Empire Lighting
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
19th Century Gilt Tole Empire Crystal Chandeliers - a Pair
Located in Canton, MA
A pair of 19th Century gilt tole empire chandeliers. Strands of oval crystals. Spears hang from the crown and from delicate arms that extend from the central ring. Single down light ...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Metal
French Crystal Chandelier
Located in Austin, TX
Antique chandelier from France made with cut crystal elements (cabochons and pendants) on a brass structure. It has been newly wired to fit US standards.
The current overall height i...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Waldorf Astoria Hotel Empire 6 Arm Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Empire style bronze finish chandelier with six candlestick arms. Cleaned and restored. This light hung in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel corridors. Price includes wiring and cleaning. Wa...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Antique French Silver Bouillotte Lamps
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of table lamps from France, silver plated on copper. Each lamp has two candelabra arms. The original dark forest green shades are adjustable. They have been newly wired to fit U...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
Pair of French Antique Bouillotte Lamps
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of table lamps from France made of finely cast bronze, gilded, each featuring three arms. The original red colored shades are adjustable. They have been newly wired to fit US st...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Period Tole & Bronze 6-light Globe Chandelier, early 19th century
Located in Atlanta, GA
completely original and in unrestored condition this globe chandelier is constructed entirely of heavy guage painted tole and bronze, hanging from a canopy with finely cast chain the...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Tin
Gaetano Sciolari Pair of Solid Brass and Glass Lanterns or Pendant Lamp
Located in Verviers, BE
Pair of Beautiful solid brass lantern or pendant lamp made by Italian designer Gaetano Sciolari, circa 1960-1970, Rome, Italy. The fabulous of vintage light takes four E14 European s...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Empire Style Pair Of Italian Bronze And Brass Column Table Lamps
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest that you read the entire description, as with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects.
Exce...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Patinated Metal and Brass French Empire Period 8-Arm Chandelier, ca. 1810
Located in Atlanta, GA
skillfully cast in brass with the center section a dark (nearly black) patinated metal with original canopy of acanthus leaves, original chains and a circular body with brass finial ...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Czech Crystal Tent & Bag Chandelier
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Bohemian Tent and Bag, or Sack of Pearls chandelier made of hundreds of crystal strands. This one is particularly special with a skirt of spear-shaped leaded crystals and beaded g...
Category
1930s Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
Large Antique French Empire Style Alabaster and Bronze Twelve-Light Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
Large antique French Empire-style alabaster, frosted glass, and bronze pendant chandelier from circa 1890.
An impressive and large twelve-light alabaster pendant chandelier from the ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze
19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Bouillotte Table Lamp
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very stylish 19th century Empire style 'Bouillotte' table lamp in gilt bronze, lit by three curvaceous 'swans head' arms and topped with a green lacquered metal (tole) shade adorne...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Maitland Smith French Empire Figural Phoenix Bouillotte Candlestick Table Lamp
Located in Dayton, OH
Monumental late 20th century Maitland Smith Empire style Bouillote / Budoir lamp. Made from brass with a pierced and paw footed base over an acanthus wrapped column leading to a figural winged Phoenix / Griffon candlestick...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
19th Century Empire Brass and Giltwood Lamp
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Single lamp, nice elegant lines. Made in the 19th Century.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Large Gilded Crystal 18 Light French Empire Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Antique French Empire style gilded bronze chandelier with 18 lights. This has been newly restored and rewired and is ready to ship. This was retrieved from an estate located in Green...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Bronze Table Lamp by Danish Sculptor TH Stein Denmark 1850’s
Located in Valby, 84
Artist made Bronze lamp attributed Danish Sculptor TH Stein and is made in the 1850’s.
The lamp has clear references to both Pompeii and Herculanum.
The lamp is made in solid bronze ...
