Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
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
French Empire Bronze Chandelier with Ebonized Bowl
Located in New York, NY
French Empire (19th Century) chandelier with a bronze ebonized patina bowl with gilt trim and 12 scroll uplight arms trimmed with a finial bottom and supported with 3 chains connecte...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
French Empire Style Chandelier with Frosted Glass Flame
Located in Pembroke, MA
French Empire style chandelier with gilt bronze arms, neoclassical mounts, ornate chain and canopy. The central body is dark green painted wood, surmounted with a frosted glass flame...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Ormolu
Elegant French Empire Doré Bronze Crystal Three-Light Fixture Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
Very fine, beautifully detailed French doré bronze and crystal three-arm chandelier with flame top urn centre in the neoclassical style.
Category
20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Bronze and Crystal Bowl Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style (late 19th Century) gilt bronze chandelier with a cut crystal bowl supporting a ring of 8 scroll arms suspended by 3 chains to a canopy with a flame final bottom.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Empire Style Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A late 19th century French Empire-style chandelier with gilt and painted finish.
Measurements:
Diameter: 18"
Height: 26.5".
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Fine Bronze and Crystal Period Empire Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Exquisite Empire chandelier, having a frame of finely chased gilt bronze, basket shape, draped in beaded crystals; floral swags connect the four external candlearms, four additional ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Antique Chandelier. Empire style chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exquisite and rare Empire style chandelier with elaborate gilt bronze frame and crystal pyramids and pendalogues. France, circa 1900.
Dimensions: Height 58" Diameter 34"
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Antique French Empire Style Glass and Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Antique French Empire style glass and gilt bronze chandelier
French, Late 19th Century
Height 32, diameter 42cm
This French 19th century chandelier is crafted in the Empire style. ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Empire Style Chandelier Ebonized Sphere with Bronze Surrounds
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique French Empire style chandelier ebonized sphere with bronze surrounds. With four lights. Center etched glass shade missing.
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Mid-Century French Empire Neo-Classical Style Brass & Glass W/ Six Swan Arms
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a French Empire style heavy brass chandelier. It is an Italian mid-century piece. The wiring has been completely re-done by a profession...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass
French Empire Style Crystal Glass and Brass Five-Tired Chandelier, 1930s
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, AR
French Empire Style Crystal Glass and Brass Five-Tired Chandelier, 1930s
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century Empire Chandelier
Located in New Orleans, LA
19th century Empire crystal and iron chandelier (Piemonte Impero). Pierced leaves compose the top crown accentuated by dangling cut crystals. Strands of crystals draw the eye to the ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Iron
19th Century Grand-Imperial Italian Chandelier
Located in Firenze, FI
Large gilded bronze chandelier, 24 candle holder lights with crystal cups. The chandelier is complete with all the ground almond crystals, working electrical system. Coming from the ...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire 6 Arm Lions & Eagles Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
French Empire bronze chandelier with figural eagle, and lion head motifs on each arm, a pineapple motif and a black finish. Cleaned and restored. Please note, this item is located in...
Category
20th Century Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze, Steel
Lampadario in Stile Impero Bronzi Cristallo Francia fine XIX secolo
Located in Milano, IT
Lampadario a nove luci in stile impero con struttura in bronzo dorato. Fusto formato da tre colonnine raccordate da collarino con bronzi ornamentali raffiguranti figure femminili. Ba...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
Near Pair of Vintage French Empire Style Crystal Gilded Chandeliers Early 1900's
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair, well not exactly, but I believe the proper term is near pair of old French crystal chandeliers, that although made by the same company, they are about a 95% match. Unless you look very carefully, one would never suspect there was any difference between the pair of French crystal chandeliers...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Basket Style Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Elegant 19th century French Empire style basket chandelier. Featuring a decorative bronze base, chain and canopy an...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
20th C Bronze French Empire Atlas Chandelier w/ 6 Lights
Located in New York, NY
Early 20th century highly detailed bronze French Empire bronze chandelier. Features three male Atlas figures holding up the upper hub of the chandelier resting on their backs. Comes ...
Category
20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
1940s Empire Brass Chandelier Gold & Black Details w/ Torch and Acanthus Leaves
Located in New York, NY
1940's Empire brass chandelier with center flame and four arms with two-tone coloring. It has gold details throughout including acanthus leaves and an acorn finial and the body has a...
Category
1940s American Vintage Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Pair of Empire Candelabra Made circa 1800, Claude Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of French candelabra made circa year 1800. Dark patinated and gilt bronze. On columns are two mermaids sitting. The columns have ornaments of roosters facing each other.
At...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Style Gilt Bronze 8 Light Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome 19th century Empire style gilt bronze 8 light chandelier. Beautiful decorative details on the bronze. A classic style and very ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Pair of French Vintage Empire Style Six-Light Crystal Basket-Shaped Chandeliers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of French Empire-style six-light chandeliers from the early to mid-20th century. These glorious chandeliers from France are each decorated in flowing strands of crystals, whic...
Category
20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Metal, Brass
19th Century Empire Chandelier with Full Figure Swan Arms
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century empire chandelier with full figure swan arms. This simply stunning doré bronze chandelier has full bodied swans holding three candlestick lights...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Large and Important Antique French Empire Gilt Bronze Chandeliers
Located in New York, NY
Pair of large and spectacular important antique French Empire neoclassical gilt bronze and white patinated multi light chandeliers of superb quality and detail. These chandelier are ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Opaline Flame Pendant Chandelier
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A good late 19th-early 20th century neoclassical, Empire style pendant chandelier. An opaline glass "flame" hangs by three brass chains from a cro...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass
Empire Gilt Bronze and Cut Crystal Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A superb antique Empire gilt bronze and cut crystal multi light chandelier of exquisite detail embellished with cut crystal prisms and chains, circa 1810.
Category
1810s European Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Large Antique, French Empire Style, Neoclassical Silvered Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A large antique French Empire style silvered bronze multi light chandelier embellished with neoclassical motifs.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Three-Light Empire Style Bronze and Gilt Bronze Chandelier, French
Located in San Francisco, CA
Patinated bronze three-light chandelier with gilt bronze accents. Recently rewired, chain length can be adjusted to accommodate specific length. French, empire style, circa 1880.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Bronze
Empire chandeliers and pendants for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire chandeliers and pendants 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 chandeliers and pendants created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire chandeliers and pendants 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 chandeliers and pendants, popular names associated with this style include Gherardo Degli Albizzi, Maison Baguès, Arno Fassi, and Baccarat. 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 chandeliers and pendants differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $260 and tops out at $220,000 while the average work can sell for $7,017.
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