Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
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.
to
84
322
56
374
7
1
8,624
5,419
2,394
1,613
869
723
676
605
575
569
538
406
382
377
325
275
236
182
155
170
49
8
25
11
8
10
7
1
1
6
2
266
236
100
100
92
290
193
41
31
28
382
378
380
3
2
2
1
1
Style: Empire
Throw Pillow Made from 16th Century Flemish Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
16th Century Flemish Tapestry Pillow 19" X 12", handmade piece , from mid-16th century
Category
16th Century Turkish Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool
Throw Pillow Made from 16th Century Flemish Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
16th Century Flemish Tapestry Pillow 19" X 12"
Category
16th Century Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool
Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Category
16th Century Belgian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Feathers
Contemporary Pillow Made from 17th Century Renaissance Flemish Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Flemish Tapestry Pillow 29'' X 10'', handmade 17th Century Piece
Category
17th Century Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Feathers
17th Century Renaissance Style Flemish Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Renaissance Style Flemish Tapestry Pillow 17'' X 17'', handmade, authentic 17th Century Piece, Traditional Empire Style
Category
17th Century Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Feathers
Antique Empire Brussels Tapestry Pillow - 22'' X 22''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique 16th century Brussels tapestry pillow 22'' X 22''. Empire and traditional.
Category
16th Century Belgian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Feathers
1850 Antique Uzbek Pillow - 20'' X 14''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1850 antique Uzbek pillow. 20'' X 14''
Category
18th Century Uzbek Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool
Antique 16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow - 29'' X 18''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique 16th-century Brussels tapestry pillow. Empire and Traditional Design.
Category
16th Century Belgian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Feathers
Pair of Small Gilded Frames with Greek Scened Porcelain Plaques
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Set of Two Small Gilded Frames with Greek Scened Porcelain Plaques in Ormolu Gilded Bronze Frames. Great pieces to add to an existing collection.
Category
Early 1900s Italian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Bronze
Empire revival inlaid satinwood magazine rack
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Empire revival inlaid satinwood canterbury rack circa 1980.
1980’s reproduction of an empire style canterbury. 3 compartments for magazine and newspaper storage, with a single draw...
Category
Late 20th Century English Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Satinwood, Paint
19th-Century French Empire Bronze Napoleon Commemorative Inkwell
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire (19th Century) bronze inkwell in the form of Napoleon's casket covered by a shroud with a crown finial top and resting on a tiered base with...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Mahogany Bedside Table or Somno
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A classically inspired French Empire marble topped mahogany bedside table which the french call sono. fThe round column shaped table has a black marble top with a recently applied ge...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Marble, Breccia Marble
Cast iron coat racks
Located in PARIS, FR
This coat rack and umbrella stand has a very pretty burgundy red patina.
It is in very good condition.
Alfred and Emile Corneau founded their foundry in Charleville in 1846, speciali...
Category
1880s European Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Metal
An Empire Bedside Table
Located in London, GB
France, circa 1820
An early nineteenth century mahogany bedside table with single drawer to frieze, white marble top surrounded by brass gallery, all supported on fluted cylindrical...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Marble
Elegant octagonal empire column bedside table
Located in Cesena, FC
Elegant empire column nightstand, octagonal.
Origin: emiliana (Bologna)
Empire-era (early 1800s)
Entirely veneered in poplar burl with a special stain that enhances the intricate gr...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Poplar
19th Cent Ebony Empire Commode or Nightstand, Refinished, Bronze Mounted
Located in Manhasset, NY
19th Century, Hollywood Regecny Style Commode, Chest or Nightstand. Bronze Mounted Empire Commode or Nightstand, Refinished in a fine ebony finish to suite the Hollywood Regency Decor of any home.
19th century Empire commode or nightstand. This fine commodes...
Category
1860s Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Marble
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 19" x 14"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category
16th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Feathers
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 21" X 10"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category
17th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Feathers
French Empire Mahogany 3-Fold Screen
Located in Queens, 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 More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Tapestry Pillow - 24'' X 15''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique 19th century French tapestry pillow. Tribal and traditional.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool
17th Century Flemish Tapestry Pillow - 10" X 23"
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Flemish Tapestry Pillow - 10" X 23", Authentic
Category
17th Century German Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool
Contemporary Pillow Made from 18th Century Metallic Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
18th Century Metallic Tapestry Pillow 14" X 11", authentic 18th Century Piece
Category
18th Century Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool
Contemporary Pillow Made from 18th Century Metallic Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
18th Century Metallic Tapestry Pillow 14" X 11", Authentic 18th Century piece, handmade
Category
18th Century Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Feathers
Circa 1900 Antique Ikat Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1900 Antique Ikat Tapestry Pillow
Category
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Circa 1900 Antique Ikat Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1900 Antique Ikat Tapestry Pillow
Category
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Circa 1700 Antique Brussels Baroque Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1700 Antique Brussels Baroque Tapestry Pillow
Category
Early 1700s Unknown Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Cotton
20th Century Antique Araffia Velvet Textile Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
20th Century Araffia Velvet Textile Pillow
Category
20th Century Unknown Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Cotton, Velvet
Circa 1850 Antique Uzbak Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1850 Antique Uzbak Pillow
Category
1850s Uzbek Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Cotton
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Category
17th Century Unknown Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Schumacher Toile Tropique Pillow in Gold
By Schumacher
Located in New York, NY
This pillow features Toile Tropique with a knife edge finish. A nod to the illustrations of early-1800s botanical etchers—the artists-in-residence on seagoing voyages who sketched ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Cotton
IMPERO chimney spark plugs made of cherry wood. Early 19th century
Located in Torino, IT
Fireplace spark arrestors
EMPIRE
in cherry wood
with ebonized details.
PERIOD
Early 19th century
MATERIALS
Solid cherry wood
with ebonized details.
Canvas screen
DIMENSIONS
Height...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Canvas, Wood
Pair of Empire Style Side Tables
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome pair of Empire style polished mahogany and rosewood side tables, serpentine tops on four legged bases with carved and gilded caryotid legs and with ormolu mounts
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
A Fine French Empire Mahogany Music Stand
Located in Sheffield, MA
A Fine French Empire
Mahogany Music Stand
19th Century
The adjustable top with swan carvings on the side with gilt bronze mounts over a tripod base ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Empire Style Marble-Top Nightstand or Console
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Empire style marble-top nightstand or console. One drawer and lower ledge, gilt bronze details and neoclassical columns.
Category
20th Century French Empire More Furniture and Collectibles
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
Empire more furniture and collectibles for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire more furniture and collectibles 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 more furniture and collectibles created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, tables, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, wool and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire more furniture and collectibles made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Unknown pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original more furniture and collectibles, popular names associated with this style include Baker Furniture Company, Europa Antiques, Modenese Gastone, and Schumacher. 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 more furniture and collectibles differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $125 and tops out at $95,530 while the average work can sell for $2,520.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Antique Industrial Drill Press
Antique Irish Post Box
Antique Jenny Lind Bed
Antique Maelzel Metronome
Antique Maple Rope Bed
Antique Metal Baby Bed
Antique Metronome
Antique Pianola
Antique Pump Organ
Antique Stainless Sink
Antique Ventriloquist Dolls
Antique Wood Metronome
Antique Wooden Boot Forms
Antique Yarn Skein Winder
Armillary Sphere Bookends
Art Deco Phonograph
Ascari Bicycle
Auguste Rubin