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.
$2,201Sale Price|20% Off
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
Bronze
Pair 19thc French Neoclassic Gilt Bronze Horns & Arrow Wall Sconces
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Lovely Pair French Empire Neoclassic Gilt Bronze Horns & Arrows Wall Sconces. Very nicely detailed. Parisian Estate.
Bronze
$1,087Sale Price|20% Off
Maitland-Smith Empire Revival Table Lamp, Verde Alpi Marble, 1980s
Located in Glasgow, GB
This Empire Revival table lamp by Maitland-Smith was crafted in the 1980s and exemplifies the brand’s refined approach to historical reinterpretation. Drawing directly from Napoleoni...
Marble, Bronze, Wrought Iron
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Urns Wired as Lamps
Located in Long Island City, NY
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Urns, Wired as Lamps. Featuring ornate swag garlands and rams heads, with a frieze of dancing putti.
Bronze
French early 19th Century twelve light gilded chandelier attributed to Thomire
Located in 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...
Ormolu
$2,650
Empire Style Pendant
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very elegant and restrained gilt bronze & painted bronze empire style pendant. France, circa 1920. 4 Lights. Measures: height 38", diameter 25"...
Bronze
Large French Empire Brass Crackle Art Glass Flush Mount Ceiling Light Fixture
By Baccarat
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Large French Empire Gilt Brass & Crackle Frosted Art Glass Flush Mount Ceiling Light Fixture Having 3 Internal Candelabra Lights Rewired With New Sockets
Brass
French Empire Style Crystal Glass Pineapple Column Brass Table Lamp
Located in Germantown, MD
A Vintage French Empire Style Crystal Glass Pineapple Column Brass Table Lamp. Measuring 6.5" in diameter and 28.5" in height.
Crystal
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 ...
Gold, Bronze
$1,232Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair 1960s Austrian Empire style 24K Framed w/ Glass Bag/ Tent Form Wall Sconces
By Palwa
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Pair Austrian Empire style 24K Gold Framed "Bag and Tent" form Wall sconces. Manufactured by Palwa. Labelled.
Glass
$4,167Sale Price / item|20% Off
Art Deco Crystal Chandelier Empire Sac a Pearl Palace Lamp Chrome
Located in Berlin, DE
New Art Deco Crystal Style Chandelier: Custom Empire Elegance Introducing our latest addition, the Art Deco crystal style chandelier, a captivating fusion of Empire opulence and the...
Crystal
Large French Empire Style Glass and Gilt Bronze 18-Light Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This 19th century French chandelier is designed in the Empire style and wrought from gilt bronze and strings of cut glass. The chandelier features a lower dome-shaped body below an o...
Ormolu, 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...
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Alabaster And Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and most impressive French 19th century Empire st. Alabaster and Ormolu chandelier. This four arm eight light chandelier is centered by a striking foliate acorn shaped Or...
Marble, Ormolu
$18,750 / item
Empire Style Lantern Form Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A superb Louis WVI style lantern. Two toned patinated bronze, with curved glass panels. 3-light, France, circa 1900. Apparently unmarked. Measures: Height 42", diameter 19". Pair ...
Bronze
$3,080Sale Price|20% Off
19thc Antique French "Empire" Bronze Fish/ Dolphin/ Sea Creature/ Koi Chandelier
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Rare 19thc French Antique Empire Bronze Fish/ Sea Creature/ Dolphin Chandelier. 3 fish with curled tails. Floral Art Glass shades. Parisian Estate a...
Bronze
$8,850Sale Price / item|20% Off
Montgolfiè Antique Lok Crystal Chandelier Empire Sac a Pearl Lamp Chateau New
Located in Berlin, DE
Montgolfière Style Chandelier - Empire Elegance with Customizability Introducing a new Montgolfière style chandelier that exudes the charm of the Empire era, reimagined with modern ...
Crystal
$5,800 / set
1920s Silver Plated Empire Column Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
pair of circa 1920’s Silver plated empire style column table lamps
Silver Plate
Empire Style Bronze Ram's Head Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Six-arm Empire style ram's head chandelier. Solid brass and bronze, nice and heavy. Has great patina. In good working condition. Original ceiling cap ...
Brass, Bronze
$4,800 / set
1930's French Empire Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930,s French Empire style wall sconces with bend glass inset from Mr..Icahn's Penthouse in NYC
Bronze
$1,217Sale Price / set|35% Off
Maison Lucien Gau bronze wall lighting model Swann Empire , France 1960s
Located in La xara, VC
The wall sconces correspond to the swan model by Maison Lucien Gau, a Parisian bronze art manufacturer specializing in bronze lighting since 1860, still active today. Model Identifi...
