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
115
552
372
903
55
9
Height
to
Width
to
666
358
46
58
36
47
34
41
30
33
28
31
58,227
19,017
9,029
8,091
3,942
2,704
2,076
1,629
1,599
967
834
814
661
581
549
411
199
127
10
398
495
64
191
142
62
33
7
45
43
19
18
18
15
8
6
873
559
275
206
203
783
553
95
55
39
967
945
961
18
8
3
3
3
Style: Empire
c1900 French Empire 23 Light Gilt Bronze/ Tole/ Quiver/ Chandelier Maison Bagues
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Very Rare 23 Light French Maison Bagues Empire c1900 Gilt Bronze & Tole Chandelier. Quiver/ Arrows and Cut Crystal Star Detail. 2 lights tucked into each bobesche and many more light...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$6,924 Sale Price
20% Off
1930's French Empire Bronze Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1930's French Empire style gilt bronze sconces with Ram's heads.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$5,800 / set
Gilt Bronze & Crystal Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Superb gilt bronze & crystal Empire style Chandelier. Top ring featuring anthemia. Main ring with winged deity carrying gilt torcheres. The bottom part consists of seven concentric...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Wonderful French Empire Neoclassical Ormolu Painated Gilt Bronze Crystal Lamp
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire / neoclassical, ormolu painated and gilt bronze with crystal column center lamp.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Early 1900's French Antique Empire style Crystal Bag & Tent form Wall Sconce
Located in Opa Locka, FL
1920's French Antique Empire style Cut Cascading Crystal Wall Lamp/ Sconce. This is a beautiful antique piece.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
$2,864 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of French 19th Century Empire Cut Glass and Bronze Candelabras / Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of very large and impressive French 19th century Empire cut glass and two-tone bronze candelabras made to lamps.
Category
Early 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
Pair Empire Style Cut Glass and Gilt Bronze Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of very fine quality Empire style Cut Glass and Gilt Bronze Table Lamps. 16 inch height to top of sockets.
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of 19th C. French Faux Marble Tole Lamps
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Lovely pair of lamps made from 19th Century French tole and gilt bronze oil lamps, with a faux marble paint finish. Shades not included,...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Ormolu
$2,880 Sale Price / set
38% Off
Antique French Empire Gilt Bronze Gilt Bronze & Cut Crystal Ten Arm Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
This antique French Empire neoclassical chandelier is crafted from gilt bronze and cut crystal, featuring a circular frame adorne...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
1930s French Empire Three lights Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 1930’s French empire gilt metal 3 lights sconces with swans head, original gilding and patina
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$4,200 / set
Pair of French Brass and Crystal Sconces in the Manner of Maison Jansen
Located in Chicago, IL
These Empire-style sconces showcase a signature element of Maison Jansen lighting: pierced brass encrusted with beaded crystals. This intricate combination of brass and encrusted crystal beads creates a stunning visual effect resembling a glistening, flowing fountain of light.
This meticulous craftsmanship embodies the elegance and sophisticated artistry for which Maison Jansen is famous. Maison Jansen of Paris, a renowned interior design firm...
Category
Early 20th Century French 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
$2,791 Sale Price
40% Off
1920’s Caldwell Empire Style Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1920’s Caldwell Empire style sconces with arrow design
Category
1920s American Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$3,800 / set
1920s French Empire Sconces with 3 lights
Located in New York, NY
A pair of large French empire style sconces with 3 lights
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
A fine late 19th c French Empire cut crystal lamp with fine gilt bronze mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine and large late 19th century French cut crystal and gilt bronze mounted lamp. Figural soldier heads in gilt bronze
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique 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
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
A French Empire Style Lamp Late XIXth Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A French Empire Style Lamp Late XIXth Century
A French gilt and parcel patinated bronze standard lamp
In the shape of a Ionic Greek column
The fluted stem with foliate capital on a ...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
$2,463 Sale Price
30% Off
Pair of French Tole Columnar Table Lamps
Located in Essex, MA
Each with new pleated shades. Great scale and nice old faded dark green color with gilt bronze details, square plinth base and newly wired. Bellevue Avenue, Newport estate.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Tin
$2,850 / set
20th Century French Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Houston, TX
20th Century French Crystal Chandelier. Empire style bronze and crystal chandelier with new wiring. 4 lights
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$6,650 / item
French Empire Style Cast Brass Dual Arm Wall Sconces, pair
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Pair of French Empire Style casted brass wall sconces, each sconce features 2 arms each powered by 25w E12 chandelier bulb. These classic-styled scones work well in Victorian-styled ...
Category
1920s American Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
$510 Sale Price / set
35% Off
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$417 / item
Pair 19th Century French Empire Style Five-Arm Gilt Bronze Wall Light Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique (late 19th century) French empire style wall light sconces with five electrified candle arms and wiring.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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
Italy Mid-18th Century Empire Pair Brass Candle Holders
Located in Brescia, IT
Italy Mid-18th Century pair of brass Empire five lights candleholders or table lamps
This wonderful pair of brass candle holders, is a magnificent hand made work by Italian artisan...
Category
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Francois Empire Six Light Chandelier
Located in Westwood, NJ
Francois Empire six-light chandelier, the ornate decoration on the arms, and the arrangement of the chains demonstrate exceptional casting in brass. With beautifully cast floral deta...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
$16,330 / item
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
A Pair of French Empire Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Winged Victory Lamps
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine pair of late 19thC French Empire style candelabra now wired into lamps. The very well cast and patinated winged Victory or Nike s...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Style Bronze Egyptian Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) bronze lamp with 3 Egyptian ebonized & gilt figures resting on a round base.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
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 Lighting
Materials
Metal
Pair of Empire Resevoir Lamps
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Beautiful Empire style lamps. Cut glass or pressed glass oil reservoirs with flame tops and key detail. 3 portraits adorn the top of the highly ornate bases. Heavy.
