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 Empire Style Palatial Torchieres
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Empire style palatial composite torchieres with fluted column over acanthus leaf and urn form details, and rising on paw feet. Continental, second half 20th century.
Dimens...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Composition
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
18th Century Large Scale Italian Empire Gilt Tole and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Exquisite 18th century large scale Italian Empire style gilt tole and crystal chandelier with 8 lights. An impressive fixture that is a classic beauty. Gorgeous!
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Fine Pair of French Empire Style Black Porcelain & Bronze Mounted Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and fine pair of French Empire style Art Deco period black porcelain and bronze mounted table lamps. This beautiful pair of bl...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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
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
A Pair of French Black Amethyst Crystal Pineapple Form Gilt Bronze Mounted Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A Fabulous Pair of French 20th Century Black Amethyst Cut Crystal Anannas/Pineapple shaped and Gilt Bronze Mounted Lamps. Each lamp consists of a base and a central body section comp...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Monumental 20th Century Classic Cascade Chandelier
Located in Bagshot, GB
Monumental 20th century classic cascade chandelier with gold metal banding and glass beads.
Have included an image of the chandelier in its original Location, Belgravia, London from...
Category
Late 20th Century European Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
$16,533 Sale Price
25% Off
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 Gilt and Burnished Bronze Candelabra By Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This Empire style gilt and burnished bronze figural candelabra by Gherardo Degli Albizzi resumes the great taste of Napoleon period decoration. Base is characterized by gilt satin br...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Antique Empire Revival Black Bronze Figural Candelabra Table Lamps - Pair
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Empire Revival Tall Black and Bronze Figural Candelabra Table Lamps - Pair
This stunning pair of tall candelabra desk lamps is decorated...
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Gilt bronze chandelier. France, late 19th century.
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Gilt bronze chandelier. France, late 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Wall Sconces attributed to Caldwell
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Bronze & Crystal Wall Sconces, each having a pierced anthemion backplates, demi lume corona with three lights above a band of square and kite shaped prisms & steel liner. US...
Category
1920s American Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$4,250 / set
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 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
Pair of French Second Empire Three-Light Wall Sconces
Located in Montreal, QC
These good quality sconces in mat black and gilt bronze are pierced with scrolls and flower heads and with drip pans and arms cast with stylized acanthus. The two-tone gilding and ha...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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
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 French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and silvered. Three stylized horn-formed rolling candlesticks.
(T-Mr-14-Bas).
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Fine Pair of Empire Patinated & Gilt Bronze Candelabre, Mounted as Lamps
Located in Sheffield, MA
A fine pair of empire patinated & gilt bronze
Candelabre, mounted as lamps
1st quarter of the 19th century
Each reeded stem above drum base relief-cast with four putti on leaf-b...
Category
Early 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
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Gilt-Bronze and Cut-Glass Chandelier
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine early 19th century Swedish five-light crystal chandelier. The rim supporting four candle branches and a central candle nozzle above a tiered base hung with glass lustres, conn...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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
20th Century, Empire Style Silvered Ceiling Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, silvered. Finely engraved. Bell shaped, traffic-light styled corpus.
(F-Ra-25).
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Pair of Superb Antique Italian Neoclassical Empire Bronze Figural Candelabras
Located in New York, NY
A pair of superb antique Italian empire neoclassical gilt bronze and patinated bronze figural candelabra lamps with royal markings, 19th century. Measure: Overall height 38.50”.
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Fine and Decorative Bronze Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine and decorative bronze chandelier. Oval center issuing six U-shaped arms, central rod ornated with ram's heads. 6-light, France, circa 1900
Dimensions: Height 39" x diameter 3...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Set of Four Empire Style Ten-Branch Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in London, GB
Set of four Empire style ten-branch gilt bronze sconces
French, circa 1890
Measures: Height 56cm, width 40cm, depth 32cm
Each of the sconces in this set of four is crafted from ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Pair of E 20th C Empire Gilt Bronze Large Sconces, Removed from Paris Theatre
Located in Dallas, TX
A large pair of French gilt bronze large Empire style three light sconces. Removed from a Paris theatre in the 1920's.
Category
Late 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
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
Empire Style Lantern Form Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A superb Louis WVI style lantern. Two toned patinated bronze, with curved glass panels. 3-light,
France, circa 1900.
Apparently unmarked. Measures: Height 42", diameter 19".
