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
19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Mahogany Mirror
Located in Troy, MI
English empire style mirror has a mahogany frame with decorative pediment and Ormolu mounts, circa 1880s. Actual mirror size: 15.75” high x 9” wide.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Ormolu
Early 19th Century Plateau Mirror
Located in Copenhagen, K
Plateau mirrors was used on the dining or dressing table, in front of guest of honor, to put flowers or candles on.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Tall Carved Gitwood and Gilt-Gesso Mirror
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a flat bottom and sides and top with convex form, the surfaces all decorated with gilt-gesso decorations consisting of friezes of foliate scrolls, neoclassical rosettes, and e...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Gesso
Handsome 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Trumeau Mirror with Bronze Eagle
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A wonderful French Empire style mirror in mahogany with bronze eagle and good ormolu swag with great detail and nice size.
#3521.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Bronze
Fine Pair of Swedish 19th Century Empire Mirrors
By C. Werné 1
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Fine pair of 19th century Swedish Empire mirrors signed by master mirror maker C. Werne´, circa 1820, Sweden.
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Wood
Antique Danish Empire Mahogany Wall, Pier Mirror, 1820s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Mahogany wall mirror with gilt detailing. Manufactured in Denmark in the early to mid-19th century.
Category
1820s European Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany
Large French Empire Parcel-Gilt and Beige Rectangular Mirror
Located in Barcelona, ES
Beautiful Empire period large rectangular mirror with neoclassical relief ornamentation with gilded details and a very nice patina in beige color with red accents, France, circa 1810...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Gold Leaf
Beautiful Empire French Period Trumeau
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Beautiful Empire French period Trumeau.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mercury Glass, Gesso, Wood
Empire Gilt Classical and Foliate Carved Triptych over Mantel Mirror
Located in Big Flats, NY
Empire triptych over mantel wall mirror features Classical foliate and bead carved and gilt frame surrounding each of three mirror panels, 19th century
Measures: 30" H x 62.25" W x...
Category
19th Century American Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
French Empire Vanity Mirror with Original Reverse Etched Glass Panels circa 1800
Located in valatie, NY
French Empire vanity mirror with original reverse etched glass panels, circa 1800, of classical figures. It has original gilded classical mounts. ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Italian Empire Large Precisely Incised Gilt Gesso Wall Mirror Early 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Of rectangular form, gold leaf over gouache, slightly convex with a molded outer edge and a very detailed incised crossed diagonal pattern with punch-work in between the created loze...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
Early 19th Century French Empire Giltwood Mirror
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A large French Empire carved and original water gilded Empire picture frame inset with a modern mirror, the corners of the deeply scooped sides set with palmettes.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century Empire Trumeau Mirror
Located in Houston, TX
An early 19th century painted and parcel-gilt Empire trumeau mirror with horse and chariot scene.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Wood
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
Impressive Royal Early 19th Century German Empire Mirror
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A rare early 19th century German Empire giltwood trumeau mirror. The large rectangular plate surmounted by a scrolled pediment enriched with wines leaves and a central medallion encl...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
19th Century French Empire Style Trumeau 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
French Empire Mirror in Cuban Mahogany, Swans in Bronze D'Ore Ormolu, circa 1815
Located in Miami, FL
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
Pair of Italian Empire Period Walnut Demilune Console Table with Mirror
Located in Firenze, IT
This beautiful antique early 19th century Italian Empire demilune console tables with mirrors in rich brown walnut wood and black ebonized wood with gilt accents come from a villa in...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Walnut, Wood, Mirror, Mercury Glass
French Empire Mahogany Cheval Mirror with Brass Inlays & Ormolu, circa 1790
Located in Miami, FL
A lovely Empire cheval mirror in mahogany with brass inlays & ormolu mounts, on double lyre-pedestal with original mirror. France, circa 1790.
Dimensions: 34" wide x 19 3/4" deep x ...
Category
1790s French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Ormolu, Brass
French Empire Style Ebonized and Painted Mirror
Located in Houston, TX
French Empire style ebonized and painted mirror.
Antique French Empire style or Neoclassical style ebonized and painted vertical mirror from the 1920s.
This versatile mirror has a Cl...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Mirrors
Materials
Wood
Empire Giltwood Carved Frame
Located in New Orleans, LA
Period Empire giltwood frame.
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
19th Century Swedish Empire Mirror Sconces
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Fine pair of Swedish Empire mirror sconces with imitated porphyry borders, circa 1830.
Good restored condition, wear consistent with age and u...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Glass
Early 19th Century Empire Framed Mirror Walnut with Gold Detail Circa 1820
Located in Encinitas, CA
Early 19th Century Empire Framed Mirror Walnut with Gold Detail, Circa 1820.
Stately large vertical mirror with handsome architectural old walnu...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Walnut
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
Leitizia Bonapartes, Madame Mere Dressing Mirror and Jewellery Cabinet
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A mahogany cheval mirror and jewellery cabinet, once belonging to Leitizia Bonaparte, Napoleon's mother. The veneered semi circular topped mirror framed by columns topped with gilt bronze cassolettes and single arm candle holders.
The bottom section is fronted by two doors which open to reveal nine shallow leather cartonniers and six jewellery drawers; the whole carcass richly decorated with gilt bronze friezes and various classical motives. Similar gilded bronze mounts are found on various pieces of furniture in the collection of the Louvre Paris.
This rare museum worthy piece of furniture came from the Chateau Du Pont Sur Seine. The piece is not stamped but the quality of the mahogany and the amount of finely chiseled and burnished gilt bronze mounts, plus the presence of the cartonnier and jewellery drawers almost certainly point to a royal provenance and which almost certainly came from the workshop of Georges Jacob.
The Chateau De Pont Sur Seine was originally built in 1632 and hosted such important historical figures as Catherine de Medicis and Cardinal Richelieu. In the late 17C it was acquired by the Duc de Saxony, one of Louis XVI’s uncles whose family maintained ownership until 1792 until the start of the French Revolution when they had to vacate to escape the guillotine. While it suffered damage by the revolutionairies it was still very habitable and in 1805, Napoleon purchased the chateau for his mother Madame Letizia Bonaparte where she resided until Napoleon’s fall from grace in 1814. Madame Mere...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Bronze
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 ...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Large Mahogany Mirror
Located in Casteren, NL
Large mirror made of mahogany, the mirror itself consists of two panels in a large mahogany frame with two candleholders on each side.
Originates...
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Empire Style Ormolu Table Mirror
Located in London, GB
19th century Empire style ormolu table mirror
French, 19th Century
Height 56cm, width 37cm, depth 4cm, depth when open 46cm
This fine table ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Tall Empire Period Mahogany and Giltwood Mirror with Helmut Motif, circa 1810
Located in Atlanta, GA
Tall Empire period mahogany and giltwood mirror with Helmut motif, France, circa 1810.
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany, Giltwood
French Empire Large Self Standing Mirror
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Foyer French Empire mirror in original condition. Brass around the top and the bottom part of the column. Two small side drawers as well as middle glass shelf with the storage. Top p...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Wood
Large Antique Neoclassical Empire Mirror in Mahogany w/ Original Glass, c. 1810
Located in Miami, FL
An large and well restored architectural neoclassical mirror on a plinth base and turned split columns that support a pediment top. This North German mahogany mirror has it original ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
18th Century Empire Italian Gilt Mirror Rome, 1790s
Located in Roma, RM
Mirror in gilded wood, of Roman origin, central Italy, Empire period in style Louis XV, finely carved with bambocci, masks and floral motifs, object of great quality and elegance, mi...
Category
1790s Italian Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
Empire Cheval Mirror
Located in Woodbury, CT
In walnut with ebonized trim, this stately mirror has exquisite lines and exemplifies the design motifs of the period. Burl walnut surrounds the glass that has survived more or less ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Walnut
Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Mounted Mahogany Cheval Mirror, circa 1820
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A very fine Empire gilt and patinated bronze mounted mahogany cheval mirror or 'Psyché'.
French, circa 1820.
This fine Empire style mahogany cheval mirror or 'Psyché' is of e...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Bronze
Mid-19th Century Empire Mirror by Testolini, Murano for Empire Hapsburg Vienna
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Important Mirror Made by Verreries Artistiques Testolini Venice, for Empire Hapsburg Vienna. The precious mirror is carved by hand and entirely decorated with gold leaf, copper and s...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Wood, Mirror
Trumeau Mirror
Located in New Orleans, LA
Neoclassical carved Trumeau mirror with beautiful figures and decoration throughout.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Wood
French Empire Period Carved Giltwood Mirror, Formerly a Barometer, 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
In the shape of a lyre, the dial face replaced by a mirrorplate, in near perfect restored condition, the carving featuring grapes and vines, rosettes, acanthus leaves, and a star, fi...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Mirrors
Early 19th Century Danish Empire Mirror
Located in Vienna, AT
Mahogany fram mirror with the original glass with gilt decoration.
