Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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.
Early 1900s American Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Rosewood
Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Creamware, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1910s French Vintage Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 1900s European Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1890s Italian Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
1840s Danish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Early 20th Century English Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany, Oak
1920s French Vintage Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
Early 20th Century Danish Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
19th Century European Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Beech
Mid-20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Statuary Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Late 19th Century British Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century British Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
1910s Swedish Vintage Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble
1920s Vintage Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Kingwood
1920s Swedish Vintage Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
1920s French Vintage Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze