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
Pair of French Early 19th Century Empire Gilt-Bronze Candlesticks, circa 1820
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of French early 19th century Empire gilt-bronze candlesticks, circa 1820
Pair of Empire gilt bronze candlesticks, each with a fluted stem, highlighted on top by a finely chas...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Marble Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French early 19th century Empire st. highly chased ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble, three arm candelabra, mounted into a lamp. The square Rouge Griotte marble base with or...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Superb Maria Theresa Crystal Chandelier
Located in Rome, IT
Magnificent "Maria Theresa" (or Maria Teresa) Empire style traditional crystal chandelier features 24 lights and framework with a golden iron, with glass encased arms and rosettes.
...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
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...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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 Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
French Crystal Prisms Empire Sconces, circa 1930
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 Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Ceiling Light Italian Banci Firenze White Flush Mount
Located in Milan, IT
Italian 1980s ceiling light by Banci Firenze, an Empire style circular brass and ivory color painted ceiling fixture, decorated with six cast brass...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Silver Square Empire Sac a Pearl Chandelier Crystal Antique Classic
Located in Berlin, DE
Experience Timeless Opulence with the Empire Sac a Pearl Crystal Chandelier
Indulge in the allure of the past with the Empire Sac a Pearl crystal chandelier, an exquisite blend of v...
Category
1940s European Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks after C. Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of excellent early 19th century French empire gilt bronze candlesticks in the style of Claude Galle (1758-1815):
A tapering stem with rich trelliswork relief divided into thr...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Gilt Bronze Chandelier with Crystal Beads in Empire Style
Located in Houston, TX
French sac de pearl empire style chandelier with crystal beads and bronze dore floral decorations,
Ending in an acorn finial.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
Low Flushmount Crystal Chandelier Empire Big Palace Lamp Chateau Lustre
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing the New Montgolfière Style Chandelier: A Masterpiece of Empire Elegance
Experience the epitome of opulence and craftsmanship with our exquisite Montgolfière style chande...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Wire
Italian Thirteen-Light Drop Crystal Chandelier, Empire Style
Located in Austin, TX
A beautiful Italian thirteen-light hanging fixture or chandelier of gilt metal and crystals, in the Empire style, featuring a crown over cascading pendants, with a ring of ten lights around the circumference surrounding a three light center, and graduated pendant...
Category
20th Century Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Metal, Wire
Pair of French Empire Gilt Bronze Two-Arm Bouillotte Lamps or Table Lamps, 1815
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant Empire gilded bronze finely chiseled Bouillotte lamps with dark green painted tole adjustable shade.
Two E 14 light bulbs.
We can deliver wired for US standard.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Russian 19th Century Empire St. Patinated Bronze, Crystal, and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and extremely decorative Russian 19th century Empire st. patinated bronze, crystal, and ormolu chandelier. The twelve arm chandelier is centered by a Fine solid crystal...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
20th Century Empire Style Bronze Silvered Three Claw-Feet French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved, silvered. On three claw-feet, several times structured, fluted column-shaft.
(T-Mr-15-Bas).
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Horn-Formed Rolling Candlesticks French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and casted, partially silvered. Three stylized, horn-formed rolling candle sticks.
(T-Mr-14-Bp).
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Fine and Rare Empire Period Gilt Bronze Bouillotte Table Lamp
Located in Montreal, QC
Fine and rare Empire period gilt bronze bouillotte table lamp with cherubs and decorated with palms relief and resting on paws feet base.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Tole Painted Metal Shade Brass Bugle Table Lamp, circa 1950s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delivery needs! They offer a reasonable flat-rate fee for delivery and set up to the ground floor of your home. They deliver to the vast majority of the lower 48 states. They offer a flat rate for most of our items with exclusions for the largest or most complex items such as breakfronts or crystal chandeliers or other items of greater complexity. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase as these rates are different from our stated pricing. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase. Most deliveries to the East Coast will be 295.00, to the mid-west and Southern mid-west 395.00. To the areas west of Kansas 495.00 and the farthest points to the West coast will be 595.00. Again, some areas we can't cover, however we can deliver to most of the lower 48 states so please inquire to be sure! Delivery times range from as fast as 1-4 weeks for the east coast to 5-9 weeks to the farthest areas of the west coast, sometimes longer and sometimes even shorter. If it is a time sensitive purchase, we may be able to accommodate you for a higher price. It is our goal to please each and every one of our customers with the highest standard of service possible. You must realize and accept that we are shipping antique, vintage and quality used furnishings to your home. We cannot control traffic, weather, and acts of God. There will be times when additional patience will be necessary
This is a beautiful French 1950s table lamp...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Antique Gilt Bronze and Patinated Metal 19th Century French Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Antique gilt bronze and patinated metal 19th Century French chandelier
French, late 19th Century
Dimensions: Height 83cm, diameter 60cm
Designed in the elegant French Empire sty...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Ormolu
Antique French Empire Style Brown Painted Metal and Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Antique French Empire style brown painted metal and gilt bronze chandelier.
French, late 19th century
Dimensions: Height 60cm, diameter 67cm
This unusual chandelier is crafted f...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Ormolu
French Antique Bronze Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique bronze chandelier, from 1950's with non-electrified with 24 candle holder chandelier was in
Ex-Vice-president Dan Quayle office in ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Bronze Table Lamp
Located in Fairfax, VA
Large nine candelabra light French empire bronze table lamp.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Table Lamp (No Shade). Bronze, Marble
Located in Madrid, ES
Empire style lamp (without shade).
