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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
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

French Empire Artisan-Painted Commode, 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire commode, with an artisan hand-painted finish, from the 19th century. This antique chest from France has a rectangular-shaped top, which is slightly recessed upon a lo...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of chests of drawers 1810 Empire walnut and briar high class
Located in Villa Verucchio, Emilia-Romagna
Empire elegance: a pair of chests of drawers of rare refinement The beauty of early 19th-century cabinetmaking takes shape in this extraordinary pair of Empire chests of drawers fro...
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Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Nutwood

Italian antique wooden chest of drawers or dresser with bronze friezes, 1800s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian antique wooden chest of drawers or dresser with bronze friezes, 1800s. Antique wooden chest of drawers with drawers decorated with bronze friezes. Dating back to the Empire p...
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Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Period Chest w/Black Accents
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire period commode, with black and brass accents, from the early 19th century. This antique chest from France features a rectangular-shaped top, with case which houses th...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Swedish 19th century 5 drawer chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish 19th century 5 drawer chest of drawers circa 1870. Fine quality Scandinavian chest of drawers made in mahogany.  Stepped top with moulded edge, below which are 5 5 graduatin...
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Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany, Pine

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.
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Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19th Century French Empire Antique Mahogany, Marble Chest of Drawers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, antique French single chest of drawers made of hand crafted shellac polished Mahogany, veneered on Oakwood in good condition. The rectangular cupboard is composed with a grey-white marble top, the inside is consisting one shelf, enhanced by its original brass hardware and keys, standing on two wooden feet and two lion feet. The detailed carved cupboard represents the First French Empire time...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Metal, Brass

19th century Swedish serpentine mahogany chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish serpentine mahogany chest of drawers circa 1880. Fine quality elegant Swedish 19th century commode fitted with 4 graduating drawers which open on the key, whic...
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Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

French 19th Century Painted Chest Of Drawers With Bronzes Handles
Located in London, Park Royal
An antique French, Empire period, chest of drawers, circa 1820's. The solid wood body is painted in a French grey/blue which has an interesting, textured, age distressed patina show...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Empire Chest of Marble Topped Drawers Lion Hairy Paw Feet
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning French Empire, circa 1860 solid mahogany chest of drawers with marble top and gold leaf painted lion hairy paw feet A very good lo...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

An Empire Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Commode, Marble Top, French, ca. 1820
Located in Banner Elk, NC
An Empire Commode in figured mahogany with a Belgian black fossilized marble top above a frieze drawer and three uniform drawers flanked by two squared columns, each with ormolu moun...
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1820s French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Ormolu

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...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Ormolu

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!.
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Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

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...
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Mid-19th Century European Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

19th Century burr walnut tall chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century burr walnut tall chest of drawers circa 1880. Great quality tall chest of drawers often known as a seminere chest as it has 7 drawers. Shaped walnut top surface with m...
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Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

French Empire Style 19th Century Walnut Chest with Drop Front Desk, Two Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style walnut chest from the 19th century with drop front desk and two additional drawers. This elegant French Empire style walnut chest from the 19th century exudes c...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

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

19th Century French Empire Antique Chest with Marble Top & Lion Pulls
Located in New Orleans, LA
This French Empire chest features a rich wood grain, stately grey marble top, and striking lion-head pulls—embodying the grandeur and symmetry of early 19th-century neoclassical design.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

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

Biedermeier Chest, Walnut Veneer, Cherry, Gold-Leaf, Brass, Austria circa 1815
Located in Regensburg, DE
Extraordinary, early Biedermeier Chest, Commode or Half-cabinet from Austria around 1815. Beautiful book-matched dark walnut veneer on softwood. Two doors at the bottom, counter-vene...
Category

1810s Austrian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Gold Plate, Brass

Mahogany Empire chest of drawers, France, circa 1880.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Mahogany Empire chest of drawers, France, circa 1880. Currently under renovation. Wood: mahogany dimensions: height 95 cm x width 120 cm x depth 55 cm
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

French Empire Painted Commode With Marble Top
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th century French Empire Painted Commode with Marble Top. Commode features the elegance of fine woodwork with the luxurious touch of a marble top. Commode contains five drawers, on...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

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

Empire Chest of Drawers
Empire Chest of Drawers
$3,500 Sale Price
27% Off
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

Antique Spanish Regency / Isabelina Mallorquín Dresser, Chest, Floral Inlay
Located in Madrid, ES
Often referred to as "Mallorquín" or "Catalana" style, this type of commode or dresser evolved in the early to mid 19th century in the Spanish province of Catalonia, taking design influences from various European...
Category

19th Century Spanish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

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

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

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

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

Mid-20th Century Low Table Cabinet
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Category

Mid-20th Century English Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Pair Of Russian Neoclassical Style Cabinets or Commodes Marble Top
Located in Manhasset, NY
Pair of Maison Jansen Russian neoclassical style cabinets. These massive and impressive cabinets are wonderfully bronze mounted and each support a greenish black and white veined mar...
Category

1950s Unknown Vintage Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

Empire Cherrywood Chest of Drawers with Caryatids
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Empire Chest of Drawers with Caryatids South Germany, 1815 Cherrywood Very elegant German Empire Chest, ca. 1815. This Chest of drawers rests on four splayed feet and exhibits lovel...
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1810s German Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Cherry

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

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 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 Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal, Iron

Narrow chest of drawers, early 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
Narrow chest of drawers on straight legs with three drawers and a gray stone top. The key plates are in the form of flower bouquets in gilt bronze. The chest of drawers is mahogany v...
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Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Stone, Bronze

19th Century French Empire Provincial Ash Commode with Black Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century French Empire Provincial Ash Commode with Black Marble Top
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Ash

French Empire Semainier Tall Chest of Drawers
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A classic early French Empire semainier in Mahogany, each of the seven drawers (intended to be used one for each day of the week), has ebony inlay aro...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

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

Empire Demi Lune Chest of Drawers, Baltic States early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Demi Lune chest of drawers with three drawers, on low, curved pointed feet. The body is veneered in mahogany and decorated with profiled bra...
Category

Early 19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

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...
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Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal

19th C. French Empire Style Ormolu Mounted Semainier Tall Chest
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A classic French Empire style Semainier Tall Chest in mahogany and bronze ormolu with seven drawers framed with fluted columns and fine gilded escutcheon. The front face of each drawer is also surrounded by an ormolu frame. Chest shows wear from daily use. Age related cracks that have been filled. The key shown is only for decorative purposes to open drawers...
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bronze

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...
Category

19th Century Danish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany, Birch, Walnut

French Empire Neoclassical Style Chest of Drawers, Late 19th C
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This three drawer walnut chest is raised by elegant square tapered legs below ebonized architectural columns with ormolu caryatids.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

French Empire Mahogany Commode with Bluestone Top and Gilt Bronze Hardware
Located in Dallas, TX
This French Empire commode is a perfect example of the type of chest of drawers that became popular in the early 1800s. This was a time when Napoleon preferred to do away with styles...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Stone, Bronze

Eclectic chest of drawers, France, circa 1890. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Eclectic chest of drawers, France, circa 1890. Very good condition, after professional renovation. Wood: walnut Dimensions: height 110 cm width 85 cm depth 50 cm
Category

1890s French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

A Pair of Danish Empire Style Mahogany 3-Drawer Marble Topped Bow-Front
Located in San Francisco, CA
A handsome pair of Danish empire style mahogany 3-drawer marble-topped bow-front chests with brass inlay and bronze mounts; each with thick Napoleon machete mable top above a bowed cabinet...
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19th Century Danish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

French Mahogany Two-Drawer Chest, Early 20th Century, Empire Style Hardware
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French mahogany two-drawer chest from the early 20th century. This antique French chest features two dovetailed drawers decorated with exquisite Empire style hardware. The keyholes...
Category

20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal

French 19th Century Empire Petite Walnut Commode with Marble Top
Located in Hopewell, NJ
French 19th century Empire commode having lovely bookmatched walnut and gray fossil marble top that sits over a wide drawer (all are dovetailed) hidden in the apron of the piece, ove...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

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

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

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

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 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

Italian Empire Commode in Walnut with Black Columns Mirror White Carrara Marble
Located in Prato, IT
Italia, 1810 Walnut veneer Top in white Carrara marble Columns in ebonized wood Bases, capitals and paw carvings gilded in pure gold Good conditions Chest of drawers W126 x D56...
Category

Early 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Carrara Marble

Flame Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Commode with Rouge Griotte By Molitor
Located in Stamford, CT
A superbly crafted French Empire commode with Rouge Griotte marble top by Molitor. A pair of these commodes were acquired by King Jerome between 1809 and 1812 and listed in the i...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

A mahogany Empire commode à l'anglaise, Attributed to 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 Style Walnut Dressing Table
Located in Pasadena, TX
Empire Style Walnut Dressing Table Empire style dressing table in burl walnut with 2 drawers. Venetian glass pulls. The flap reveals a large origina...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

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.

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