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Empire Buffets

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
French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Kingwood, Ormolu and Marble buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Mouchette Mahogany, Burl Ash, Santos Mahogany, Kingwood, Ormolu, and Giallo Antico marble buffet. This stunning three draw...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

20th Century Empire Style Buffet With Marble Top
Located in Houston, US
Impressive grande Empire style two door buffet in mahogany with original marble top. The cabinet is accented with brass key escutcheons and with a caryatided bust and feet at top and...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Brass

19th Century Empire Period Sideboard or Buffet
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century Empire Period Sideboard or Buffet France, 1830 Cherrywood, This early nineteenth century French Buffet is constructed of solid Cherrywood. Three drawers of dovetail con...
Category

1830s French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Cherry

French 19th Century Oak Empire Buffet
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A more primitive Empire buffet made of solid oak is in wonderful antique condition. A long single drawer is located under the simple top. A pair of paneled doors are flanked by colum...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Mahogany Empire Buffet
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French Empire buffet made of rich flame bookmatched mahogany is classic in style. The original marble top of charcoal with white veining sits at the top of this buffet and is remov...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Brass

18th Century French Empire Period Solid Walnut Lyonnaise Enfilade Buffet
Located in Birmingham, AL
A stunning 18th century French Empire period enfilade buffet, circa early 1800s, handcrafted of solid walnut by talented artisans in Lyon, the culinary capital of France, renowned fo...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Walnut

French 19th Century Burl Mahogany Empire Buffet
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French Empire buffet hand-crafted in France in the 19th century that features fabulous mahogany burl wood and neoclassical details. The original marble top is stunning with gorgeou...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Brass

Empire Style French Buffet
Located in Austin, TX
Buffet, French, in the “return from Egypt” Empire style. After the Egyptian campaign, Napoleon asked his “ebenistes“ to incorporate stylistic elements ...
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century Empire Style Burled Walnut Buffet, France ca 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century Empire Style Burled Walnut Buffet, France ca 1880.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Walnut

French Antique Empire Style Buffet
Located in Austin, TX
Buffet, French, in the “return from Egypt” Empire style. After the Egyptian campaign Napoleon asked his “ebenistes“ to incorporate stylistic elements i...
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Empire Style Buffet in Mahogany and Gilt Bronze
Located in BARSAC, FR
Empire style sideboard in solid mahogany and rich ornamentation of gilded and chiseled bornze. Opening with three doors, two of which are glazed, front uprights forming detached c...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Burl Wood Demilune Enfilade
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A gorgeous demilune enfilade crafted in France during the 1880s. This piece is all about the Empirically styled details and distinctive burl veneer. The original stunning marble top is shaped to fit the base. The apron houses four drawers with swan and floral drop ring pulls. Each drawer is lined with green felt and the two center drawers feature permanent organization that’s perfect for serving utensils. All of the lower doors unlock to reveal a removable, finished shelf. The burled mahogany veneer has been repaired in some places, adding to its antique charm without taking away from the quality of the whole. Decorative brass caped feet provide continued protection and are quite unique. Make sure to view all of the images to get a closer look at the wonderful details throughout this case piece. Two keys are present, we recommend keeping the center door key...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass, Ormolu

French 19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A statley 19th century mahogany secre´taire a` abattant from France, circa 1810. This desk has an exceptional charcoal marble top resting above a single drawer disguised into the apron. Just below the top drawer, the front of the desk folds forward to reveal a work area inset with vibrant red leather detailed with gold tooling. The leather is in great antique condition making this a comfortable place to work. When open, you can see the theatre is equipped with five drawers and a large, arched top cubby flanked with column forms. With the desk down the maximum depth is 32”; the writing surface is 28-½” heigh. The desk front...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Brass

French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu & Vert De Patricia Marble Buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and large scaled French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, ormolu and Vert de Patricia marble buffet. The four door three drawer buffet is raised by a straight base with...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Buffet Cabinet, by François Linke
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire style gilt-bronze mounted marquetry buffet cabinet, by François Linke, Paris. This handsome buffet or side cabinet has its original Swedish green marble top. The veneers are of the finest figured acajou flammé. The frieze is fitted with a long drawer with citronnier and ebonised marquetry panel depicting a Etruscan chariot...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Ormolu

Antique French Empire Mahogany Marble Top Buffet with Bronze
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Empire mahogany marble top buffet with bronze is an exquisite example of fine French cabinetry, with the emphasis on the finest mater...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century French Empire Mahogany Marble Top Buffet
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Empire mahogany marble top buffet is a marvel of the cabinetmaker's art! First, exotic imported mahogany was employed to create a rich, beautiful background using...
Category

1890s French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Antique Empire Painted Buffet
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Empire style painted buffet / cabinet, 19th century. The paint is later and 20th century. With a faux marble molded overhanging top over two cup...
Category

19th Century European Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Wood, Paint