Pair ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$18,750 / item
20th Century Empire Style Four Sweeping Arms Candlestick/Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Monumental candelabra in Empire style.
Bronze, finely engraved and silvered. Chanelled columns with black patination, as holder for four sweeping candelabra arms.
(T-Ra-14).
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
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
Fine Pair of Early 20th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Sconces, Lyre Design
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of Empire style gilt-bronze two-light lyre sconces
Each pierced stringed lyre-form backplate with the mask of Apollo above two scrolling branches centered by a star over an acorn pendant.
Provenance:
Maison Tisserand, Paris.
C Property from the Estate of Roger Prigent.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Glass and Black Metal Imperial Chandelier with Bronze Eagle Finial, 1930s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1930s imperial style chandelier with clear glass rod and black metal arms and bronze eagle finial with six wax candle-like lights.
Category
1930s American Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
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 of French Louis Philippe Siena Marble and Gilt Bronze Table Lamps
Located in Dallas, TX
a pair of fine lamps of Siena marble with gold and silver gilt bronze mounts and supports, France, circa 1830
37" H x 8" diameter base
PRICED WITHOUT SHADES
(SHADES AVAILABLE SE...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Siena Marble, Silver, 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 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
$2,869 / set
Swedish Empire Style Cut-Crystal Tent and Basket Chandelier
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Swedish Empire style gilt-bronze and cut-crystal tent and basket chandelier.
Swedish, Circa 1825.
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, 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
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
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
20th Century French Cast Bronze & Alabaster Chandelier, c.1900
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique early 20th Century French Empire style cast bronze and alabaster 12 bulb chandelier. Decorated with laurel leaves, reeded boarders and bran...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze
20th Century antique Empire style Chandelier with 8 Silver Swans brass
Located in Berlin, DE
Galvanized bronze and partly red patinated. Bowl-shaped body with pine finish. Starting from this, eight candlestick arms designed as swans with cylindrical spouts over a round eaves...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
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
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 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
Empire-Era Chandelier, Fully Restored, Made 1800s, in Austria
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Chandelier made out of steel and carved pear tree in the 1800s
Fully restored. No damages.
Rare design.
We guarantee safe a the cheapest air transport from Europe to the whole w...
Category
1920s Austrian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Steel
Empire Style Painted and Gilt Metal Sconce
Located in London, GB
Empire style painted and gilt metal sconce
French, 20th century
measures: Height 34cm, width 26cm, depth 17cm
This elegant sconce is crafted in the Empire style. The sconce feat...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
20th Century Empire Style Basket Applique or Wall Lamp
Located in Berlin, DE
Majestic basket applique in the Empire style.
Extremely finely chased and cast bronze. The basket-shaped body made of hand-cut French ball prisms is connected by a broad, ornamental...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Ormolu Chandelier With Trumpet Light Fittings, c.1870
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th Century French Empire style ormolu bronze chandelier fitted with an allegory of trumpets. The item has been converted to accommodate modern day lightbulbs.
CONDITION...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
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.
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$1,119 Sale Price
20% Off
Classicist Basket Chandelier silver in antique Empire Style brass hand crafted
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely chased and silver-plated bronze. Basket-shaped body made of hand-wired pearl cords with a leaf rosette and a pine knob at the end, connected by a w...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Empire Figural Parcel Gilt Bronze Three Light Candelabrum
Located in Montreal, QC
Crisply modelled as a standing godess, supporting ebonised and gilt arms, her slender body clad in a clinging toga with gilt tassels , arm bands, and sandals. She stands on an elabo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
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
Antique French Ormolu and Milk Glass Empire Fixture
Located in New Orleans, LA
The ormolu swans lend a special grace to this milk glass Empire style fixture. It is medium-sized and would work well in many settings.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Italian Empire Style Brass Scones or Wall Lights 1970
Located in Rome, IT
with Three stylized, full horn-formed, finely chiselled light arms centered by a lion mask.
Perfect condition , three E14 light bulbs.
Category
20th Century Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
$2,582 Sale Price
20% Off
French Candelabra in Empire Style silver
Located in Berlin, DE
Silver, finely engraved, silvered. On three claw-feet, several times
structured, fluted column-shaft.
Measures:
Height: 73.5 cm,
diameter 25 cm.
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Empire St. Patinated Bronze, Ormolu And Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite and extremely decorative French 19th century Empire st. patinated bronze, ormolu and crystal chandelier. The six arm twenty two light chandelier is centered by an elegan...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
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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