Bronze
Italian Empire White Murano Opaline Beads Blue Beaded Tole Chandelier, c 1920
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing 6 lights, sitting in white opaline bobéches. Will be rewired with certified UL US sockets for the USA and appropriate sockets for all other countries and ready to hang at ou...
Murano Glass
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...
Brass
19th Century Pair of Antique Empire Style Figural Dore Bronze Lamps
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Fine twin light candelabra form table lamps. A black figure of winged Victory supports twin dore double horn form arms with fine details and sockets with gray wood faux candles. She...
Bronze
Urn and Rams Head White & Gold Porcelain Table Lamp Empire Style, German, Large
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous large white and gold porcelain table lamp in urn form with detailed ram's head design, in the Empire style, attributed to Furstenberg Porcelain, Germany, circa 20th centur...
Gold
Black Lacquered Wood Empire Style Table Lamp
Located in Montreal, QC
Black lacquered wood empire style table lamp stencil with gilded motifs
Wood
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Chandelier, Neo-Classical Design, 1880
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire Style (1880) gilt bronze 5-light chandelier in neo-classic form with sphinx figures, ancient urns, medallion heads and multi-patterned reserves.
Metal, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely elegant French 19th century Empire st. ormolu and Baccarat crystal chandelier. The eight arm chandelier is centered by a striking solid crystal ball below a ...
Crystal, Ormolu
Pr. French Empire Period Dore Bronze Column Shaped Lamps by Thomire à Paris
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of French Empire Period Dore Bronze Column Shaped Lamps, Signed, By Thomire à Paris These lamps are formed as tall, columnar shafts rising from square bases. Each base is mou...
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.
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Urn Form Lamp
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome gilt bronze urn features neoclassical motifs including acanthus leaves. The stepped plinth form base is mounted with a decorative wreath. The urn measures 14.5" in hei...
Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A lovely French 19th century Empire st. verdigris patinated bronze and ormolu chandelier. The patinated bronze base is decorated with an ormolu inverted finial and acanthus leaves an...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Signed, 19th Century, Converted Milkglass Lamps Hand Painted with Ivy
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of columnar table lamps, in Empire style, of milkglass. Each a round, faceted column, handpainted with scrolling vines of ivy. Lamped on round, pierced metal bases. Signed, "Pee...
Milk Glass
$4,540Sale Price|20% Off
'60s Monumental Empire 24K Gold Plated Bronze Amethyst Crystal Chandelier Palwa
By Palwa
Located in Opa Locka, FL
1960's Monumental Empire style 24K Gold Plated Bronze with Amethyst Cut Crystal Waterfall Semi Flush Mount Chandelier by Palme & Walter Palwa. This is a very high quality Chandel...
Bronze
French Empire Style Bronze Basket Chandelier With Six Branches
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire Style Bronze Basket Chandelier, the six branches with ribbon and garland frame, top tier of faceted drop crystals and basket form prism below. 33" H x 22.5" Diameter. ...
Crystal, Bronze
Czech Empire-Style Dome Chandelier, Crystal & Brass, Vintage 1950s
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...
Crystal, Brass
Pair French Empire Caryatids Gilded Bronze Cut Glass 4-Light Lantern Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Beautiful pair of antique large French Empire caryatids cast bronze lanterns. Fire gilded solid heavy bronze and cut glass shade with four-light. Dimensions : Diameter 12 in/ 30 cm ...
Bronze
Swedish Empire Ceiling Chandelier in antique Classicist Style brass polished
Located in Berlin, DE
Polished brass and facet-ground prism hangings. Measures: Diameter 76 cm Height 120 cm.
Brass
A Rare Brass Bouillotte Triple Branch Table Lamp With Height Adjustable Shade
Located in Reading, Berkshire
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...
Brass
Vintage Corton Clarinet Table Lamp with Onyx Base, Art Deco Style
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A vintage Corton clarinet made in Czechoslovakia (found in France), 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...
Onyx, Metal
Pair of French Empire Bronze Candlestick Table Lamps, France, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of French Empire Bronze Candlestick Table Lamps, France, 1820s An exceptional pair of early 19th-century French Empire bronze candlesticks, masterfully converted into elegant t...
Bronze
19thc French Empire Gilt & Patinated Bronze Figural 5 Arm Candleholder Sconce
Located in Opa Locka, FL
19thc Grand French Empire Gilt & Patinated Bronze Figural Wall Sconce. Large Sconce with 5 Candleholders. This piece is in its original unelectrified state. This Sconce has majes...