French Empire Period Flame Grain Mahogany Commode Chest with Black Marble Top
Located in Wells, ME
French Empire period commode (chest) in matched flame grain mahogany, Egyptian caryatid columns with ormolu head and feet, swan ormolu mount to lower f...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19th Century Bleached Mahogany Empire Style Buffet
Located in Dallas, TX
Elegant 19th century Empire style carved and bleached mahogany buffet with grey marble top. This piece has beautiful wood grain and nice storage inside. Lovely!!
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble

French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany, Ormolu and Marble Buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century Empire st. flamed mahogany, ormolu and fossilized black marble Buffet. The buffet is raised by elegant circular feet below striking architectural colum...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Empire Demi Lune Buffet
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Empire style bowfront flame okum veneered and oval pollard oak burl panel inlaid side cabinet or buffet, the brass bound top above three frieze drawers above four cabinet do...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Buffets

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu, Mahogany and Marble Buffet Vitrine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most impressive French 19th century Empire st. ormolu, mahogany and white Carrara marble buffet vitrine. The buffet is raised by handsome block supports centering an elegant raised frieze decorated with a fine ormolu band with scrolled foliate movements. At the center are two doors with glass panes each adorned with striking mottled ormolu fillets, fine rosettes and exceptional pierced palmettes. The two outer doors are flanked by striking architectural columns with outstanding foliate ormolu plinths and capitals. The outer doors also display central glass panes framed within an elegant ormolu band with scrolled designs. The doors open to reveal one adjustable shelf in each section and beautiful cream curtains...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany Buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French late 19th century Empire st. flamed mahogany buffet. This three drawers and four door buffet has the original interior shelf and is raised by four elongated support...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19th Century Swedish Fall Front Desk with Originalpaint
Located in Boden, SE
19th Century fall front desk from Kalix, North of Sweden. The overhanging rectangular top abowe a drop down writing surface enclosing a fitted interior with drawers and a central cu...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Pine

French 19th Century Empire Style Neoclassical Burl Walnut Buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very attractive French 19th century Empire st. Neo-classical burl walnut three door and three drawer buffet. The buffet is raised by square tapered legs with an ebony filet and orm...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19th Century French Empire Period Walnut Bibliotheque or Bookcase
Located in Birmingham, AL
A fine French Empire period bibliotheque handcrafted from select French walnut by skilled artisans from Lyon during the First Empire of Napoleon, circa early 1800s. The upper bookcas...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Empire Style Green Marble-Top Console Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
Burl veneered case with green marble or verde-antico. Large buffet in the Italian taste, having an inset top, single frieze drawer with ormolu mounts, supported by marble columns, th...
Category

1920s Italian Vintage Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble

19th Century Bronze Mounted French Empire Cabinet
Located in Charleston, SC
19th century French Empire cabinet with bronze mounts and leather top. 2 drawers over 2 door cabinet.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Bronze

Impressive Empire Style Buffet by Maison Krieger
Located in London, GB
Impressive Empire style buffet by Maison Krieger French, circa 1900 Measures: Height 199cm, width 217cm, depth 66cm This magnificent Empire style c...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Empire Charles X Enfilade Boiserie Buffet Lavabo Alcove Fountain Cabinet Sink LA
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Empire Charles X Enfilade Boiserie buffet lavabo alcove fountain cabinet sink LA . Very important and large Enfilade De Boiserie buffet lavabo circa 1810 Empire Transition Charles X a great patron of the arts. Light colored woods, yellow or bleached were dominant. This piece is made of the Bois Clairs in warm blond tone typical of the period 1810-1830. Wall paneling cabinets and a trumeau mirror at the center of the curve, in front of it a nicely carved stone Urn with sphere finial top creating a back splash of a Sink. A very elegant architectural element “La Haute Société ". Focal point of a grand room. These pieces make for a truly special interior to any residence. Antique Dealer Los Angeles CA Melrose Ave La Cienega Blvd . Two very large wall mount cabinets with very large doors and original hardware hinges, keys and locks, interior of each cabinet with 3 dividers that makes 4 compartments, a great space to store your dinner service, your porcelain, wine, your glassware etc. Painted a beautiful light green on the interior. A very large marble hand carved Urn, on a pedestal and the Swan Fountain...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Wood

Classical Mahogany Pedestal Sideboard Attributed to Vose, Boston
By Isaac Vose
Located in Milford, NH
A spectacular mahogany and mahogany veneer Classical or Empire pedestal sideboard, attributed to Isaac Vose, Boston, fitted with one large central drawer fl...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century French Empire Style Buffet
Located in San Antonio, TX
Step into the elegance of the 19th century with this spacious and beautiful French Empire style buffet, crafted from solid oak to perfection. Known...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Buffets

Materials

Brass

Empire buffets for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire buffets 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 buffets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, building and garden elements, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire buffets 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 buffets, popular names associated with this style include François Linke, and Maison Krieger. 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 buffets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,995 and tops out at $220,000 while the average work can sell for $7,650.

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