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 Bouillotte Bronze Three Lights Table Lamp, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
A French Empire-style period bouillotte lamp, boasting three bronze lights and an adjustable screen, is complemented by a verdant tole shade in hues of green.
Take into account that...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Copper, Bronze, Brass
$1,478 Sale Price
27% Off
20th Century Empire Style Wall Girdle/Wall Light after Antoine-André Ravrio
By André-Antoine 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
19th century French Gilt Bronze 4 Lights Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Circa late 19 century French gilt bronze sconces with 4 lights. Unusual design of arms and lights
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$5,800 / set
Timothy Outlton, Empire Style, Wall Sconces, Steel, Crystal, 1990s
Located in Manhasset, NY
A pair of Niermann Weeks style three light crystal and metal wall lights by Timothy Oulton. Each in the Empire style with aged metal and crystal design. Part of a large collection of...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Metal
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
Set of Four Empire Ormolu Three-Light Wall Sconces, Attributed to Ravrio
By André-Antoine 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
$16,000 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Impressive French Empire Chandelier, Firegilded Bronze with Alabaster 1830s
Located in Salzburg, AT
Impressive fire-gilded Empire chandelier with very fine imperial and classicist ornaments, which are
shade is made of alabaster,
The lamp body is framed by a surrounding leaf frieze,...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze
French 19th century Belle Epoque Period Empire st. Bronze and Ormolu lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A high quality and most impressive French 19th century Belle Epoque Period Empire st. patinated Bronze, Ormolu and Rouge Griotte Marble lamp. The stunning candelabra mounted into a l...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Empire Design of Lady Face Sconces Gold Dore' Finish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cast in bronze with real 18K gold Dore' finish. Contemporary hi-quality castings in fine details. From the original French pair. Look fantastic on the wall a...
Category
1990s North American 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, Pair of French Gitl Bronze Appliques
Located in IT
19th Century, Pair of French Gitl Bronze Appliques
This particular pair of appliques, in chiseled and gilded bronze, dates back to the first half of the nineteenth century. Made ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Elegant Louis XVI Gilded Bronze Lantern with Hand-Cut Glass Panels, France
Located in Coimbra, PT
This exquisite Louis XVI-style lantern is a remarkable example of early 20th-century French craftsmanship. Executed in finely gilded bronze, the piece features intricate neoclassical...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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
Interesting Late 19th-Early 20th Century Gilt Bronze Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Long Island City, NY
An interesting late 19th-early 20th century gilt bronze empire style sixteen light chandelier
Four long chains connect the top with the body, eight gilt sphinx encircle and light ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Gilt and Burnished Bronze Sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt and burnished bronze victory wall Sconce is an elegant example of figural wall light that shows a winged Victory, mounted ...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French 19th century Empire st. patinated bronze and ormolu chandelier. The three arm chandelier is centered by a beautiful richly chased bottom acorn fini...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique French Empire Bronze Swans Green Tole Metal Shade Bouillotte Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Bronze Swans Green Tole Metal Shade Bouillotte Table Desk Lamp. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 26" H (to finial) x 12" H (to light socket) x 13" W x 9....
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown 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
French Empire Style Bronze Dore Eagle Chandelier
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) bronze dore chandelier having 6 arms with eagle heads emanating from a 6 sided tapered center post with a bottom acorn finial.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Small Gilt Bronze Empire style Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine & Decorative Gilt Bronze & Patinated Bronze Empire style Chandelier. 6 lights. France, circa 1920.
Dimensions: Height 25" Diameter 16"
CW5549
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Fine Pair Of French Empire Style Painted Metal Urn Lamps
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A pair of Urn Lamps with dusty Celadon painted with stylized Acanthus Leaf decoration and gilt accents. The bases with Floral decoration and having square bases resting on Paw feet. ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
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
$13,455 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Tall French Empire Bronze Doré Six-Arm Candelabra as Lamps
Located in Dallas, TX
A large pair of French Empire period chased, gilded bronze six-arm candelabra converted into table lamps. The bases rise from triangular plinths supporting three winged sphinxes with...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
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 ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Large Empire Appliqués / Sconces circa 1800, Gilded Linden Wood
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of large Empire appliqués / sconces circa 1800, gilded linden wood
Solid linden wood, gilded two-flame. Carved, gilded. Ribbon, each with a central, fully sculpted eagle sculpt...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
French Early 19th Century Empire Crystal-Cut and Gilt-Bronze Basket Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
French Early 19th Century Empire Crystal-Cut and Gilt-Bronze Basket Chandelier
A finely proportioned Empire gilt bronze and crystal-cut nine light tent and bag Chandelier. With an a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Robert Abbey Templeton Bronze Trophy Urn Table Lamp Empire Shade Light
By Robert Abbey
Located in Dayton, OH
Templeton 7102G urn table lamp, way buddha bronze with golden beige cast metal empire shade with matching soutache - Robert Abbey
Measures: 10.5” x 24...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$400 Sale Price
20% Off
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 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
$25,071 / set
Empire Eighteen-Light Bronze and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in Montreal, QC
Spectacular French early 19th century bronze and ormolu chandelier, the 12 scrolling arms molded with leaves and interspersed with six ad...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
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",...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Gilt-Brass and Glass Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
This listing features an Empire style Gilt-brass and cut-glass chandelier that houses five candlestick lights and is approximately 18" in diameter and 29" tall. This chandelier is ac...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Bronze Crossed Arrows Wall Sconces
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice pair of bronze wall sconces present a chiseled macarrons with two crossed arrows. This is a French work in the Empire style. Circa 1950
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Pendant
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very elegant and restrained gilt bronze & painted bronze empire style pendant. France, circa 1920. 4 Lights.
