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.
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...
Bronze
Mirror With Sculpted Coper And Ebony Wood Decoration - Early 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant ebony and embossed copper pareclose mirror from the beginning of the 19th century Very beautiful mirror which has a beautiful proportion decorated with embossed and fire-gil...
Copper
Classical Three Panel Horizontal Mirror, Circa 1820s
Located in Sarasota, FL
A classical three panel horizontal mirror. Wooden with decorative veneers. Above is an oil on canvas, richly carved on top with a fig leaf and arch motif. Continental, circa 1820's.
Canvas, Mirror, 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...
Mirror, Giltwood
Table Mirror With Frame Made In Walnut From 1880s
Located in Lejre, DK
This small table mirror, crafted from walnut wood and dating back to around the 1880s, is a charming and elegant example of late 19th-century design...
Walnut
Early 19th Century French Empire Period Mirror
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Early 19th century French Empire period mirror.
Mahogany
Mirror Made In Mahogany With Carvings From 1880s
Located in Lejre, DK
This mirror, crafted from hand-polished mahogany and adorned with intricate carvings, is a stunning example of Danish craftsmanship from around the 1880s. The rich, deep tones of the...
Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire Painted Mercury-Glass Mirror
Located in Atlanta, GA
Worked in the Empire taste, this nineteenth-century French mirror carries strong neoclassical lines and retains its original mercury glass, which shows gentle foxing and natural impe...
Mirror, Wood
Vintage Empire Style Gilt Wall Mirror w/ Beveled Glass Edges & Cobalt Blue Trim
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Empire Federal Style Gilt Wall Mirror with Beveled Glass Edges and Cobalt Blue Trim This vintage Empire Federal style gilt wall mirror features intricate carvings and a stu...
Glass, Mirror
19th Century Second Empire Painted Cheval Mirror
Located in London, Park Royal
An elegant, 19th-century, French Empire cheval mirror made in wood with hand carved giltwood mouldings and ormolu fittings. Fitted with neat drawer at the mirror. Painted in a deep ...
Ormolu
Late 19th Century Large Empire Style Painted Gilt Wood Wall Mirror
Located in Berlin, DE
Late 19th century large empire style painted gilt wood wall mirror or trumeau Large rectangular mirror with architectural structure: the central field, consisting of a lower mirro...
Mirror, Wood
$3,218Sale Price|20% Off
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
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...
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.
Brass
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Bronze
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 Wall Mirror, Mahogany, Ebonized Carved Decor, South Germany, circa 1810
Located in Regensburg, DE
Stunning large Empire Wall Mirror, bright mahogany, carved black decor, South Germany, circa 1810. The wood is mahogany veneer and solid wood, which has been bleached and stained for...
Mirror, Mahogany
Neoclassical Empire Round Silver Gilt Wood Mirror, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
This round mirror was handcrafted in Spain in 1970 in the Neoclassical Empire style. The piece features a solid wooden frame that has been carefully hand carved, emphasizing symmetry...
Gold Leaf
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...
Wood
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.
Mahogany, Giltwood
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
French Empire Trumeau Mirror, Giltwood with Poppy Design, 19th Century
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) carved giltwood trumeau / wall mirror with painted upper panel of red poppies and flowers (signed).
Mirror, Giltwood
$4,085 / set
Outstanding Large Pair Large Gilt Girondoles
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A superb pair of continental bevelled mirror gilded girondole wall mirrors, in outstanding condition each having three cut glass shelves with brass brackets, six candle holders on e...
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...
Mirror, Mahogany
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...
Stucco, Wood
19th Century Empire Wall Mirrors with Giltwood Frame, Europe
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of pillar mirrors in gold-patinated and stuccoed frame with profiled molding. The mirror panes are divided in the upper third. Patination is rubbe...
Giltwood
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...
Bronze
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...
Mirror, Wood
Neoclassical Empire Gilt Wood Rectangular Mirror, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
This rectangular mirror was handcrafted in Spain in 1970 in the Neoclassical Empire style. The piece features a solid wooden frame that has been carefully hand carved, emphasizing sy...
Gold Leaf
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...
Mirror, Giltwood
French 19th Century Empire Period Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Psyche Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and most detailed French 19th century Empire period ormolu mounted mahogany Psyche mirror. The mirror is raised by an impressive ormolu support below a thick mahogany b...
Ormolu
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
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.
Wood
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.
Giltwood, Mirror
$996Sale Price|43% Off
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...
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.
Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome French 19th century Empire st. mahogany and ormolu mirror. The original mirror plate is flanked by two most impressive architectural columns with rounded feet, elegan...
Ormolu
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...
Ormolu
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).
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.
Wood
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...
Ormolu
$2,109Sale Price|32% Off
Neoclassical Style Brass and Lacquered Metal Mirror with Cup and Swan Necks.
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This Empire style mirror is made of brass and lacquered metal with decoration. This is a French work, circa 1940.
Metal, Brass