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.
Large Naples White Porcelain Hercules Tureen
By Real Fabbrica Ferdinandea 1
Located in New York, NY
Large Naples white porcelain Hercules tureen. Impressive and important neoclassical Ferdinando IV porcelain soup tureen with large Hercules and Theiodamas finial caping a scroll volu...
Faience, Porcelain
19th Century English Derby Porcelain Tureen with Lid
By Derby
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Derby Porcelain Tureen with lid.
Porcelain
Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Botanical Soup Tureen & Cover
Located in Downingtown, PA
Chinese Export Porcelain European Flower Botanical Soup Tureen & Cover, Circa 1780 The Chinese Export porcelain tureen and cover are well painted with large European bouquets of ...
Porcelain
$500
H 7.09 in W 12.21 in D 7.09 in
Royal Worcester, England, Large Evesham Lidded Tureen in Porcelain, 1980s
Located in København, Copenhagen
Royal Worcester, England. Large Evesham lidded tureen in porcelain decorated with fruits and gold rim. 1980s. Measures: 31 x 18 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped.
Porcelain
Antique Handmade Porcelain Soup Tureen by KPM
Located in Vilnius, LT
Antique KPM oval porcelain soup tureen is handmade with glazed relief ornament surface. It is hand painted with gold and decorated with molded flowers bouqets on the handles. Measu...
Porcelain
$360
H 5.52 in W 11.03 in D 8.27 in
Antique Stadt Meissen Blue Onion Lidded Tureen in Hand-Painted Porcelain
Located in København, Copenhagen
Antique Stadt Meissen Blue Onion lidded tureen in hand-painted porcelain. Early 20th century. Measures: 28 x 21.5 x 14 cm. In excellent condition. S...
Porcelain
Chinese Export Famille Rose Porcelain Soup Tureen
Located in Bradenton, FL
Chinese Export Famille rose porcelain soup tureen and underplate. Qianlong Period, decorated with the figure of a mahout astride an elephant and flower sprays with gold rim. The theme of this lot indicates that it was probably made for the European colonial market in India, where East Indian ships...
Porcelain
Royal Worcester, England, Evesham Lidded Tureen in Porcelain with Fruits
Located in København, Copenhagen
Royal Worcester, England. Evesham lidded tureen in porcelain decorated with fruits and gold rim. 1980s. Measures: 26 x 9.5 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped.
Porcelain
Royal Worcester, England, Large Evesham Lidded Tureen in Porcelain
Located in København, Copenhagen
Royal Worcester, England. Large Evesham lidded tureen in porcelain decorated with fruits and gold rim. 1980s. Measures: 25 x 13.5 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped.
Porcelain
French Blue and White Porcelain Soup Tureen Arras Bleu d’Arras Circa 1780
Located in Katonah, NY
This late 18th-century French porcelain soup tureen is distinguished by the delicacy of its hand-painted cornflower blue decoration and the remarkable depth of its twilight blue enam...
Porcelain
$500
H 7.49 in W 12.21 in D 7.88 in
Large Royal Copenhagen Lidded Tureen with Saucer in Hand Painted Porcelain
Located in København, Copenhagen
Large Royal Copenhagen lidded tureen with saucer in hand painted porcelain with bird motifs and gold decoration, early 20th century. Tureen measures: 31.5 x 19.5 cm. Saucer measure...
Porcelain
French Porcelain Covered Soup Tureen on Stand, circa 1900
Located in New York, NY
French porcelain covered soup tureen on stand, circa 1900.
Porcelain
Royal Copenhagen Lidded Tureen in Porcelain with Romantic Scenes
Located in København, Copenhagen
Royal Copenhagen lidded tureen in porcelain with romantic scenes and gold decoration, 20th century. Measures: 24.5 x 12 cm. Stamped. In excelle...
Porcelain
French 19th Century Empire Porcelain Lidded Tureen
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A petite French 19th century Empire style sauce or jelly tureen. A fabulous piece of porcelain so fine that the finish gleams and resembles milk glass. This wonderful tiny Empiricall...
Porcelain
Monumental Antique Silver Tureen by Wilkens & Söhne 1905, Bremen Germany
Located in Skanninge, SE
Monumental and magnificent antique silver tureen by Wilkens & Söhne 1905, Bremen Germany. 5900 gram (208oz) silver. 40cm (15.7in) wide, 37cm ...
Silver
Silver Tureen for Grand Duke Georg von Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany 1836
Located in Greding, DE
from the Fidei Commis (stamped FIDC) silver, 4150 gr. stamps: Gottfried Christian David Petschler, Neustrelitz 1836. On a round base with several steps and decorated with palmettes, four rams, cast in full, are resting, carrying a gadrooned bowl that widens upwards on a round base decorated with acanthus leaves. The bowl is fitted with two handles. The lid is crowned by a lying, full cast lion. The coat of arms of the Grand Duke (Friedrich Carl Joseph) Georg von Mecklenburg-Strelitz is engraved on the lid of the tureen, which in turn is crowned by a lying lion. The original inner insert is missing. Grand Duke (Friedrich Carl Joseph) Georg von Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1779-1860) was the younger brother of Queen Luise...
Silver
Richard Ginori Porcelain "Voliere" Soup Tureen, Italy, 2019
Located in Cagliari, IT
Empire style round tureen with cover, capacity lt 4. Even at table, the perfect melody is a question of chords. Compose yours. Twelve objects of extraordinary beauty, like musical ...
Porcelain
Sold
H 7.09 in W 13.39 in D 9.06 in
20th Century Italian Silver Soup Tureen Empire Style by Vittorio Manzoni, Milan
Located in VALENZA, IT
Gorgeous solid silver tureen in Empire style on feet with handles. The body of the tureen is completely hammered by hand, embossed and chiseled with the typical designs of the Empire...
Silver
Choisy Faience Soup Tureen
Located in Doylestown, PA
An early 19th century French Empire soup tureen signed Choisy, circa 1810, footed-urn shaped with looping handles and retaining its original lid with finial. The tureen has transfer ...
Faience