Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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 Inlaid Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
French 19th century Marquetry two-drawer commode with a wonderful marble top.
Featuring wonderful inlaid decoration, this commode conveys typical Empire styles.
A great storage pi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
Antique French Empire Style Marquetry Inlay Chest Commode
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Empire Style Marquetry Inlay Commode Chest of Drawers
Gorgeous French Empire style commode/chest of drawers featuring intricate inlaid marquetry with a finely detaile...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique half-round Empire chest of drawers, mahogany, around 1810
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique half-round Empire chest of drawers, mahogany, around 1810
Semi-circular body, one door in the middle flanked by full columns and one drawer each above and below. An extremel...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
Pair of Italian 19th Century Empire St. Cherrywood Commodes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking pair of Italian 19th century Empire st. Cherrywood, ebonized Fruitwood and ormolu commodes. Each three drawer chest is raised by elegant square tapered legs below remarkab...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Ormolu
Dutch 20th Century Mahogany Empire Style Tallboy
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Early 20th century Dutch Empire-style mahogany tall chest of six drawers featuring Neoclassical elements with Art Deco geometry. A pierced brass gallery wraps the sides and partially...
Category
20th Century Dutch Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass, Bronze
A mahogany Empire commode à l'anglaise, Attributed to Jacob Frères
By Jacob Frères
Located in Wijnegem, BE
A top quality Empire commode made in beautiful mahogany veneer (acajou moucheté) on solid oak.
Ornaments of gilded bronze and with a fantastic ( purple -brown -white) Fossil Marble ...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
Empire Fall Top Desk, France, 1810
Located in Belmont, MA
Introducing a remarkable Empire Fall Top Desk, hailing from France during the period of 1800-1810. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this magn...
Category
Early 1800s European Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
Swedish 19th C. Empire Style Butler's Chest w/Nice Architectural Details
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Empire style chest with secretary from the 19th century. This antique case piece from Sweden has been designed in Swedish Empire style with a wonderful architectural appear...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
C1810 Petite French Empire Commode with Grey Marble Top & Ormolu Mounts
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
C1810 Petite French Empire Commode with Grey Marble Top Ormolu Mounts
Unique piece purchased in France.
Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos.
Message us with any questions.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Empire Chests of Drawers, Berlin, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Empire chest of drawers with two drawers and quarter columns made of marble. The body is veneered in mahogany, the fittings are made of brass.
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
Unusual Empire Mahogany Chest with Dressing Mirror, ca. 1810
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Unusual Empire Mahogany Chest with Dressing Mirror, dating from the first quarter of the 19th century and French in origin.
The piece ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mirror
Danish Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
A Danish Empire mahogany and fruitwood commode, circa 1820s, the rectangular top with a bow-front and canted corners above four conforming drawers and fruitwood canted sides, the top...
Category
1820s Danish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
19th Century mahogany and brass tall chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century directoire influenced mahogany tall chest of drawers, circa 1890.
Fine quality tall chest in the directoire style. Fitted with 6 drawers of equal proportions and detail...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Austrian Empire Style Walnut Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
Very fine 19th century Austrian Empire walnut commode. Exceptional wood finish and superb quality. A truly elegant piece that is sure to impress!.
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
Antique French Empire Style Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
Antique French Empire style chest of drawers
French, 19th century
Measures: Height 86cm, width 127cm, depth 57cm
This beautiful ches...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Ormolu
Empire Commode, Walnut Veneered with Caryatids, Austria, Vienna circa 1810/15
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very fine original Empire commode or chest of three drawers, walnut veneered with Caryatid pilaster columns, from Austria/Vienna about 1810-15.
Lovely book-matched Walnut Veneer on softwood. Excellent french polished surface.
Exceptional carved caryatid pilasters depicting of temple guards...
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Gold Leaf, Iron
Empire Acajou Mouchete Mahogany Mounted Commode, Attributed to Bernard Molitor
By Bernard Molitor
Located in Berlin, DE
A fine Empire acajou mouchete mahogany commode in the manner of Bernard Molitor (1755-1833). A rectangular oak corpus veneered with acajou mouchete mah...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
Italian Empire Style Walnut Chest of Drawers, 19th Century, One of a Pair
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large-scale Italian Empire period three drawer chest with beautiful figural walnut veneers, and having original gilt bronze hardware. Excellent antique condition with some recent r...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Chest of Drawers with Painted Trompe L'Oeil, France, 19th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Tall French Empire-style commode. The pine wood is painted in a faux-bois trompe l'oeil imitating mahogany. Wood columns on either side are painted a darker color.
The chest is in ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique French Acajou & Tulipwood Gilt Commode in the Style Paul-Charles Sormani
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Acajou and Tulipwood Gilt Bronze Mounted Marble Top Commode in the Style of Paul-Charles Sormani
An exceptional antique French Acajou and Tulipwood gilt bronze mounte...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Empire Painted Commode with Marble
Located in Dallas, TX
Elegant 19th century French Empire painted commode with black Belgian marble top. Nice patina and loads of storage. A great piece!
