Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
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.
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
17th Century Italian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal
1890s Italian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Metallic Thread
18th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool
19th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble, Brass
1890s French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Silk, Mahogany
Early 1800s Albanian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
Early 1800s French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper, Wood
16th Century Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool
17th Century Italian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Silk
Early 20th Century Hungarian Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Pine
17th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
1850s Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
17th Century Belgian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
Mid-18th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool
Early 1800s French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
17th Century Unknown Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary French Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Velvet, Feathers
19th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
Early 20th Century German Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Sterling Silver
Early 1800s French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Silk
18th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool
18th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool
1860s French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton
16th Century Turkish Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
Early 1900s Indian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton
Mid-20th Century Dutch Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Crystal, Silver
Early 19th Century British Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
1850s French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
1850s Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
18th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Mahogany
17th Century Unknown Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Velvet
17th Century Unknown Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal, Brass
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Plaster, Wood, Paper
1850s Unknown Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton
17th Century Albanian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
17th Century Belgian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
17th Century Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble
1860s French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton
18th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Fabric, Wool
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble, Brass
Early 18th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton
17th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
1850s Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
1860s French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton
17th Century Italian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal
1860s French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton
17th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Feathers
18th Century Unknown Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton, Silk
17th Century Unknown Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton
18th Century Italian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton