Skip to main content

Empire Home Accents

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.

12
1
to
2
10
3
13
13
13
906
483
447
179
111
78
76
51
50
45
44
42
38
36
32
22
10
1
9
2
1
1
1
9
6
6
3
3
12
9
3
1
1
1
Style: Empire
French Fireplace Mantel Fender
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
M/940 - This mantel fender is very useful and elegant: it's not too large, but perfect. It's from the Empire French period. I think it may be a good buy.  
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Brass, Steel

19th Century Italian Six-Panel Painted Wood Folding Screen in Gilt Bronze Frame
Located in Firenze, IT
This one-of-a-kind museum quality Italian Empire Period (early 19th Century) room divider folding screen is made up of six rectangular solid wood panels, each richly painted and lacq...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Zuber Original Wallpaper Screen with French Hinges
Located in Ballard, CA
Zuber wall paper screen depicting the return of Napoleon from Italy, rare piece with french hinges ( meaning it can open in every which way), the wallpaper is applied on to a burlap ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Brass

Empire Style Birdcage Model of Chateau de Luneville, Early 20th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The wood and wire birdcage faithfully depicting the chateau.
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Home Accents

Materials

Wood

French Empire Mahogany 3-Fold Screen with Bronze Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
French Empire style (19th century) mahogany 3 fold screen with bronze trim.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Bronze

Italian Yellow Tole Obelisk Urn With Paw Feet
Located in Stamford, CT
A charming neoclassical yellow tole water or tea urn in the form of an obelisk balanced on a square plinth by fours balls supported by brass paw feet. Decorated on four sides with ma...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair of Brazilian Carved Empire Style Rock Crystal Obelisks Sculptures
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in Brazil and made of rock crystal, each obelisk is raised on a stepped square base and features exquisite craftsmanship with a tapered and pointed stem. Both elegant pieces ...
Category

2010s Brazilian Empire Home Accents

Materials

Rock Crystal

19th Century, Pair of French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Sculptures Sphinxe
Located in IT
19th century, Pair of French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Sculptures Sphinxes This pair of decorative elements was made in F...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Bronze

Early French 19th Century Empire Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Firescreen
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early French 19th century Empire mahogany and gilt bronze firescreen Screen has a period embroidered flower decorated insert.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Vintage Italian Grand Tour Specimen Carved Variegated Marble Obelisks
Located in Dallas, TX
These elegant and monumental Grand Tour marble obelisks were crafted in Italy, circa 1960. Each colorful obelisk stands on a separate conforming square base and features a carved and tapered marble stem embellished with geometric decor. Both pieces are in excellent condition with a rich patinated finish in the brown and beige palette. Place these tall specimen obelisks...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Home Accents

Materials

Marble

Pair of French Empire Green Patinated Spinxes
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire style (19/20th Cent) green patinated bronze winged sphinx figures (bookends) raised on a black marble pedestal base
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Period French Empire Neoclassical Wallpaper Screen by Zuber of Dufour
Located in Essex, MA
Period Empire neoclassical wallpaper screen. Either by Zuber of Dufour. Was always intended as a screen.
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Paper

French Empire Mahogany 3-Fold Screen
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style (19th Century) mahogany 3 fold screen with bronze trim and round pastel painting on top panel.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Bronze

Related Items
Pair of French Gilt & Enameled Decorated Chinoiserie Tole Obelisks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of French Gilt & Enameled Decorated Chinoiserie Tole Obelisks France, 20th Century A stunning pair of French gilt and enameled decorated chinoiserie tole obelisks from the 2...
Category

20th Century French Empire Home Accents

Materials

Metal

American Mahogany and Cast Iron Copying Press with Paw Feet, Charleston, SC 1830
Located in Charleston, SC
American cast iron and mahogany two-drawer copying press with a turned bulbous cork screw handle, floral decorative pressure plate, flanking fluted decorati...
Category

1830s American Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Brass, Iron

Signed Bustamante Brass Fireplace Screen / Wall Animal Sculpture
Located in Stamford, CT
Mexican artist, Sergio Bustamante wall sculpture or fireplace screen with a Garden of Eden menagerie of flora and fauna. Lions, giraffes, birds, butterflies, turtle, armadillo, rabbi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Empire Home Accents

Materials

Brass, Copper

Spectacular Painted Six-Panel Armorial Baroque Screen from Italy, Circa 1700
Located in Dallas, TX
This six panel Italian screen is from the Baroque period, circa 1700. The four central panels have been affixed to a foldable frame, while the two outer panels are detached. When all...
Category

Early 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Arts & Crafts Black Iron and Stained Glass Fireplace Screen
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Iron fireplace screen with stained glass, Arts & Crafts era. The unique design of this fireplace screen is enhanced by the light shining through the colorful stained glass. The cent...
Category

1920s American Vintage Empire Home Accents

Materials

Iron

20th Century Louis Vuitton Courier Trunk, France, c.1910
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 20th Century large monogramed canvas trunk from Louis Vuitton lined in ecru calico with two full width trays. The handles and fittings are a...
Category

20th Century French Empire Home Accents

Materials

Brass

Danish Modern Sculptural Folding Screen / Room Divider in Pine, Made in 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
Unique and rare folding screen / roomdivider in solid pine. Made by a Danish Cabinetmaker in 1960s. A truly sculptural and artful piece, that with will complementary many interior st...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Empire Home Accents

Materials

Pine

19th Century French Folding Screen with Original Hand-Painted Outdoor Scene
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French painted folding screen room divider from the 19th century. This antique accordion style folding screen from France features four tall rectan...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Wood

