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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
19th Century Empire Style Wall or Table Mirror
Located in Manhasset, NY
19th century Empire style wall or table mirror. The two part mirror having a gilt frame of Empire design with fully carved supports terminating in a molded top with lower circular ba...
Category

1890s Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Empire Psyche Mirror in Mahogany, France, early 19th century
By P. Marcion
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
Psyche mirror in solid and veneered mahogany with antique triangular pediment and feet carved in the shape of animal claws/paws (sphinx, lion). The bronze parts are on the theme of n...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Bronze

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

1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Mirrors

Materials

Gold Leaf

19th Century French Bronze Empire Period Adjustable Pedestal Mirror, circa 1820
Located in Central England, GB
A superb French bronze empire period mirror, circa 1820. This fine quality superbly detailed French bronze empire period adjustable pedestal mirror is intended for use on a dressing table or chest of drawers. It dates to circa 1820 and has a circular adjustable mirror in an ornate bronze frame with panelled mahogany back. This is supported in the raised arms of an elegant Grecian lady...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Bronze

Antique standing mirror Classicism - Empire Walnut
Located in Würzburg, DE
✓ Beautiful brass ornaments ✓ High quality wood selection ✓ Rare find Dimensions: W: 78cm H: 106cm D: 48cm Item: Antique mirror Item no.: 932 Epoch: Empire around 1800 Material: Wa...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Nutwood

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

Swedish 19th Century Empire Mirror in Mahogany
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This large Swedish Empire mirror features a mahogany frame, characterized by its clean, classic lines and a deep honey-toned hue. The design exudes timeless elegance and architectura...
Category

1820s Swedish Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Mahogany

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 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and unique French 19th century Empire st. mahogany and ormolu mirror. The mirror is raised by a straight base with a fine mottled design. The original central mirror pl...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century French Empire Cheval Mirror
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A very impressive and good quality early 19th Century French Empire period cheval mirror. This stylish piece stands elegantly on its original guilded ram's feet. The mirror is suppor...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Brass

Antique French Empire Style Gold Bronze Mounted Mahogany Mirror
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Empire style gold bronze mounted carved mahogany mirror.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mahogany

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

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

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

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 Unique Empire Wall Mirror, circa 1820
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany with gilded bronze fittings. Solid softwood, Cuba mahogany veneer. Original glass, finely chased bronze fittings. (M-32).
Category

Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mahogany

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 Mirror
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This French Empire style mirror, features elegant Ionic ebonized columns and a honey-toned burled wood frame. Its design embodies a restrained architectural elegance with a proto...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, 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

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

Gold Leaf

Genovese Mirror With Walnut Inlays & Small Parts in Brass
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Genoese walnut mirror with brass inlays and hardware. Excellent construction, on the back it still bears eighteenth century butterfly nailing confirming the Direttorio style...
Category

1890s Italian Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Brass

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

Gold Leaf

Italian 19th Century Empire St. Cherrywood and Ormolu Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and large scaled Italian 19th century Empire st. Cherrywood and ormolu mirror. The rectangular mirror is flanked by two circular columns with bottom block feet decorated b...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Ormolu

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

A pair of French early 19th century Empire period giltwood mirrors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive pair of French early 19th century Empire period Patinated and giltwood mirrors. The original mirrors plates are framed within an off white and gilt frame with bott...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Giltwood

Italian Early 19th Century Neo-Classical Empire St. Giltwood Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and large scale Italian early 19th century neo-classical Empire st. giltwood mirror. The mirror plate is framed within a lovely foliate band surrounded by a mottled bor...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

1820s Italian Inlaid Accent Mirror
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Small wooden accent mirror from Italy in the Empire style, featuring exceptionally refined painted trompe-l'oeil and inlay decoration, architectural schema, and delicate ebonized acc...
Category

1820s Italian Antique Empire Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Wood

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

1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Mirrors

Materials

Wood

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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