Category
1850s Danish Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Excellent Italian Made French Empire Style 8 Light Bronze Chandelier 42 X 30
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Excellent Italian Made French Empire Style 8 Light Bronze Chandelier 42 X 30
Dimensions : 42" Tall X 30" Wide X 30" Deep
This fine quality large ch...
Category
1990s Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
1920's French Empire Single Light Swan Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of circa 1920’s French empire style one light sconces with Swan’s head
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair Vintage Roman Column Form Green Marble and Brass Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of vintage Empire style table lamps of Roman column form, finely crafted from variegated green marble with brass mounts including Corinthian style capitals and square stepped ba...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Brass
Empire Bronze Figural Swan Chandelier
Located in Barcelona, ES
Very Fine Empire Style Neoclassical Six-Arm Bronze Swan Chandelier, France, 1930s
Gorgeous six lights bronze chandelier with foliage and figural motifs.
Rare French Empire style bron...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Iron
First Period French Empire Ormolu and Crystal Chandelier, Early 19th Century
Located in Charleston, SC
This Regal First Period French Empire Ormolu and Crystal Six-Arm Chandelier was made in France in the Early Nineteenth Century. The Bronze Doré Castings are of the highest refined quality. The Doré Corona is surmounted with seven Acanthus Leaves, each pinned with a French crystal drop. The Corona suspends to the hand-pinned faceted oval crystal chain tent that is encompassed with hand pined French drops. The tent chains draw the eye down to the two tone console...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Brass Steel Pool Table Double Lantern Light
Located in New York, NY
This piece was acquired from an estate located in Greenwich, Connecticut. This pool table light holds two metal shaded lamps. The arm of the light is ...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Steel
Six Arm Brass and Crystal Empire style Chandelier
Located in Canton, MA
Six arm brass and crystal empire style chandelier. Gilt brass with Crystals. Central brass ring with classical wave cast design. Six arms extend from the central ring with cast desig...
Category
Late 20th Century European Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
19th Century Ormolu and Tole Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Stamford, CT
Late 19th century directoire bouillotte table lamp. Lamp features original elements and original black tole lampshade with gilt brass leaf applied detailing. Newly rewired with side ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Tôle, Brass
French early 19th Century twelve light gilded chandelier attributed to Thomire
Located in Southall, GB
An impressive gilt and patinated bronze French Empire chandelier with twelve lights, attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751–1843). Winged Victory figures wearing classical robes stand...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
An Outstanding 1950's Italian Cross Sword and Gilt Rope Tassel Wall Light
Located in Hastings, GB
An extremely rare and incredibly ornate Italian wall light, dating to the 1950's, in the empire style and modeled as a pair of crossed swords, in gilt and silver gilt, decorated with...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
A Rare Brass Bouillotte Triple Branch Table Lamp With Height Adjustable Shade
Located in High Wycombe, GB
A Rare Brass Bouillotte Triple Branch Table Lamp With An Adjustable Height Shade.
Complete with rare brass accessories such as a candle snuffer and candle wick cutter...
Category
19th Century British Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Vintage Brass & Marble Empire Torchiere Column Candlestick Table Lamp 37"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Empire style torchiere / square column / candlestick shaped table lamp, crafted of brass with dark accents and white marble on the base....
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Empire Style Brass and Crystal Glass Basket Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire-style brass and crystal glass basket chandelier.
Charming and compact French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1950s. This lovely piece has an or...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Pair French Antique Crystal & Bronze Chandeliers
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular pair of Antique French Crystal and Gilt Bronze Chandeliers.
A matched pair of early 20th century French...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
1920's Empire Style Cut Crystal Table Lamp - Pair
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1920's Empire style cut crystal table lamps
Category
1920s European Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Style Glass and Bronze Two-Light Pendant Chandelier, 1950s
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire-style glass and bronze two-light Pendant Chandelier, circa the 1950s.
