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
Beautiful Double-Armed Wall Sconce Empire Style Vintage Wall Lamp, France
Located in Bastogne, BE
Vintage Lumalux Paris brass wall lamp in the Empire style.
Manufactured in France.
It features bright gold and green enamel finishes.
The light ...
Category
1960s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
19t Century Pair French Empire Lamps Paris Porcelain (Rust) Ormolu Mounts
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century Scottish Etched Glass Compote. Beautiful pair purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions.
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Early 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze and Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A period French Empire basket style crystal and gilt bronze chandelier with nine candle nozzles. The chandelier has a top section decorated with crystal swags and large gilded palmettes with the body suspended with strings of graduated crystal almond shaped crystals. The gilded nozzles are on top of decorative elements attached to the central gilded corona...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
$9,600 Sale Price
36% Off
Wall Sconces Pair Empire Style
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
A PAIR OF VINTAGE, EMPIRE STYLE, GILDED & BLACK METAL WALL SCONCES, WITH TWO ARMS
- Striking, simple form accentuated by the contrast betwe...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
$2,780 / set
French Empire Style Bronze and Alabaster Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Alabaster Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features best quality hand-chiseled details.
Top crowns in characterized by rich vegetal decoration with acanthus leaves acroterion and alabaster. Below a tortile rod hold, together with gilt bronze chains, the monolithic alabaster plate...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze
French Wrought Iron and Parcel Gilt Sconces, circa 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
French wrought iron and parcel gilt 3-light sconces with shades, from Los Angeles estate, 1930s. Beautiful patina.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Wrought Iron
French Empire Neoclassical Gilt Bronze and Steel Figural Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A fine and unique Antique French Empire style gilt bronze and steel multi light figural chandelier of great detail embellished with gilt bronze Neoclassical kneeling figures of women depicting flames which represent light. This fine chandelier is further adorned with unusual gilt bronze neoclassical motifs, reticulated gilt...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Steel
Lamp Table 19th Century Gilt bronze Metal Shade Neoclassical France
Located in New York, NY
Lamp 19th Century Gilt bronze Metal Shade Neoclassical France . A French Bouillotte lamp made in gilt bronze and a painted metal shade. 3 electrified candle arms.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
$3,000 Sale Price
28% Off
Pair of Large and Important Antique French Empire Gilt Bronze Chandeliers
Located in New York, NY
Pair of large and spectacular important antique French Empire neoclassical gilt bronze and white patinated multi light chandeliers of superb quality and detail. These chandelier are ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Russian Crystal Gilt Bronze and Blue Glass Chandelier
By Johann Zech
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An early 19th century Russian chandelier having eight candle arms. The design is intended to represent waterfalls. The central stem of the chandelier is in four tiers each hung with ...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Gilt Bronze Sconces Empire Style
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of gilt bronze sconces Empire style.
Swans and fantastic animals design.
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$2,881 / set
Early 19th Century Empire Pendant from Stockholm
Located in Ljungby, SE
High-class Empire pendant from Stockholm around 1800-1810. It features six beautifully decorated candle arms with acanthus leaves. The central decoration includes a female figure sta...
Category
Early 1800s Swedish Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Iron
Empire Chandelier, Russia, circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Large eight-flame chandelier of the Russian Empire with cobalt blue glass and fire-gilded arms with cockerel decoration and hanging pine cone. The supporting hoop is connected by fou...
Category
1810s Russian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Glass
Empire Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine Gilt Bronze Chandelier in the Empire taste, featuring gilt bronze swans issuing lights. An exquisite eight wreath top canopy. 8 lights.
France, circa 1900.
