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
1970 Post-Modern Pair Brass Porcelain Wall Lights with Lampshades
Located in Brescia, IT
This elegant and glamourous 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 left in...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
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
Pair of Gilded, Mirrored, Period Sconces
Located in Newport Beach, 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 of Second Empire Heavy 2 Light Bronze Sconces Wall Lights Late 19th Century
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of second Empire heavy 2 light solid polished bronze dore sconces, light fixture, wall lamps from the late 19th century.
Depict face motif in the middle a...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Crystal Prism with Mirrors Sconces, circa 1900
Located in Modena (MO), Modena (Mo)
Housing one light.. Rare bigger size. Adorning tiers of vintage crystal prisms and also florets. Mirrors have been replaced. Detailed Bronze. Will be newly rewired with certified US ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
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 ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Empire style gilt bronze sconces
French, 20th Century
Measures: Height 88cm, width 38cm, depth 35cm
This elegant pair of sconces is wrought from gilt bronze in th...
Category
20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Wrought Iron and Parcel Gilt Sconces, circa 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
French wrought iron and parcel gilt 3-light sconces with shades, from Los Angeles estate, 1930s. Beautiful patina.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Wrought Iron
Empire Style Pair of Sconces
Located in Dallas, TX
Empire style crystal prism wall sconces, 20th c., having reflective white metal wall plate, fitted with gilt metal mounts, hung with strands of hexago...
Category
20th Century Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Crystal
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Wood Sconces with Eagles, Circa 1900
Located in Fayetteville, AR
At almost 18 inches in height, this pair of French Empire style gilt wood sconces from the turn of the twentieth century features opposing Napoleonic eagles holding laurels in their ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Giltwood
Pair of French Mid-19th Century Empire Style Six-Arm Ormolu Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome pair of French mid 19th century Empire st. six arm ormolu sconces. Each sconce displays a most decorative circular mottled back plate with charming and finely detailed flo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Ormolu
Set of Four Empire Style Ten-Branch Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in London, GB
Set of four Empire style ten-branch gilt bronze sconces
French, circa 1890
Measures: Height 56cm, width 40cm, depth 32cm
Each of the sconces in this set of four is crafted from ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Italy 1970 Post-Modern Brass Porcelain Wall Lights
Located in Brescia, IT
This 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 left in ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
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
Empire Style Painted and Gilt Metal Sconce
Located in London, GB
Empire style painted and gilt metal sconce
French, 20th century
measures: Height 34cm, width 26cm, depth 17cm
This elegant sconce is crafted in the Empire style. The sconce feat...
Category
20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
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
Pair of E 20th C Empire Gilt Bronze Large Sconces, Removed from Paris Theatre
Located in Dallas, TX
A large pair of French gilt bronze large Empire style three light sconces. Removed from a Paris theatre in the 1920's.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Rare Pair of Gilt Bronze Empire Style Lions Head Sconces, France
Located in Paris, FR
Rare and beautiful pair of double sconces French Empire style from beginning of the 20th century in gilted bronze figuring lion's head.
T...
Category
Early 20th Century French 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
Italian Empire Wall Sconces, circa 1950
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Gilded empire style wall sconces in the shape of ribbons cast in solid bronze with inlaid hand painted porcelain decor. Produced in the 1950s. Comes with lime green lamp...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Large Pair of Empire Wall Sconces in Bronze, Italy
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pair of large appliques with new electrical wiring and faux candles set in bronze in the shape of tassels. Each fixture requires two European E14 candelabras bulbs, each bulb up to 4...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Pair Empire Style Ormolu Sconces, 19 Century
Located in Cypress, CA
Apposing 19th century pair French Empire style ormolu seven light sconces with beautiful details.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
French Crystal Prisms Empire Sconces, circa 1930
Located in Modena (MO), Modena (Mo)
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 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
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
20th Century Empire Style Wall Girdle/Wall Light after Antoine-André Ravrio
By André-Antoine Ravrio
Located in Berlin, DE
Imperial Empire wall girdle to Antoine-André Ravrio 1759-1814.
Bronze, gilded or partly dark patinated. From acanthus of fullplastic herme / Amor adult with, holding a vase as a car...
Category
20th Century Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Two Empire wall sconces. Bronze, Glass, France, circa 1900
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of appliques. Bronze, glass. Empire style, France, circa 1900.
Both are practically the same, each wall light has three points of light and a decoration and lines that respond...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze, Other
20th Century Empire Style Basket Wall Light
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved bronze. Finely ground crystal (30% lead). (F-Me-80).
Category
20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Splendid Bronze French Empire Wall Sconces
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Absolutely sublime top drawer bronze electried antique wall sconces having 2 lights each, and marvelous decoration including urn at the top, tassel at the bottom, acanthus leaves and...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
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
Heavy Cast Bronze Empire Wall Sconce w 3 Lights Quantity Available
Located in New York, NY
Heavy cast bronze three light sconce done in an Empire style. Small quantity available at time of posting. Priced each. Please inquire. Please note, this item is located in our Scran...
Category
Early 2000s Argentine 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...
Category
1990s American Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Wall Light Lamp
Located in Berlin, DE
Decorative wall light in Empire style.
