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Empire Corner Cupboards

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
Mahogany Empire Bow Front Corner Cabinet
Located in Kastrup, DK
Danish empire bow fronted corner cabinet in flame mahogany. Bow front with a single door, dressed with brass lock in the middle, flanked by f...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Bronze

Empire / Early Biedermeier Corner Cabinet in Mahogany, Sweden, circa 1815
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A large and very beautiful Karl Johan Empire corner cupboard in mahogany with tiara-shaped top banded with satinwood inlays and resting on bracket feet. Features a storage drawer mid...
Category

1810s Swedish Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Mahogany, Satinwood

Empire Corner Cabinet or Cupboard in West Indies Mahogany, circa 1800
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
From the Baltic region, a very beautiful and unusual Empire corner cupboard in fine West Indies/ Cuban mahogany with two stacked cabinet doors that are bowed, and are separated by a ...
Category

Early 1800s Baltic Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Mahogany

Large Antique Late Empire Corner Cabinet Made In Mahogany From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
This large antique late Empire corner cabinet exudes the grandeur and elegance characteristic of the 1840s. Crafted from rich mahogany, a prized wood choice for furniture of this era...
Category

1840s Danish Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Mahogany

Pair of French 18th Century Corner Cabinets with Marble tops, JACOB Frères
Located in Dresden, DE
A pair of French, Empire corner cabinets, 18th Century, by Jacob Frères, one of the most infuluential and successful furniture makers in France. Arched panel door and rounded legs ...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Marble

Antique Late Empire Corner Cabinet With Shelves Made In Mahogany From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
The antique Late Empire corner cabinet with mahogany shelves from the 1840s is an impressive piece of furniture history that exudes elegance and timeless beauty. The corner cabinet i...
Category

1840s Danish Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Mahogany

Empire/ Biedermeier Corner Cabinet w/ Faux-Bois, Bremen, Germany, c. 1810
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A rare and stately corner cupboard with the original faux-boix finish and hand-painted gold foliate and flower design around the recessed door panels and rounded sides, with a painte...
Category

Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Pine

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English Regency Corner Cabinet in Mahogany with Glass Door Panels, circa 1820
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An English Regency corner cupboard in mahogany with pediment top, glazed and mullioned upper cabinet over paneled cabinet, and resting on bracket feet. England, circa 1820. Measures:...
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1820s English Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

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Glass, Mahogany

Danish Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Bow Front Corner Cabinet, 1950s.
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Bow Front Corner Cabinet, 1950s. Beautiful Mid-Century Modern corner cabinet in Rosewood with rounded front. Large compartment with three triangu...
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1950s Danish Vintage Empire Corner Cupboards

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Rosewood

Georgian Mahogany Bowfront Corner Cupboard
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An Exceptional Quality Late 18th Century, Georgian Mahogany Hanging Corner Cupboard, Of Bowfronted Form, Having Satinwood Crossbanded ...
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Late 18th Century English Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

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Satinwood

Georgian Mahogany Bowfront Corner Cupboard
Georgian Mahogany Bowfront Corner Cupboard
$5,135
H 45.75 in W 30 in D 21 in
Large 18th Century Swedish Corner Cabinet
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Exceptional 18th century corner cabinet. The top section features a simply carved pediment that supports two wonderfully carved diamond decorations to the doors. To the top are t...
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18th Century Swedish Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

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Wood

Large 18th Century Swedish Corner Cabinet
Large 18th Century Swedish Corner Cabinet
$9,586
H 90.16 in W 55.12 in D 38.59 in
Antique English Jacobean Corner Cabinet Barley Twist Legs Oak Key TALL 1920s
Located in Tyler, TX
Antique English Jacobean Dark Oak Corner Cabinet with Open Shelves, Lower Cabinet and Key~~TALL~~c. 1920s Carved upper sides with 3 open shelves and p...
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1920s English Vintage Empire Corner Cupboards

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Oak

Antique Swedish Genuine Country Corner Cabinet
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish corner cabinet. The cabinet is a genuine Swedish country house furniture from the early 1800s. Old historic paint with ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

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Pine

Antique Swedish Genuine Country Corner Cabinet
Antique Swedish Genuine Country Corner Cabinet
$5,053
H 78.75 in W 27.56 in D 18.51 in
Danish Mid-Century Rosewood Corner Cabinet with Curved Front, 1960s.
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Mid-Century Rosewood Corner Cabinet with Curved Front, 1960s. Very beautiful Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern corner cabinet with rounded front. Four hinged doors with lock, k...
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1960s Danish Vintage Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Rosewood

