelain tea service, 1900 Porcelain tea service with battle decoration signed and marked, in the Napoleon Bonaparte style, 1900 Measures: H: ...
Porcelain
Sold
H 9.26 in W 5.12 in D 6.5 in
19th Century Tea Coffee Water Silver Pot Rechaud Vienna 1817 Arms of Nobility
Located in Epfach, DE
Tea, coffee or water pot with rechaud, Vienna about 1817 silver 15 lot, like more as sterling silver Engraved coat of arms The weight is 860 gr Silver, the content of the jug is 0...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 4.14 in W 4.14 in D 1.78 in
Red And Gold Limoges Porcelain Coffee Service Empire Style Early 20th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Elegant coffee service of empire style of the beginning of the 19th century. Made of Limoges porcelain, the service is composed of 10 cups, 10 saucers, a coffee pot, a milk jug and a...
Porcelain
Vienna Tea Service for 10 People in Hand-Painted Porcelain, Approx. 1900
Located in København, Copenhagen
Vienna tea service for 10 people in hand-painted porcelain with gold leaf decoration. Approx. 1900. Consisting of 10 teacups with saucers, 10 plates, teapot, sugar bowl and creamer....
Porcelain