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 French Empire Bronze and Faux Marble Table Lamps
Located in Essex, MA
Empire bronze and faux marble paint on wood bases. Each have two light. Base paint probably later enhanced.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style French Antique Lamp
Located in Austin, TX
Lamp, French, “Bouillote”, made of finely cast bronze. The piece mimics a traditional oil lamp and is topped with a gold leaf painted adjustable lamp shade. It has been newly wired t...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Czech Crystal Beaded Empire Style Dome Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
This absolutely adorable Czech crystal beaded Empire-style dome chandelier pendant from circa the 1950s consists of strands of crystal cut balls sizing from small to big. Ballroom st...
Category
1950s Czech Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Early 19th Century Pair of Empire Gilt Bronze Female Caryatids Candlesticks
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Gilt Bronze Female Busts Candlesticks, circa 1820
A beautiful pair of Empire gilt-bronze ormolu c...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique 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
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
Empire Chandelier Made Around 1810
Located in Stockholm, SE
Gilt bronze chandelier with eight candleholders. Great design with be winged putts holding the urns that in turn holds the candles. Good quality and condition.
Category
1810s French Antique 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 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
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
Russian Cut-Glass, Ormolu, and Blue Porcelain Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Russian cut-glass, ormolu, and blue porcelain chandelier
Russian, 19th Century
Height 120cm, diameter 90cm
This stunning Russian chandelier brings together vibrant turquoise porcela...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Swedish Cast Iron Urn Norrahammar No 5
Located in Karlstad, SE
Very rare garden urn marked Norrahammar No 5 in cast iron, 19th century.
Condition: Good original condition with heavy patina.
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Iron
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
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
19th Century Pair of French Empire Bronze Wall Sconces
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire-style (19th century) bronze wall sconces with 5 arms, swan tops and a double ball design (Priced as pair).
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Empire Bronze Ormolu 4 Light Candelabra Table Lamps, Manner Rabiat, a Pair
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
Manner of Claude-Francois Rabiat. Each modeled as a classical maiden holding aloft a basket of fruit issuing four candlearms on raised engine turned column and plinth base.
Shade me...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Set of Four Empire Ormolu Three-Light Wall Sconces, Attributed to Ravrio
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Each backplate topped with a mask of Athena surmounted by an owl and ending in a stylized bellflower and anthemion, issuing three leaf-wrapped scrolling arms. Electrified.
André-Antoine Ravrio (1759-1814) was a French sculptor in bronze and was made a master founder in 1777 setting up in business 1790. Although Ravrio enjoyed success during Louis XVI’s reign, he achieved far greater fame under Napoleon. He took part in the first Exposition de l’Industrie, Paris, 1803 and then won a silver medal there in 1806. The same year he supplied a number of bronze furnishings for the Empress Joséphine’s apartments in the Tuileries and in 1810 was appointed as the Emperor’s chief bronzier. In this capicity he supplied some of the finest Empire bronze pieces, girandoles, candelabras and lamps as well as ornate furniture...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Italian Gilt Bronze and Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
This large scale 19th Century Italian Gilt Bronze and Crystal Basket Chandelier is a stunning piece that perfectly combines elegance and sophistication. The intricate gilt bronze fra...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Large Empire Chandelier with Ten Candleholders in great condition. Ca 1820.
Located in Stockholm, SE
A unusually large chandelier with a beautiful design. The chains that holds the chandelier are of an interesting shape with grooved pipes and rings. The pressure-turned saucer-like c...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Elegant pair of French Empire style sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful pair of 1940's French empire style sconces, the patina is much nicer in person
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
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.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Empire Period Egyptian Style Porcelain Candelabra
Located in London, GB
French Empire period Egyptian style porcelain candelabra
French, c. 1815
Height 81cm, width 27cm, depth 27cm
These extremely fine candelabra date from the early 19th Century, during the period of Napoleonic dominance in Europe. It was during this period that interest in the ancient civilisation of Egypt started to become fashionable, in large part due to Napoleon's conquest of the region at the turn of the 19th Century. Each candelabrum is modelled as a standing cross...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
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
Early 20th century French Pair of Brass and Glass Coach Lanterns
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful and large pair of 19th century coachman's lanterns in brass and sheet metal.
Hexagonal shape in glass and brass. Topped with an eagle with outstretched wings in Empire styl...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Empire Bronze and Glass Chandelier with Beliers
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
Empire bronze and glass chandelier with beliers.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Marvelous MARBRO Mid Century Polished Brass Table Lamp! Huge Showpiece Lighting
Located in Peoria, AZ
SENSATIONAL!
MID CENTURY
MONUMENTAL
BRASS MARBRO LAMP!
MID CENTURY DECORATION ICON!
DUAL PULL STRING SOCKETS!
POLISHED BRASS
ORIGINAL SHADE & BRASS FINIAL
DIMENSIONS: 40" x 21"
In the forties and fifties, decorators would choose the most impressive lamp they could obtain and place it in a home's "picture window" so that all passerby and visitors could glimpse just how well the occupants lived!
Picture windows started disappearing in the late sixties, but demand for monumental lighting...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Gold
Set of Eight French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Figural Neoclassical Wall Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A set of eight superb French Empire style gilt bronze figural double light wall sconces of great quality embellished with fine figural masks of neoclassical men.