Bronze
Impressive Large French Empire Patinated & Gilt Bronze 8 Etched Globe Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Spectacular neoclassical French Empire gilt bronze 8-light chandelier, oxidized an gold-plated solid bronze 8-light bulbs E 14/good working condition Measures: Diameter 27.6 in/ 70 c...
Bronze
19th Century French Brass Empire Sconce, Neoclassical Antique Lighting
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A single petite Empire brass sconce of French design, 19th century. Perfect for a small space that needs some extra light and still looks sophistic...
Metal, Brass
Large Italian Empire Style Chandelier with Tôle and Gilt Bronze Details, 1940s
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Striking Italian Empire-style chandelier executed in black lacquered metal with gilt bronze and brass details, dating from the mid-20th century. The fixture features eight elegantly ...
Bronze
Italian Late Empire Carved and Gilded Chandelier with Cut Glass Prisms
Located in Kastrup, DK
Italian Late Empire chandelier, carved in wood, richly decorated and water-gilded, adorned with cut glass prisms. The central section features classical Empire motifs, including aca...
Brass
Pair of Massive Patinated and Gilt Bronze 5-Light Sconces, Wall Appliques
Located in Germantown, MD
A Massive Pair of Gilt and Patinated Bronze Five-Light Wall Appliques or Sconces, 20th Century, in the style of E.F. Caldwell. This pair is large and features a patinated putti form ...
Metal, Bronze
Large Elegant French Empire Gilt Bronze and Crystal Chandelier With 8 Arms
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Very impressive Empire 8 arm chandelier having gorgeous ornate gilt bronze with dome shaped cut glass insert and dripping with crystals on bobeches adorning each candle shaped light....
Crystal, Bronze
$4,800 / set
1930 French Empire Bronze Sconces 1 Light 14”
Located in New York, NY
Pair of 1930’s French empire style gilt bronze sconces with swan’s heads, one light
Bronze
Pair Of Circa 1900 Gilded Bronze Female Griffin Empire Wall Lights
Located in Hastings, GB
An exceptional pair of circa 1900 French Empire style ormolu wall lights, these stunning gilded bronze lights are modelled as the winged female griffin, a classic Empire motif symbol...
Brass, Bronze
$3,400 / set
1900 French Empire Sconces With Swams
Located in New York, NY
pair of circa 1900 French Empire sconces with swan's head
Bronze
$8,857Sale Price / item|20% Off
Art Deco Style Crystal Chandelier Empire Sac a Pearl Palace Lamp Chrome
Located in Berlin, DE
Art Deco Crystal Chandelier - Empire Elegance in Customizable Sizes Introducing a new Art Deco crystal style chandelier that captures the grandeur of the Empire era while offering m...
Crystal
Stunning 16-Light Murano Crystal Chandelier, circa 1920s
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
A wonderful very large sixteen light Murano glass and cut crystal silvered chandelier, Italy, circa 1920s. This beautiful handcrafted fixture is made of silvered brass elements, Mur...
Crystal
$16,859Sale Price|40% Off
Crystal Chandelier Empire Sac a Pearl Big Large Palace Lamp Chateau Lustre
Located in Berlin, DE
Montgolfière Style Chandelier - Empire Elegance with Customizability Introducing a new Montgolfière style chandelier that exudes the charm of the Empire era, reimagined with modern ...
Crystal, Iron, Wire
French Empire Gilt Bronze and Marble Figural Lamp Base
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This fine quality lamp base features a gilt classical frieze, and a patinated bronze figure of a classical maiden.
Marble, Bronze
$544Sale Price / set|20% Off
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...
Bronze
$4,800 / set
1930 French Empire Style Sconces 2 Lights
Located in New York, NY
Pair of 1930’s French empire style sconces with 2 lights
Bronze
Grand Prospect Hall Empire Crystal Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
This Empire style chandelier was repurposed from a larger light in the main ballroom in Brooklyn, New York's Grand Prospect Hall. Grand Prospect Hall was built in 1892 and has witnes...
Crystal, Brass
$5,800 / set
Late 19th Century French Empire Arrow Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1900's Empire style sconces with two Roman warriors on black backplate.
Bronze
Wonderful French Empire Dore Bronze Regency Petite Eagle Head Chandelier Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful French Empire Dore Bronze & Dark Green Patinated Regency Petite three Candelabra Light Eagle Head Chandelier
Bronze, Ormolu