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Empire Mirrors

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
A 19th Century French Empire Giltwood Mirror
Located in London, GB
France, circa 1850 A fine mid-nineteenth century French empire pier mirror with fine neoclassical decoration throughout, retaining the original mirror plate, the outer frame painted...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Giltwood

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 ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Antique Rustic Swedish Original Painted Empire Table Mirror
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish antique Empire rustic vanity mirror / table mirror. The Mirror has original paint in colorful color. This orginal painted mirror ha...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Pine

Neoclassical Empire Oval Silver Hand Carved Wooden Mirror, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Empire handcrafted mirror. Oval shaped hand carved wooden structure with silver foil finish.  
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Mirrors

Materials

Silver Leaf

Neoclassical Empire Oval Gold Hand Carved Wooden Mirror, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Empire handcrafted mirror. Oval shaped hand carved wooden structure with gold foil finish.  
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Mirrors

Materials

Gold Leaf

An Empire Style Table Mirror, With a Portrait of Empress Joséphine
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire Style Gilt-Bronze and Mother of Pearl Table Mirror, With a Portrait of Empress Joséphine. The arched frame with anthemion ornament and fronted by a circular Portrait Mini...
Category

1890s French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Dressing table mirror in Empire style
Located in Delft, NL
19th Century Dressing table mirror in Empire style A dressing table mirror with tiltable mirror, which is fixed to the side with 19th cent...
Category

19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Nutwood

French Empire Mahogany and Gilded Bronze Cheval Mirror
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A centrally pivoted cheval mirror with gilded bronze mounts; the arched beveled mirror framed in mahogany with gilded bronze rosettes; the mirror...
Category

Early 18th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Small Empire Giltwood Trumeau Mirror with Painting
Located in Doylestown, PA
Unique 19th century Empire giltwood trumeau wall mirror with an original painted landscape on top, circa 1850. The tranquil scene in the manner of Hungarian landscape painter, Karoly...
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

Pair Of French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany And Ormolu Mirrors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very architectural pair of French 19th century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu mirrors. The pair of mirrors display mirror plates flanked by two Mahogany columns. The columns have a...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Ormolu

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 Mirrors

Materials

Bronze

Mid 19th century Danish empire mahogany mirror on cabinet
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Danish mahogany mirror on cabinet circa 1860. Beautiful piece of mid 19th century Danish furniture strong in the influence of the regency period. Comprising of 2 p...
Category

Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Mahogany

Neoclassical Empire Round Silver Hand Carved Wooden Mirror
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Regency Empire style handcrafted mirror. Round hand carved wooden structure with silver foiled finish. Spain, 1970.
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Mirrors

Materials

Wood

Wood and Gilded Stucco Overmantel Mirror, Empire Period, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Empire period overmantel mirror, in wood and stucco gilded with gold leaf. This mirror is framed by two antique style pilasters in wood and stucco, gilded with gold leaf. A rectangul...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Stucco, Wood

19th Century German Empire Antique Cherrywood Freestanding Floor Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An early 19th Century, antique German floor mirror made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Cherrywood in good condition. The tall freestanding mirror is consisting its origina...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Metal, Brass

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...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Italian Cheval Mirror
Located in London, Park Royal
An elegant and imposing, 19th century, Italian cheval mirror made in solid mahogany. Belonged to a well known Italian actress of the golden age o...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Wood

American Classical Empire Style Over Mantel Mahogany Trident Pediment Mirror 49"
Located in Dayton, OH
American Classical Empire style Pediment Mirror, circa last quarter 20th century. Features a mahogany frame with an arched pediment over acanthus carved spandrels set around a triden...
Category

Late 20th Century Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Mahogany

French 19th Century Empire Mahogany Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A courtly, Empire mirror from France with its original mirror plate. The frame is made of beveled mahogany decorated with gilt bronze stars, a motif commonly found throughout the Emp...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Brass

Small Late 19th Century Mahogany Table or Wall Mirror
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
English Mahogany Table or Wall Mirror, circa 1860-1900. This small rectangular veneered mirror can either stand on a table or hang on a wall.
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Mahogany

French 19th Century Empire Gilt Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French Empire mantel mirror (c. 1800) exhibits calculated restraint in the surface decoration, the gold gilt molding is largely plain and smooth, with feather and foliate carvin...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

Maitland Smith French Empire Style Mahogany Paw Foot Tall Dressing Cheval Mirror
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Maitland Smith French Empire Style Mahogany Paw Foot Tall Beveled Glass Dressing Cheval Mirror. Item features metal urn finials, metal trim to frame, gold gilt painted details, "anti...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Mirrors