19th-C. French Corner Cabinet
Located in Ballard, CA
A single door painted French corner cabinet in the Louis XVI style. Made out of pine wood painted with light gray/blue and cream accents. Feature...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Iron

19th-C. French Corner Cabinet
19th-C. French Corner Cabinet
$3,120 Sale Price
20% Off
H 99.5 in W 42.25 in D 30.25 in
Antique George III Quality Mahogany Bow Fronted Hanging Corner Cabinet
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique George III quality mahogany bow fronted hanging corner cabinet having a bow fronted cornice and frieze above a pair of quality bow fronted figured mahogany doors with pretty ...
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18th Century English Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Mahogany

Corner Cabinet in Mahogany, 18th Century, Georgian
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant English mahogany corner cabinet from the 18th century Very good quality corner cupboard which has braced windows. It is his ...
Category

Late 18th Century English Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Mahogany

Corner Cabinet in Mahogany, 18th Century, Georgian
Corner Cabinet in Mahogany, 18th Century, Georgian
$4,102
H 87.8 in W 28.75 in D 28.75 in
18th Century Style Two-Door Corner Cabinet, Mahogany, Georgian Style
Located in Toronto, CA
This is a lovely mahogany corner cabinet in the 18th century Georgian styling. The top has two glass doors with 13 panels of hand glazed glass panels in each door. Behind which is a ...
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20th Century English Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Hardwood

A Primitive Corner Cupboard, Scandinavia, c. 1800s.
Located in Hønefoss, 30
A Wonderful Primitive Corner Cupboard, Unknown designer, Scandinavia, c. 1800s. This case piece was meant to hung on the wall in the dining room corner behind the man in the house.
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19th Century Norwegian Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Pine

A Primitive Corner Cupboard, Scandinavia, c. 1800s.
A Primitive Corner Cupboard, Scandinavia, c. 1800s.
$3,062 Sale Price
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H 60.24 in W 32.68 in D 19.69 in
Previously Available Items
Antique Empire Corner Cupboard/ Cabinet in West Indies Mahogany, Denmark, c 1825
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very handsome Empire corner cupboard in Fine West Indies mahogany whose beautiful figuring is highlighted by the expert book-matching throughout. Features a smaller cabinet with oc...
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1820s Danish Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Empire Corner Vitrine Cabinet
Located in Allerum, SE
An unusual 19th century Empire vitrine corner cabinet, circa 1830, Denmark.
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19th Century Danish Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Wood

19th Century Empire Corner Vitrine Cabinet
19th Century Empire Corner Vitrine Cabinet
H 69.3 in W 35.44 in L 69.3 in
Edwardian Hand Painted Barrel Back Shelved Corner Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Edwardian Hand Painted Barrel Back Shelved Corner Cabinet This is a Charming and Very rare piece At the bottom there is a shelved cupboard, over this there is are prettily shaped s...
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1910s Vintage Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Wood

Dutch Corner Cabinet
Located in Milano, IT
An elegant double body corner cabinet, four doors of which the upper ones are shaped. Maple inlays with urns, leaves decorations and flowers, especially tulips. Shaped frieze with ce...
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18th Century Dutch Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

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Maple, Walnut

Dutch Corner Cabinet
Dutch Corner Cabinet
H 93.71 in W 48.82 in D 26.38 in
19th Century Mahogany Rounded Corner Cabinet
Located in IT
Mahogany veneered cabinet, round shaped. The piece of furniture is divided into two parts. Each one has two doors that contains some shelves. ...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

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Mahogany

19th Century Mahogany Rounded Corner Cabinet
19th Century Mahogany Rounded Corner Cabinet
H 86.23 in W 29.53 in D 29.53 in
19th Century Mahogany Corner Cabinet
Located in Hixson, TN
19th century mahogany inlaid English corner cabinet. This corner cabinet is two parts. The top section has a bow front. The glass is bowed and wavy. This opens to reveal two shelves ...
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1870s English Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

19th Century Mahogany Corner Cabinet
19th Century Mahogany Corner Cabinet
H 80 in W 41.5 in D 25 in
Bow Front Danish Empire Corner Cabinet or Cupboard in Mahogany, circa 1810
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
Beautifully crafted Danish Empire bowed front corner cabinet in mahogany, circa 1810 featuring beautiful crotch mahogany panels and styles and original key escutcheons. The width...
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19th Century Danish Antique Empire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Mahogany

Empire corner cupboards for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire corner cupboards for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage corner cupboards created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire corner cupboards made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Denmark pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 corner cupboards differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,334 and tops out at $14,500 while the average work can sell for $9,750.

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