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.
19th Century French Empire Pier Mirror
Located in Houston, TX
A handsome and stately French Empire mirror with gilded hand carved detail.
Mirror, Walnut, Giltwood
$12,624Sale Price|20% Off
Very Tall 8' Antique Empire Style Mirror, Italian, Walnut, Marble, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an extraordinary 8' tall antique Empire Style console mirror. An Italian extended pier mirror in walnut with a marble plinth, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1860. Of impressive stature and exceptional craftsmanship, this piece is ideally suited to grand reception rooms or palatial entrance halls. Striking proportion at 99.5'' (253cm) in height, creating an unmissable focal point Beautifully figured walnut stocks, displaying deep caramel hues and rich grain interest Topped with a delightful crown pediment, finished with gilt relief moulding for an elegant flourish Original mercury glass mirror plate, with charming foxing and light, age-related character Fascia adorned with gilt artistry, elevating the warm walnut tones beneath Cool grey marble tabletop sits at 85cm, perfect for display or utility in a hallway setting Serpentine pilaster supports, a classical touch, terminating with darling gilt hoof foot mounts Stands upon a plinth base with deep apron, grounding the mirror with architectural poise Presented in two parts for ease of placement, and secures to the wall with brass fittings Maximum mounting width of 99cm (39'') across the rear edge of the plinth This antique Italian pier mirror...
Marble
19th century Swedish empire revival birch pier mirror
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Late 19th century Swedish empire revival birch pier mirror circa 1890. Fine architectural pier mirror made in birch. Rich golden empire revival birch, with architectural cornice. ...
Mirror, Birch
19th Antique Marquetry Inlaid Mahogany Mirror
Located in Miami, FL
About This is a beautiful antique Spanish flame mahogany and marquetry wall mirror, circa 1840. The mahogany frame is beautifully inlaid with a continuous marquetry border. The qua...
Mirror, Mahogany
Large French Carved Gilt Wood Mirror
Located in Bradenton, FL
Large 19th Century French Carved Painted and Giltwood Mirror. This Impressive mirror features a rectangular frame adorned with finely carved trailing floral and foliage garlands, a h...
Mirror, Wood
$2,880Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Geometrical Marquetry Inlaid Mahogany Mirror with Carved Crest
Located in Miami, FL
About This is a beautiful antique Spanish flame mahogany and marquetry wall mirror, circa 1840, 19th century. The mahogany frame is beautifully inlaid with a continuous marquetry...
Mirror, Mahogany
19th Century empire revival mahogany pier mirror
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century empire revival mahogany pier mirror circa 1870. Excellent quality pier mirror using the finest mahogany. Architectural cornice top with cresent shape which showcases t...
Ormolu
Large French Empire Mirror with Worn Gold Gilt Finish
Located in Bradenton, FL
Early 19th century French Empire mirror with original mercury glass mirror. Large scale Empire Gold Gilt mirror is a large statement piece. The...
Wood
Pair of Large Empire Style Mirrors, by Maison Krieger
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A large and impressive pair of Empire style gilt-bronze and burr, Amboyna Mirrors, By Maison Krieger. Each mirror is over 328 cm high (129 inches) and ...
Ormolu
Antique American Empire Walnut Leaf Carved Pier Wall Console Mirror
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Empire Walnut Leaf Carved Pier Wall Console Mirror. Circa 19th Century. Measurements: 38" H x 22" W x 4.5" D
Mirror, Walnut
1800s Antique Continental, Gilt Bronze, Ormolu, Empire Console and Pier Mirror!
Located in Austin, TX
Gorgeous 1800s Antique Continental, Gilt Bronze, Ormolu, Empire Console and Pier Mirror! Antique Empire console, pier mirror, continental, gilt bronze, ormolu, 1800s, 19th century!...
Mirror, Wood
C19th Century French gilded mirror with urn detail
Located in London, GB
A C19th gilt mirror with nicely aged original plate and urn and swag decorative detailing at the top
Pine
French Empire Period Trumeau
Located in Pembroke, MA
Empire painted trumeau mirror with neoclassical detailing, including winged cherub, in dark green and gold.