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
19th Century Italian Empire Period Walnut Night Stand
Located in Prato, IT
Veneered in walnut, three drawers with black columns with caryatid head and pure gold base. Four ebonized turned legs.
Coeval Carrara marble top.
Very good condition.
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Carrara Marble
Mid-Century Italian Empire Style Walnut Chest
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome mid-century Italian Empire Style walnut chest. Featuring a gorgeous finish, lovely brass hardware and ebonized details. Makes an elegant statement!.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Swedish 19th century tiger birch chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish 19th century tiger birch chest of drawers circa 1890.
Beautiful quality chest of drawers made in tiger birch, which showcases the grain to allow a tiger like appearance.
Re...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Birch, Oak
21st Century Empire-Style Vanity Unit with Columns by Modenese Gastone
Located in PADOVA, Italy
Luxurious empire-style vanity unit from Modenese Luxury Interiors, Italian furniture producer. Made of solid wood with white laquered finish and Honey Onyx top, plus empire-style woo...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
French Early 19th Century Empire St. Walnut, Ormolu and Marble Chests
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most impressive pair of French early 19th century Empire st. walnut, ormolu, and Bleu Turquin marble chests. Each three-drawer chest is raised by elegant square tapere...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
20th Century Empire Style Caryatide Tulip Veneer Commode
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century Empire style Caryatide tulip veneer commode
tulip veneer on solid pinewood. Architecturally structured front.
(D-Sam-66).
Category
20th Century Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood, Tulipwood
Period Danish Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
Danish Empire - or what we would refer to as "Biedermeier" - chest of drawers. Beautifully inlaid with walnut and golden birch. Key included.
Engraved on back "Renov...
Engraved on back "Renov...
Category
19th Century Danish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany, Birch, Walnut
Mahogany Empire Commode with Gilt Caryatids, Germany, circa 1820
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Remarkable early 19th century mahogany commode/ half cabinet from the late famous Empire period in Germany around 1815/20. The clean straight, timeless shape combined with exceptional mirror matched mahogany veneer makes this 19th century so-called "trumeau" an absolute dreamlike piece. This perfect sized commode/ half cabinet offers two doors and a drawer. Artfully hand carved caryatids depicting women busts covered in fine gold leaf. The door panels are additionally framed by ebonized wooden bars and the fully functional locks are adorned by lovely crafted brass fittings. Delicate, pointed legs complete the outstanding look and confer this gorgeous piece of a late Empire trumeau commode a certain kind of lightness. A real precious, perfectly restored masterpiece of antique empire furniture...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Gold Leaf
Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Empire fruit wood chest of drawers with gilt bronze hardware and ebonized columns, 19th century. No keys.
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Dutch Empire Warm Brown Curved Commode in Solid Elm
Located in Casteren, NL
This elegant four-drawer commode was made in the Netherlands circa 1860. It was made in solid elm with a pine interior. The commode has a convex-concave curved front. The piece has a two-plank top with a bullnose edge. Below four drawers are situated. Each drawer is equipped with two brass drawer pulls, a keyplate, and a lock. The brass pulls and keyplate is typical Dutch azure cut...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Empire Style Commode With Marble Top
Located in Houston, US
19th Century French Empire Style Mahogany Commode With Marble Top. Constructed with burled veneer, commode flanked with columns capped with brass decorations. Features ormolu mounts ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Empire Style Commode w/Figural Columns & Pink Marble
Located in Clifton Forge, VA
This is an adorable petite commode with wonderful grained veneer and blackened flat columns on the sides which have a bronze woman's head on the top and bronze feet on the bottom. It...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
Mahogany Empire Chest Of Drawers, Stamped Jacob Frères Rue Meslée, Paris c. 1800
Located in Greven, DE
Empire chest of drawers stamped Jacob Frères Rue Meslée
Paris
Mahogany
around 1800
Dimensions: H x W x D: 92 x 131 x 63 cm
Description:
Four carved, bronze-patinated paw feet supp...
Category
1790s French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th-century german empire oak and pine inlaid three drawer commode
Located in Casteren, NL
This beautiful commode was made in Germany in the late 19th century. The commode is made from European summer oak and solid pine and features three drawers. The drawers were enriched...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Antique French Empire Mahogany & Gilt Metal Mounted Cabinet on Chest circa 1800
Located in Suffolk, GB
This antique French Empire mahogany and gilt metal mounted antique cabinet on chest has an upper tier with two doors fitted boasting attractive gilt metal mounts. The bottom chest ha...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Style Painted Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
Elevate your interior with the grandeur of the 19th Century French Empire Style Painted Commode, a true antique that exudes timeless elegance. Its beautifully crafted design features...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
Antique Empire Chest of Drawers in Cuban Mahogany with Interior Writing Surface
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Empire chest or commode with bowed front offering four drawers on tapered feet in the finest book-matched Cuban (West Indies) mahogany. Satinwood inlays depicting two sph...
