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 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
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
Gilt Bronze & Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine & Impressive Gilt Bronze & Crystal Basket Chandelier in the Empire style, featuring four patinated bronze eagle figures.
France, circa 1900. 10 lights.
Dimensions: Heig...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Large pair of wall lighting Empire style brass , 1950s
Located in La xara, VC
Large pair of Wall lighting in Brass with 3 bulbs E27 .
full brass in Empire style in mid century 1950s
Ceramic support Bulb original
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
$805 Sale Price / set
55% Off
French Empire Style Brass Bouillotte Lamp with Black and Gilt Tole Shade
Located in San Francisco, CA
Beautiful quality brass bouillotte lamp with gilt decorated metal shade. Fine details throughout, swan heads holding the tole painted shade and corbel style candle arms. Recently re-...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
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
$16,714 Sale Price
25% Off
Pair of Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine Pair of Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces in the Empire taste. Great Detail.
Original gilding. France, circa 1900. 2 lights each
Dimensions: Height 24" (excluding candles) Width...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire-Style Wrought Iron and Marble Table Lamp by Maitland-Smith, 1980s
Located in Glasgow, GB
A sculptural Empire Revival table lamp by Maitland-Smith, crafted during the 1980s with the brand’s signature attention to materiality and classical detail.
The design draws direct...
Category
1980s Philippine Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Wrought Iron
French Empire Style Cast Bronze Ceiling Chandelier
Located in Winter Park, FL
A French Empire style cast bronze five-light ceiling chandelier with scrolled arms and leaf form canopy. Rewired and in working condition with new sockets and candle covers. Circa 19...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
18th Century Italian Empire Style Repousse and Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Exceptional 18th century Italian Empire style Brass and crystal basket style chandelier. Featuring glistening crystals and a repousse' Greek key design around the base. Stunning!!
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
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
French Painted Toleware and Brass Desk Lamp A lovely piece
Located in Godshill, 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
Vintage Stiffel Empire Style Burnished Brass & Porcelain Table Lamps (A) - Pair
By Stiffel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Stiffel Empire Style Lacquered Burnished Brass & Porcelain Table Lamps (A) - Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 37" H (to finial) x 27" H (to light socket) x 6.5" W...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Antique French Ormolu and Milk Glass Empire Fixture
Located in New Orleans, LA
The ormolu swans lend a special grace to this milk glass Empire style fixture. It is medium-sized and would work well in many settings.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
A Pair of French Empire Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Winged Victory Lamps
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine pair of late 19thC French Empire style candelabra now wired into lamps. The very well cast and patinated winged Victory or Nike s...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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
Empire Table Lamp Cut Crystal Diamond Pattern Gilded Bronze
Located in Poperinge, BE
Large and rare Empire style table lamp, made of cut crystal and gilded bronze and brass, dating from around the beginning of the 20th century, France.
This very high quality table l...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Vintage French Empire Tole Metal Oval Shade Small Brass Bouillotte Desk Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Tole Metal Small Brass Bouillotte Desk Lamp with Adjustable Height Oval Shade. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 19" H (to finial) x 8.5" H (to light socket...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
French 19th Century Empire Bouillotte Table Lamp
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French Empire style, 19th century oval bouillotte table lamp with its original painted tole shade surrounding a line of four candles. Bouillotte is a card game popular in France du...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Brass
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
$13,232 / set
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
French Empire Paris Porcelain Vase Converted into a Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French Empire period porcelain vase. The vase is totally gilt with matte and burnished highlights. The twin handles each show a modeled classical female head and on the front of the vase is a painted classical scene. The scene depicts a Roman/Greek seated young warrior...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Empire Style Seven-Light Candelabra
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Pair of Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble Seven-Light Candelabra.
These palatial sized candelabra date to the First Empire period. As becoming of ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze
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
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
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
Empire Style Bronze, Brass and Cut Crystal chandelier, France ca. 1950
Located in Merida, Yucatan
Beautiful Chandelier depicting what appears to be a glass waterfall coming out of a "jeweled" crown manufactured in bronze and cut crystal pearls and lancets.
The wires have been re...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
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, Ormolu, Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Giltwood Two-Light Sconces Attributed to E.F Caldwell
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Empire style giltwood two-light sconces, the backplate in the form of the harvest goddess Ceres, issuing two candle arms, the bottom half in the form of an anthemion, wired...
Category
1920s American Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Giltwood
Pair of 19th C. French Ormolu & Patinated Bronze Torchieres/floor lamps
Located in New York, NY
An Incredible and Large Pair of 19th Century Empire Period French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Mounted Torchieres. The patinated bronze base is decorated with hand-chassed and hand-c...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$28,400 Sale Price / set
20% Off
19th Century, French Gilt Bronze Buillotte Lamp
Located in IT
19th Century, French Gilt Bronze Buillotte Lamp
This elegant table lamp model buillotte was made in France in the early nineteenth century, classic taste with decorative elements Em...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
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...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Vintage Marbro French Empire Porcelain Bouillotte Candlestick Table Lamps Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Marbro French Empire Porcelain Bouillotte Candlestick Table Lamps Pair with Original Shades. Item features very rare cast ceramic porcelain forms in a gold and smoky charcoal...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
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
Putti Empire Chandelier Crystal Gold Basket Antique Brass Classic
Located in Berlin, DE
Elegant Vintage Chandelier with Charming Putti – Lovingly Restored in Berlin
This stunning chandelier is a true masterpiece, combining timeless elegance with delightful details. Fea...