Gesso, Mirror, Wood, Paint
Empire Style Rectangular Mirror in Beige and Giltwood
Located in Barcelona, ES
Empire Style mirror, France, 1930s. Beautiful Empire style rectangular mirror in beige patina with neoclassical relief foliage and floral ornament...
Gold Leaf
19th Century French Empire Style Trumeau Wall Mirror with Matching Console Table
Located in Madrid, ES
19th century French Empire style trumeau mirror with matching console table, featuring a decorative mythological "Verre Églomisé" reverse paint...
Bronze
Empire Style Rectangular Wall Mirror with Beige and Gilt Frame
Located in Barcelona, ES
Empire Style Mirror, France, 1930s. Beautiful Empire style rectangular mirror in beige patina with neoclassical relief foliage and floral ornamentation with gilded details . The fra...
Gold Leaf
An Italian Gold Gilt Empire Pier Mirror
Located in London, GB
A giltwood and hand painted pier mirror from the Italian Empire period. Decorated with lion masks on the corners and foliate inner and outer edging. The frame hand painted, with wond...
Giltwood
Neoclassical Gilt Empire Mirror, France
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Giltwood. Empire mirror. france 20th century Patinated art glass. brass ornaments. compact messurements!
Giltwood
Early 19th Century Biedermeier or Empire Demi Lune Console with Mirror
Located in Greven, DE
Antique demi-lune console with pillar mirror North Germany Mahogany Biedermeier/Empire around 1820 Dimensions: H x W x D: 234 x 88 x 51 cm single height console: 78 cm, sing...
Bronze
$5,680Sale Price|64% Off
Spanish Empire Console Table with Mirror in Mahogany, circa 1810
Located in Miami, FL
Fine Spanish Empire console with mirror in mahogany and rosewood with satinwood inlays, circa 1810.
Rosewood
19th Century Antique Gilded Wood Empire Pier Mirror
Located in Burbank, CA
Antique 19th century gilded wall mirror for sale. It's made of solid wood, and has beautiful carved wood and details throughout, and balls at the top. The wood is gilded, and shows w...
Mirror, Giltwood
French Empire Mahogany Trumeau Mirror with Bronze Doré Mounts-c. 1810-20
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Small period French Empire mahogany trumeau with gilt bronze mounts representing cornucopias, ivy and marguerite flowers. The mirror is of small proportions with original glass. A ...
Bronze
$18,950Sale Price|23% Off
French Napoleon III Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Mounted Cheval Mirror
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century Napoleon III Empire style mahogany and ormolu-mounted freestanding Cheval swiveling mirror. The oval framed mirror plate surmounted with Empire style ...
Ormolu, Bronze
$3,323
Constance Pier Mirror
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A pier mirror with a simplistic carved moulded frame, taking its inspiration from the Venetian mirrors of the early 19th Century, with a contemporary twist. Please note we are curre...
Mahogany
Empire Period Parcel-Gilt and Cherry Mirror, circa 1810
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine and large Empire period mirror, dating from the early 1800s and French in origin. The mirror frame in cherrywood with carved gilded neoclassical design and mirror plate in ...
Mirror, Fruitwood
19th Century Original Empire Style Large Console Mirror in Walnut Wax Polished
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Early 19th century Empire style console wall mirror in walnut . Column with marbled walnut wood with gold leaf on the end, three mirrors and top molded frame. This important mirro...
Mirror, Walnut
An Italian early 19th century Empire st. patinated Mahogany and Giltwood mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stately northern Italian early 19th century Empire st. patinated Mahogany and Giltwood mirror. This stunning Mahogany mirror is decorated with a Giltwood string of laurels at the b...
Mahogany, Giltwood
Large 19th Century French Empire Dressing Mirror
Located in Martlesham, GB
A very impressive large 19th century mahogany and ormolu French Empire dressing mirror with an Egyptian influence, the pyramid shaped top with an ormolu face flanked by ormolu urns, ...