Category
1810s Danish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
19th Century Italian Empire Commode / Chest of Drawers / Dresser With Marble
Located in Carmine, TX
Empire commode / chest of drawers hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut. The commode features three inset drawers with beautiful hand-made dovetail joints and wood grain...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
Small Early 19th Century Empire Commode with 3 Drawers and Tapered Legs, 1810
Located in Berlin, DE
This charming early 19th-century Empire commode, crafted around 1810, exudes a sophisticated elegance. The rich, red-brown walnut veneer is beautifully complemented by brass inlays, ...
Category
Early 1800s German Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Henkel Harris French Empire Louis Philippe Flame Mahogany Marble Top Dresser
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Empire of Louis Philippe style dresser or chest of drawers
By Henkel Harris
USA, 1990s
Stunning book-matched flame mahogany, with beveled marble top, and ori...
Category
1990s American Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
19th Century Craftsman's Model Miniature Chest of Drawers
Located in Round Top, TX
This delightful miniature chest of drawers served as a floor sales model for a furniture craftsman in the 1800's. It measures approx. 20" high and wide, making it the perfect size to...
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Pine, Paint
Empire dresser Milan, early 19th century
By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting
Located in Milano, IT
Empire chest of drawers in mahogany and mahogany veneer walnut, front with four drawers, the first of which juts out, half columns with truncated pyramidal base and capital in worked...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany, Walnut
20th Century Wood with Marble Top Italian Empire Style Dresser, 1960
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Italian chest of drawers from the mid-20th century. Cantù production furniture carved and veneered in walnut, burl, beech, mahogany and fruitwood in Empire style. Commode with four l...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
Antique Danish Oak Chest of Drawers, ca. 1800.
Located in Asaa, DK
Antique Danish Oak Chest of Drawers, ca. 1800.
Amazing Empire oak dresser made by Danish master carpenter 1790-1810. Solid oak body and drawer fronts. Ebonized trim and concealed top...
Category
Late 18th Century Danish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Oak
19th Century Painted French Empire Chest of Drawers with Marble Top
Located in Wichita, KS
Period antique French Empire painted chest of drawers with beautiful black marble top. Beautiful decorative lion brass hardware and working key. Early and all original. Footed legs i...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
Italian Empire Walnut Commode / Chest of Drawers, 19th Century
Located in Viterbo, VT
Empire chest of drawers hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut. The chest of drawer is very simple in lines, yet very elegant and ornate because of the beautiful book-mat...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
19th Century French Neoclassical Empire Bronze & Mahogany Lingerie Chest
Located in Hopewell, NJ
19th century French Louis XVI neoclassical mahogany semainier or tall chest. Hand crafted from mahogany, this design was fitted with seven drawers to provide a drawer for every day o...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze
Danish Late Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
Very special late Empire chest of drawers with opaline glass inlay, 19th century, Denmark, 1830. Mahogany with Ivory colored glass inlay. Having four drawers with working locks, 1 ...
Category
1830s Danish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Opaline Glass, Mahogany
Vintage original IMPERO dresser, in inlaid and ebonized wood. First 1800
Located in Torino, IT
IMPERO Dresser
original vintage,
in walnut wood
inlaid and ebonized.
PERIOD
First half
of the nineteenth century
MODEL
Dresser dresser
with three drawers
MATERIALS
Walnut wood inl...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Metal
Small Empire Chest of Drawers in Mahogany with Marble Columns, Sweden, c. 1790
Located in Miami, FL
A beautiful Empire commode in Cuban mahogany with marble columns flanking two drawers and resting on tapered square feet. Brass key plates and pulls were added in the late 1800s. Fre...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Italian Walnut Burl Empire Commode / Chest of Drawers
Located in Viterbo, VT
Empire chest of drawers hand-made in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy in the early 1900s using walnut. The chest has typical empire lines, with an overhanging top drawer and column...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Low Table Cabinet
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Mid-20th century low table cabinet.
Category
Mid-20th Century English Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Beautiful Empire Style Chest of Drawers
Located in Crawley, GB
A 20th century Empire style chest of drawers with figural pilasters and three drawers made in different size.
Don't hesitate to contac...
Category
20th Century British Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Petite Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Petite chest of drawers from France made of flamed Cuban mahogany with four dovetailed drawers and a rich array of finely cast bronze hardware. The commode features half detached col...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire Chest of Drawers Cherry Wood with Black Colones and Black Marble Top
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
EMPIRE chest of drawers cherry wood with black colones and black marble top
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
19th Century French Empire Period Commode
Located in Austin, TX
A beautiful French Empire Period Commode. This commode is made with mahogany wood and was professionally sanded, bleached, and painted in ...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
18th Century Bleached Mahogany French Empire Commode with Black Marble Top
Located in Carmine, TX
Empire chest of drawers hand-made in France in the early 1800s using oak and decorated with mahogany veneer. The chest of drawers has been bleached and shows gorgeous striations of g...
Category
Mid-18th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
Empire commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire commodes and chests of drawers 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 commodes and chests of drawers created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, more furniture and collectibles, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire commodes and chests of drawers made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Scandinavia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original commodes and chests of drawers, popular names associated with this style include Empire Furniture, Europa Antiques, Modenese Gastone, and Baker Furniture Company. 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 commodes and chests of drawers differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $800 and tops out at $95,000 while the average work can sell for $4,900.