Empire Cabinets
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
Vintage Regency Empire Glass Etagere
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fantastic vintage Empire glass cabinet. A chic mahogany with gorgeous Ormolu detail. Interior mirror and glass make the cabinet really light up. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Cabinets
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
Russian 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Deux-Corps Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive and grand scale Russian 19th century Empire st. mahogany and ormolu Deux-Corps cabinet. The cabinet is raised by fine ball feet encased by handsome ormolu claws. Ab...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Ormolu
An Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Satinwood Buffet Cabinet
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Satinwood Buffet Cabinet.
The attractive and original Verde Antico marble top above three freize drawers. The central door with a burr-amboyna l...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Antique Ormolu Mounted Two-Piece Marble-Top Cabinet in the Empire Style
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French antique ormolu-mounted two-piece marble-top cabinet in the Empire style.
Crafted in solid mahogany with fabulous bronze mounts reminiscent of the Empire style using Egypt...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1820 Italy Column Pillar Pedestal Painted Wood Storage Cabinet
Located in Munich, DE
This elegant and unusual Italien painted beech wood cabinet has retained it's original painted decoration.
This extravagant piece of furniture shows all the characteristics of late ...
Category
1820s Italian Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Beech
Antique 19th Century Dutch Solid Oak Empire or Louis Seize Cabinet
Located in Casteren, NL
A beautiful Empire style or Louis seize cabinet that was made in the Netherlands, circa 1820s.
This high quality piece is completely made in the finest European oak. There are three stepped drawers in the lower section. The drawers are fitted with authentic Dutch cast brass drawer pulls and key plates. All drawers are equipped with a working lock and key. The upper part of the cabinet has two doors with raised panels, chamfered corners and original cast brass key plate with working lock and key. The interior of the upper cabinet houses three drawers below, all with original brass drawer pulls. Above a fixed shelf with two cutlery drawers underneath. Above the mid shelf is a half shelf...
Category
Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Antique 19th Century Empire Dutch Bombe Solid Oak Cabinet
Located in Casteren, NL
An elegant Dutch cabinet or cupboard that was made in The Netherlands, circa 1820s.
It was completely made in the best quality fine European oak. It has a bombe base ending on claw and ball feet. The base houses 4 drawers each with the original brass key plates and drawer pulls. All drawers are equipped with working locks with a key. The upper cabinet has two elegant doors with beautiful recessed panels. Behind the doors, there are three drawers situated at the bottom, above a shelf with two cutlery drawers underneath. The doors can be opened 180 degrees due to the ingenious hinges. The cabinet has a concave and convex molded cornice with a central hand carved pediment The pediment shows scrolls and acanthus and would have showcased the largest piece of the “Kaststel”. The corniche has three flat areas that were meant to support a set of Chinese porcelain or delft earth ware...
Category
Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Empire St. Burl Elm, Ebony, Tulipwood, and Ormolu Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and high quality French 19th century Empire st. burl elm, ebony, tulipwood, and ormolu cabinet. The large scale three door cabinet is raised by a straight base with an ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Empire Gold Gilt Cherub Vitrine Curio Cabinet w/ Onyx Pedestal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Winged Cherub Gold Gilt Vitrine Curio Cabinet. Item features onyx stone top, angel/cherub legs with wings, paw feet, distressed gold gilt finish, glass on all s...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Cabinets
Materials
Onyx
Mid-20th Century Low Table Cabinet
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Mid-20th century low table cabinet.
Category
Mid-20th Century English Empire Cabinets
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century Cabinet / cupboard in antique Empire Style Mahogany Veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid wood. High-arched, architecturally designed corpus, single-door base, open-sided shelf, flanked by columns with capitals and bases of finely chiselled bronze, sligh...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
Wynwood Flex Steel Empire Carved Cherry Wood Glass Display Curio China Cabinet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Empire Style Carved Cherry Wood Glass Display Curio China Cabinet by Wynwood Flex Steel. Item features a carved wood backsplash, spiral carved columns, original label, 2 drawers, 2 a...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Cabinets
Materials
Glass, Mirror, Cherry
English Empire-Style Oak Cabinet From the Late 19th Century
Located in Opole, PL
English Empire-Style Oak Cabinet From the Late 19th Century
An English Empire-style cabinet made of oak, dating back to the late 19th century. The semicircular piece of furniture fe...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Oak
Exceptional French Empire Neoclassical "Retour d'Egypte" Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exceptional French Empire neoclassical "Retour d'Egypte" cabinet. All original, including the marble top.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Period Mahogany, Marble and Gilt Bronze Cabinet
Located in London, GB
This beautiful mahogany cabinet was crafted in France in the early 19th century, when Napoleon Bonaparte was Emperor (1804-1814,15). The cabinet features a wide rectangular body, top...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
Antique display cabinet from the late 19th century, France.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique display cabinet from around 1880, France.