Ormolu
Chippendale Style Painted Mirror With Ho-Ho Bird And Fox Crest
Located in Norwood, NJ
A finely carved Italian mirror in the Chippendale taste, dating to the late 19th or early 20th century. The oval plate is framed by exuberant Rococo scrollwork and surmounted by an e...
Giltwood, Wood
Louis XVI Period Giltwood Mirror with Crest, France, circa 1780
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Louis XVI period giltwood mirror, surmounted by a detailed crest featuring kissing doves, and flanked by foliate swags along each side. The rectangular mirror plate in two sections...
Mirror, Giltwood
Victorian Walnut Pier Mirror
Located in Morristown, NJ
19th/20th C., large handsome Victorian walnut pier mirror. Open pediment top with central spire, carved baluster frame, beveled glass, no ...
Mirror, Walnut, Pine
A Very Rare 19th Century Dressing or Pier Mirror
Located in Dublin, IE
A very rare 19th Century giltwood dressing or pier mirror of narrow and tall proportions and exceptional quality. The mirror glass plate is set within a finely hand carved, moulded ...
Glass, Giltwood
Italian Gilt Wood Mirror
Located in Montreal, QC
Italian Rococo gilt and carved wood mirror.
Giltwood
Classical Maitland-Smith Gilt Hand Carved Mahogany Mirror
Located in Norwood, NJ
Large Hand Carved Mahogany and Gilt Maitland-Smith Wood Mirror. Beautiful classical designed frame with beveled glass. Adorned with swags, rosettes, florals and a central urn. Hand c...
Gold Leaf
$3,985
H 44.5 in W 19 in D 3.5 in
Swedish Gilded Mirror, circa 1820 with Arched Crest and Flanking Half Columns
Located in Atlanta, GA
An early 19th century Swedish gilded mirror, circa 1820. This mirror features an arched crest and flanking fluted half columns. There are two li...
Wood
$2,383Sale Price|20% Off
H 35.04 in W 22.84 in D 2.37 in
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Wall Mirror, Germany circa 1830
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This elegant wall mirror dates from the German Biedermeier period around 1830 and is a fine example of early 19th century craftsmanship. The mirror is veneered in walnut over a softw...
Mirror, Walnut, Spruce
Italian Baroque Style Carved Gilt Mirror, 19th Century
Located in Rochester, NY
Antique Baroque style gilt mirror. Bold carvings, 19th century. Measures: 54" x 36". See our other mirrors. Please, contact us for shipping options. Presented by Joseph Dasta Antique...
Gold Leaf
Bamboo Rattan Large Rectangular Mirror with Geometric Frame
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish Mid-Century Modern Bamboo Chinoiserie Tiki style rectangular wall mirror. Spain, 1960s. Gorgeous Tiki style rectangular mirror handcrafted with bamboo canes. It has a highly ...
Bamboo, Cane, Rattan, Mirror
$18,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 79 in W 42 in D 5.5 in
Early 19th Century Parcel Gilt Mahogany Classical Pier Mirror
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A magnificent architectural neoclassical pier mirror of fine detailing and original finishes. A broad entablature with a dramatic gilded cavetto moulding covered in low relief acanth...
Mercury Glass, Mahogany, Giltwood
French 19th Century Napoleon III Giltwood Wall Mirror
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Smaller scale rectangle giltwood wall mirror, late 19th French Napolean 111. 19" tall x 16" widest x 2" deep, mirror portion 13" x 10". The glass mirror is newer.
Wood, Mirror
Vintage Empire Pier Mirror, Beveled Glass, USA, Circa 1960s
Located in Ross, CA
Vintage Empire style beveled pier mirror in gold painted frame. Mirror has two sections a smaller rectangle on the top and longer on the bottom. The top sides form columns with fleu...
Walnut
19th century Swedish empire revival birch pier mirror
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Late 19th century Swedish empire revival birch pier mirror circa 1890. Fine architectural pier mirror made in birch. Rich golden empire revival birch, with architectural cornice. ...
