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.
to
116
532
369
879
57
9
Height
to
Width
to
653
352
47
58
37
47
34
41
30
33
28
31
57,210
19,023
8,832
7,959
3,850
2,709
1,998
1,596
1,594
945
838
793
649
597
538
410
197
129
9
402
468
66
184
132
55
30
8
43
41
19
18
17
13
10
5
847
556
270
199
191
777
553
86
40
38
945
922
938
18
8
3
3
2
Style: Empire
Vintage Bronze Wall Sconces Double Armed Lighting Lamp In Candelabra Style
Located in Bastogne, BE
Pair of empire style wall lights manufactured in the 20th century.
Bronze construction.
Original gilding. The sconces are decorated with ac...
Category
1970s Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Converted French Oil Opaline and Brass Table Lamp
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Converted French oil white opaline and brass table lamp.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
$1,110 Sale Price
40% Off
French Toleware Converted Oil Lamp, Circa 1875
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Painted Toleware Converted Oil Lamp, France
Charming French Tole Lamp on a frosted lucite base. Wonderful patina on this vintage piece. Certainly a statement piece in any home libr...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
1920s Silver Plated Empire Column Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
pair of circa 1920’s Silver plated empire style column table lamps
Category
1920s Unknown Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Silver Plate
$5,800 / set
19th Century French Antique Empire Crystal Glass Chandelier, Parisian Candelabra
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A round, antique French chandelier, pendant made of hand crafted polished brass, in good condition. The hand blown cut crystal prisms are attached, halted to the ceiling lamp brass f...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Metal, Brass
Early 19th Century Pair of Empire Bronze Female Caryatids Candelabras
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of early 19th century French empire gilt and patinated bronze female caryatids candelabras à la Grècque.
A beautiful pair of Empire gilt and patinated bronze candelabras deco...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
1900's Swedish Empire 6 Lights Chandelier with Cobalt Blue Glass
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1900 Swedish Empire chandelier with Cobalt blue glass inset, with 6 lights
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Genovese Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
An Italian crystal chandelier in Empire style made with a guilded structure adorned with swags of crystals that glitter beautifully when lit up. This particular chandelier is free fr...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Metal
$2,809 Sale Price
40% Off
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features best quality hand-chiseled details.
Top crowns in characterized by rich vegetal decorati...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Tin
19th Century French Empire Style 24-Light Gilt Bronze / Patinated Chandelier
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Illuminate your space with grandeur using this extraordinary 19th Century French Empire Style Chandelier. Crafted from two imposing circular charcoal-patinated balusters suspended by...
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Bronze
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...
Category
2010s German Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
$8,114 Sale Price
20% Off
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...
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Milk Glass
Antique Empire Period Bronze Table Lamp, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
An elegant French Empire bronze and marble table lamp, circa 1820 in date.
The candlestick later converted into a lamp features an ancanthus capital, a fluted tapering column on c...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
1930’s Swedish Empire 6 lights Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1920’s Swedish empire style crystal chandelier with 6 lights
Category
1930s European Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century Large Pair of Empire Style Candlesticks Converted to Table Lamps
Located in Dublin, IE
A fabulous pair of 19th Century Empire Style finely cast brass candlesticks of grand proportions, fully restored and converted to table lamps with beautiful patination and of excepti...
Category
19th Century English Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
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
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
Antique Gothic French Empire Renaissance Bronze Candelabra Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Gothic French Empire Bronze Candelabra Renaissance Table Lamps - a Pair. Item features 6 candle arms, fluted columns, flared pedestal base, single light sockets, and tall sta...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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 French Empire Style Gilt Metal Ebonized Lamps
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Metal Mounted Ebonized Urn Form Lamps, each with two handles and mounted on a stepped base. 21.5" H x 6" W x 4" D. Provenance: From a Park Avenue Col...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
1930’s French Empire Style Bronze Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1930’s French empire style sconces with swan atop and on arms
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Gilt Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire (circa 1810) gilt bronze and cut glass chandelier with cut crystal strands emanating from a gilt bronze center ring with 8 arms.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Style Bronze Candelabra as Lamps, 2
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of French Empire Style Patinated Bronze Four Branch Candelabra Mounted as Lamps, after the antique, 19th century, each in the form of a brazier, with scrolled foliate branches, ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Two Light Wall Sconces
Located in Montreal, QC
This attractive pair in the Empire style, with palmette decorated backplates and stylised sconces are centered on black circular panels with gilt raised ornament.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Gold Plate, Brass
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Crystal Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
French Empire style gilt bronze and cut crystal chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi with eight lights.
This chandelier is characterized by classical plate embellished with gilt bron...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, 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 Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Iron
$2,560 Sale Price
32% Off
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
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
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.
Category
1960s Austrian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Glass
French Empire Gilt Bronze Oil Lamp Candle Sticks, a Pair
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair French Empire brass oil lamp candle sticks. Hand blow glass reservoir, brass candlestick style base with bands of stippled and foliate decoration. Original patina. Very rare to ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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
$4,400 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Pr. 19thc French Antique Empire Gilt Bronze Regal Wall Sconces by Maison Bagues
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Pair 19thc French Antique Empire Gilt Bronze "Lions Head" Regal Wall Sconces by Maison Bagues. Very highly detailed and ultra high quality. French Estate.
