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Empire Credenzas

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
Italian Empire Period Bleached Mahogany and Brass Mounted Credenza
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a rectangular top with rounded front corners above a conforming case housing three drawers above two doors, interesting with six shaped feet, brass mounts on the middle drawer...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Mahogany

Baker French Empire Cherry Wood and Parcel Ebonized Sideboard or Bar Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or Neoclassical style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Baker Furniture USA, circa 1980s Carved cherry wood, with ebonized columns and feet, an...
Category

1980s American Vintage Empire Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood and Parcel Ebonized Sideboard Credenza
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or Neoclassical style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Baker Furniture USA, circa 1980s Carved cherry wood, with ebonized columns and feet, an...
Category

1980s American Vintage Empire Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Empire Secretaire with Writing Desk, Richly Inlaid Wood. Italy Late 18th Century
Located in Torino, IT
"Empire" cylinder writing desk, secretaire with pull-out top, internal drawers and four external drawers. Origin Italy Period Late eighteenth century Model Cylinder writing des...
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Antique Circa 1900 Victorian Era Tiger Oak Empire Style Sideboard
Located in Charlotte, NC
An antique circa 1900 Victorian era sideboard in the Empire style, unbranded. Tiger oak with wood knobs, upper gallery with mirror, curved front legs and on metal casters. Features a...
Category

Early 20th Century American Empire Credenzas

Materials

Metal

Vintage French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Marble Credenza Cabinet
Located in Secaucus, NJ
Vintage French Empire 19th century style wonderful mahogany and fabulous black seashell marble top credenza cabinet, in the manner of Georg...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Credenzas

Materials

Marble, Brass

Drexel Heritage Empire Style Sideboard or Bar Cabinet With Carved Lions
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding Empire or Egyptian Revival style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Drexel Heritage, "Pavilion" Collection USA, Late 20th Century Walnut and birch, with e...
Category

Late 20th Century American Empire Credenzas

Materials

Birch, Walnut, Giltwood

Large Empire Console from the Beginning of 1800 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Large empire console from the beginning of 1800-it is made of light fruit wood. It has a white Carrara marble on top. It has lion claws and golden bronze...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Wood

19th century French Empire Marble Top Enfilade
Located in Charleston, SC
Great quality 19th century French empire marble top enfilade with bronze mounts and white marble top.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Marble

21st Century Empire Dressing Table with Columns by Modenese Gastone White Finish
Located in PADOVA, Italy
Luxurious empire-style dresser by Modenese Luxury Interiors, Italian furniture producer. Made of solid wood with white laquered finish, plus empire-style wood carved columns, silver ...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Credenzas

Materials

Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf

Deluxe Four Door Sideboard with Drawers and Radica Inlays by Modenese
Located in PADOVA, Italy
Our bespoke cradenza with exquisite marquetry inlay wood work. This re-imagine classic piece is truely representing the essence of Modense Luxury Interiors. Every wooden details has ...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Credenzas

Materials

Marble, Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf

Gold Leaf and Radica Inlays Sideboard by Modenese Interiors
Located in PADOVA, Italy
Representing the best quality of the luxurious Italian artisanal furniture with this exquisite classic piece. Our classic baroque side board in solid wood, enriched with briar panels...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Credenzas

Materials

Marble, Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf

Noble Sideboard with Drawers in Natural Wood Finish and Radica Inlays
Located in PADOVA, Italy
A decorative credenza in dark solid wood, with the classic floral wood inlay work that is visible all around the panel. On top of that the delicate hand carved, painted in gold is ad...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Credenzas

Materials

Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf

Empire Commode with Caryatids, Cherry Veneer, South Germany, circa 1815
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very fine, original and greatly restored neoclassical Empire Commode / Chest of three Drawers with beautiful caryatids from South Germany, circa 1810-1815. Wonderful, bright and friendly cherry veneer and solid wood, book-matched and running over the front side. Shellac hand polished and partly ebonized on the edges and feet. Beautiful original brass caryatids, gold colored heads and feet and ebonized pilaster body. Brass key tags...
Category

1810s German Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Brass

French Empire Walnut Side Cabinet
Located in Essex, MA
With a finished rectangular top over two drawers with brass handles over a pair of doors with brass grillwork all flanked by columns. Square section legs. Includes shelf and key.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Related Items
Stunning French 1940s Ebonized Oak Sideboard with Detailed Relief Doors
Located in London, GB
A stunning French 1940s ebonised oak sideboard with detailed relief doors, with decorative brass escutcheon detail with orignal brass keys and orignal sol...
Category