Finely engraved and cast bronze. Three stylized, full horn-formed, sweeping light arms.
(F-Sam-1).
Category
20th Century Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century Empire Wall Sconces
Located in Casteren, NL
Pair of 19th century Empire wall sconces made of bronze.
This wall scones were originally gas lamps later transferred to electric lamps.
Originates France, circa 1870.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style from 1800 Wall Light
Located in Berlin, DE
Decorative wall light in Empire style from 1800.
Finely cast, bronze silvered. Three stylized, horn-formed, sweeping light arms.
(F-Mr-26-Bas).
Category
20th Century Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Wonderful Pair French Neoclassical Empire Bronze Figural 5-Arm Regency Sconces
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful pair of French neoclassical / empire bronze figural masks, 5-arm regency wall sconces.
Category
20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Wall Sconces Bronze Empire Style, France, Early 20th Century
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
Solid brass or brass wall lamp Empire style with two arms.
This wall sconces Empire style white rigid appearance, solid and basic geometric shapes. Decorated with acanthus leaves ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Caldwell French Empire Style Ormolu Wall Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire-style (late 19th Century) ormolu wall sconces with sixteen arms, and shield form back plates with crossed palm fronds surrounding a scrolling vine cast pierced ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Ormolu
Rare Pair of Gilt Bronze Empire Style Lions Sconces, France
Located in Paris, FR
Rare and beautiful pair of double sconces French Empire style from beginning of the 20th century in gilded bronze figuring lion's head.
T...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Second Empire Three-Light Wall Sconces
Located in Montreal, QC
These good quality sconces in mat black and gilt bronze are pierced with scrolls and flower heads and with drip pans and arms cast with stylized acanthus. The two-tone gilding and ha...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Large Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Seven-Light Wall Lights
Located in New York, NY
Large pair of French Empire style gilt bronze wall lights.
Surmounted by a classical female figure standing atop an orb and holding butterflies in each hand, above two tier structur...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Brass Sconces, Early 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of French Empire three-light brass sconces with lion faces, converted to electric.
Recently restored, having wax candle sleeves and holding chandelier size light bulbs.
Fran...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Brass
Lady Sconces, Empire Type, Large 18-Karat Gold Plate, No Shades
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large size lady face sconces cast in bronze. From the original. They look great on the wall ,they are impressive looking . Single shade arm that fits a 3"...
Category
1890s North American Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Set of Eight French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Figural Neoclassical Wall Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A set of eight superb French Empire style gilt bronze figural double light wall sconces of great quality embellished with fine figural masks of neoclassical men.
Category
20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Bronze Wall Sconces
Located in Fairfax, VA
An exceptional pair of double French early 20th century bronze wall sconces with torch backplate and great detail and workmanship.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Large Empire Appliqués / Sconces circa 1800, Gilded Linden Wood
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of large Empire appliqués / sconces circa 1800, gilded linden wood
Solid linden wood, gilded two-flame. Carved, gilded. Ribbon, each with a ce...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Wood
Pair of Empire/ Charles X Gilt and Patinated Bronze Four-Light Wall Appliques
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Empire/ Charles X Gilt and Patinated Bronze Four-Light Wall Appliques or Sconces
A pair of Empire/ Charles X four-branch ormolu/gilt and patinated bronze wall lights “à la c...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Bronze Doré Wall Sconce
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style 19th century bronze doré wall sconce with lion head on back plate and 3 griffin arms.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Bronze Wall Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire style bronze 5-arm wall sconces with swan top and double ball design (19th century).
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Pair of E. F. Caldwell Empire Style Silvered Bronze Three-Light Sconces
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This quality pair of neoclassical style sconces are finely detailed, and feature lion heads, rosettes and acanthus leaves.
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Antique Empire-Style Cast Metal Sconces
Located in Sheffield, MA
The defining feature of this pair of antique Napoleon Empire-style lighting fixtures are the vertical arrows "shot through" the backs of the gilt cast metal sconces. Each piece has a...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Metal
Two French Empire, Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces, circa 1860
Located in Baltimore, MD
Two, exceptional pairs of 19th century 3-arm gas sconces featuring Horn-shaped arms ornamented with anthemions and terminating in urn form candle cups with swags. Sconce body depicts...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze
Two French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Sconces
Located in London, GB
These two sconces have been crafted in the Empire style, which was popularised by the French Emperor, Napoleon I. The Empire style is characterised by its grandeur and use of opulent...
Category
20th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Cast Bronze Empire Style Wall Sconces with Opal White Glass Globes, Circa 1900s
Located in New York, NY
AEX0397
A pair of large antique empire style cast bronze column form exterior wall sconces with fluting, reeding, and foliate details. Each fixture is finished with a large opal whit...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Bronze, Brass
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...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
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
Pair of French Empire Gilt Wood and Lacquer Wall Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire-style (19th Century) giltwood and black lacquer wall sconces with four arms and figural winged ladies (PRICED AS Pair)
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Lights and Sconces
Materials
Wood
Pair of French Empire Neoclassical Regency Gilt Bronze Patinated Sconces
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful pair of French Empire/neoclassical/Regency gilt bronze and patinated four- arm wall sconces.
Category
1920s French Vintage 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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