Materials

Metal

French 19th Century Mahogany Petite Trumeau
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French 19th century petite trumeau in the Empire taste made of gorgeous mahogany veneer. The top panel is outlined with brass trim and has a central brass rosette incorporating tre...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Brass

Fine Antique Gilt Framed Three Panel Mantle Mirror
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine and large Gilt wood Mantle Mirror with Empire and Regency styling, designed with three divided rectangular mirror plates in a carved and gilt frame with a straight moulded ...
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

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...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Mirrors

Materials

Gold Leaf

Antique French gold leaf gilded mirror cabinet Empire era 1820s
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Antique French gilded gold-leaf mirror 1820s Empire period,characteristics of the period are the four palmette decorations adorning the corners of the frame,original mercury mirror o...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Gold Leaf

19th Century Oval Gilt Florentine Mirror, Original Mirror Plate, AT ca. 1810
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Stunning gilt 19th century Florentine wall mirror from the period around 1810 in Austria. Arftully handcarved out of softwood, this large mirror was part of the inventory of a small ...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Softwood, Giltwood

French Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Pediment Wall Mirror
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th/20th Century) mahogany wall mirror with gilt bronze ormolu mounts, a shaped pediment top, and a bevelled glass (Related item: PPM052)
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Bronze

French 19th Century Empire Trumeau Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Fabulous Empire trumeau mirror with Greco-Roman deity occupying the central frame. Bathed in gold gilt, she is carved with great reverence for beauty and projects off the frame in ¾ ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Rare Imposing Empire Period Walnut and Gilt Bronze Cheval Mirror
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This magnificent First Empire period cheval mirror, standing at over 1.90 meters in height, is an exceptional example of early 19th century French craftsmanship. Designed as a freest...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Bronze

Empire Style Mirror With Gilded Frame In White & Gold With Decorative Ornaments
Located in Lejre, DK
Large wall mirror in empire style with gilded frame in white and gold. The mirror is decorated with decorative ornaments that give a classic and elegant expression. Style: Empire (I...
Category

Late 20th Century Danish Empire Mirrors

Materials

Gold

Swedish 19th Century Empire Trumeau
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This Swedish Empire style trumeau exudes a simple refinement in its symmetry and composure. A low pediment sits atop a painted black and decorative gilt bronze-trimmed cornice. The t...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Ormolu

Vintage golden sunburst mirror, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Gilded resin sunburst mirror with convex mirror glass. The golden mirror is in a good condition. 1960s - made in Belgium. Dimensions: Diameter: 28cm Ref.: 87456412 60
Category

1960s Belgian Vintage Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Resin

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
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Walnut

French Empire Style Wall Mirror With Faux Marble Att. To Maitland-Smith
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a French Empire style wall mirror attributed to Maitland-Smith. It has a brass eagle crest and faux marble columns. The mirror itself is cased in mahogany. It is unmarked and...
Category

Late 20th Century American Empire Mirrors

Materials

Brass

1956 Biswanger French Empire Carved Mahogany Trumeau Mirror
Located in Germantown, MD
A 1956 Biswanger Mirror Co. French Empire style Carved Mahogany Trumeau Mirror. Measures 16.5" in width, 33" in height.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Mahogany

Antique French Giltwood Mirror, Empire Period, circa 1810
Located in Paris, FR
Antique French giltwood wall mirror, Empire period, circa 1810. Antique gold leaf frame, period Empire, adorned with palmettes and vegetal mot...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

18th Century French Gilded Pinewood Wall Glass Mirror - Antique Wall Décor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique rectangular mirror inscribed in a Pinewwood frame, gilded, the pediment formed by an openwork flower basket spilling sinuous gar...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood, Pine

French Empire Mahogany Mantel Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An architectural, Empire-style mantel mirror from France with some light foxing throughout the original mercury mirror plate. The carved mahogany has gained a fine patina, composed o...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Brass, Metal

18th Century French Antique Gilded Pinewood Wall Glass Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique rectangular mirror inscribed in a Pinewood, gilded frame adorned with water leaves and pearl friezes, in good condition. The mirror is consisting its original mirror glass...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

20th Century Italian Florentine Empire Style Gilt Mirror by Chelini
Located in Milano, MI
From Italy, by Chelini Firenze, a lovely late 20th century gold leaf gilded mirror with Empire style hand carved elements like quiver and torch. Manufactured circa 1990s by Chelini Florence...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Empire Mirrors

Materials

Gold Leaf

A crotch mahogany Empire wall mirror circa 1830.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A crotch mahogany Empire wall mirror circa 1830.
Category

1830s French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Mahogany

Empire Mirror, Early 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
An early Empire 19th century mirror in mahogany and birth. Mahogany and birch veneered. Painted black with bronze decorations.   
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Bronze

Table Mirror, France Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Table mirror in mahogany on oak with brass urn-shaped pinnacles and four drawers.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Brass

Table Mirror with Caryatid in French Empire. Gilded and dark.patinated bronze
Located in Knivsta, SE
Very elegant Table Mirror with Caryatid in French Empire from the 1820s in gilded and dark.patinated bronze. High quality of the casting. The original glass with patina. (See pict...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Antique Gilded Pinewood Wall Glass Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique French rectangular wall mirror made of hand carved gilded Pinewood with its original mirror glass, in good condition. The arched mirror is particularized by detailed flower carvings and fittings. The Parisian décor piece represents the First French Empire...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Pine, Giltwood

Neoclassical Empire Rectangular Gold Hand Carved Wooden Mirror
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Empire style handcrafted mirror. Rectangular hand carved wooden structure with gold foiled finish. Spain, 1970.
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Mirrors

Materials

Gold Leaf

French Empire Style Gilt Leaf and Urn Motif Wall Mirror
Located in Peabody, MA
French empire style wall mirror featuring a classic motif of gilt leaf and flower vining emanating from a center urn, circa 1960s.
Category

1960s Unknown Vintage Empire Mirrors

Materials

Metal

Mirror, Frame, wonderful swan decor, Empire, 1815, Vienna Austria
Located in Wien, AT
Wonderful wall mirror from the Empire period, around 1820, made in Vienna, Austria, Europe. The mirror is in impressive good condition, only the mirror plate has been renewed to en...
Category

1810s Austrian Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Spruce

French Empire Mirror in Cuban Mahogany, Swans in Bronze D'Ore Ormolu, circa 1815
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very beautiful Empire mirror in fine West Indies/ Cuban mahogany with satinwood inlaid bandings. The book-matched figured mahogany draws the eye upward to the stepped pediment that...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mahogany, Satinwood

Stunning French Empire Gilt Brass and Black Lacquer Wall Mirror
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Stunning French Empire Gilt Brass and Black Lacquer Wall Mirror This is a wonderful piece, the deeply moulded rectangular stepped frame is decorated with a 4” wide pierced brass bor...
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Lacquer

Tall Stately Empire Mirror in Cuban Mahogany with Columns, Denmark, c. 1820
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very beautiful tall stately and elegant Empire mirror in fine Cuban mahogany with well-articulated carvings of anthemions as antefix decorating the crown molding. Turned columns wi...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mahogany

Italian Fruitwood Dressing Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Antique Empire fruitwood dressing mirror with neoclassical giltwood details and original glass. Newly restored, Italy, circa 1800. Dimension: 21.5" W x 16" D x 36.5" H;19.5" W at base.
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Fruitwood

Vintage gilded resin sunburst mirror, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Gilded resin sunburst mirror with convex mirror glass. The golden mirror is in a good condition. 1960s - made in Belgium. Dimensions: Diameter: 48cm Ref.: 54676502 63
Category

1960s Belgian Vintage Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Resin

19th Century Empire Mahogany Dressing Table Mirror, 1800s
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful antique table mirror in mahogany. On the sides the mirror is supported by two columns. Antique mercury mirror.   
Category

Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage sunburst mirror, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Rare and beautiful resin sunburst mirror with convex mirror glass. The golden mirror is in a good condition. 1960s - made in Belgium. Dimensions: Diameter: 54cm Ref.: 54676501 62
Category

1960s Belgian Vintage Empire Mirrors

Materials

Glass, Resin

Early 20th C Empire Bronze & Gilt Mounted Mahogany Console / Wall Mirror
Located in Germantown, MD
An Early 20th century Empire Neoclassical Brass Mounted and Mahogany Wall Mirror in good condition. Solid Mahogany frame. Measures 18" in width and 36" tall. Mirror glass is 15"W x 2...
Category

Early 20th Century American Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mahogany

French Empire Gilt Swan Wall Mirror
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire gilt oval horizontal wall mirror with swan-shaped sides and urn top with floral decoration.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Gold Leaf

Regal Monumental Empire Giltwood Overmantel or Console Mirror
Located in Buchanan, MI
Very regal monumental Empire giltwood overmantel or console mirror with original plate, wonderful "Sparkly" patina.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Giltwood, Mirror

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...
Category

19th Century American Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

Empire mirrors for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire mirrors 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 mirrors created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include mirrors, tables, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire mirrors 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 mirrors, popular names associated with this style include Baker Furniture Company, C. Werné, Chelini Firenze, and Design Institute America. 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 mirrors differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $321 and tops out at $161,044 while the average work can sell for $3,200.

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