Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
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.
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Plaster, Wood, Paper
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Crystal, Silver
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Porcelain
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Silver, Brass, Iron
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Bronze
19th Century European Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Pine
20th Century English Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Sterling Silver
19th Century French Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Metal
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Ormolu
1820s Austrian Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Satinwood
19th Century Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Other
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Carrara Marble, Metal
20th Century Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Steel
1840s American Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
1950s Vintage Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Leather
Mid-20th Century American Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Leather
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Oak, Walnut
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass, Steel
19th Century French Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Terracotta
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Collectibles and Curiosities
Bronze