Category
Early 1800s Danish Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany
Late Empire Mirror in Mahogany Decorated with Gilded Leaf, 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
The Late Empire mahogany mirror, winged with elegant gold leaf, dates back to around 1840 and exudes a distinguished elegance and historical value. The mirror's sophisticated design ...
Category
1840s Danish Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Gold Leaf
Large Empire Mirror in Cuban Mahogany with Columns and Carved Capitals, c. 1810
Located in Miami, FL
An exquisite Empire mirror in Cuban mahogany with carved anthemions as antefix decorating the crown molding and columns with carved acanthus capitals flanking the mirror and frieze, ...
Category
1810s Danish Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
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.
Category
1810s Spanish Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Rosewood
Early 19th Century North Italy Neoclassical Walnut Giltwood Overmantel Mirror
Located in Berlin, DE
Early 19th Century North Italy Neoclassical Empire period Walnut and Giltwood Overmantel Mirror
A very rare and elegant North-Italian walnut veneered and giltwood overmantel mirror...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Walnut, Giltwood
Italian Empire Walnut Brass & Giltwood Cheval Mirror Early 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
important and rare and completely intact, retaining antique beveled mirrorplate, the pivoting mirror held in place within the columned frame by brass arrow parts, the frame surmounted by a neoclassical pediment adorned with brass decoration, below the mirror is a shaped tray and lower still a hexagonal stretcher supporting the carved giltwood rams heads and hoof feet which are painted a dark green, this mirror is a lovely example of Lucchese neoclassical furniture.
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Brass
French Empire Style Gilt Red Poppy Design Trumeau / Wall Mirror
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) carved giltwood trumeau / wall mirror with painted upper panel of red poppies and flowers (signed).
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
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...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
French Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Pediment Wall Mirror
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style (19th/20th Century) mahogany wall mirror with gilt bronze ormolu mounts and a shaped pediment top with a bevelled glass.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Russian Pair of Antique Beechwood, Brass Wall Mirrors and Consoles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Russian pair of wall mirrors and console tables, nightstands made of hand crafted Karelian Beechwood in good condition. The floor mirrors are supported by two arched legs ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Russian Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Brass, Metal
Pair of French Empire Style Mahogany Sphinx Figure Wall Mirrors
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire-style (19th Century) mahogany wall mirrors with gilt sphinx heads and trim with tapered inset inlaid design marble sides (Related item: 055517)
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Marble
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
Early 20th Century Empire Style Giltwood Mirror
Located in New York, NY
A large-scale early 20th century mantel or pier mirror, giltwood Empire style frame detailed with classical motifs, including anthemions and trailing grape vines. Excellent antique c...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood, Wood
Empire Style Giltwood Looking Glass
Located in Vista, CA
Empire-style giltwood looking glass, the frame with projecting floral block-carved corners surrounding a carved frieze panel depicting griffins flanking an urn issuing a putti figure...
Category
20th Century European Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Large French Empire Regency Style Bronze Ormolu Burl Wood Pier Mirror Figural
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Impressive antique French Empire / Regency style burl wood beveled glass pier mirror with stately bronze mounts including human figured feet, maiden faces, and a cherub upon a horse ...
Category
20th Century French Empire Mirrors
Materials
Burl, Glass
Empire French Period Mirror "Psychee"
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Empire French period mirror "Psychee" in mahogany marketry.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany
Italian Neoclassical Giltwood Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Italian Neoclassical giltwood mirror. Antique gilt carved mirror with scrolled acanthus surround, leaf-tipped outer edge with cor...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
Danish 18th Century Empire Mirror
Located in Copenhagen, K
Elegant Empire mirror with hand-painted flowers and statue in the upper glass part.
Category
18th Century Danish Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Glass, Wood
19th Century French Empire Period Cheval Mirror
Located in Winter Park, FL
19th century French Empire period cheval, or psyche mirror, made of solid walnut with beautiful wood grain and waxed patina. Nice proportions and large in scale for a tabletop mirror...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
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
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
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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