Dimensions:...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$4,650
19th Century Empire Chandelier with Full Figure Swan Arms
Located in Manhasset, NY
19th century empire chandelier with full figure swan arms. This simply stunning doré bronze chandelier has full bodied swans holding three candlestick lights...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant and finely detailed French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu chandelier. This exceptional four arm eight light circular chandelier is centered by an Ormolu acorn bottom f...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Empire Style, Neoclassical Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A Superb Antique French Empire Style gilt bronze and patinated bronze multi light neoclassical chandelier embellished with a central urn.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
20th Century (early) French Bouillotte Ormolu Lamps
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Unique piece purchased in France.
Gorgeous lamp, see detailed photos.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Marble and Gilt Bronze Fine Floor Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French gilt bronze and marble floor lamp . Fine quality gilt bronze detail.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble
One Empire Style Silvered and Black Engraved Metal Table Lamp, France, 1930s
Located in IT
Empire style silvered and black engraved metal table lamp, France, early 20th century, 1930s
In the pictures you see two lamps but only one le...
Category
Early 20th Century European Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
19th Century French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This beautiful antique French chandelier dates from the 19th Century and could be attributed to the master bronzier Ferdinand Barbedienne. It is cast entirely in gilt bronze, and fea...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Heavy Cast Bronze Empire Wall Sconce w 3 Lights Quantity Available
Located in New York, NY
Heavy cast bronze three light sconce done in an Empire style. Small quantity available at time of posting. Priced each. Please inquire. Please note, this item is located in our Scran...
Category
Early 2000s Argentine Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Basket Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
Classicist basket chandelier in Empire style.
Finely engraved Bronze. Adorned with engraved swans and pearl cords.
(F-Ra-19).
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Large Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Seven-Light Wall Lights
Located in New York, NY
Large pair of French Empire style gilt bronze wall lights.
Surmounted by a classical female figure standing atop an orb and holding butterflies in each hand, above two tier structur...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Large French Empire Gilt Bronze and Crystal Sconce Attributed to Thomire
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A highly unusual large scale single French Empire wall sconce, the bronze having the finest chasing and gilding ever produced. A winged cupi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
A Very Fine Pair of Empire Parcel Gilt Bronze Three Light Candelabra / Lamps
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome pair of Empire Period parcel gilt bronze 3 light candelabra of exceptional quality & fine proportions, having been converted to table lamps decades ago. Both showing ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Very Fine Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine gilt and painted bronze chandelier in the Empire style featuring 8 swans carrying stylized candle cups. All original.
Measures: Height 37", width 26", 8-light
CW4449.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Black Lacquered Wood Empire Style Table Lamp
Located in Montreal, QC
Black lacquered wood empire style table lamp stencil with gilded motifs
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Wood
Antique Candelabra Lamps
Located in Atlanta, GA
Magnificent pair of Empire candelabra, gilt and patinated bronze, now turned into electric lamps.
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$8,500 / set
19th Century, French Brass Desk Lamp in Empire Style
Located in Sofia, BG
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19th century electrified brass desk lamp in Empire style with...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Gilt Bronze and Colored Glass Chandelier in the Empire Style
Located in London, GB
A French eight light gilt bronze and colored glass chandelier in the Empire style.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Antique Gilt Bronze and Opaline Glass Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This beautiful, tall chandelier is ideal for a grand entrance hall or room where it can be seen and admired. It is an exceptional piece of Empire style design, perfectly combining gl...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
1930's French Gilt Bronze Triangle Shape Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 1930's French Empire style gilt bronze sconces with triangle shape
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$3,800 / set
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
Russian Empire Style Gilt Bronze Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This Russian Empire style gilt bronze chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features thirty-six lights and a crown decorated with 12 leaves and a pine-cone, from which large chains are leaving downwards. Both rings are decorated with double-armed Athena's heads crowned...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair Antique French Empire Bronze D' Ore and Crystal Wall Sconces, Circa 1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique French Empire bronze d' ore and crystal wall sconces, circa 1890.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Chandelier with 16 Lights
Located in Dallas, TX
Superb 19th century gilt bronze Empire style chandelier with 16 Lights. Beautiful scale and shape on this piece and such fine quality. Stunning!! This chandelier comes with a chain a...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Noble 20th Century in Empire Style Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and antique silvered. Columns as holder for four sweeping candelabra arms.