Category
1940s European Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Important Pair of 1st Period French Empire Pat. & Dore Bronze 6-Light Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and important pair of antique French 1st period Empire patinated and two-tone matte and burnished doré bronze six-light candelabras. Each modeled with figures of Goddess D...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Gilded Brass and Glass Flowers Chandelier, 1970s
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Rare and beautiful 20th century gilted brass and glass flowers chandelier from the 1970s.
At the center of the chandelier you will find a brass ball that have a light at the extre...
Category
1970s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Metal
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
Elegant French Empire Bronze Patinated and Crystal Neoclassical Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
Elegant French Empire doré bronze and patinated crystal neoclassical two-tone fixture with four eagle head arms. This chandelier has a beautiful cut crystal ...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$3,950 Sale Price
31% Off
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 ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Early Blue Hand Painted Toleware Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Bronze Bouillotte Lamp
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Sheet Metal
$516 Sale Price
21% Off
Pair of Empire Wall Sconces in Bronze with Flower Basket Motif, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pair of nice sconces. Each fixture requires a European E14 candelabra bulb, bulb up to 40 watts. Each wall light has a beautiful patina and gives each room an eclectic statement. Mad...
Category
1950s Swedish Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$544 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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
20th Century Italian Empire Style Crystal and Black Iron Chandelier
Located in Milano, MI
Italian crystal chandelier with Empire style drop-shaped iron structure, eight curved arms ending with eight crystal bobeches. The upper part of the iron structure is originally deco...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Iron
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
Gold Gilt Empire Style Lamp
Located in Tampa, FL
A single gold gilt lamp in the Empire style. It is very nicely gilded and at the bottom has company name. The lamp has the original plugs, socket and ha...
Category
1940s Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Wood
Antique Spelter Table Lamp In Empire Style. French C.1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful spelter table lamp
Amazing old bronze patina
The lamp has been re-wired.
Shade included
The measurement relates to the lamp base not including shade
Free UK shipping
...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Spelter
Large Decorative Italian "Genoese" 1950s Chandelier With Eight Arms
Located in London, GB
This beautiful chandelier was made in Italy in the 1950s.
Please take a look at all our photographs to see the intricate detail - typical of this type of hanging light. The small b...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
Art Deco Crystal Chandelier Empire Sac a Pearl Palace Lamp Chrome
Located in Berlin, DE
Art Deco Crystal Chandelier - Empire Elegance in Customizable Sizes
Introducing a new Art Deco crystal style chandelier that captures the...
Category
2010s German Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
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
Large Pair of 19th Century French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in Chicago, IL
This pair of circa 1900 French Empire-style gilt bronze sconces showcases the mythological figure Acantha, a nymph beloved by the god Apollo. According to legend, Apollo transformed ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Vintage French Empire Red Painted Tole Metal Bouillotte Desk Table Lamp w/ Shade
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Red Painted Tole Metal Bouillotte Table Desk Lamp with Gold Gilt Painted Details. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 18" H (to finial) x 11" H (to light sock...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
Antique Sevres Style Porcelain Hand-Painted & Gilt Mounted Urn Table Lamp
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
The colorful antique hand-painted porcelain twin handled urn vase, circa 1850-1880, was later converted into a lamp and mounted onto custom round bronze and enamel metal base with ro...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Gold
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
Crystal and Bonze Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
This listing features a rock crystal and brass chandelier with 24 lights. A larger size chandelier that is approx. 47" in height and 37.5" in width.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Rock Crystal, Brass
$26,500
Gilt Bronze / Black Marble Seven-Light Candelabra Pair Table Lamp
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Illuminate your space with the enchanting charm of our Late 20th Century Italian Gilt Bronze and Black Marble Seven-Light Candelabra Table Lamps. This exquisite pair of lamps seamles...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Brass, 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
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
Large and elegant Table Lamp in Empire style - Early 20th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Large, beautiful table lamp of gilded and dark patinated bronze, in classic Empire style from the early 20th century. The lamp with a black lacquer shade with gold on the inside give...
Category
Early 20th Century European Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair French Empire Brass, Ebonized & Giltwood Wood Table / Buffet Lamp
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of French Empire Brass, Ebonized and Giltwood Wood Table / Buffet Lamps
Measures 6" in width, 6" in depth and 33" in height to the top of the finial and 26" to the top of the li...
Category
20th Century American Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
$1,186 Sale Price / set
30% 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.