Measures: height 38", diameter 25"...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$2,650
Empire Gilded Bronze 5 Light Petite Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A charming and fine, petite, 5 light, gilded bronze Empire chandelier with chain and canopy. 3.5" off-white wax candle sleeves.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
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
$7,880 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Early 19th Century, French Empire Gilded Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A period French Empire crystal and gilt bronze nine candle bell shaped chandelier of the highest quality; the circular corona surmounted by palm shaped fin...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Antique Gilt Metal and Tole Table Lamp
Located in London, GB
A beautiful antique gilt metal and tole table lamp, made in England and dating from around the 1920’s.
It is of superb quality, with fine and intricate details. The tole shade is or...
Category
1920s British Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
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
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
Category
1910s American Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique Russian Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exquisite and superbly detailed gilt bronze and crystal chandelier for candles, can be electrified.
Category
Late 18th Century Russian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$34,700
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
Set of Four Empire Style Three-Light Wall Sconces, Gilt and Patinated
Located in Montreal, QC
Set of four French Empire style cast bronze three-arm wall sconces. The
oval cast gilt bronze back plate, with stylized acanthus leaf design, supporting a gilt banded dark patinated...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Fine Quality Pair of Early Empire Ormolu Mounted Cut Crystal Lamps
Located in New York, NY
The fine diamond cut crystal column-form table lamps supported by gilt bronze paw feet.
Date: Early 19th century
Origin: French
Dimension: 36 in x 10 in.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$7,600 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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 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
$12,000 / 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
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
Empire Style Table Lamp (No Shade). Bronze, Marble
Located in Madrid, ES
Empire style lamp (without shade). Patinated bronze.
marble base Table lamp elevated on a marble base, it is shaped like a vase with handles in the shape of simplified swan heads, fo...
Category
20th Century European Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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
Ormolu, Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Milk Glass Lamps with Hand Painted Gilding
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of lamps, in Empire style, of milk glass, each columnar form handpainted with gilt festooning, on round brass base.
Stock ID: D7199
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Milk Glass
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks after C. Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of excellent early 19th century French empire gilt bronze candlesticks in the style of Claude Galle (1758-1815):
A tapering stem with rich trelliswork relief divided into thr...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Nickel Plated Brass Bouillotte Lamp, Early 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
Empire period nickel and nickel plated brass oval shape Bouillotte two candle lamp, now electrified. Having a black painted tole adjustable shade and u...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Beautiful pair of 1940's French Empire style sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful pair of French empire style sconces, the patina is much nicer in person
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Large Pair of Spanish Empire Style 7-Light Crystal-Cut Chandeliers
Located in Berlin, DE
Large Pair of Spanish Empire Style 7-Light Crystal-Cut Chandeliers, in the Style of the Spanish Royal Factory of Glass and Crystal of La Granja
A large pair of Empire style 7-light ...
Category
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Metal
1930 Swedish Empire Chandelier with Crystals and Etched Glass
Located in New York, NY
1930 Swedish Empire bronze chandelier with etched glass inset and crystals around
Category
1930s Swedish Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Style Cast Bronze Chandelier
Located in Winter Park, FL
A French Empire style cast bronze six-light chandelier. Torch form with flame at the top, decorated with three loin heads. Six arms with foliate medallions underneath. Rewired and in...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Sage Green French Empire Table Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
A French Empire style table lamp in sage green. A round central column is topped with an acanthus pressed brass capital beneath a matching sage green lampshade. The column sits above...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Alabaster Pendant
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine gilt bronze and hand carved Alabaster pendant. 4 lights.
Dimensions: Height 39" diameter 29 1/2" France, circa 1930.
CW3174.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Alabaster
$7,650
Pair of 19 Century French Empire Crystal Candlesticks
Located in San Marino, CA
Pair of French candelabrum with crystal stems, sitting on marble.
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
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.