1940s French Vintage Empire Credenzas

Materials

Marble, Brass

Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
Located in Wiesbaden, DE
Immerse yourself in the timeless elegance of this compact oak credenza from the 40s. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail in 1940s France, this credenza captures the essence ...
Category

1940s French Vintage Empire Credenzas

Materials

Marble

  • Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
  • Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
  • Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
  • Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
H 29.14 in W 66.93 in D 14.97 in
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Sideboard, Circa 1900
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission oak Arts & Crafts sideboard or credenza By Gustav Stickley USA, Circa 1900 Quarter sawn oak, with original hammered copper hardware. ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Empire Credenzas

Materials

Copper

Napoleon III Empire Revival Mahogany Gilt and Patinated Bronze Credenza Buffet
By Thomire & Cie.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An impressive Napoleon III Empire Revival mahogany, marble, gilt bronze and patinated-bronze-mounted credenza buffet, after Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751–1843). The large mahogany an...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
Located in Wiesbaden, DE
Very elegant Credenza in solid oak, France, 1940s. Large Art Deco Brutalist sideboard. The credenza consists of three storage facilities and covered with very detailed designed do...
Category

1940s French Vintage Empire Credenzas

Materials

Oak

  • Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
  • Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
  • Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
  • Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
H 40.95 in W 79.53 in D 20.08 in
Versatile French Sideboard in Oak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Sideboard, oak, brass, France, 1960s French sideboard made in oak with beautiful grain and detailing. With the vividly designed fronts and the functional and versatile storage facil...
Category

1960s French Vintage Empire Credenzas

Materials

Brass

  • Versatile French Sideboard in Oak
  • Versatile French Sideboard in Oak
  • Versatile French Sideboard in Oak
  • Versatile French Sideboard in Oak
H 37.01 in W 85.83 in D 20.87 in
Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
Located in Wiesbaden, DE
Bleached Credenza in solid oak, France, reminiscent of the work of Charles Dudouyt, 1940s. Large Art Deco Brutalist sideboard. The credenza consists of two storage facilities and ...
Category

1940s French Vintage Empire Credenzas

Materials

Oak

  • Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
  • Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
  • Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
  • Bleached Solid Oak Credenza, France, 1940s
H 20.87 in W 51.78 in D 16.15 in
Cabinet 19th Century, Napoleon III Period, Style Boulle
Located in Warsaw, PL
This Napoleon III Style cabinet is made of black polished wood, mounted with gilt bronze, inlaid with brass and resting on top is a plate of Belgian black marble. The Napoleon III st...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Mahogany Chiffonier Cabinet
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century mahogany chiffonier cabinet, the moulded top with pierced brass gallery of rectangular form raised over two lined brass g...
Category

19th Century Irish Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Mahogany

  • 19th Century Mahogany  Chiffonier Cabinet
  • 19th Century Mahogany  Chiffonier Cabinet
  • 19th Century Mahogany  Chiffonier Cabinet
  • 19th Century Mahogany  Chiffonier Cabinet
H 36.5 in W 30.5 in D 10.75 in
Impressive 18th Century Italian Venetian Walnut Secretaire
Located in San Francisco, CA
An impressive and unusually tall Venetian black walnut and burled walnut secretary. The mirrored top cabinet doors opening to reveal a multi dr...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Mirror, Walnut

Hand Carved Credenza in Cedar Wood, Sideboard with Brass and Marble Details
Located in Zapopan, Jalisco. CP
This credenza is a piece to touch, the ideal accent for a space with a lot of personality. Its fronts carved by hand in solid cedar wood with a black finish, generate a sensory exper...
Category

2010s Mexican Empire Credenzas

Materials

Marble, Brass

STICKLEY Mission Cherry Sideboard 91-711
Located in Charlotte, NC
A Mission style sideboard by Stickley Furniture, from their Mission Collection. Solid cherry wood, brass hinge & lock hardware, square edge top...
Category

Late 20th Century American Empire Credenzas

Materials

Brass

  • STICKLEY Mission Cherry Sideboard 91-711
  • STICKLEY Mission Cherry Sideboard 91-711
  • STICKLEY Mission Cherry Sideboard 91-711
  • STICKLEY Mission Cherry Sideboard 91-711
H 38.25 in W 60 in D 21.75 in
Previously Available Items
Baker Furniture French Empire Burled Walnut Sideboard or Bar Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or Neoclassical style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Beautiful book-matched burled walnut, with original br...
Category

