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 Style Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Empire style gilt bronze sconces
French, 20th Century
Measures: Height 88cm, width 38cm, depth 35cm
This elegant pair of sconces is wrought from gilt bronze in th...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Crystal Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
French Empire style gilt bronze and cut crystal chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi with eight lights.
This chandelier is characterized by classical plate embellished with gilt bron...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Brass Sconces, Early 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of French Empire three-light brass sconces with lion faces, converted to electric.
Recently restored, having wax candle sleeves and holding chandelier size light bulbs.
Fran...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Monumental Hollywood Regency French Cut-Crystal Beads, Gilt 19-Light Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Stunning extra large impressive Empire cut crystal and gilt brass 19-light chandelier with crystal drops.
Measures:
Diameter 37.8 in/ 96 cm
Height 35.5 in / 90 cm
Weight 44 lb/20 Kg
...
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
French Empire Influenced Chandelier, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century French Empire influenced chandelier, having a coronet with chains hanging down to the chandelier that has twelve branch sconces each with swan heads, a fl...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
A Pair of Early 19th Century French Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of early 19th Century French tole sconces. Converted from oil lamps with classical gilt figures and Directoire imagery. Circa 1820s.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
A Pair of French Empire-Style Sconces With Etched Hurricane Shades
Located in New York, NY
A pair of French empire style gilt bronze wall sconces with neoclassical details having antique etched glass hurricane shades. Circa 1980
Category
1980s Vintage 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
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
Heavy Cast Bronze Empire Wall Sconce w 3 Lights Quantity Available
Located in New York, NY
Heavy cast bronze three light sconce done in an Empire style. Small quantity available at time of posting. Priced each. Please inquire. Please note, this item is located in our Scran...
Category
Early 2000s Argentine Empire Lighting
Materials
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
Beautiful Czechoslovakian Crystal Beaded Empire Dome Chandelier circa 1900
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing one light, will be rewired and ready to hang. We use certified UL US sockets and appropriate sockets for all other countries. Strands and strands of crystal beads from tiny t...
Category
Early 1900s Czech Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
19th Century French Brass Desk Adjustable Lamp in Empire Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century electrified brass desk lamp in Empire style.
The part with the bulbs is adjustable.
France, circa 1860.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of French Empire Brass Candelabra Lamps, 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of very fine quality 19th century brass candelabras, now converted to table lamps.
Professionally re-wired.
These have their ori...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Antique Chandelier. Empire style chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exquisite and rare Empire style chandelier with elaborate gilt bronze frame and crystal pyramids and pendalogues. France, circa 1900.
Dimensions: Height 58" Diameter 34"
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, 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
19th Century French Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century bronze and gilded ormolu French Empire influenced chandelier. Having a classical ceiling rose with three foliate linked chains...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
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
Empire Period French Gilt Bronze Six Light Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Empire period French gilt bronze six light chandelier
French, c. 1810
Height 80cm, diameter 45cm
Made in France around 1810, at the time when the Empire style was in vogue, the chan...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Gilt Bronze and Patinated Metal 19th Century French Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Antique gilt bronze and patinated metal 19th Century French chandelier
French, late 19th Century
Dimensions: Height 83cm, diameter 60cm
Designed in the elegant French Empire sty...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Ormolu
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
Antique French Empire Converted Cobalt Blue Glass Brass Oil Lamp Urn 29"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique French Empire Sevres style oil lamp converted to electric - deep cobalt blue glass vase / trophy / mantel urn shaped with brass base, pierced top, and handles decorated with ...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Empire Period 5 light Figural Bronze Candelabra
Located in Montreal, QC
A pair of early 19th century French gilt bronze and patinated bronze figural empire period five lights candelabra. Each candelabrum is formed as a ormolu cornucopia of scrolled branc...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
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
Pair of French Empire Period Four Light Bronze Candelabra
Located in Montreal, QC
This Hommage a Egypte pair were made at the time of Napoleon's unsuccessful foray into Egypt. The shaped bases, winged feet and triangular columns are surely inspired by the campaig...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Very Fine Gilt Bronze Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very Elegant gilt bronze empire style chandelier. Exquisite detail. 4 lights.
France, circa 1920. Measures: Height 27 1/2" Diameter 16"
CW5101.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Empire/ Charles X Gilt and Patinated Bronze Four-Light Wall Appliques
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Empire/ Charles X Gilt and Patinated Bronze Four-Light Wall Appliques or Sconces
A pair of Empire/ Charles X four-branch ormolu/gilt and patinated bronze wall lights “à la c...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Large Empire Style Lamp in Cut Crystal and Gilt Bronze, 1940s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large Empire style lamp in cut crystal and chiselled and gilt bronze mount. Circular gilt bronze base adorned with a Walter leaves frieze, gadroons and beads topped by a cut crystal ...
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, 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
Rare Fine Quality Brass and Iron Lyre Form French Empire Chandelier
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Quality Turrn of the Century French Empire Style Chandelier.
Mixed metals.
Dimensions: 36" h x 19 3/4" diameter.
