Empire Beds and Bed Frames
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
Pair of Fine Bronze Mounted Empire Beds
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An outstanding pair of period Empire bronze-mounted beds in overall very good condition. The figural end column forms feature well cast busts and feet, and there are wreaths, Angels,...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Bronze
Empire period Day Bed, from the designs of Percier & Fontaine
By Percier & Fontaine
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful Empire period mahogany and mahogany veneer daybed. Straight legs flanked by scrolled brackets. The straight belt is punctuated with antique bronze applique...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire Daybed & Bed Crown
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A gorgeous French Empire mahogany alcove daybed and bed crown hand-crafted in France in the 19th Century. A rare lit de repos made of mahogany most likely from Cuba or the Antilles and fitted with brass and ormolu figurines...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Empire Daybed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century French Empire daybed. Great for living room, guest room, library, or bedroom. Mattress and boxspring not included. Some chips on one of the small urns and round part of ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Wood
Ancient Empire Period Bed, Large and Completely Original
Located in Cesena, FC
Antique Empire Bed, Large and Original
This large and original antique Empire bed dates back to the early 1800s. It is an important Empire bed that has never been restored and is com...
Category
1810s European Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Metal
19th Century Mahogany, Mahogany Feather and Oak Antique French Empire Bed, 1830s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Antique French bed from the first half of the 19th century. Empire furniture with full column carved and veneered in mahogany, mahogany feather and oak of excellent quality. Single a...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Wood
Pair of 19th century French empire mahogany and walnut beds
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Pair of 19th century french empire mahogany and walnut beds circa 1890.
Fine quality pair of large single beds of the empire revival period. Beautifully made from walnut and mahoga...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany, Walnut
19th Century Italian Empire Giltwood Queen Bed
Located in Houston, TX
A period Italian Empire queen bed beautifully carved with Neoclassical influences to include acanthus finials, flourishing floral fauna, reeding and r...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Mahogany Queen Size Bed Frame with Brass Mounts
Located in Southampton, NY
19th Century French Empire mahogany queen size bed frame with brass mounts.
A beautiful classic French Empire bed frame with soft curved head and fo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Style Carved Iroko Bed Full Size, circa 1960
Located in Labrit, Landes
French Empire bed circa 1960
Full-size bedding
Massive carved iroko and fabric
The fabric has to be recovered
The side boards will be made to have th...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Antique Empire Bed US Queen UK King Size French 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Antique Empire bed US Queen UK King size
This will take a US Queen or UK King size mattress across the whole of the bed
Very good antique condition.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Walnut
21st Century Yellow Double Bed by Modenese Gastone Interiors, Empire Inspiration
Located in PADOVA, Italy
This item is definitely a true masterpiece: yellow double bedwith empire-style decorations, pleated head and footboard with high-end customizable fabrics.
Designed and produced by M...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Silver Leaf, Gold Leaf
French Empire Style Mahogany Headboard with Silk Embroidery
Located in Atlanta, GA
French Empire Style Mahogany Headboard with Silk Embroidery
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Silk, Mahogany
19th Century Italian Empire Period Flamed Walnut Two Sleigh Beds or Daybeds
Located in Firenze, IT
These two exceptional Italian 19th century Empire period sleigh beds dating back to 1790-1830 were sourced in Lucca, Tuscany. The beds, that can serve also as a daybeds or settee, sh...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Metal
Letto matrimoniale in noce, prima metà del '900, Italia
Located in SAN PIETRO MOSEZZO, NO
Letto matrimoniale in noce della prima metà del '900.
