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Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

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
Set of Four Empire Ormolu Three-Light Wall Sconces, Attributed to Ravrio
By André-Antoine Ravrio
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Each backplate topped with a mask of Athena surmounted by an owl and ending in a stylized bellflower and anthemion, issuing three leaf-wrapped scrolling arms. Electrified. André-Antoine Ravrio (1759-1814) was a French sculptor in bronze and was made a master founder in 1777 setting up in business 1790. Although Ravrio enjoyed success during Louis XVI’s reign, he achieved far greater fame under Napoleon. He took part in the first Exposition de l’Industrie, Paris, 1803 and then won a silver medal there in 1806. The same year he supplied a number of bronze furnishings for the Empress Joséphine’s apartments in the Tuileries and in 1810 was appointed as the Emperor’s chief bronzier. In this capicity he supplied some of the finest Empire bronze pieces, girandoles, candelabras and lamps as well as ornate furniture...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Gilt Bronze Empire Sconces
Located in Locust Valley, NY
Pair of gilt bronze three-arm Empire sconces with leaf detail.
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Bronze and Green Empire Wall Lights with Beige/Green Shades
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
Pair of bronze and green Empire wall lights with beige/green shades.
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1980s French Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Set of Eight French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Figural Neoclassical Wall Sconces
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite set of eight French Empire style gilt bronze figural neoclassical wall sconces. Each sconce is structured with a central backplate featuring a prominent male mask, model...
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20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair Signed E F. Caldwell Neo-Classical Style Bronze Sconces
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome pair of signed Caldwell bronze sconces are in the neo-classical style. They feature Antique motifs including anthemion, and leopard heads.
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces Set by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiselled details. The backplate of this sconce features a lacquered round ...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Large Pair, Empire Style Sconces, 18-Karat Gold Plate, 3 Lights, Black Shaft
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Larger pair of Empire Looking style sconces They are of hi-quality lost wax Bronze castings with fine detailing . With polished 18-karat gold plated finish in Antique. Center sha...
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1990s American Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Pair Of Wall Lights, Circa 1960 in Chiseled and Gilded Bronze, France
Located in Bastogne, BE
An elegant Pair Of Louis XVI style Wall Lights Circa 1960 in finely chiseled and gilded bronze with two light arms. Fake opaline candles. Manufactured in France, 1960s. They're op...
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1960s French Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

2 brass and glass Peacock wall-sconces in Hollywood regency style
By OTHR
Located in Zemst, BE
2 wall sconces in brass and glass Peacock form Wonderful condition. Original wiring, that's still ok: ready for use. Place of origin: Spain No manufacturer known Period: mid 1970...
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Mid-20th Century Spanish Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

1920 Caldwell Gilt Bronze Empire Style Sconces
Located in New York, NY
pair of 1920's Caldwell Empire style bronze double light sconces
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1920s American Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Empire Bronze Sconces
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of gilt and patinated bronze sconces from embellished with winged Victories. Each sconce features four candlestick branches that terminate in lions heads and are intricately scu...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Elegant pair of French Empire style sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful pair of 1940's French empire style sconces, the patina is much nicer in person
Category

1940s French Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Pair of Important First Empire Period Ormolu Sconces
By Percier & Fontaine
Located in Essex, MA
Period ormolu sconces in First Empire, imperial Russian, realistic lion mask form --Percier and fontaine designed lion mask being impaled by th...
Category

Early 1800s Russian Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Ormolu

A Pair of Early 19th Century French Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of early 19th Century French tole sconces. Converted from oil lamps with classical gilt figures and Directoire imagery. Circa 1820s.
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiselled details. The backplate of this sconce features a lacquered round ...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Set of Three Antique French Empire Wall Light Sconces 2 Lights torch, France
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A nice set of three sconces with 2 light sources, made of bronze in torch styles. Each fixture requires two European E14 candelabra bulbs, each up to 40 watts. The wall lights have a...
Category

1930s French Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce Set by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiselled details. The backplate of this sconce features a central round pla...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiselled details. The backplate of this sconce features a central round pla...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

French Bronze Bows Crystal Prisms Empire Sconces, circa 1930
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing one light each. Will be rewired with certified US UL sockets for the United States and appropriate sockets for all other countries and ready to hang. Bronze detail bows with ...
Category

1930s French Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Pair of Fine Antique French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Four-Light Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of fine antique French Empire gilt and patinated bronze four-light neoclassical wall sconces embellished with figural masks.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

