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
French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Eight-Light Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
This chandelier is a French Empire eight-light fixture made in 19th century from patinated and gilt bronze. The design features classical elements from the Empire period, including ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Bronze Dore Caryatid Chandelier
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) bronze and dore trim 8 scroll arm chandelier with 4 caryatid females.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Baltic 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu, Patinated Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality Baltic 19th century Empire st. ormolu, patinated bronze and crystal chandelier. The two tiered eight arm twenty four light chandelier is centere...
Category
19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French Empire Bronze and Quartz Swan Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire style (1940s) gilt bronze and rose quartz table lamps with 3 swans at base (PRICED AS Pair).
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
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
French Empire Style Chandelier This is a lovely piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
French Empire Style Chandelier
This is a lovely piece especially where a very large chandelier is not suitable, it has a bright brass crown hung with chains of cut crystal beads, co...
Category
1930s Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
Early 19th Century Russian Empire Opaline and Bronze Chandelier
Located in Charleston, SC
This chandelier was made in Russia in the first half of the 19th century, circa 1805. This piece features four anthemions on the top rim above four bronze chains attached to an urn-s...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Wonderful French Empire Regency Louis XVI Ormolu Patinated Bronze Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful French Empire / Regency Louis XVI Style Ormolu & Black Patinated Bronze 5 Candelabra Light Chandelier
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Regency Crystal and Gilt Bronze 12-Light Wedding Cake Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Stunning large French Empire cut crystal and bronze twelve-light chandelier with crystal drops and swags
Measures:
Diameter 26 in/ 66 cm
Height 45 in (32 in+ 13 in/chain) / 115 cm (7...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Antique Empire Style Twelve-Light Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in Montreal, QC
This chandelier combines an understated crisply cast dark bronze body with wonderful quality two-tone gilding. Of classical inspiration, the theme is leafy, repeating borders of anth...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$12,800 Sale Price
20% Off
Large French Empire Style Glass and Gilt Bronze 18-Light Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This 19th century French chandelier is designed in the Empire style and wrought from gilt bronze and strings of cut glass. The chandelier features a lower dome-shaped body below an o...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Bronze Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
French bronze Empire style chandelier with the goddess Demeter as the center finial.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Style Light Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A French Empire style light chandelier with blue painted dish having Empire style cast bronze mounts and detailed cast bronze charioteers, suspended ...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire Style 16-Light Crystal and Gilt Metal Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large French Empire style 16-light crystal and gilt metal basket chandelier from the 19th century, with scrolling arms, diamond and rosette motifs. Born in France during the politi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Metal
Pair French Empire Style Gilt Metal Sconces with Sunburst Motif
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique gilt metal sconces in the French Empire style with sunburst motif, candelabra size sockets and white candle covers, modern wi...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Bronze and Crystal Bowl Chandelier
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (late 19th Century) gilt bronze chandelier with a cut crystal bowl supporting a ring of 8 scroll arms suspended by 3 chains to a canopy with a flame final bottom.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Pair of French Early 19th Century Empire Gilt-Bronze Candlesticks, circa 1820
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of French early 19th century Empire gilt-bronze candlesticks, circa 1820
Pair of Empire gilt bronze candlesticks, each with a fluted stem, highlighted on top by a finely chas...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
antique empire chandelier
Located in Kiel, SH
high decorative antique bronze candelier from the empire.
I guess the chandelier was electrified later .
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Pair of Caldwell French Empire Style Ormolu Wall Sconces
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire-style (late 19th Century) ormolu wall sconces with sixteen arms, and shield form back plates with crossed palm fronds surrounding a scrolling vine cast pierced ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Superb Maria Theresa Crystal Chandelier
Located in Rome, IT
Magnificent "Maria Theresa" (or Maria Teresa) Empire style traditional crystal chandelier features 24 lights and framework with a golden iron, with glass encased arms and rosettes.
This chandelier is lavishly draped in fine quality sparkle crystals. The Maria Theresa chandelier was named after the Archduchess of Austria who was the Empress of the...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
Elegant brass table lamp in the form of an amphora urn, late 19th century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant brass table lamp in the form of an amphora urn, from the late 19th century
Striking and elegant table lamp in polished brass, shaped as a classical amphora urn with sweepin...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Monumental Pair of Italian Empire Gilt Bronze Candleholders or Floor Lamps, 1800
Located in Rome, IT
Impressive pair of Italian Empire finely chiseled ormolu Flambeaux, on triform base, each with 25 scrolled gilt-bronze candle arms. Attributed to Luigi Manfredini the famous bronze a...