Patinated bronze. marble base Table lamp raised on a marble base, has a vase shape with simplified swan head handles, following examples from the ...
Category
20th Century European Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Three Claw-Feet French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved, silvered. On three claw-feet, several times structured, fluted column-shaft.
(T-Mr-15-Bp).
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Bouillotte Lamp, Bee and Laurel Leaf Decoration, Painted Green Tôle Shade
Located in Montreal, Quebec
French Bouillotte lamp, Bee and Laurel leaf decorations in gilt, painted green tôle shade.
Empire style. Three arm lamp in the shape of swans with ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Metal
1997 Chapman Neoclassical French Empire Brass Torch Shaped Table Lamp Paw Foot
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage 1997 Chapman Brass table lamp in the shape of a neoclassical torch with black accents on a square base with paw feet. A stunning lamp ...
Category
1990s Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Fine French Empire 19th Century Bronze Candelabras Mounted as Lamps, Pair
Located in Miami, FL
Fine French Empire 19th Century Bronze Candelabras Mounted as Lamps, Pair
A pair of fine French 19th century Empire bronze candelabras that have been electrified and converted to ta...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
20th Century Candelabra after Pierre Philippe Thomire
Located in Berlin, DE
Princely splendid candelabra after Pierre Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) exceptionally fine engraved and moulded bronze. Fully moulded designed f...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Bronze Casted Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and casted Bronze. Full plasticised, masculine historical Egyptian representation.
(T-Mr-20-Bp).
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century Empire Ormolu and patinated Bronze Candelabra attr. Thomire
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of 19th century Empire ormolu and patinated bronze candelabra attr. Thomire
Each with a tapering leaf tip cast partially gilt and patinated bronze stem supporting three folia...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
12-Light Chandelier circa 1820-1830, Empire France Bronce
Located in Epfach, DE
12-light chandelier Empire, France
Large Empire chandelier ormolu and patinated bronze
Pattern inspired by antique Roman lamps
the electrifi...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
A very fine Gilt & Enameled Bronze Empire style Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine Empire style chandelier. Gilt and enameled bronze.
France, circa 1910. 4-light
Dimensions: Height 34", diameter 18".
CW3...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
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 Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
20th Century Empire Style Basket Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
20th Century Empire style basket chandelier
Classicist basket chandelier in Empire style.
Finely cast, Bronze silvered. Adorned with engraved swans and pearl cords.
(F-Ra-20).
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Antique Black and White Wedgwood Jasperware Urn Table Lamps
By Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of antique black and white Wedgwood jasperware urn table lamps. Listing includes porcelain urn form bodies, wooden base, dual sockets, whi...
Category
Early 20th Century English Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and casted bronze. Full plasticized, feminine historical Egyptian representation.
(T-Mr-21-Bp).
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Style French Basket Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique Majestic basket chandelier in French. Empire style in 1900.
Bronze, gilded. Basket-shaped, profile-shaped body made of hand-cut French ball prism strings. In the course, con...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Montgolfiè Antique Lok Crystal Chandelier Empire Sac a Pearl 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 ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Wire
Small and Lovely Napoleon / Empire Style Bronze Chandelier / Pendant Light
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare size chandelier from the 1920s.
If you look at the shape of the centre and the shape of the arms that grow out of this pendant then you capture the essence of it. It is stylish...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
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 Lighting
Materials
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Birdcage Chandelier Ormolu with Crystal Spires
Located in Milan, IT
A stunning Empire style crystal and gilt bronze chandelier of French origin, a thirteen-light pendant dating back to the very early 1900, with a very original vertical structure, a b...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
20th Century Empire Style Chandelier Referred to Empress Joséphine
Located in Berlin, DE
Majestic splendid chandelier in Empire style referred to Empress Joséphine.
Exceptionally cine, engraved and cast Bronze. Basket-formed corpus from h...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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 Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Style Bronze Table Lamp
Located in Fairfax, VA
Elegant two color bronze with face of god of the wind table lamp with hand pleated lampshade.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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...
Category
Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Ormolu Bronze and Baccarat Crystal Chandeliers, France, circa 1870
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of Ormolu bronze and Baccarat crystal chandeliers, France, circa 1870.
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
Mid-20th Century French Gilt Brass Three-Arm Table Lamp
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
A mid-20th century French gilt brass three-arm table lamp, retains its original pressed card faux candles and is fitted with three individual chandelier shades...
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Early 19th Century Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Urn Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fine pair of period Empire table lamps, of gilt and patinated bronze, each having an urn, centered by a lyre, ribbons, and laureling, its foliate-chased neck and shoulder are flanked...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Style Bronze-Colored Pewter and Frosted Cut Glass Table Lamp 1900s
Located in Barntrup, DE
The beautifully shaped French Empire-style table lamp, which is an electrified petroleum lamp, features a bronze-colored pewter body adorned with three ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Pewter, Brass
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Antique Second Empire Style Five-Arm Candelabra
Located in Montreal, QC
A large pair of Charles X bronze and marble five-light candelabra now fitted as table lamps. This striking pair combine honey-colored Siena marble and dark crisp scrolling bronze in ...
Category
Late 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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