19th Century, Pair of French Gitl Bronze Appliques
Located in IT
19th Century, Pair of French Gitl Bronze Appliques This particular pair of appliques, in chiseled and gilded bronze, dates back to the first half of the nineteenth century. Made ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Extremely Fine Pair of Large 19th C French Empire Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine pair of 19th century French Empire gilt bronze large two light sconces. Fine Egyptian heads below the candles with a finely cast Eagle at the to...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Empire Design of Lady Face Sconces Gold Dore' Finish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cast in bronze with real 18K gold Dore' finish. Contemporary hi-quality castings in fine details. From the original French pair. Look fantastic on the wall a...
Category

1990s North American Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair Antique French Empire Gold Bronze Wall Sconces, Circa 1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique French Empire gold bronze wall sconces, circa 1890.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Large pair of wall lighting Empire style brass , 1950s
Located in La xara, VC
Large pair of Wall lighting in Brass with 3 bulbs E27 . full brass in Empire style in mid century 1950s Ceramic support Bulb original
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Pair of Monumental Empire Style Candle Wall Sconces Candlestick, Italy, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pair of giltwood candlestick wall sconces 1970s in empire style. Each fixture requires two candles. The wall lights have a beautiful patina and gives each room an eclectic statement.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Set of Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This precious Set of Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features many finely hand chiseled details. This model is typical of French Empire period due to ...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Gold, Bronze

Pair of French 1st Empire Dore Bronze Mtd. 5-Arm Mirrored Sconces, Att. Thomire
Located in New York, NY
A Magnificent Pair of French 1st Empire Period Dore bronze mounted five-arm sconces/mirrors, Attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire. Each mirrored sconce is of octagonal form with a b...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Gilt and Burnished Bronze Sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt and burnished bronze victory wall Sconce is an elegant example of figural wall light that shows a winged Victory, mounted ...
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2010s Italian Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Fine Pair of Early 20th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Sconces, Lyre Design
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of Empire style gilt-bronze two-light lyre sconces Each pierced stringed lyre-form backplate with the mask of Apollo above two scrolling branches centered by a star over an acorn pendant. Provenance: Maison Tisserand, Paris. C Property from the Estate of Roger Prigent.
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Fine Pair French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Figural Three Light Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Superb pair of antique French Empire period gilt bronze figural three light sconces Circa 1830 Striking figural sconces originally created for use with oil, now electified. This beau...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Crystal and Brass Sconce Wall Light, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
This adorable Empire-style sconce features a brass frame draped with crystal glass beading on the top level and three tiers of crystal glass pendants on the bottom. Two interior ligh...
Category

1930s French Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Crystal, Metal, Brass

Gilt and Patinated Bronze Empire-Style Wall Lights
Located in London, GB
Gilt and patinated bronze Empire-style wall lights French, Early 20th century Height 35cm, width 36cm, depth 20cm This pair of wall lights or sconces are modeled in the opulent...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century French Empire Green Patinated Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of late 19th Century French empire style double lights sconces, green patinated bronze.
Category

1890s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Wonderful Baguès Vaughan Empire Bronze Swing Arm Hurricane Sconce Wall Lamp
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Baguès / Vaughan Style Empire / Regency Bronze Swing Arm Sconce With Blown Glass Hurricane Shade Wall Lamp, Ready To Install With Mounting Hardware.
Category

20th Century Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Gilded, Mirrored, Period Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of period, hand carved, gessoed, and 22-karat gold gilded, Second Empire, French sconces. Each with gilt bronze arms, and inset with original, mercury glass mirrors. Each with...
Category

1860s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair 19thc French Empire Carved and Gilt Wood Wall Sconces - Unelectrified
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Pair 19thc French Empire Carved Wood Wall Sconces. Highly detailed, beautifully carved. French estate.
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Wood

1920's French Empire Black Cherubs Sconces
Located in New York, NY
a pair of circa 1920's empire style sconces with Blackmoore putti.
Category

1920s French Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Late 19th Century French Empire Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of late 19th century French Empire gilt bronze small sconces. Unusual design with woman holding balls
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire Wall Sconces in Bronze with Swan Goose Motif Arms, Italy, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pair of nice Sconces. Each fixture requires two European E14 candelabras bulbs, each bulb up to 40 watts. The wall lights have a beautiful patina and gives each room an eclectic stat...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine Pair of Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces in the Empire taste. Great Detail. Original gilding. France, circa 1900. 2 lights each Dimensions: Height 24" (excluding candles) Width...
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Early 1900s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Large Pair of 19th Century French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in Chicago, IL
This pair of circa 1900 French Empire-style gilt bronze sconces showcases the mythological figure Acantha, a nymph beloved by the god Apollo. According to legend, Apollo transformed ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

