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.
$22,789 / set
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...
Ormolu, Metal, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu And Baccarat Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and very high quality French 19th century Empire st. ormolu and Baccarat crystal chandelier. The twelve arm sixteen light chandelier is centered by a striking solid cryst...
Crystal, Ormolu
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.
Bronze
French Silver-Plated Bronze Three-Light Bouillotte Lamp attributed to Christofle
By Christofle
Located in leucate, FR
This exquisite three-light Bouillotte lamp is a quintessential example of French Neoclassical design, combining the rigorous elegance of the Empire style with the world-renowned craf...
Metal, Silver Plate, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely elegant French 19th century Empire st. ormolu and Baccarat crystal chandelier. The eight arm chandelier is centered by a striking solid crystal ball below a ...
Crystal, Ormolu
Pair of French Bronze and Gilt Mirror Pagoda Form Half Lentern Wall Sconces
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of French Bronze and Gilt Mirror back Pagoda Form Half Lentern one light Wall Sconces. Measures 6.75" in width and 3.25" in length and 29" in height.
Brass, Bronze
Antique French Empire Brass Converted Oil Lamp Mahogany Wood Column Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Brass Converted Oil Lamp Corinthian Column Table Lamp With Mahogany Wooden Column. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurements: 31.5" H (to finial) x 26" H (to light ...
Brass
$4,540Sale Price|20% Off
'60s Monumental Empire 24K Gold Plated Bronze Amethyst Crystal Chandelier Palwa
By Palwa
Located in Opa Locka, FL
1960's Monumental Empire style 24K Gold Plated Bronze with Amethyst Cut Crystal Waterfall Semi Flush Mount Chandelier by Palme & Walter Palwa. This is a very high quality Chandel...
Bronze
Empire Style Gilt and Burnished Bronze Candelabra By Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This Empire style gilt and burnished bronze figural candelabra by Gherardo Degli Albizzi resumes the great taste of Napoleon period decoration. Base is characterized by gilt satin br...
Bronze
Antique French Empire Style Figural Carved Dragons 9 Light Chandelier
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Antique French Empire Style Figural Carved Dragons 9 Light Chandelier Measures 37 In H x 27.25 In w x 27.24 D
Metal, Brass
French Toleware Converted Oil Lamp, Circa 1875
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Painted Toleware Converted Oil Lamp, France Charming French Tole Lamp on a frosted lucite base. Wonderful patina on this vintage piece. Certainly a statement piece in any home libr...
Metal
Large French Empire Brass Crackle Art Glass Flush Mount Ceiling Light Fixture
By Baccarat
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Large French Empire Gilt Brass & Crackle Frosted Art Glass Flush Mount Ceiling Light Fixture Having 3 Internal Candelabra Lights Rewired With New Sockets
Brass
Gilt Bronze "Bouillotte" Table Lamp with Swans Motifs, France 20th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A refined French Empire-style bouillotte lamp crafted in gilt bronze, distinguished by its elegant swan-form candle arms and richly engraved decorative details. Inspired by the neocl...
Bronze
1920 French Empire Style Bronze Sconces with Lion Heads
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1920 French Empire style 3 lights sconces, with Lions heads and warriors helmets as cups
Bronze
$2,737Sale Price / set|20% Off
4 Antique French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces Attr. to Charles Ranc
By Charles Ranc
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions (Per Sconce) - H: 10 1/2 in W: 8 1/4 in D: 4 1/4 in Presenting an exceptional set of four Antique French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces, attributed to the celebra...
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Alabaster And Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and most impressive French 19th century Empire st. Alabaster and Ormolu chandelier. This four arm eight light chandelier is centered by a striking foliate acorn shaped Or...
Marble, Ormolu
$1,050Sale Price|30% Off
Maitland Smith French Empire Figural Phoenix Bouillotte Candlestick Table Lamp
Located in Dayton, OH
Monumental late 20th century Maitland Smith Empire style Bouillote / Budoir lamp. Made from brass with a pierced and paw footed base over an acanthus wrapped column leading to a figural winged Phoenix / Griffon candlestick...
Brass
French 19th Century Empire St. Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A lovely French 19th century Empire st. verdigris patinated bronze and ormolu chandelier. The patinated bronze base is decorated with an ormolu inverted finial and acanthus leaves an...
Bronze, Ormolu
Urn and Rams Head White & Gold Porcelain Table Lamp Empire Style, German, Large
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous large white and gold porcelain table lamp in urn form with detailed ram's head design, in the Empire style, attributed to Furstenberg Porcelain, Germany, circa 20th centur...