Curbside to NYC/P...
Category
20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
$1,580 / set
French Empire Style Ebonized Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) ebonized and gilt bronze 6 arm chandelier suspended by 3 black and gilt bronze link extensions with a flame ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
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
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
Pierced Tole Italian Chandelier Decorated in Crystal and Glass Prisms
Located in Houston, TX
Pierced tole Italian chandelier decorated in crystal and glass prisms, Dates to late 19th century. Chandelier fabricated from iron and tole and d...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Iron, Tin
Magnificent Bronze Chandelier In Empire Style Six Light Pendant Lighting
Located in Bastogne, BE
Majestic vintage chandelier!
The material of manufacture of this chandelier is a real 100% BRONZE, which is valued all over the world and is charact...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Empire Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Light Fixture
Located in Hudson, NY
Designed as a shallow gadrooned bowl with six gilded bronze arms currently not wired and used as a candle fixture but can easily be wired for an additional charge if the customer des...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Carved Wall Sconce Empire Gilded Metal & Wood, Italy, 1950s
Located in Bastogne, BE
Vintage single sconce in the Empire style from Italy, circa 1950s.
Made of wood and gilded metal with decorative trim and mirror inserts. Decorated in a floral style. A cylindrical ...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
19th Century French Empire Chandelier
Located in New Orleans, LA
A striking 19th-century French Empire chandelier, exquisitely crafted with neoclassical elegance. This grand fixture features a gilded bronze frame adorned with finely detailed motif...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
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 Lighting
Materials
Brass
20th C Restored Empire 5 Arm Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Early 20th century crystal French Empire basket chandelier. Brass finish and the candelabra body. Cleaned and restored. Takes 17 standa...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Metal
$13,600 Sale Price
20% Off
French Empire Style Painted Opaline Glass and Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style painted opaline glass and bronze chandelier.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Charming Large Vintage Chandelier in Gilt Bronze Deknudt Belgium
By Deknudt
Located in Bastogne, BE
Very Beautiful Vintage Ceiling Chandelier in Bronze by Deknudt, Belgium.
Circa 1970s.
A very nicely chased vintage six light chandelier in bronze with...
Category
1970s Belgian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th C, Style Empire Black Neoclassical Corinthian Column 2 Lite Wall Sconce
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
19th C style empire black Neoclassical Corinthian Column 2 Lite wall sconce
Priced Each.
Additional information:
Materials: bronze
Color: Black
Period: 2010s
Styles: Empire, ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Metal
$1,160 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Pair of Antique Bristol Glass Hand-painted Napolean and Josephine Table Lamps
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of French hand-blown milk glass table lamps with the figures of Napoleon and Josephine hand-painted on them. From France, circa 1920.
Newly wired in the United States, mounted o...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Blown Glass
Palatial French Empire Doré Bronze and Patinated Neoclassical Chandelier Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
Palatial elegant French empire patinated green tone and doré bronze fifteen-light neoclassical chandelier.
Measures: 32" H x 32" W.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
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
Pair French Two-Arm Empire-Style Bronze Sconces with Urn and Swag Detail
Located in Houston, TX
Beautiful pair of Empire-style bronze sconces from France, circa 1910. Features an urn with swag motif with a beautiful patina and excellent detailed casting. Newly wired in the US ...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Wall Lights
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Very nice pair of chiseled bronze wall lights with very beautiful Empire style gilding from the beginning of the 20th century
Circular hook with lion mask holding in its mouth a f...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$1,431 / set
Putti Face Empire Chandelier Crystal Gold Basket Antique Brass Classic
Located in Berlin, DE
Restored Crystal Chandelier – Handcrafted Elegance
We are offering a unique, fully restored chandelier in excellent condition:
Completely restored, including fully renewed wiring
Ha...
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
18th Century Italian Empire Style Repousse and Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Exceptional 18th century Italian Empire style Brass and crystal basket style chandelier. Featuring glistening crystals and a repousse' Greek key design around the base. Stunning!!
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Pair of French Empire Green Marble Barbedienne Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire style (19th Century) green marble column candlestick lamps with bronze dore trimmed capital and square base (signed F. BARBEDIENNE) (PRICED AS Pair).
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, 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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Bronze Doré Wall Sconce
Located in Queens, 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 Lighting
Materials
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
$2,649 Sale Price / set
30% Off
Vintage French Tole Empire Style 6 Light Chandelier
Located in Chicago, IL
Gorgeous Vintage French Tole Painted 6-light Empire Style Chandelier with bright Gilt details. A style popular for almost 200 years, this Empire Chandelier is simply gorgeous. Our ow...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Other
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.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Murano Glass Trumpet
Palm Finials
Primavera Barovier
Sergio Asti On Sale
Used Railroad Locomotives
Brass Cobra Snake
Chapman Brass Candlesticks
Copper Palm Tree
Islamic Oil Lamp
Mad Architects
Miami Used Office Furniture
Mirror With Crystal Flowers
Ship Spotlight
Victorian Vintage Cherub
Giraffe Marcantonio
Globus Vintage
Italian Violin
Robert Stadler