This absolutely adorable Empire-style chandelier features a bronze frame with two arrows and two b...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Empire Style Crystal Glass and Brass Sconce by Palwa, Germany, 1960s
By Palwa
Located in Barntrup, DE
A splendid Empire-style sconce by Palwa, Germany, 1960s. Gilt brass frame adorned with crystal glass beads and prisms, three interior lights for E14 size light bulbs.
Dimensions:
Hei...
Category
1960s German Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Pair Of Empire Style Niermann Weeks Crystal Wall Sconces
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The pair of wall sconces in the Empire style with embossed gilt metal having a floral-like design, three electrified lights with beeswax candle covers...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Brass and Onyx Single Lamp
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A 19th century French Empire style single light table lamp with contemporary linen shade. Elegant with neoclassical designs and featuring a tapered onyx shaft ornamented with decorat...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Onyx, Brass
Vintage Corton Clarinet Lamp
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A vintage Corton clarinet made in Czechoslovakia and upcycled into a fabulous table lamp mounted on a beautiful onyx base with a vintage black silk shade. The clarinet shows signs of being a much loved and used musical instrument...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Czech Empire Lighting
Materials
Onyx, Metal
Winged Victory Empire Figural Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
Winged Victory French Empire figural lamp patinated and gilt bronze, column on stepped black veined marble base. 19th century, France
MEASUREMENTS;
30.25" H x 16" diameter (shade)...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French 1870 Pair of Empire Candle Holders Lamps Ormolu with Gray Dotted Granite
Located in Miami, FL
French empire pair of candle holders lamps.
Exceptional pair of antique candleholders, created in Paris France during the imperial period of Napoleon III, circa 1870. They was designed with French empire neoclassical patterns, masterfully crafted with parts made up in gilt bronze ormolu and patinated bronze. Mounted in fluted columns pedestals carved from gray dotted Granite, with polished finish. Embellished with garlands and putties mounted in a four square and stepped bases.
Weight: Combined of 12 Pounds (5.45 Kilos).
Measurements: 15 Height by 4.50 Length by 5.15 Width Inches, (38 x 11.43 x 13.08 Cm).
French Empire
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (1808-1873) was Emperor of France from 1852 to 1870 under the name of Napoleon III. In a way, the artistic codes of the Napoleon III style, also called Second Empire style, were presented at the Exhibition of 1844, during the reign of Louis-Philippe d'Orléans. The second Empire style, also known as the Napoleon III style, is a highly eclectic style of architecture and decorative arts, which uses elements of many different historical styles, and also made innovative use of modern materials, such as iron frameworks and glass skylights. It flourished during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III in France (1852–1870) and had an important influence on architecture and decoration in the rest of Europe and North America. Major examples of the style include the Opéra Garnier (1862–1871) in Paris by Charles Garnier, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Church of Saint Augustine (1860–1871), and the Philadelphia City Hall (1871–1901). The architectural style was closely connected with Haussmann's renovation of Paris carried out during the Second Empire; the new buildings, such as the Opéra, were intended as the focal points of the new boulevards.
Comfort was the first priority of Second Empire furniture...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Granite, Bronze, Ormolu
1920's Caldwell Gilt Bronze Empire Style Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 1920's Caldwell Empire style bronze double light sconces
Category
1920s American Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Enormous Italian Blanc De Chin pottery table lamps/a pair
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a pair of very large mid century Vintage Italian blanc de chin pottery table lamps. These lamps have shell and empire inspired motifs around the entire surface of the lamps. ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Pottery
Large Empire Style Alabaster and Bronze Sixteen-Light Chandelier, ca. 1920
Located in Barntrup, DE
Large Empire-style alabaster and bronze chandelier, Germany, ca. 1920.
An impressive sixteen-light alabaster and bronze chandelier. The extra large, exceptional, and masterfully carv...