Gold
$18,750 / item
Empire Style Lantern Form Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A superb Louis WVI style lantern. Two toned patinated bronze, with curved glass panels. 3-light, France, circa 1900. Apparently unmarked. Measures: Height 42", diameter 19". Pair ...
Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Palatial Torchieres
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Empire style palatial composite torchieres with fluted column over acanthus leaf and urn form details, and rising on paw feet. Continental, second half 20th century. Dimens...
Composition
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...
Ormolu, 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...
Brass
Antique Chandelier. Imposing giltwood and alabaster chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Magnificent giltwood and alabaster Russian chandelier in the Empire style
Alabaster
Pair French Empire Caryatids Gilded Bronze Cut Glass 4-Light Lantern Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Beautiful pair of antique large French Empire caryatids cast bronze lanterns. Fire gilded solid heavy bronze and cut glass shade with four-light. Dimensions : Diameter 12 in/ 30 cm ...
Bronze
$3,477Sale Price / set|35% Off
Set of Four Empire Style Wall lights Laudarte Grifone
Located in London, GB
Magnificent set of four empire style wall Sconces 24 crt gilt finish Malachite inset Designed by Giovanni Maria Ma These wall lights are fully Restored and Rewired
Other
20th Century Empire Style Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and casted bronze. Full plasticized, feminine historical Egyptian representation. (T-Mr-21-Bp).
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...
Ormolu, Bronze
$4,340Sale Price|38% Off
Empire french bronze chandelier in gold-plated with 'Quimeras" circa 1800
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible chandelier in bronze and gold empire circa 1800 with "Quimeras" for 6 lights.
Gold, Bronze
Monumental Empire Style Bronze and Crystal Chandelier, Austria, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Austrian crystal chandelier with a solid bronze frame and faceted crystal, circa 1930s or older. This chandelier is perfect for large spaces, entryways, and hallways. A unique waterf...
Crystal, Metal, Gold Plate
Four Italian Empire Vases 1700 Gilded and Carved Wood Lamp Bases
Located in Milano, MI
Gilded Empire Lamp Bases 1700 Set of Four Palm Vases with square base and circular turned and carved body made of pine wood, water-gilded in fine gold leaf on red bole preparation. T...
Gold Leaf
Italian Completely Beaded Basket Crystal Prisms Silver Chandelier, c 1940
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing four lights in beaded cups. Completely beaded with a beaded lace bottom. Adorning crystal prisms on top and in bottom. This chandelier has two width...
Crystal
$5,309Sale Price|30% Off
Empire Style Gilt Bronze Chandelier with Winged Figures - Italy, Early 19th
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Monumental chandelier featuring a sculptural central body decorated with winged female figures in the round, inspired by classical and mythological iconography typical of the Empire ...
Bronze
$2,333Sale Price / set|50% Off
Maison Lucien Gau bronze wall lighting model Swann Empire , France 1960s
Located in La xara, VC
The wall sconces correspond to the swan model by Maison Lucien Gau, a Parisian bronze art manufacturer specializing in bronze lighting since 1860, still active today. Model Identifi...
Bronze
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...
Ormolu
Italian Empire White Murano Opaline Beads Drops Beaded Tole Chandelier, c 1900
Located in Firenze, Toscana
One of a kind! Housing 6 lights, sitting in crystal bobéches, dripping with white opaline beads and vintage crystal prisms. Will be rewired with certified UL US sockets for the USA...
Murano Glass
Empire Style Crystal Glass and Brass Sconce by Palwa, Germany, 1960s
By Palwa
Located in Barntrup, DE
A splendid Empire-style sconce by Palwa, Germany, 1960s. Gilt brass frame adorned with crystal glass beads and prisms, three interior lights for E14 size light bulbs. Dimensions: Hei...
Crystal, Brass
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Two-Light Wall Sconce
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A precious gilt bronze two-light wall sconce in the Empire style, France, 1920-1929. Finely elaborate with hand chiseled details. Typical design of French Empire period due to its rich ornamentation with faces and acanthus leaf motifs. The bottom is characterized by a man head supporting a pedestal with the lamp-arms. Two scroll light...
Bronze
Empire Style Chandelier in Bronze, Green Sheet Metal and Molded Glass Flame
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice, elegant and decorative Empire style chandelier is made of green sheet metal and gilt bronze, decorated with swan necks, ornaments and palmettes, and surmounted by a m...
Bronze, Sheet Metal
8-light Empire-style Chandelier In Gilded Bronze
Located in BARSAC, FR
Beautiful Empire-style chandelier with 8 light arms in gilded bronze with a green patina. High-quality French craftsmanship from the mid-20th century Beautiful gilding, finely ...
