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
French Empire Plated Soup Tureen
Located in Torino, IT
A French Sheffield plated Empire soup tureen, round shape with stiff-leaf borders, France, circa 1810.
Sheffield Plate
Meissen Soup Tureen
Located in Washington, DC
Very colorful Meissen soup tureen with flora decoration to the lid and tureen. There is small crack which is more noticeable from the inside.
Porcelain
Chinese Export Porcelain Soup Tureen
Located in Essex, MA
With domed cover with gilt lemon finial on a conforming base with two handles.
Porcelain
$1,500
H 5.12 in W 9.06 in D 5.12 in
Meissen Porcelain Lidded Tureen with Hand-Painted Flowers and Gold Edge
Located in København, Copenhagen
Meissen porcelain lidded tureen with hand-painted flowers and gold edge. Lid modelled with flowers and foliage. 1920s. Measures: 22 x 13 x 13 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped...
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
19th Century English Derby Porcelain Tureen with Lid
By Derby
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Derby Porcelain Tureen with lid.
Porcelain
Magnificent Antique English Sheffield Silver Plate Hand Chased Soup Tureen
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
A Gorgeous Antique English Sheffield Silver Plate Hand Chased Two-Handle Soup Tureen and Lid with magnificent hand chased cartouche to the front and back that are repeated on the lid...
Silver Plate
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
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
$1,650
H 9.5 in Dm 16 in
French Blue and White Porcelain Soup Tureen with Stand Bleu d 'Arras Circa 1780
Located in Katonah, NY
This late 18th-century French porcelain soup tureen, cover, and matching stand were made at the Delemers family's Arras porcelain factory circa 1780. The porcelain is hand-painted wi...
Porcelain
A Fine French Covered Soup Tureen with Under Plate
Located in Sheffield, MA
Provenance: From the collection of the Manoir De Polminhac Cantal No. 17
Porcelain
$350
H 11 in W 11.5 in D 8 in
Vintage "Loving Swans" Victorian Style Silver Plated Covered Lidded Soup Tureen.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage "Loving Swans" Victorian Style Silver Plated Covered Lidded Soup Tureen. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 11" H x 11.5" W x 8" D.
Silver Plate
$2,700
H 10 in W 15.75 in D 9.75 in
A Very Fine 19th Century Silver Plated Lidded Soup Tureen by Elkington & Company
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very fine & impressively large silver plated soup tureen by Elkington & Company of London with a capacity to hold 4 quarts. The substantial oval body having open handles, richly decorated with embossed & engraved foliate motifs & centered by blank foliate cartouches, the conforming lid bearing engraved heraldic crests. Raised overall upon a stepped oval foot, with the underside bearing impressed factory marks for Elkington & Co., together with date letter for 1884. In extremely good overall condition, and priced competitively in comparison to similar examples in the marketplace. ELKINGTON & COMPANY: George Richards Elkington & Henry Elkington were the first to discover and patent the silver plating process in the 1830's. They were subsequently awarded Royal warrants to several members of the British Royal Family including Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V, Queen Mary & King George VI. Elkington & Company were chosen as the suppliers of flatware on board the British Royal Yacht Britannia...
Silver Plate
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