Category
Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$114,108 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Two-Light Wall Torchère Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of French empire style gilt-bronze two-light wall torchère sconces. Each elongated gilt-bronze applique with central twin-tassels supporting a pa...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$5,950 Sale Price / set
63% Off
French Empire Style Chandelier with Frosted Glass Flame
Located in Pembroke, MA
French Empire style chandelier with gilt bronze arms, neoclassical mounts, ornate chain and canopy. The central body is dark green painted wood, surmounted with a frosted glass flame...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
$5,200 Sale Price
20% Off
A Very Fine Gilt Bronze & Crystal Chandelier by Baccarat.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine Gilt Bronze & Crystal Chandelier by Baccarat. 6 lights.
France, circa 1930.
Dimensions: Height 40" Diameter 24"
CW5535
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Antique French Empire Style Figural Gilt & Patina Bronze Chandeliers
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of unusual Antique French Empire style gilt bronze and patinated bronze multi light figural neoclassical chandeliers. Each circular patinated bronze chandelier is embellished with eight gilt bronze neoclassical winged figures of ladies holding flames which represents light and further adorned with neoclassical gilt bronze motifs in relief depicting owls. Finally each chandelier is connected to the top crown...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Waldorf Astoria Hotel Empire Cut Glass Dish Pendant Light
Located in New York, NY
Empire style pendant light with a cast glass dish and bronze decorative frame. These elegant lights graced many of the main corridors of the Waldorf Astoria. This requires three stan...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Fine French Neoclassical Russian Baltic Empire Doré Bronze Crystal Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful French Made Elegant Russian / Baltic Empire / Neoclassical Style Doré Bronze And Crystal 8 Candelabra Light Chandelier, Wiring Is Up To Date.
...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of French Gilt Bronze and Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
Pair of French gilt bronze and patinated bronze candelabra
French, 20th Century
Height 108cm, width 37cm, depth 32cm
A magnificent pair of 20th-century Empire-style candelabra, the...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Large Antique French Empire Style Alabaster and Bronze Twelve-Light Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
Large antique French Empire-style alabaster, frosted glass, and bronze pendant chandelier from circa 1890.
An impressive and large twelve-light alabaster pendant chandelier from the ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze
Waldorf Astoria Brass & Crystal Empire Wall Sconce Qty Available
Located in New York, NY
Large scale 20th Century brass and crystal Empire style wall sconces. These were retrieved from the Vanderbilt Room which was located off the right side of the main lobby entrance on...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Pair of Important First Empire Period Ormolu Sconces
By Percier & Fontaine
Located in Essex, MA
Period ormolu sconces in First Empire, imperial Russian, realistic lion mask form
--Percier and fontaine designed lion mask being impaled by th...
Category
Early 1800s Russian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Style Gilded Bronze Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Montreal, QC
French Empire style gilded bronze Bouillotte lamp with 3 arms with dark green tole shade.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Bronze and Green Empire Wall Lights with Beige/Green Shades
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
Pair of bronze and green Empire wall lights with beige/green shades.
Category
1980s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Consulat - Empire Style French Tole Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century Consulat - Empire Style French Tole Bouillotte Lamp
Beautiful lamp purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with photos.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Bronze
19th Century Pair French Blue Opaline Glass Lamps
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century Pair French Blue Opaline Glass Lamps
Beautiful Lamps purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Opaline Glass
Hanging Lantern
Located in New York, NY
American (glass attributed to Boston and Sandwich Glass Company, Sandwich, Massachusetts), circa 1830-1840.
Glass, blown, partially frosted, and wheel cut, with cast and die-rolled brass, patinated.
This hanging lamp is typical of the production of such lanterns by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company of Sandwich, Massachusetts, during the 1830s, and perhaps as late as the early 1840s. The present example is an unusually elaborate specimen with its overall frosting and cutting. In their The Glass Industry in Sandwich, II (1989), Raymond E. Barlow and Joan E. Kaiser quote Boston & Sandwich Glass Company manager Deming Jarves on the fabrication of lamps of this general type (p. 225 no. 2398). These hanging lanterns could be supplied with a candle or with a peg lamp...
Category
19th Century American Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
$15,000
Empire Bronze Crystal Chandelier, with Fire-Gilded Swans, 19th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
Extremely decorative, heavy and high quality Empire chandelier,
19th century.
No replica. Staffed with five magnificent, fire-gilded bronze swans.
This chandelier impresses with its uniqueness.
The swan is the symbol animal of the Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$142,635 Sale Price
33% Off
A Pair of American Gilt-Bronze Three Light Wall Lights
Located in New York, NY
Pair of gorgeous twisted cornucopia sconces by Edward F. Caldwell & Co. Three scrolling cornucopia supports joined by a scroll form rose with tudor rose style on and off switch, hard...
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Lighting
Materials
Gold Leaf
Gilt Bronze & Crystal "Basket" Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine gilt bronze & cut crystal "Basket" chandelier. 12 lights. Great quality. France, circa 19220.