Bronze
Corinthian Column Marble Table Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
A French Empire style Corinthian column table lamp in marble. A decorative carved spiral, twists around the marble column, which is topped and tailed with a brass capital...
Marble, Brass
Pair of Empire Style Sconces Wall Lights, Germany, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Add a touch of opulence to your home with this charming pair of sconces. Perfect to enhance any chic or eclectic home. We'd love to see it hanging in an entryway as a charming welcom...
Metal
Antique French Empire Trumpet Arm Tole Metal Shade Nickel Bouillotte Desk Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Style Trumpet Arm Tole Metal Shade Nickel Bouillotte Desk Lamp. Item features 3 lights/arms, trumpet arms, very rare nickel plated finish, red tole metal shade,...
Metal
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
Brass
Empire Marbelized and Gilded Tole Lamp
Located in Kittery Point, ME
An Empire patinated marbelized and gilded columnar tole lamp, the column-shaped stem ending in a gilded Corinthian capital topped by a tole shade raised on a square plinth base. The ...
Tôle
Antique French Empire Style Figural Black & Gold Tall Column Table Lamps - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Style Figural Black & Gold Tall Column Form Table Lamps with Figural Ormolu on all Sides of the Bases (Harps, Maidens, and Soldiers) - a Pair. Circa Early 20th ...
Metal, Brass
Empire Style Four Light Green Painted & Gilt Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Empire style, green paint decorated four-light colza form chandelier, having gilt bronze foliate accents, with torch-form arms. France, circa 1900. 4 lights. Dimensions: Height 26",...
Bronze
$5,800 / set
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
Bronze
French Hexagonal Empire Gilt Bronze & Etched Glass 3-Light Lantern or Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Antique French Empire cast bronze lantern. Gilt bronze and etched glass shade with 3-light. Measures: Diameter 12 in/ 30 cm Height 20.5 in (10 in, chain)/ 75 cm (25 cm, chain) Weight...
Bronze
48" c1860 French Empire Cut Cascading Crystal Waterfall Chandelier by Baccarat
By Baccarat
Located in Opa Locka, FL
48" Grand Scale c1860's Cut and Cascading Heavy Crystal Waterfall Chandelier by Baccarat. 12 interior lights, 10 lower and 2 center lights. This is a stunning Ballroom type Palatial ...
Crystal
French Empire-Style Bronze Column Table Lamp with Gilt Detailing, Circa 1840
Located in Atlanta, GA
This French Empire-style table lamp began its life circa 1840 as a finely cast bronze column, likely part of a decorative candlestick, architectural mount, or garniture element. Now ...
Bronze
Swedish Empire Ceiling Chandelier in antique Classicist Style brass polished
Located in Berlin, DE
Polished brass and facet-ground prism hangings. Measures: Diameter 76 cm Height 120 cm.
Brass
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Empire Bronze Column Table Lamp, Early 19th Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique 19th century Empire brass column table lamp Additional information: Materials: Brass Color: Gold Period: early 19th century Styles: Empire Lamp Shade: Not Included ...
Brass
Stunning 16-Light Murano Crystal Chandelier, circa 1920s
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
A wonderful very large sixteen light Murano glass and cut crystal silvered chandelier, Italy, circa 1920s. This beautiful handcrafted fixture is made of silvered brass elements, Mur...
Crystal
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...
Crystal, Ormolu, Bronze
Impressive Large French Empire Patinated & Gilt Bronze 8 Etched Globe Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Spectacular neoclassical French Empire gilt bronze 8-light chandelier, oxidized an gold-plated solid bronze 8-light bulbs E 14/good working condition Measures: Diameter 27.6 in/ 70 c...
Bronze
A pair of gilt bronze Empire style candelabra / lamps circa 1860
Located in Sleepy Hollow, NY
A fine pair of mid- to late-19th-century French Empire–style gilt-bronze candelabra, later converted into lamps. Each piece features a fluted column rising to finely chased capitals ...
Bronze, Ormolu
French Empire Style Crystal Glass Pineapple Column Brass Table Lamp
Located in Germantown, MD
A Vintage French Empire Style Crystal Glass Pineapple Column Brass Table Lamp. Measuring 6.5" in diameter and 28.5" in height.
Crystal
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 ...
Crystal, Bronze
French Gilt Bronze Chandelier with Eagle Heads and Arrows, 1930s
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
A large French empire style six-light gilt and patinated bronze chandelier with eagle heads and arrows, circa 1930s. Socket: 6 x E14 for standard screw bulb.
Bronze