(T-Ra-11).
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
empire brass column lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
empire lamp stem in solid brass with contemporary lampshade from the 1950's
base is 44 centimetres high ( 17 1/3")
Category
1970s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Steel
$1,200
French 19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Granite Five-Arm Lamps
By Claude Galle
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite true pair of French 19th century Empire st. ormolu and granite five arm lamps, after a model by Claude Galle. Each lamp is raised by a squar...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Granite, Ormolu
Fine French Empire Style Cut-Crystal Tent and Bag Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
A fine gilt-bronze cut-crystal tent and bag chandelier with a corona in the form of a crown made of small facetted pearls above a fine bronze b...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of 19th Century French Gilt Bronze Bouillotte Candelabras
Located in Antwerp, BE
Rare Pair of 19th Century French Bouillotte Candelabras in Gilt Bronze with Adjustable Green Tole Shades – Wabi-Sabi Elegance
An exceptionally rare and completely original pair of 1...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Bronze
19th Century Serves Bronze-Mounted Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Finely painted scenes of countryside and Napoleon. Signed by the artist. Beautiful jade green color with nicely detailed bronze mounts. Small dent on on...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Crystal and Gilt Bronze Urn Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A twin handled Empire urn in gilded bronze, the two arms decorated with medusa heads, and classical heads below. Gilt grape leaves encircle the ovoid body. The urn sits on a decorate...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of French 19th Century Empire Style Porcelain and Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning true pair of French 19th century Empire st. porcelain and ormolu lamps. Each elegant lamp is raised by a fine circular or...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Silvered Bronze French Empire style Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine example of a French Empire bouillotte lamp made of silvered bronze. The circular base supports four decorative candle arms with nozzles; ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Brass Mounted Leather Table Lamp
Located in Vista, CA
Empire Style brass-mounted Tooled Leather Table Lamp, 20th century columnar standard on pedestal with guilloche gilt borders, marbleized shade, and ...
Category
20th Century European Empire Lighting
Materials
Leather
Very Fine Neoclassical Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine and decorative gilt bronze chandelier in the Empire style featuring central frosted and cut crystal globe. 4-light, France, circa 1900
Dimension...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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
Bouillotte French Lamp Gild Bronze 4 lights Flora Motive Empire Style
Located in Sweden, SE
Stylish antique Bouillotte lamp. Square foot with a four candleholders in flora motive candleholders and adjustable fabric shade with fixation bolt in form of an arrow feather. The ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique 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
Extremely Fine Pair of Large 19th C French Empire Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine pair of 19th century French Empire gilt bronze large two light sconces. Fine Egyptian heads below the candles with a finely cast Eagle at the to...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair Antique French Empire Gold Bronze and Marble Sconces, Circa 1830-1850.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair Museum Quality Antique French Empire Gold Bronze and Marble Sconces, Circa 1830-1850.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Period Empire Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Magnificent Period Empire Chandelier. Gitl Bronze (matte & burnished) and Patinated Bronze. Exquisite detail throughout. A rare find. France, circa 1800.
Dimensions: Height 40 1/2...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$25,500
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
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Marble Candelabra By Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This Empire style gilt and burnished bronze candelabra by Gherardo Degli Albizzi, with its marble base, resume the great taste of Napoleon period decoration. Base is characterized by...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Marble, Bronze
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
pair of French 19th century Empire st. Glass and Ormolu lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and wonderfully detailed pair of French 19th century Empire st. Glass and Ormolu lamps. Each lamp is raised by a square lattice cut column with an Ormolu plinth and capita...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Classicist Basket Chandelier in antique Empire Style silver brass hand carved
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely chased and silvered bronze. Basket-shaped body made of hand-wired pearl strings in the course with leaf rosette and a final pince-nez pin. Connect...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
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.
Category
20th Century 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.