Lo stile riporta dei bei gamboni torniti inseriti in un impianto architettonico molto importa...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Walnut
Antique Empire Mahogany Sleigh Bed, Cabinet Makers Example, as Dog Bed
Located in New York, NY
This rare cabinet makers example of an antique Empire mahogany sleigh bed,
As Dog bed. With new poly foam bed covered in black & white ticking.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Period Mahogany Sofa-Bed, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Sofa-bed of the Empire period in solid mahogany and mahogany veneer with rich decoration of finely chased and gilded bronzes. This sofa is decorated in front of a lyre in the center,...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Bronze
Boat Bed First Half of the 1800
Located in Roveredo In Piano, IT
Boat bed frame in original condition form the first half of the 1800. The bed frame is in solid walnut wood with precious carved decorations on the front and around headboard and foo...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Walnut
Large Solid Mahogany Boat Bed from the Empire Period
Located in Paris, FR
Large boat bed in solid mahogany flamed, mahogany veneer, with rich decoration of finely chased and gilded bronzes, Empire period. Four baluster uprights, dec...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Wood
Lit De Style Consulat, Empire En Acajou Et Bronze
Located in NAVILLY, FR
Very rare mahogany bed with rich bronze ornamentation in the Consulate style. Sold in very good general condition. Complete restoration with re-varnishing possible by our workshops o...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Solid Walnut Antique Bed
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful antique empire bed 1800s in precious solid walnut wood. The bed is very linear with ebonized decorations. Restoration is recommended to lo...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Walnut
French Empire Alcove Bed
Located in Hudson, NY
Empire fruitwood alcove bed with ebonized carved wood caryatid heads, feet and two pairs of urns.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Fruitwood
French Empire Mahogany Queen Bed
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style (19/20th Century) mahogany queen size bed with gilt bronze trim and upholstered panel on headboard (includes: headboard, fo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Gold Leaf, Bronze
Empire Style Mahogany Dog’s Bed
Located in Spencertown, NY
The diminutive mahogany sleigh bed with green and white upholstery.
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Mahogany and Bronze Queen Bed
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style mahogany and bronze and gilt trimmed queen size bed with swan design (includes: headboard, footboard, rails). (19th Century reproduction of Josephine Bonaparte's swan bed...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
French Empire Style Steel and Brass Daybed
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style (19/20th Century) steel and brass trimmed daybed with open arch and scroll design sides
Category
20th Century Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass, Steel
X-Design Bed, 20th Century
Located in Pasadena, CA
An Empire bed in queen-size, (king also available) headboard and footboard with a crisscross pattern, four tapered posts ending in bracket feet and finials.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Rosewood
Antique Queen-Size Carved Four-Poster American Empire Bed, Philadelphia, c 1825
Located in Miami, FL
An extraordinary American empire four-poster bed in cherry wood from the Philadelphia area that appears in the book, Philadelphia Empire Furniture ...
Category
1820s American Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Cherry, Poplar
Ralph Lauren Style French Empire Flame Mahogany King Size Bed
By Ralph Lauren
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Empire style king size bed
In the manner of Ralph Lauren
Late 20th Century
Gorgeous flame mahogany, with carved details and brass accents.
Measures: 84"W x ...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass
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French Empire Giltwood Bed Corona
Located in Essex, MA
With acorn and oak leaf crest and scrolled swans. Probably used over a bed.
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19th Century French Bedroom Set
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19th Century French Louis XV Period Carved Walnut Daybed
Located in Miami, FL
Magnificent 18th century French Louis XV period daybed.
The bed needs a reupholstered , we can do it with the color velvet you choose.
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Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
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19th Century French Empire Mahogany Queen Size Bed Frame with Brass Mounts
Located in Southampton, NY
19th Century French Empire mahogany queen size bed frame with brass mounts.
A beautiful classic French Empire bed frame with soft curved head and fo...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
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H 38.75 in W 93 in D 66 in
French Empire Style Carved Iroko Bed Full Size, circa 1960
Located in Labrit, Landes
French Empire bed circa 1960
Full-size bedding
Massive carved iroko and fabric
The fabric has to be recovered
The side boards will be made to have th...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Mahogany Neoclassical Bed Frame, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
"Boat" bed in carved mahogany wood, 19th century.
Head and feet of the same height, are decorated with a circular molding, while the rear, by harmony, follows the lines of the front...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
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Wood, Mahogany
19th Century French Faux Bamboo Bed
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Faux bamboo bed is a wonderful expression of Oriental design executed in maple and pine to simulate bamboo. Popular during t...
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1890s French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Maple, Pine
Magnificent French 19th Century Bed
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Magnificent French 19th century bed.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Giltwood
Early 19th Century French Empire Period Mahogany Nightstand End Table
Located in Forney, TX
A period French Empire (1804-1815) mahogany chest of drawers nightstand with beautifully aged patina.
