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.
Gilded Bronze Empire Floor Lamp by Claude Galle, France, 1950s Design
By Claude Galle
Located in Den Haag, NL
Superb Gilded Bronze France Empire floor lamp ,Exceptional casting take a look at her beathiful bronze feet . Very nice quality lamp .
Bronze
Pair of Antique Empire Style Black & Gold Torchere Floor Lamps
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Pair of Antique Empire Style Black & Gold Torchere Floor Lamps
Wood
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Brass and Onyx Base Floor Lamp
Located in Tarry Town, NY
A striking example of early 20th-century neoclassical design, this elegant floor lamp showcases the perfect fusion of timeless style and exquisite craftsmanship. The lamp features a ...
Onyx, Brass
Monumental Pair of Italian Empire Gilt Bronze Candleholders or Floor Lamps, 1800
Located in Rome, IT
Impressive pair of Italian Empire finely chiseled ormolu Flambeaux, on triform base, each with 25 scrolled gilt-bronze candle arms. Attributed to Luigi Manfredini the famous bronze a...
Bronze
Large 19th Century French Empire Period Floor Candelabrum
Located in Forney, TX
An extraordinary period Empire gilded gold dore bronze rolling floor candelabrum. Born in France, the stunning Neo-classical style architectural antique...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair Palatial Bronze and Steel French Empire Style Torchieres Floor Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of palatial vintage torchiere floor lamps in the French empire style, finely crafted from gilt and patinated bronze and steel. Each with a circular shallow dish-form basin fitt...
Bronze, Steel
Gilded Bronze Floor Lamp by Edward F. Caldwell & Co
Located in New York, NY
This fabulous antique floor lamp by Edward F. Caldwell has a sleek design with a strong gilded cast bronze base with foliage motif and wreath lip. A fluted pole extends from the base...
Bronze
Pair Empire Malachite Gilt Torcheres Floor Lamps 8 Ft
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing an incredible pair of large Empire style floor lamps or torchieres Hand crafted from gilt and faux malachite The faux malachite is painted porcelain which looks very...
Paint
Empire Style Steel and Bronze Floor Lamp
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A handsome empire-style steel and bronze floor lamp with a custom navy blue enamel shade. Possibly by J.E. Caldwell. Newly rewired.
Steel, Bronze
Vintage Waterford Kinsale Crystal Glass Column Brass Empire Style Floor Lamps -
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S shipping quote. Vintage Waterford Kinsale Crystal Glass Column Brass Empire Style Floor Lamps - a Pair...
Brass
Floor Lamp / Standard Lamp with Mahogany Table in Late Empire Style
Located in Lejre, DK
Floor lamp with integrated lamp table made in mahogany in the style of late Empire from the 1880s. The lamp features a turned shaft, round base and integrated table top characteristi...
Mahogany
Pair of 19th C. French Ormolu & Patinated Bronze Torchieres/floor lamps
Located in New York, NY
An Incredible and Large Pair of 19th Century Empire Period French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Mounted Torchieres. The patinated bronze base is decorated with hand-chassed and hand-c...
Bronze
Late 20th C. Empire Style Black and Silver Fluted Column Floor Lamp with Shade
Located in Morristown, NJ
Late 20thc., an elegant floor lamp that features a classic design with a black fluted column base and silver accents. The pyramid-shaped base is intricately detailed with stepped lay...
Crystal, Metal
20th Century Italian Silver Standard Floor Lamps Baroque Revival.
Located in VALENZA, IT
Finely hand-chiselled and embossed by hand. The cast shade-supports bear delicately chiselled decorative elements. The main support is refined, chiselled and embossed with swirls and...
Silver
19th Century French Marble and Gilt Bronze Fine Floor Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French gilt bronze and marble floor lamp . Fine quality gilt bronze detail.
Marble
20th Century, Empire Style Silvered Ceiling Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, silvered. Finely engraved. Bell shaped, traffic-light styled corpus. (F-Ra-25).
H 17 in W 13.75 in D 7.5 in
19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Three-Light Sconce, Wall Candelabra
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
French Empire gilt bronze three-arm wall candleholder finely ornate with foliate, acorn motifs and three female faces, circa 1850-1870. This wall candelabra can easily be converted ...
Bronze
H 68.51 in W 21.66 in D 21.66 in
Early 20th-Century Floor Lamp on Brown Wooden Base in Chippendale Style
Located in Opole, PL
Early 20th-Century Floor Lamp on Brown Wooden Base in Chippendale Style A floor lamp featuring a wooden frame and a fabric lampshade. The lamp's shaft is spirally turned, set on a r...
Fabric, Wood
H 65.75 in Dm 14.18 in
Very Tall Gilded Iron and Marble Tulip Floor Lamps, France, circa 1950s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Delightful, one-of-a-kind set of five gold-painted textured iron "tulip" floor lamps, set on round, black marble bases, veined with white. Striking and very decorative pieces.
Marble, Iron
H 12.21 in Dm 5.71 in
Pair of Early 19th Century Empire Trajan's Column Ormolu Candlesticks
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of early 19th century Empire Trajan's column ormolu candlesticks in the manner of P.-P. Thomire (1751-1843): Pair of large Empire ormolu candlesticks, the stem ressembling th...
Ormolu
H 63 in Dm 19.69 in
A gilt bronze floor lamp by Maison Bagues. France - 1950s
By Maison Baguès, Maison Jansen, Maison Charles
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A gilt bronze floor lamp by Maison Bagues, dating from the 1950s, featuring a magnificent "faux bamboo" design that illustrates the elegance and craftsmanship of this renowned French...