Dimensions: height 178 cm / width 76 cm / depth 42 cm
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Brass
18th Century Fruitwood Continental Style Sideboard / Cabinet
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Crafted in the mid-18th century in the United States, this fruitwood continental style sideboard/cabinet exemplifies exceptional American craftsmanship. The cabinet features exterior...
Category
1760s American Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Brass
French Empire Vitrine Display Cabinet 1860
Located in Potters Bar, GB
French Empire two door display vitrine
Shaped glass to doors and original ormulo fittings
Intricate marquetry panels on lower doors
Hand crafted from kingwood
circa 1860
Bought from ...
Category
1860s Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Glass, Kingwood
French Late 20th Century Louis XVI Period Mounted Cabinet Vitrine
Located in Miami, FL
An extremely high quality and elegant French late 19th century Louis XVI period mahogany and ormolu-mounted cabinet vitrine which is finished on all sides. The cabinet is raised by t...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Cabinets
Materials
Cherry
Mahogany Wood Beveled Glass Mirrored Back Cabinet / Vitrine By R.J.Horner
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Elevate your home with this 19th Century Horner & Co Hand-Carved Mahogany Wood China Cabinet, an exceptional piece of furniture designed with the utmost attention to detail and craft...
Category
Mid-19th Century North American Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Maslow Freen French Empire Style Breakfront Bookcase China Cabinet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Maslow Freen French Empire style breakfront bookcase China cabinet with brass grill. Item includes 2 part construction, 8 swing doors, worki...
Category
20th Century American Empire Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Empire Style Parcel Gilt and Walnut Cabinet
Located in Astoria, NY
Empire Style Parcel Gilt and Walnut Cabinet on Stand, late 19th century, the rectangular top above a bolection frieze drawer, below a fall front, flanked by swan form pilasters, the ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Walnut, Giltwood
French Empire Chiffonier Cabinet Mahogany Napoleon III 1890
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Antique French Empire mahogany open front chiffonier with a dark green and white veined marble top and mirrored back plate
This server or sideboard dates to Napoleon III 1890
It has ...
Category
1890s Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
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 Cabinets
Materials
Wood, Paint
Interesting Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Empire Style Cabinet
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Interesting Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Empire Style Cabinet
The Vert marble top above two large doors mounted with angels, the top ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Cabinet Buffet Server Mahogany 1880
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a gorgeous French Empire cabinet we date to 1880
Lovely patina to the flame mahogany
Green marble top is smooth and chip free
Good size to this piece
Ormolu fixtures ...
Category
1880s Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
Burr-Amboyna, Marble, Gilt and Patinated Bronze Cabinet by Maison Krieger
Located in London, GB
This beautiful display cabinet was crafted by the prestigious furniture company, Maison Krieger. The firm was founded in 1826 by Antoine Krieger. Over the course of the 19th century,...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Italian Empire Mahogany Commode Two Doors Cabinet
Located in Firenze, IT
Striking mahogany 19th century Italian commode from the Empire period, circa 1815-1820. The straight, timeless shape combined with unique mahogany veneer makes this early 19th centur...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Metal, Iron
French Empire Style Mahogany Chest with Brown Marble Top
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Century) mahogany chest with 4 drawers and bronze handles and escutcheons with a brown marble top.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Brass
Mobiletti impero francesi in Mogano con fregi in bronzo e piano in un bel marmo
Located in Cesena, FC
Coppia di mobiletti impero (1850 circa).
Mobiletti impero francesi, in Mogano con fregi in bronzo, con colonna intera e piano in un bel marmo grigio, sportelli con ripiani interni.
...
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Double Body Cupboard by David Linley
By David Linley
Located in Brussels, BE
Double Body Cupboard by David Linley
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Empire Cabinets
Materials
Wood
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu And Marble Buffet/Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Ormolu and marble buffet/cabinet. The buffet is raised on two half round front and two back block supports below the straight apro...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire Style Burl Walnut, Ormolu and Glass Cabinet/Vitrine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French 19th century Empire st. burl walnut, ormolu and glass cabinet/vitrine. The vitrine is raised by fine bun feet below the straight support decorated ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Polychrome and Fossilized Marble Cabine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most impressive French 19th century Empire st. mahogany, polychrome and fossilized marble cabinet. The four door, three drawer cabinet is raised by fine block feet bel...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Cabinets
Materials
Marble
Empire cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire cabinets for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage cabinets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire cabinets made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Denmark pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original cabinets, popular names associated with this style include Maison Krieger, A.M.E Fournier, Europa Antiques, and R.J. Horner & Co.. 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 cabinets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,210 and tops out at $445,969 while the average work can sell for $6,714.