Category
1920s German Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Black Stone and Ormolu Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Each candleholder of columnar form surmounted with ormolu stiff-leaf capitals and with acanthus-wrapped base, on pedestal bases with outswept scrolling feet. Fitted with two brass bulb sockets. Adjustable. Later mounded as a lamps. With duck blue...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Stone, Brass, Ormolu
Large Prussian Chandelier After a Design by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Berlin
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This large and spectacular German eight-light chandelier is made after the design by the famous architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781-1841) in the manufactory of Schwitzky & Mencke...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
Corinthian Column Marble Table Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
A French Empire style Corinthian column table lamp in marble. A decorative carved spiral, twists around the marble column, which is topped and tailed with a brass capital...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique French Billiard, Snooker or Kitchen Island Brass Chandelier, 1850s
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
A huge and impressive French Empire brass chandelier for billiard/snooker or kitchen island.
Lamp socket: 2 x E27 or E26 ( US) for standard screw bulbs.
France, circa 1840 - 1860s....
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Czech Crystal Beaded Empire Style Dome Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
This absolutely adorable Czech crystal beaded Empire-style dome chandelier pendant from circa the 1950s consists of strands of crystal cut balls sizing from small to big. Ballroom st...
Category
1950s Czech Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Pair of French Louis Philippe Siena Marble and Gilt Bronze Table Lamps
Located in Dallas, TX
a pair of fine lamps of Siena marble with gold and silver gilt bronze mounts and supports, France, circa 1830
37" H x 8" diameter base
PRICED WITHOUT SHADES
(SHADES AVAILABLE SE...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Siena Marble, Silver, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
By Thomire & Cie.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks.
With intricate raised decoration in the form of geometric and foliate patterns.
The middle of each candlestick is fluted and ...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style French Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Austin, TX
Bouillotte lamp; French; in the French Empire style. This piece has a base made of finely cast bronze featuring three arms. There is a beautiful hand painted and gold leafed adjustab...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style French Antique Lamp
Located in Austin, TX
Lamp, French, “Bouillote”, made of finely cast bronze. The piece mimics a traditional oil lamp and is topped with a gold leaf painted adjustable lamp shade. It has been newly wired t...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Pair 19th Century French Empire Style bronze mounted Porcelain Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair 19th Century French Empire Style bronze mounted Porcelain Table Lamp with fine gilding and hand-painted floral motifs on white and green ground.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Two-Light Wall Torchère Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of French empire style gilt-bronze two-light wall torchère sconces. Each elongated gilt-bronze applique with central twin-tassels supporting a pa...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pr of French Old Paris or Vieux Paris Urns Now Converted into Table Lamps, C1810
By Old Paris
Located in valatie, NY
Pr of French Old Paris or Vieux Paris urns now converted into table lamps c1810. Old Paris porcelain or Vieux Paris is very broadly defined as porcelain made by artisans in and aroun...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair Basket Chandelier Crystal Empire Brass Sac a Pearl Lustre Ceiling Antique
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing two exquisite basket chandeliers, available as a pair! Both have been lovingly and professionally restored in Berlin, with electrical wiring compatible with the US. They ...
Category
1840s European Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
French Empire Style Brass, Bronze and Frosted Glass Three-Light Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire style brass, bronze, and frosted glass three-light chandelier from ca 1950s.
This adorable and compact Empire-style chandelier features a circular brass body and three...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Pair of Large Vieux Paris Porcelain Table Lamps
Located in Essex, MA
Old vieux Paris porcelain from the Napoleonic period decorated with farm animals and barn. With swan handles. Beautifully painted and fire gilded. Now mounted as lamps.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Tole Sinumbra Lamp from the Estate of Paul and Bunny Mellon
Located in Hudson, NY
This fine classical carcel lamp would originally have had a burner and glass shade but now is fitted for electricity and will require a tole or cloth shade...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire lighting 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 lighting created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire lighting 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 lighting, popular names associated with this style include Gherardo Degli Albizzi, Edward F. Caldwell & Co., Alexandre Vossion, and Maison Baguès. 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 lighting differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $194 and tops out at $220,000 while the average work can sell for $4,434.
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