Empire Wall 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
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Wood
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Gold Leaf
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
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 Wall 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 Wall 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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Silver Leaf
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Wood
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Wood
Empire Giltwood Carved Frame
Located in New Orleans, LA
Period Empire giltwood frame.
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Wall 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 Wall 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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Walnut
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany, Giltwood
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Bronze, 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...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Wall 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 Wall 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 Wall 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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Wood, Mirror
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Walnut, Giltwood
French Empire Style Giltwood Mirror Elaborately Carved Frame Circa 19th Century
Located in Stamford, CT
French Empire style giltwood mirror, circa 19th century, elaborately carved frame, the mirror flanked by fluted baluster uprights, four corners decorated with lion-head pattern.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Wall Mirrors
Materials
Wood
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Marble
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood, Wood
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Brass, Metal
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 Wall 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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Glass, Wood
French Empire Style Mahogany Pediment Top Cheval Mirror
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) mahogany cheval mirror with bronze trim, caryatid figures, and a pediment top.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Mirrors
Materials
Bronze
Tall Stately Empire Mirror in Cuban Mahogany with Columns, Denmark, c. 1820
Located in Miami, FL
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 Wall Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany
Continental Swedish Empire Gilt and Ebonized Eagle Pediment Wall Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Continental Swedish Empire giltwood wall mirror with ebonized column sides and trim and a carved eagle pediment over an arch form mirror.
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Wall Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood, Mirror, Wood
Napoleon I French Giltwood Trumeau Mirror
Located in New Orleans, LA
Giltwood Trumeau with Beautiful Lyre Trophy
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Wall Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood, Mirror
French Empire Gilt Swan Wall Mirror
Located in New York, NY
French Empire gilt oval horizontal wall mirror with swan-shaped sides and urn top with floral decoration.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Mirrors
Materials
Gold Leaf
Swedish Empire Gilt Wood Mirror, Early 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Giltwood Mirror, the deep triangular pediment with acanthine carving above a scrolling foliate and fruit urn frieze, the rectangular plate within a ...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Wall Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
Period Empire Trumeau Mirror
Located in New Orleans, LA
Painted trumeau with gilded bas relief figures on pale blue field. All paint appears to be original. The mirror is not original.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood
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 ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Fruitwood
Empire wall mirrors for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire wall 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 wall 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 wall mirrors made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Scandinavia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original wall 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 wall 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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