Mirror, Birch
19th Antique Marquetry Inlaid Mahogany Mirror
Located in Miami, FL
This is a beautiful antique Spanish flame walnut and marquetry wall mirror, circa 1840. The walnut frame is beautifully inlaid with a continuous marquetry border. The quality and...
Mirror, Walnut
Sold
H 91 in W 33 in D 12 in
Antique Empire Mahogany Gilded Corinthian Column Topped Platform Pier Mirror
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Empire Tall Mahogany Gold Gilded Corinthian Column Topped Platform Pier Mirror A truly beautiful and rich addition to any decor, this stunning empire style tall mahogany mir...
Mirror, Mahogany, Giltwood
Sold
H 39.77 in W 21.26 in D 2.76 in
Circa 1820s Swedish Stripped Wood Empire Classical Style Wall Mirror
Located in London, England
Wonderfully pale, this Swedish Empire style mirror circa 1820 has been stripped of its gilt, down to its pale soft tones beneath. The mirrored glass has been replaced and some of its...
Giltwood, Glass, Mirror
Sold
H 103 in W 36.5 in D 18.5 in
1800s Antique Continental, Gilt Bronze, Ormolu, Empire Console, Pier Mirror!
Located in Austin, TX
Gorgeous antique Empire console, pier mirror, continental, gilt bronze, ormolu, 1800s, 19th century!! 1800s antique Continental, gilt bronze, ormolu, empire console, pier mirror! Continental Empire style console and pier mirror...
Mirror, Wood
19th Century Mahogany Wood Frame Trumeau Mirror
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful craftsmanship of the mid-19th century beveled mahogany wood frame hanging trumeau wall mirror with inlaid top design details. The mirror is in great condition with appropri...
Mirror, Wood, Mahogany
Sold
H 30.4 in W 19.9 in D 1.3 in
Set of Five Italian Midcentury Made Bronze and Brass Barber Wall Mirrors
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare group of practical size vintage Empire mirrors. If you are looking for a quality made and practical size mirror then one of these Empire Revival specimens could be yours to own and enjoy soon. If you are looking for a set of identical mirrors for a project you are working on then you are even more lucky, because this beautiful and truly decorative set really is a rare find. All hand-crafted in the mid 1900s these beautifully designed and quality made mirror frames really are a joy to behold. Their gilt surface makes the stylish and symmetrical bronze mask ornaments on top stand out even more, making them like the icing on the cake of these easy to mount and highly stylish wall mirrors. We don't have to go into all the places and spaces where this set can and will look amazing, our designer clients are much better at that than we are. No matter where you decide to have these on display/where you decide to use them, they will never fail to impress. Again great value for money. Especially when taken into account that perfect packing and worldwide delivery from our store to your door in just 4 to 6 days are complimentary. No matter if you purchase one or all. Maximum height x width x depth: 30.4 x 19.9 x 1.3 inches. Height of these mirrors without the bronze mask sculpture...
Brass, Bronze
Mahogany Empire Pier Mirror
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice 19th century Swedish Empire figured Mahogany Pier Mirror and Table 1840-60. A two piece set composed of the large mirror and a very n...
Mahogany
Very Large French Empire Gold Gilt Mirror
Located in Bradenton, FL
Early 19th century French Empire mirror with original mercury glass mirror. Large scale Empire Gold Gilt mirror is a large statement piece. The...
Wood
Late 19th Century Swedish Empire Revival Birch Pier Mirror
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Late 19th century Swedish empire revival birch pier mirror circa 1890. Fine architectural pier mirror made in birch. Rich golden empire revival birch, with architectural cornic...
Mirror, Birch
Sold
H 0.88 in W 28.35 in D 18.71 in
19th Century Console Table with Mirror circa 1810, South German cherrywood
Located in Epfach, DE
Wonderful little elegant console table with the matching mirror attachment original mirror glass original aged surface The applications are stucco gold-plated.
Mirror, Wood