Born in France in the early 19th century, hand-crafted of warm rich solid mahog...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
H 28.25 in W 19.25 in D 12.25 in
19th Century French Napoleon III Mahogany Day Bed
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Napoleon III mahogany day bed is a masterful study in classical architecture melded with timeless French craftsmanship and an understated elegance that will trans...
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1860s French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
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Rosewood
French Pair of Empire Style Demilune Nightstands with One Drawer & Bronze Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
We are pleased to offer this pair of nightstands, circa 1900.
The tables are made of mahogany with a beautiful mounts of bronze in drawers and columns.
The legs are made in solid b...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Bronze
H 25.2 in W 23.23 in D 11.82 in
Previously Available Items
Ralph Lauren Style French Empire Flame Mahogany King Size Bed
By Ralph Lauren
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Empire style king size bed
In the manner of Ralph Lauren
Late 20th Century
Gorgeous flame mahogany, with carved details and brass accents.
Measures: 84"W x ...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass
Ralph Lauren Style French Empire Flame Mahogany King Size Bed
By Ralph Lauren
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Empire style king size bed
In the manner of Ralph Lauren
Late 20th Century
Gorgeous flame mahogany, with carved details and brass accents.
Measures: 84"W x ...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass
Important French Double Bed with Canopy, early 20th Century Style Empire
Located in Madrid, ES
Important French Double Bed with canopy, early 20th century
Double bed
227 x 197 cm Height 230cm
silk fabrics
walnut wood
very good condition
the transport is by Sea way with a wood...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Silk, Wood
H 90.56 in W 77.56 in D 89.38 in
Ralph Lauren French Empire Flame Mahogany King Size Bed
By Ralph Lauren, Henredon
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Empire style king size bed
By Ralph Lauren for Henredon
Late 20th Century
Gorgeous book-matched flame mahogany, with carved details and brass accents.
Measu...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass
Empire Style Twin Bed with Brass Ormolu Decoration
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Empire Style Twin Bed with Brass Ormolu Decoration
78.5″W x 43.5″D x 42″H (17″H Side Rail)
*One Ormolu is missing (see images)
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
French Empire Bed in 19th Century Veneered Wood
Located in Madrid, ES
French Empire Bed in 19th Century Veneered Wood
113X189X104 cm
Applications of gilded and chiseled bronzes, feral feet
good conditions
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19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
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Wood
Pair of Period Empire Beds from Tuscany Italy, circa 1810
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair Of early 19th century Empire Italian Beds
This pair of Italian beds that disassembles are from a mansion in the countryside of Tuscany in ch...
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1810s Italian Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Cherry
French 19th Century Col De Cygne Mahogany Full Bed
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A charming Empire style bed from France during the 19th century. The mahogany frame features skillfully carved swan heads on the head and footboard. Upholstered with a wonderfully te...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
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Metal, Brass
Large Bordeaux-Brown and Golden Iron Bed, Early 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Large bed in brown-burgundy lacquered iron decorated with a vase of colored and golden flowers with scrolls; the 4 angles end with a spinning top
Original lacquer
Early 19th centur...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Iron
Italian 19th Century Empire Single Brass Inlaid Bed
Located in IT
Italian 19th century Empire single brass inlaid bed.
This bed comes from Italy from early 19th century . It features black lacquered details and brass marqu...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Walnut
Antique Empire Bed US Queen UK King Size French 19th Century
Located in Mimizan, FR
Antique Empire bed US Queen UK King size
This will take a US Queen or UK King size mattress across the whole of the bed
Very good antique conditio...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Walnut
Antique French Empire Mahogany Day Bed with Gilt Bronze Mounts, Circa 1815
Located in Dallas, TX
This rich mahogany and ormolu mounted bed is an excellent example of the fine beds that were produced in France during the Empire Period. The most famous and impressive of these type...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Bronze
H 43.5 in W 84.25 in D 52.75 in
Empire beds and bed frames for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire beds and bed frames 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 beds and bed frames created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire beds and bed frames 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 beds and bed frames, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Henredon, Modenese Gastone, and Ralph Lauren. 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 beds and bed frames differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $544 and tops out at $74,849 while the average work can sell for $4,313.
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