Category
1880s European Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Early 19th Century Brass Empire Hanging Chandelier for Four Candles
Located in Dresden, DE
Early 19th-Century Brass Chandelier for four candles
Height: 65 cm
Diameter: 45 cm
Brass
An elegant addition to any room or entrance way, this Empire lamp holds 4 candles and crea...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Empire Style Crystal and Gilt Bronze Urn Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A twin handled Empire urn in gilded bronze, the two arms decorated with medusa heads, and classical heads below. Gilt grape leaves encircle the ovoid body. The urn sits on a decorate...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Style Ormolu and Bronze Chandelier
Located in London, GB
French Empire style ormolu and bronze chandelier
French, 19th century
Measures: Height 100cm, diameter 64cm
This chandelier is a beauti...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu, 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
Empire Style Gilt Bronze Bouillotte Lamp
Located in BARSAC, FR
Gilt bronze hot water bottle lamp with oval lacquered sheet metal shade, decorated with an eagle's head in the Empire style.
French work of quality from the first half of the 20th c...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Black French Pair of Large Marble, Gilded Bronze Table Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, vintage French pair of large table lamps made of hand crafted marble with a new round shade, in good condition. They are composed with its original switch, particularized by...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Empire Style Beaded Crystal Chandelier
Located in Chicago, IL
This French Empire-style chandelier from circa 1930 is crafted from brass and crystal. Featuring the traditional ‘tent and basket’ design, it has a domed lower body adorned with casc...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Empire Style Crystal and Brass Tent and Bag Chandelier
Located in London, GB
An exquisite Empire Style Crystal and Brass Tent and Bag Chandelier. This beautiful chandelier features a brass ceiling rose with a charming acanthus leaf design and a tent-top brass...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
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
Pair of Bronze Table Lamps – Originally Empire Candlesticks, France c. 1820
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Bronze Table Lamps – Originally Empire Candlesticks, France c. 1820
A beautiful and elegant pair of bronze table lamps, originally crafted as Empire candlesticks in France ...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Large Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Urn, Amphora Table Lamp
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
Large, heavy Empire style gilt and patinated bronze Amphora table lamp decorated with fine ornaments and garlands on a square base supported by four feet covered with leaves. Five-li...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Bronze Table Lamps – Originally Empire Candlesticks, France c. 1820
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Bronze Table Lamps – Originally Empire Candlesticks, France c. 1820
A beautiful and elegant pair of bronze table lamps, originally crafted as Empire candlesticks in France ...
Category
1820s French Antique 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
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
Grande Lampadario Impero Dorato Italiano con Cristalli 1780 Circa Sedici Luci
Located in Milano, MI
Monumentale Lampadario Impero a sedici bracci, antico lampadario piemontese, la regione del nord Italia che confina con la Francia, di epoca Impero, realizzato a mano in ferro e cristallo in buono stato di conservazione.
La struttura circolare è in ferro forgiato a mano impreziosita da decorazioni a volute vegetali, palmette e ornamenti floreali. La struttura è in ferro ed i bracci e le decorazioni in fusione di ghisa.
La finitura dorata è a mecca, ottenuta con la foglia...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Iron
Pair of Antique Second Empire Style Five-Arm Candelabra
Located in Montreal, QC
A large pair of Charles X bronze and marble five-light candelabra now fitted as table lamps. This striking pair combine honey-colored Siena marble and dark crisp scrolling bronze in ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Two-Light Sconces, Early 20th Century
Located in Barntrup, DE
A pair of French Empire-style gilt bronze sconces. These beautiful wall lights are richly decorated with bronze details like flowers, leaves, swans, and griffin heads.
Each sconce ha...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Antique French Empire Period Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
These fine and large French candelabra date from the Empire period of the 19th century and beautifully contrast the different finishes of gilt ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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
1920 French Empire Small Chandelier with Swam Heads 6 Lights
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1920’s French Empire style small chandelier with swam’s heads. Original unique chains. 6 lights. Green body color
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Bronze Chandelier with Ebonized Bowl
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire (19th Century) chandelier with a bronze ebonized patina bowl with gilt trim and 12 scroll uplight arms trimmed with a finial bottom and supported with 3 chains connecte...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
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
French Empire Carved Marble Table Lamp
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French Empire carved marble and brass table lamp. This marble lamp is shaped like an urn with gold gilt brass trim and paw feet with a complimentary new linen drum shade. Recently ...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique Empire Period Bronze Table Lamp, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
An elegant French Empire bronze and marble table lamp, circa 1820 in date.
The candlestick later converted into a lamp features an ancanthus capital, a fluted tapering column on c...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Swedish Empire Ceiling Chandelier in antique Classicist Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Magnificent Swedish Empire ceiling crown in the style of classicism
Polished brass and facetted prismatic trimmings. Starting from narrow, ornamented brass hoops, eight curved candlesticks for cylindrical spouts above a round gutter bowl. Baluster-shaped body made of hand-wired pearl strings...
Category
20th Century German Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
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
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
20th Century Black French Pair of Large Marble, Gilded Bronze Table Lights
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, vintage French pair of large table lamps made of hand crafted marble with a new round shade, in good condition. They are composed with its original switch, particularized by...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Metal, Bronze
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.