Bronze
H 67 in Dm 14.5 in
Pair of Brass and Lucite Torchieres Floor Lamps
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1980’s Glamorous pair of polish brass and clear acrylic floor lamps. In original vintage condition, Brass shows some age spots (see detail photos). They take one 100w max Edison lig...
Brass
H 9.85 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
Pair of Candlesticks or Candleholders, Patinated Bronze
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of candlestick in patinated bronze. The base washer shows a decoration based on moldings, while the barrel rises from a pedestal topped by a large pearl and is shaped like a va...
Bronze
H 9.06 in W 4.34 in D 4.34 in
Pair of Candlesticks or Candleholders, Patinated Bronze
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of candlestick in patinated bronze. It has a square base with flattened corners and decorated with moldings that create a staggering until almost reaching the barrel, worked as...
Bronze
PAIR of Vintage Lightolier Torchiere / Torchere Floor Lamps by Gerald Thurston
By Paavo Tynell, Gerald Thurston, Laurel Lamp Company, Lightolier
Located in Chicago, IL
Mid Century Torchere Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston with a Glass Shade by Carl Moser for Lightolier. The base designed by Gerald Thurston with a textured, fire annealed enameled glas...
Brass
H 63.5 in Dm 14.5 in
Early 20th Century Carved Wood Floor Lamp, English
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Early 20th century carved wood floor lamp, English. Likely made from a much earlier bed post or torchiere. Mahogany. The shaft well reeded ending in bulbous turnings and disc base. S...
Wood
H 51.58 in W 7.49 in D 6.7 in
Early 20th Century Brass Floor Lamp
Located in London, London
Brass floor lamp. Elegantly poised, this brass floor lamp takes inspiration from the classic candlestick form, featuring a gracefully tiered column with subtle detailing. The warm p...
Brass
H 46.07 in Dm 14.18 in
Pair of Antique Victorian Floor Lamps
Located in London, GB
A fantastic pair of antique Victorian floor lamps. They were made in England, they date from around the 1880-1900 period. They were probably originally large candle sticks...
Elm, Satinwood
H 67 in Dm 19 in L 67 in
French Empire Revival Ram Head Motif Floor Lamp, Pleated White Shade
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire Revival Ram Head Motif Floor Lamp, with tessellated hardstone globe surrounded by ram's heads and white pleated shade. Overall: 67" H x 19" Diameter. Provenance: From...
Stone, Brass
H 62 in W 13 in D 13 in
French Empire Style Gilt Metal Floor Lamp
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire Style Gilt Metal Floor Lamp, with three caryatid figures at base, two bulb fittings, and amber glass finial. 62" H x 13" W x 13" D. Provenance: From a New York City P...
Metal
H 56.5 in W 16 in D 10.5 in
Mid Century French Empire Style Red & Gold Tole Metal Student Floor Lamp 57"
Located in Dayton, OH
Circa mid 20th century metal tole ware student floor lamp - painted red with gold accents and floral / foliate border on the shade. Metal shade rests on a waffle textured milk glass ...
Metal
H 67.25 in W 11 in D 10.5 in
French Empire Floor Lamp
Located in Austin, TX
French floor lamp of solid flamed Mahogany finished with a lustrous museum quality French polish and finely cast gilt bronze decorative rings. This floor lamp features a tripod base....
Bronze
H 68.5 in Dm 12 in
Empire Style French Patinated & Gilded Bronze Two Light Torchiere Lamp
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of a heavy Empire style patinated and gilded bronze two light torchiere floor lamp with an ebonized foliate decorated standard and faux center candle switch, accented...
Metal, Bronze
H 60 in W 19 in D 24 in
Mid Century French Empire Ebonized Gold Gilt 2 Light Library Floor Lamp 60"
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid century French Empire style library / reading floor lamp. Made of ebonized and gilt wood featuring acanthus design with two lights, long pull chains and tapered shade. Dimensio...
Hardwood
H 73 in Dm 18 in
Stately Pair of Bronzed and Parcel Gilt Empire Style Torcheres
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a stately pair of bronzed and gilt metal Empire style electrified torcheres, early 20th century. The circular cap is draped with gilt metal swags of fruit and birds’ heads. ...
Metal
H 64.18 in W 10.24 in D 10.24 in
Antique Corinthian Column Brass Floor Lamp with Fringed Lampshade, England, 1890
Located in Rijssen, NL
Antique corinthian column brass telescopic floorlamp, Hinks pattern, with wonderful handmade fringed lampshade. Made in England, in the style of James Hinks & Son in 1890. The lamp ...
Brass
H 67.5 in Dm 17 in
Vintage French Iron and Brass Torchiere Floor Lamp
Located in New Orleans, LA
Stunning patinated wrought iron torchiere floor lamp with solid brass details stands on three legs and features three lights with red, black and gold shades. Time earned patina and b...
Brass, Iron
H 66.93 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
20th Century Gold Bronze and Metal Italian Empire Style Floor Lamp, 1930
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Great Italian floor lamp from the first half of the 20th century. Empire style object, in bronze and chiseled and gilded metal, lacquered wood and glass, of excellent quality. Floor ...
Metal, Bronze
H 64.18 in W 10.24 in D 10.24 in
Antique Corinthian Column Brass Floor Lamp with Fringed Lampshade, England, 1890
Located in Rijssen, NL
Antique corinthian column brass telescopic floorlamp, Hinks pattern, with wonderful handmade fringed lampshade. Made in England, in the style of James Hinks & Son in 1890. The lamp ...
Brass
H 68.12 in Dm 10.24 in
Metal Floor Lamp, France, circa 2000
Located in PARIS, FR
A floor lamp in metal (cast aluminum) in the empire style France, circa 1990 -2000.
Metal