Dimensions: Height 44" Diameter 21"
CW4886.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Black Stone and Ormolu Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Each candleholder of columnar form surmounted with ormolu stiff-leaf capitals and with acanthus-wrapped base, on pedestal bases with outswept scrolling feet. Fitted with two brass bulb sockets. Adjustable. Later mounded as a lamps. With duck blue...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Stone, Brass, Ormolu
Pair of Empire Candelabra of Ormolu and Patinated Bronze and Marble
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of late 19th century Empire bronze and ormolu candelabra.
- Caryatid herm female figures on marble block plinths.
- Three ormolu candle arms/cups
- Well modeled.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique French Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A Superb Antique French Empire style gilt bronze and patinated bronze 8 light chandelier of fine quality. This unique neoclassical chandelier is embellished with figural masks and ne...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Tole Sinumbra Lamp from the Estate of Paul and Bunny Mellon
Located in Hudson, NY
This fine classical carcel lamp would originally have had a burner and glass shade but now is fitted for electricity and will require a tole or cloth shade...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Italian Empire White Murano Opaline Beads Blue Beaded Tole Chandelier, c 1920
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing 6 lights, sitting in white opaline bobéches. Will be rewired with certified UL US sockets for the USA and appropriate sockets for all other countries and ready to hang at ou...
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Murano Glass
Beautiful Pair Of French Empire Style Bag Chandeliers
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer for sale this amazing pair of French Empire Bag Chandeliers , each one with six internal lights , aprox 98 cm height , PAT tested. All our chandeliers come with ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
$3,287 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Bronze French Empire Three-Arm Eagle Chandelier Light Fixture
Located in Toledo, OH
Gorgeous French Empire bronze chandelier with Eagle. Eagle with outspread wings sits atop three vines. Bronze shades holders have raised flowers. Each arm holds a flower form shade...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Large Basket Chandelier, 1st Third 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
Large ceiling chandelier with six brass candle holders. The hanging of glass prisms, drops and beads is guided over two hoops and ends in a basket with hanging drops.
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Gilt Bronze Empire Sconces
Located in Locust Valley, NY
Pair of gilt bronze three-arm Empire sconces with leaf detail.
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$1,800 / set
Large Pair of French Empire Period Candelabra, Attributed to Claude Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent large pair of five-light doré bronze and patinated bronze Empire period candelabra, attributed to Claude Galle made in the early 1800s. This pair of candelabra are set ...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Vintage Pair Of Wall Lights, Circa 1960 in Chiseled and Gilded Bronze, France
Located in Bastogne, BE
An elegant Pair Of Louis XVI style Wall Lights Circa 1960 in finely chiseled and gilded bronze with two light arms.
Fake opaline candles.
Manufactured in France, 1960s.
They're op...
Category
1960s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Two Tier Vintage Natural Alabaster Chandelier Pendant
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Natural Alabaster Two-Tier Chandelier Italian Beauty. It comes with 3 feet of brass chain and is ready to install ceiling canopy.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Alabaster, Marble
Pair of Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze Chandeliers
Located in London, GB
Designed to mimic the appearance of a star-studded celestial globe, theses Empire style chandeliers are simultaneously charming and outstandingly beautiful. Each chandelier is design...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu, Metal, Bronze
$19,723 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Elegant French Empire Table Lamp in Patinated and Gilded Bronze, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
French Empire Table Lamp in Patinated and Gilded Bronze, 1820s
Elegant French Empire table lamp crafted in patinated and mercury-gilded bronze, dating from the 1820s. Originally pa...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Gilt Bronze Table Lamp, Signed Moreau, Late 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant French gilt bronze table lamp signed Moreau depicts Erato, the Greek goddess of music, dance and song. She is represented holding a lyre while her left arm is leaning upon an open book that rests upon a fluted column. Trailing ivy extends down the upper portion of the column. She carries the lyre in her right hand which hangs down to her right hip. There is a serene and pensive expression on her face as she looks down and to her left. She stands on an indented and canted, lacquered black base with a gilt metal wreath...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Empire Style Neoclassical Gilt and Patina Bronze Eagle Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A superb and unique antique French Empire style neoclassical gilt and patinated bronze multi light chandelier of fine detail. This fine chandelier is embellished with reticulated gilt...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$15,840 Sale Price
20% Off
French Empire Silver Plate Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (20th Century) silver plate 3 arm bouillotte table lamp with horn motif and green tole shade.
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Silver Plate, Tôle
Pair of Napoleon III Bronze and Ormolu Table Lamps
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of Napoleon III bronze and ormolu table lamps columnar form.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$2,240 Sale Price / set
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.
Six E 14 light bulbs.
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$13,312 Sale Price
20% Off
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.