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.
Early 19th Century Empire Candelabra with Caryatids
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of Empire bronze and marble candelabra with three branches each. The lights are supported by bronze caryatids with dark brown patina, who are dressed in long tunics à l’antique ...
Marble, Bronze
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...
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Empire Patinated Bronze & Ormolu Chandelier Ca. 1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique 19th century French Empire patinated bronze and ormolu, Circa 1880-1890.
Bronze, Ormolu
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...
Siena Marble, Silver, Bronze
Antique French Empire Style Figural Carved Dragons 9 Light Chandelier
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Antique French Empire Style Figural Carved Dragons 9 Light Chandelier Measures 37 In H x 27.25 In w x 27.24 D
Metal, Brass
$4,650
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:...
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Alabaster and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and most impressive French 19th century Empire st. alabaster and ormolu chandelier. The nine arm twelve light chandelier is centered by a striking foliate acorn shaped or...
Marble, Ormolu
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...
Metal
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”.
Bronze
19th Century, Pair of French Chiselled, Burnished and Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in IT
19th Century, Pair of French Chiselled, Burnished and Gilt Bronze Sconces Elegant pair of French wall sconces made of chiselled, burnished and gilt bronze, dating from the Empire p...
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...
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...
Bronze
$1,406 / set
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...
Bronze
$4,250 / set
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...
Crystal, 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...
Bronze
Empire Style Four Light Green Painted & Gilt Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Empire style, green paint decorated four-light colza form chandelier, having gilt bronze foliate accents, with torch-form arms. France, circa 1900. 4 lights. Dimensions: Height 26",...
Bronze
Restored Empire Chandelier, Gold Gilding, New Electrification, Austria, 1920s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This monumental Empire chandelier is a masterpiece of Austrian craftsmanship from the early 19th century. The fixture represents the peak of the Empire style—inspired by ancient gran...
Gold Leaf
$8,500 / set
Antique Candelabra Lamps
Located in Atlanta, GA
Magnificent pair of Empire candelabra, gilt and patinated bronze, now turned into electric lamps.
Bronze
$6,850 / set
Pair of Gilded, Mirrored, Period Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of period, hand carved, gessoed, and 22-karat gold gilded, Second Empire, French sconces. Each with gilt bronze arms, and inset with original, mercury glass mirrors. Each with...
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...
Brass
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...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of Medici-style Empire vase-lamps, France, circa 1940
Located in Paris, FR
Elegant pair of Medici-style Empire vase-lamps in turned brass. The bowl and base have a beautiful bronze-green patina. The handles, neck, and base of the bowl are gilded with patina...
Gold, Brass
Medici-style Empire vase-lamp, France, circa 1940
Located in Paris, FR
Elegant Medici-style Empire vase-lamp in turned brass. The bowl and base have a beautiful bronze-green patina. The handles, neck, and base of the bowl are gilded with patinated fine ...
Gold, Brass
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...
Granite, Ormolu
Elegant pair of French turn of the century woos sconces ( Empire style )
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant pair of French wood sconces, Empire style, the patina is much nicer in person
Wood
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.
Crystal, 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...
Ormolu
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...
Brass
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...
Bronze, Ormolu
Large Pair, Empire Style Sconces, 18-Karat Gold Plate, 3 Lights, Black Shaft
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Larger pair of Empire Looking style sconces They are of hi-quality lost wax Bronze castings with fine detailing . With polished 18-karat gold plated finish in Antique. Center sha...
Bronze
$23,671Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of Bronze Splendor Wall Appliqués / Sconces, Paris, 19th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of bronze splendor wall appliqués / sconces, Paris, 19th century Fire gilded bronze. Five-flame frame for candles with rocaille and rosettes in relief. Colorless glass prism ...
Crystal, 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).
Bronze
20th Century, Empire Style Silvered Ceiling Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, silvered. Finely engraved. Bell shaped, traffic-light styled corpus. (F-Ra-25).
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).
Bronze
20th Century (early) French Bouillotte Ormolu Lamps
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Unique piece purchased in France. Gorgeous lamp, see detailed photos.
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair Antique French Empire Gold Bronze Wall Sconces, Circa 1900
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique French Empire gold bronze wall sconces, Circa 1900.
Bronze
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.
Brass
Price Upon Request
Empire Gilt Bronze and Cut Crystal Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A Superb Antique Empire Gilt Bronze and Cut Crystal Multi Light Chandelier of Exquisite Detail Embellished with Cut Crystal Prisms and Chains, Circa 1810. The chandelier features an...
Crystal, Bronze
Large Antique, French Empire Style, Neoclassical Silvered Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A large antique French Empire-style neoclassical chandelier in silvered bronze. The chandelier is suspended from a crown-shaped canopy decorated with acanthus leaves and laurel bands...
Bronze