1960s American Vintage Empire Credenzas

Materials

Brass

French Empire Walnut Side Cabinet
Located in Essex, MA
With a finished rectangular top over two drawers with brass handles over a pair of doors with brass grillwork all flanked by columns. Square section legs. Includes shelf and key.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Brass, Bronze

  • French Empire Walnut Side Cabinet
  • French Empire Walnut Side Cabinet
  • French Empire Walnut Side Cabinet
  • French Empire Walnut Side Cabinet
H 35.5 in W 48 in D 18.75 in
Napoleon III Empire Dressing Table in Mahogany Late 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Napoleon III Empire style dressing table in mahogany. Late 19th Century - France Height: 160 cm. Length: 98 cm. Depth: 40 cm. good conditions.
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Mahogany

20th C. Empire Style Mahogany Credenza with Black Egyptian Marble Top
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th C., Empire style mahogany credenza with a black Egyptian marble top. Two felt lined dovetailed drawers are fitted with cutlery dividers, Each draw...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Credenzas

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century French Bleached Oak Buffet
Located in Carmine, TX
Buffet build in the late 1800s in France using Oak and featuring two drawers on top of two doors. The drawers show beautiful hand-made dovetailed construction, and fluted carvings fr...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Oak

  • 19th Century French Bleached Oak Buffet
  • 19th Century French Bleached Oak Buffet
  • 19th Century French Bleached Oak Buffet
  • 19th Century French Bleached Oak Buffet
H 42.63 in W 53.25 in D 21.5 in
Vintage 1970s Empire Style Mahogany Lacquered Buffet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An extraordinary 1970s empire-style buffet in excellent condition is hand-crafted out of mahogany and is completely restored by our expert professional craftsmen team. This sideboard...
Category

1970s American Vintage Empire Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Empire Credenza, France 1810, Mahogany
Located in Belmont, MA
This classic French Empire sideboard or credenza's sleek design makes it the perfect piece for an elegant dining room setting. The mahogany v...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Marble

  • Empire Credenza, France 1810, Mahogany
  • Empire Credenza, France 1810, Mahogany
  • Empire Credenza, France 1810, Mahogany
  • Empire Credenza, France 1810, Mahogany
H 38.98 in W 47.64 in D 22.45 in
19th Century French Empire Mahogany Buffet
Located in Dallas, TX
A period French Empire mahogany buffet with exceptional bronze mounts and an original stone top. This beautiful cabinet dates from the be...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Stone, Ormolu

  • 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Buffet
  • 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Buffet
  • 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Buffet
  • 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Buffet
H 40 in W 57.75 in D 24.75 in
Italian Empire Period Walnut and Maplewood Veneered Shallow Credenza, circa 1800
Located in Atlanta, GA
A finely carved handsome credenza with a solid walnut top, veneered walnut sides, banded veneered mahogany inlay on the drawer, and door fronts. The giltwood banded frame the mahogan...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Credenzas

Materials

Mahogany, Walnut, Giltwood

Henredon French Empire Mahogany Triple Dresser or Credenza
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous neoclassical or French Empire style nine-drawer triple dresser or credenza By Henredon USA, Circa 1980s Mahogany, with giltwood details and original brass hardwar...
Category

Late 20th Century American Empire Credenzas

Materials

Brass

Vintage French Empire Buffet
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Vintage French Empire-style buffet or side cabinet with dramatic flame mahogany veneered doors flanked by a pair of columns with gilt bases and capitals below a large upper drawer wi...
Category

Late 20th Century French Empire Credenzas

Materials

Granite

  • Vintage French Empire Buffet
  • Vintage French Empire Buffet
  • Vintage French Empire Buffet
  • Vintage French Empire Buffet
H 58 in W 39 in D 22.5 in
Grand Antique French Empire Style Mahogany Buffet with Bronze Ormolu
Located in Dallas, TX
Grand antique French Empire style mahogany buffet with bronze Ormolu is a magnificent example of the style, rendered from exquisite import...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Empire Credenzas

Materials

Bronze

Empire credenzas for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire credenzas 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 credenzas 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, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire credenzas made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original credenzas, popular names associated with this style include Modenese Gastone, Baker Furniture Company, Europa Antiques, and Drexel. 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 credenzas differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $365 and tops out at $33,803 while the average work can sell for $6,500.

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