French Crystal Prisms Balls Empire Sconces, circa 1930 Sparklers
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing two lights each, will be rewired with certified UL US socket for the USA and certified socket for other countries and ready to hang. Bronze top, middle and bottom with great ...
Category

1930s French Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Pair of Empire Style Sconces Wall Lights, Germany, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Add a touch of opulence to your home with this charming pair of sconces. Perfect to enhance any chic or eclectic home. We'd love to see it hanging in an entryway as a charming welcom...
Category

1960s German Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal

Pair of Bronze Crossed Arrows Wall Sconces
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice pair of bronze wall sconces present a chiseled macarrons with two crossed arrows. This is a French work in the Empire style. Circa 1950
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair Antique French Empire Bronze D'ore Wall-Lights, circa 1830-1850
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique bronze D'ore French Empire wall-lights, circa 1830-1850.
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair Antique French Empire Gold Bronze Wall Sconces, Circa 1900
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique French Empire gold bronze wall sconces, Circa 1900.
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

19th century French Gilt Bronze 4 Lights Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Circa late 19 century French gilt bronze sconces with 4 lights. Unusual design of arms and lights
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Two-Light Wall Sconce
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A precious gilt bronze two-light wall sconce in the Empire style, France, 1920-1929. Finely elaborate with hand chiseled details. Typical design of French Empire period due to its rich ornamentation with faces and acanthus leaf motifs. The bottom is characterized by a man head supporting a pedestal with the lamp-arms. Two scroll light...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Stunning Russian Empire Period Ormolu Wall Sconces , ca. 1820s
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
A stunning pair of Russian empire period ormolu wall candelabras , ca. 1800s-1830s.       
Category

Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Pair of Italian Bronze and Cammeo Appliques from the 1800s
Located in Milano, MI
Pair of bronze appliques made in the 1800s, each of which has a pair of original hand-sculpted cameos with different scenes / views Both lights come with wiring and wiring, which ...
Category

1850s Italian Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Italy 1970 Pair Post-Modern Brass Porcelain Wall Lights
Located in Brescia, IT
This pair of elegant and glamorous two lights wall light in Pink Lilac color, it is part of the latest pieces manufactured by a well known Italian factory during the 1970’ and then ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Pair of Empire Wall Sconces in Bronze with Flower Basket Motif, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pair of nice sconces. Each fixture requires a European E14 candelabra bulb, bulb up to 40 watts. Each wall light has a beautiful patina and gives each room an eclectic statement. Mad...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Tall Bronze Sconces with Quiver, Arrow and Eagleheads. Circa 1920
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice pair of tall wall sconces is made of bronze. The wall lights are decorated with a quiver, an arrow and eagleheads. This is a French work in the Empire style. Circa 1920
Category

1920s French Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Two-Light Sconces, Early 20th Century
Located in Barntrup, DE
A pair of French Empire-style gilt bronze sconces. These beautiful wall lights are richly decorated with bronze details like flowers, leaves, swans, and griffin heads. Each sconce ha...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Niermann Weeks Empire Style Large Crystals and Metal Wall Sconce or Lantern
Located in Plainview, NY
An elegant iron and crystal wall sconce or lantern by Niermann Weeks. The sconce is made of solid metal and crystals in a timeless Empire style fashion. The sconce features a plume c...
Category

Late 20th Century Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Crystal, Iron

1920s French Empire Silver Swan one light Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1920’s French empire style one light silver plated sconces with swan head. Available in bronze
Category

1920s French Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Silver Plate, Bronze

Carved Italian Giltwood Three-Arm Sconce by Randy Esada Designs
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Carved Italian giltwood three-arm sconce by Randy Esada Designs.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Giltwood

Pair of Monumental Empire Style Crystal and Bronze Sconces, Austria, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pair of gilt bronze and crystal 1930s or older, waterfall sconces in empire style. Each fixture requires three European E14 candelabra bulbs, each bulb up to 40 watts. The wall light...
Category

1930s Austrian Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Crystal, Bronze, Metal

Pair of Late 19th Century French Empire Cherubs Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of late 19th Century French Empire sconces with cherubs body, two lights. originally for candles, newly rewired for US
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Empire wall lights and sconces for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire wall lights and sconces 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 wall lights and sconces created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, mirrors and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire wall lights and sconces 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 wall lights and sconces, popular names associated with this style include Gherardo Degli Albizzi, Edward F. Caldwell & Co., Maison Baguès, and Niermann Weeks. 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 wall lights and sconces differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $227 and tops out at $87,500 while the average work can sell for $3,200.

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