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
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
19th Century French Empire Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Classic 19th century French gilt bronze and tole Empire chandelier wit 8 lights. Nice details and very fine quality! This fixture comes with a c...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Antique French Empire Style Tole Chandelier, Circa 1890's.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Empire Style Tole Chandelier, Circa 1890's.
We have 2 of these chandeliers available, and they are sold individually.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
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
20th Century Magnificent, Classical Swedish Ceiling Crown, Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
Magnificent, classical Swedish ceiling crown, chandelier
Polished brass. Curved, star shaped body with teardrop-shaped, faceted glass hangings, starti...
Category
20th Century Swedish Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Pair of Fine Ormolu and Green Marble Eight-Light Torcheres/Centerpieces
Located in New York, NY
An unusual and rare pair of ormolu and green marble eight-light torcheres/floor centerpieces attributed to E. F. Caldwell and Co New York. In the Empire style, the circular pierced f...
Category
1890s American Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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
French Empire Style Triple Tiered Crystal and Bronze Chandelier
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An empire style chandelier in gilded bronze and cut crystal. The large central ring is embellished with palmettes and wreaths and supports beaded chains and long crystal French drops...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Classic Swan French Empire Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Classic model for this French Empire chandelier, perfect in any particular: gilt bronze, classic swan, green nail, 6 lights.
It's perfect ! over Your table or sleeping room...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Vintage French Empire Brass & Italian Black Marble Column Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Italian Black Marble & Polished Brass Column Table Lamps With Black Textured Shades - a Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 27.5" H (to finial) x...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Brass
Russian 19th Century Empire St. Patinated Bronze, Crystal, and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and extremely decorative Russian 19th century Empire st. patinated bronze, crystal, and ormolu chandelier. The twelve arm chandelier is centered by a Fine solid crystal...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Charles X Ormolu and Bronze Candelabra Lamps
Located in New York, NY
With acanthus-wrapped fluted columns on scroll-form feet and triangular base. Lamp shades not included. Height to socket is 20" - height can be adjusted with different harps.
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Painted Toleware and Brass Desk Lamp A lovely piece
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
French Painted Toleware and Brass Desk Lamp
A lovely piece, adapted from an original oil lamp, the lamp has a single brass sconce and opposite we can see the secretary bird both set...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Napoleon III Period Gilt and Patinated Bronze Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This unusual chandelier is designed in the Empire style from gilt and patinated bronze in the form of an ancient Roman terracotta or earthenwa...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of French Empire Period Doré Bronze Figural Candelabras, Circa 1810
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent pair of French Empire period doré bronze figural candelabra. Each of these beautiful five armed candelabras are meticulously cast and hand-chased with the finest detail...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Gilt and Patinated Bronze Empire-Style Wall Lights
Located in London, GB
Gilt and patinated bronze Empire-style wall lights
French, Early 20th century
Height 35cm, width 36cm, depth 20cm
This pair of wall lights or sconces are modeled in the opulent...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
20th Century Empire Style Wall Girdle/Wall Light after Antoine-André Ravrio
Located in Berlin, DE
Imperial Empire wall girdle to Antoine-André Ravrio 1759-1814.
Bronze, gilded or partly dark patinated. From acanthus of fullplastic herme / Amor adult with, holding a vase as a car...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pierre-Philippe Thomire Attributed 4 Arm French Empire Gilt Bronze Candelabrum
Located in Savannah, GA
A very fine single French Empire style gilt bronze four-light candelabra featuring the allegorical "à la Victoire". The winged figure holds aloft in her out stretched arms two intric...
Category
1810s French 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
Pair of table Lamps in Brass Gold Color Silk original Shades France 19th
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Pair of table Lamps in Brass Gold Color Silk original Shades France 19th
US PLUG ADAPTATOR WILL BE FURNISHED FOR FREE TO THE US BUYERS
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
19th Century Russian Empire Gilt Bronze Figural Candelabra Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A finely cast and gilded Russian Empire style candelabra that was transformed into a lamp; featuring a classical maiden holding aloft three winged sea horses terminating in candle no...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian 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 lacquered round ...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce Set 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
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
Empire style large chandelier
Located in Houston, TX
Elegant style makes this fixture highly desirable.
It has a crown at the crest and has brilliant crystals
That cascade downward in an arc shape that attach
To a large bowl forming a...
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
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...
Category
1990s American Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Large French Empire Style Tent Chandelier
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Large French Empire Style Tent chandelier
This is a lovely piece, quite a large chandelier, it has an aged brass frame hung with large crystals, com...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
Pair of French 1st Empire Dore Bronze Mtd. 5-Arm Mirrored Sconces, Att. Thomire
Located in New York, NY
A Magnificent Pair of French 1st Empire Period Dore bronze mounted five-arm sconces/mirrors, Attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire. Each mirrored sconce is of octagonal form with a b...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Empire Candelabras
Located in Paris, FR
Stunning pair of gilded and patinated bronze candelabras, featuring a winged cupid. He is standing on a sphere and holding a torch, which is surrounded by three curving candle branch...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
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
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.