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.
$5,605
Empire Octagonal Convex
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A fine carved octagonal mirror frame with inner and outer reeded detailing with centralised ebony star decoration and central ebonised slip. Please note we are currently working to ...
Mahogany
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
Regency Style Bulls Eye Eagle Mirror
Located in Montclair, NY
A large Regency style mirror with birds eye maple round frame and domed glass central mirror. Topped with a large hand cast black resin eagle and accented on the bottom with matching...
Resin, Birdseye Maple
$4,033 / item
H 39.38 in W 39.38 in D 3.55 in
The Convex Mirror Company -Ferrara Convex Wall Mirror 39"/100cms
Located in Farnham, GB
The Ferrara convex mirror is a highly decorative convex wall mirror that creates a focal point and adds elegance to any room. The mirror itself is silvered using traditional methods ...
Mirror
English Regency Style Convex Bull’s Eye Mirror
Located in Bradenton, FL
English Convex Bull’s Eye Mirror in the Regency Style. Mirror features a round giltwood frame adorned with evenly spaced gilt spheres spread out between the raised trim moldings of t...
Giltwood
$12,141
H 34.26 in W 25.2 in D 3.15 in
Italian Regency Round Giltwood and Ebonized Convex Mirror with Carved Eagle
Located in Firenze, IT
This Italian antique early 19th century round convex wall mirror featuring the original mercury mirror plate housed in a giltwood and ebonize...
Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
19thC Regency Style Giltwood Convex Mirror
Located in Altrincham, GB
19thC Regency Style Giltwood Convex Mirror - with reeded ebonised slip and cavetto ball moulded frame - 22" diam x 2.5"d
Mirror, Giltwood
Ebonized Convex Mirror
Located in East Hampton, NY
Ebonized bull's-eye mirror.
Wood
Regency Giltwood Convex Mirror
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A fine Regency Period Giltwood Circular Convex Mirror, Surmounted With Attractive Stylised Dolphin Set Upon Rocks And Foliage To Top, Above Moulded Giltwood Concave Frame With Gilt B...
Giltwood
Vintage American Federal Giltwood Eagle Mirror
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous Federal or Regency style wall mirror featuring a carved eagle with open wings standing on olive branches and 13 small spheres representing the original 13 colonies around ...
Mirror, Giltwood
French Convex Mirror
Located in Jersey City, NJ
This French 19th century convex mirror is on a black wood base, surrounded by a wide ornate brass ring. The eye with a rope pattern is also in brass. The whole convex mirror has a v...
Brass
The Convex Mirror Company- 52" Ferrara Nero Convex Wall Mirror
Located in Farnham, GB
The Ferrara Nero is a highly decorative convex wall mirror that creates a focal point and adds elegance to any room. The mirror itself is silvered using traditional methods and fab...
Mirror
$6,545Sale Price|44% Off
H 33.5 in W 24 in D 7.5 in
19th century English Regency Gilded Wood Convex Bull's-Eye Mirror
Located in Savannah, GA
English Regency giltwood convex mirror, circa 1810. Featuring elaborate carving at top and bottom of acanthus leaves and scrolls, with two single graceful girandole. Bull's-eye mirro...
Mirror, Giltwood
Vintage Regency Style Convex Mirror
Located in London, GB
This stunning Vintage Regency-style convex mirror is a true statement piece, exuding sophistication. Finished in a rich, deep gold hue reminiscent of aged brass, it brings warmth an...
Plaster
Regency Giltwood Convex Mirror
Located in Woodbury, CT
Regency giltwood convex mirror with eagle pediment mount and scrolling acanthus details. Original water gilt finish with warm antique patina and reeded solid ebony inner mount aroun...
Giltwood, Mirror
A French Gold Gilt Oval Convex Eagle Crested Mirror
Located in London, GB
An Empire style late 19th c oval convex eagle crested giltwod mirror. A well formed eagle with spread wings perched on laurels atop an oval conex mirror with plain frame with eboniz...
Giltwood
Midcentury Convex Eagle Mirror, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Gilded resin convex mirror with an eagle - sometimes referred to as 'butler' mirror or 'witch eye' mirror. The golden mirror is in a very good cond...
Mirror, Resin
Vintage Golden Sunburst Mirror, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Gilded resin sunburst mirror with convex mirror glass. The golden mirror is in a very good condition, beautifully patinated. 1960s - made in Belgium. Dimensions: Diameter: ...
Resin
Sold
H 34.26 in W 21.26 in D 3.94 in
Antique 20th Century French Napoleon III or Empire Gold Convex Eagle Mirror
Located in Casteren, NL
A beautiful antique round mirror that was made in France in the early 20th century, circa 1920. The mirror has a convex mirror plate surrounded ...
Gold Leaf
Early 19th Century French Empire Convex Mirror
Located in Chicago, IL
A stunning early 19th century French Empire mahogany framed convex mirror with a thin gilt bronze laurel wreath trim. Unlike most convex mirrors ...
Mirror, Mahogany
Large Vintage Golden Sunburst Mirror, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Large gilded resin sunburst mirror with convex mirror glass. The golden mirror is in a very good condition, beautifully patinated. 1960s - made in Belgium. Large diameter ...
Mirror, Resin
Mid Century Golden Sunburst Mirror, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Gilded resin sunburst mirror with convex mirror glass. The golden mirror is in a good overall condition with one small damage which is not very disturbing. Beautiful eye catchi...
Mirror, Resin
Midcentury Golden Sunburst Mirror, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Gilded resin sunburst mirror with convex mirror glass. The golden mirror is in a good overall condition with one small damage which is not very disturbing. Beautiful eye catchi...
Mirror, Resin
Midcentury Sunburst Mirror, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Spectacular gilded wooden sunburst mirror with convex mirror glass. The mirror is in a very good condition. Beautiful eye-catching mirror. 1960s - Belgium Good condition....
Mirror, Wood
Midcentury Convex Eagle Mirror
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Gilded resin convex mirror with an eagle - sometimes referred to as 'butler' mirror or 'witch eye' mirror. The golden mirror is in a very good cond...
Mirror, Resin
Midcentury Golden Sunburst Mirror
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Gilded resin sunburst mirror with convex mirror glass. The golden mirror is in a very good condition and is quite unique because of the convex mirror glass being surrounded by ext...
Mirror, Resin
Midcentury Convex Mirror
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Gilded resin convex mirror sometimes referred to as 'butler' mirror or 'witch eye' mirror. The golden mirror is in a very good condition. Beautiful eye-catching mirror, ideal t...
Mirror, Resin