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$3,180 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Fine Bronze and Crystal Period Empire Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Exquisite Empire chandelier, having a frame of finely chased gilt bronze, basket shape, draped in beaded crystals; floral swags connect the four external candlearms, four additional ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
1930's Empire Opaline Glass Table Lamps - Pair
Located in New York, NY
pair of circa 1930's French Opaline glass table lamps with gilt bronze fittings
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$5,800 / set
19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Lamp
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A great quality 19th century gilt bronze lamp with finely chased neoclassical detailing. Tripod base supports a tapered shaft with decorative mounts, surmounted by a 'petal' form top...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
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 Lighting
Materials
Brass
$3,457 Sale Price / set
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...
Category
2010s German Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
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
Pair of Late Empire Ormolu and Patented Bronze Figural Candelabra Lamps, C. 1815
By Louis Isidore Choiselat 1
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of period Empire figural candelabrum. Each modeled as a winged figure of Victory, of patented bronze, with both arms supporting a floral wreath, and three horns-of-plenty, of or...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Art Deco Style Crystal Chandelier Empire Sac a Pearl Palace Lamp Chrome
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing a new Art Deco crystal style chandelier that captures the grandeur of the Empire era while offering modern sophistication. Crafted with exquisite lead crystal, this chand...
Category
2010s German Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
$6,721 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Empire Gilt Bronze and Cut Crystal Chandelier, circa 1815
Located in Rome, IT
Finely chiseled gilt bronze and cut crystal Empire elegant chandelier with six arms.
Cleaned and re-wired, in full working order and ready to use.
In excellent vintage condition.
Si...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
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 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...
Category
19th Century British Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
$3,903 Sale Price
55% Off
Russian or Swedish Empire Crystal, Turquoise Glass and Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A rare late 18th century Russian or possible Prussian neo-classical chandelier, having twelve arms around a central gilded bronze corona pierced with round cut crystals; the corona s...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
Empire Style Flush Mount Chandelier, Vintage, 1980s
Located in Bastogne, BE
Empire style vintage pendant lighting.
1980s.
The ceiling lamp is a real example of high-quality, beautiful and durable lighting. Wit...
Category
1980s Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Late 20th C. Empire Style Black and Silver Fluted Column Floor Lamp with Shade
Located in Morristown, NJ
Late 20thc., an elegant floor lamp that features a classic design with a black fluted column base and silver accents. The pyramid-shaped base is intricately detailed with stepped lay...
Category
1980s American Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Metal
Burgundy and Grey Marble Pillar Form Table Lamp Wood Base
Located in Toledo, OH
A beautiful marble table lamp. It features a lovely burgundy and grey marble in a pillar form with bronze scroll details and a wood base. Very good condition. The dimensions are 30.2...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble
Vintage French Empire Blue Tole Metal Gold Swan Painted Urn Form Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Neoclassical Blue Tole Metal Gold Swan Painted Urn Form Table Lamp. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 31" H (to finial) x 23" H (to light socket) x 7" W x ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Wall Sconces
Located in Dallas, TX
French Empire style pair of gilt bronze sconces with 5 lights. A classic pair in the colors of gold and black. Very nice!.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$4,180 / set
Empire Style “Quiver” Table Lamp in Italian Marble and Bronze, 19th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An unusual and imposing Empire style table lamp in white Italian Carrara marable, with ornate gilt bronze decoration. Designed in the form of an arrow quiver...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
French Tole Jardiniere Lamp
Located in New York, NY
French tole jardiniere lamp. Empire gilt painted brown tole jardiniere with paw feet on raised green faux marble platform, now converted to a l...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Tôle
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$4,400 / set
Pair Of French Faceted Flower Decorated and Signed Opaline Table Lamps
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair of antique French faceted flower decorated and signed opaline table lamps
These are 19th century oil lamps converted it electrified table lamps.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Opaline Glass
$912 Sale Price
73% Off
Baltic Neoclassic Ormolu, Rock Crystal & Cobalt Blue Glass Chandelier, c 1800
Located in Atlanta, GA
Constructed entirely of ormolu brass with clear glass bead chains, prisms, and a centered faceted hanging sphere, the bottom section with swags and cast rosettes issuing 6 arms, two ...
Category
Early 1800s Baltic Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Rock Crystal, 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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Five-Light Chandelier
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.
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Bronze
1960's Italian Marble Bronze Urn Table Lamp by Marbro
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Gorgeous Italian purple marble urn lamp with golden bronze handles, base and hardware.
Made by the artisans of Marbro Lamp CO. No issues or damage.
Very heavy piece, 55 lbs +.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Brass
1930's French Empire Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in New York, NY
a pair of circa 1930 French Empire style sconces
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$2,800 / set
Empire french bronze chandelier in gold-plated with 'Quimeras" circa 1800
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible chandelier in bronze and gold empire circa 1800 with "Quimeras" for 6 lights.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Gold, Bronze
$4,320 Sale Price
38% Off
A Pair Of Gilt Brass French Bouliotte Style Candle Lamps
Located in London, GB
A pair of Mid 20th century Gilt Brass Bouliotte style table lamps with new grey fabric shades. The circular plinth base with reeded stem supporting two tall candle style arms. Circul...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
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.