20th Century Victorian Style Wood and Iron "Balloon" Birdcage
Located in Germantown, MD
20th Century Victorian style wood and iron "Balloon" bird cage & feeder. This ornamental piece features, mahogany stained wood with wrought iron "Balloon" form cage. The bottom pullout / pull-out feeder drawer has a brass base. There is a wood and wire interior bird swing...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Empire Home Accents

Materials

Iron

Black Lacquered Folding Screen Mahogany Wood
Located in Paris, FR
Folding screen black lacquered on mahogany wood structure. Pacific Comapgnie collection.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Empire Home Accents

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

  • Black Lacquered Folding Screen Mahogany Wood
  • Black Lacquered Folding Screen Mahogany Wood
  • Black Lacquered Folding Screen Mahogany Wood
  • Black Lacquered Folding Screen Mahogany Wood
H 88.59 in W 78.75 in D 1.97 in
French Directoire Style Fireplace Screen
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Directoire style dark grey iron paneled fireplace screen with X frame panels centered with gold rosettes and raised on paw feet. Dimensions 38" W x 9" D x 30" H.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Asian Empire Home Accents

Materials

Iron

Rare Hand Painted Screen
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
M/781 - Rare beautiful hand painted screen on wood: from France, mid '800. On a side: an imaginary garden with flowers' triumph; on the other side: Chi...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Paint

  • Rare Hand Painted Screen
  • Rare Hand Painted Screen
  • Rare Hand Painted Screen
  • Rare Hand Painted Screen
H 62.21 in W 124.02 in D 1.19 in
Previously Available Items
Italian Empire Period Walnut/Brass Trunk/Cellarette on Carved Stand, 1stq 19th C
Located in Atlanta, GA
The upper portion a hinged box with brass corners and handles with a double locks and original key, the lower section a conforming stand with molded edges and front carved paw feet, the rear feet of cylindrical form with rounded bottoms.
Category

1810s Italian Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Walnut

Circa 1880, Brass Empire Style Doorstop
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1880 brass weighted Empire style doorstop. Very well cast with acanthus & a pair of gryphons on the panel section over stepped base. Measures: 7 3/4" W, 17 1/4" H, 2 1/8" D.  
Category

1880s English Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Brass

  • Circa 1880, Brass Empire Style Doorstop
  • Circa 1880, Brass Empire Style Doorstop
  • Circa 1880, Brass Empire Style Doorstop
  • Circa 1880, Brass Empire Style Doorstop
H 17.25 in W 7.75 in D 2.13 in
Two Late 19th Century Hand-Painted Wood Italian Obelisks
Located in Catania, Sicilia
Two obelisks hand-crafted in Italy, the wood looks like red siena marble, they have an oval mother pearl cameo on the front. They are in original conditions.
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Wood, Paint

Pair of Brazilian Carved Empire Style Rock Crystal Obelisks Sculptures
Located in Dallas, TX
These elegant rock crystal obelisks were crafted in Brazil, each tall piece is raised on a stepped square base and features exquisite craftsmanship with a tapered and pointed stem. B...
Category

2010s Brazilian Empire Home Accents

Materials

Rock Crystal

Pair of Brazilian Carved Empire Style Rock Crystal Obelisks Sculptures
Located in Dallas, TX
These elegant rock crystal obelisks were crafted in Brazil, each tall piece is raised on a stepped square base and features exquisite craftsmanship with a tapered and pointed stem. B...
Category

2010s Brazilian Empire Home Accents

Materials

Rock Crystal

Antique French Empire Giltwood & Beveled Glass 3-Panel Dressing Screen 19th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Empire dressing screen offers giltwood frame having shaped upper windows with victory wreath crest over shaped beveled windows surmounting cloth covered panels; bea...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Glass, Wood, Giltwood, Fabric

1970s Fine Modern French Empire Style Pair of Brass Obelisks
Located in Miami, FL
Wonderful pair of brass Obelisks in a smooth modern style. Inspired by French Empire obelisks, this 1970s pair have a rich patina. Some age rela...
Category

1970s American Vintage Empire Home Accents

Materials

Brass

Pair of 19th Century French Carved Green Onyx, Marble and Brass Obelisks
Located in Dallas, TX
These tall antique obelisks were carved in France, circa 1890. Made of green onyx and black marble, each sculpture is decorated with ancient Greek symb...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Onyx, Marble, Brass

Pair of Empire Style Malachite Obelisks with Ormolu Mounts, 20th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A grand pair of neoclassical style ormolu-mounted malachite obelisk, American, 20th century. The impressive pair of obelisks crafted of a highly figured malachite veneered onto a ...
Category

20th Century American Empire Home Accents

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

Late 18th Century Wrought Iron Italian Antique Hobnail Studded Safe Strongbox
Located in Carimate, Como
Northern Italian antique safe with all-around hobnails, dated circa 1790-1820, probably from the Piedmont region that features amazing Empire-style columns with golden details and de...
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Wrought Iron

Late 18th Century Wrought Iron Italian Antique Hobnail Studded Safe Strongbox
Located in Carimate, Como
Northern Italian antique safe with all-around hobnails, dated circa 1790-1820, probably from the Piedmont region that features amazing Empire-style columns with golden details and de...
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Home Accents

Materials

Wrought Iron

Pair of Vintage Italian Carved Empire Grand Tour Marble Obelisks on Square Bases
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant pair of Grand Tour specimen obelisks was crafted in Italy, circa 1960. Each colorful, vintage piece is raised on a black stepped square b...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Empire Home Accents

Materials

Marble

Empire home accents for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire home accents 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 home accents created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, wall decorations, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire home accents 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 home accents, popular names associated with this style include and Jean Zuber. 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 home accents differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $395 and tops out at $97,562 while the average work can sell for $5,500.

Recently Viewed

View All