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 20th Century French Vitrine or Dry Bar with Ebonized Finish and Brass Trim
Located in Troy, MI
French vitrine cabinet or dry bar with new black finish and original brass trim, circa 1920s. Top has sliding glass doors. Bottom has brass figural ornaments, locking door and single...
Brass
French Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Four Doors Cabinets, Armoire or Dry Bar
Located in Firenze, IT
These imposing solid mahogany cabinets with gilt bronze mounts in the style of the Louis XVI French Empire furnished the luxurious Intercontinental Paris Le Grand Hotel. It has recen...
Metal, Bronze
Rare Classical Empire Finely Carved Cellarette in Mahogany, circa 1830
Located in Milford, NH
A wonderful form carved Classical Empire cellarette in mahogany with gadrooned edges, hinged top, zinc lined interior, and small brass decorative...
Zinc
Baker Styled Walnut Mahogany Bar / Sever Cabinet
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very well crafted two piece four door cabinet with book matched wood grained fronts opening to revel two glass and two wooden adjustable shelves with two smaller drawers one with d...
Brass
$2,980
H 43.75 in W 25.75 in D 20.5 in
Vintage French Oak Flip-Top Confiturier, Cabinet, Cupboard or Dry Sink, or Bar
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Endless possibilities abound in this special French Confiturier, Small Cupboard. Constructed of solid oak with raised panels, a full door hinge, and a wonderful flip open top, give t...
Oak
Mid Century Modern Bar or Vitrine with 2 Sliding Doors
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
Mid-Century Modern bar or vitrine with 2 sliding doors.
Art Glass, Birch
$6,461
H 49.61 in W 53.15 in D 13 in
Antique 20th-Century French Art Deco Mahogany Veneered Display or Bar Cabinet
Located in Casteren, NL
This beautiful French Art Deco bar cabinet was made in mid-France in the early 20th century circa 1925. It features a strong geometric design that is typical for art deco furniture. ...
Fabric, Mahogany
$2,067Sale Price|20% Off
H 78.75 in W 49.22 in D 18.9 in
20th Century French Walnut Vitrine with Shelves, 1925s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very nice 20th century French walnut vitrine with many upholstery shelves. Glass sides and doors. We can see a beautiful wood work on the botto...
Glass, Walnut
Milo Baughman Style Burl Cabinet or Dry Bar
Located in San Francisco, CA
Milo Baughman style two door cabinet or dry bar featuring burl olive wood doors supported by a cast aluminum floating base and a stained walnut case. Fitted interior consists of a si...
Aluminum
Rosewood Dry Bar Cabinet by M. Hayat & Bros. Ltd
Located in Southampton, NJ
Midcentury bar cabinet of radiant grain solid Rosewood with intricate brass inlay details throughout. Substantial mirrored top panel & drop forward serving surface open simultaneousl...
Brass
$14,700
H 31.5 in W 35.5 in D 15.5 in
20th Century Italian Walnut Cocktail Dry Bar - Vintage Glass Vitrine Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A small, vintage Mid-Century modern Italian cocktail dry bar made of hand crafted polished Walnut, in good condition. The vitrine cabinet is composed in the middle with one foldable ...
Glass, Walnut
$1,404Sale Price|20% Off
H 35.83 in W 34.65 in D 22.45 in
Mahogany Museum / Shop Display Cabinet or Vitrine, Early 20th Century
Located in Nijmegen, NL
This mahogany and pine vitrine was made circa 1920s in England and probably used in a shop. It features a solid wooden frame with glass sides, top and sliding doors.
Mahogany, Pine
$1,955
H 27.96 in W 28.75 in D 14.57 in
1950s Midcentury Regency Italian Wood, Brass and Mirror Dry Bar Cabinet Cart
By Vittorio Dassi, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Ico & Luisa Parisi, Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern dry bar cabinet cart characterized by its original Asian themed painted front wood pull-out tilt door with interior part in mirror glass, standing on its antique brass wheels...
Brass
Mahogany Drinks Cabinet, Dry Bar, Georgian Styling
Located in Toronto, CA
A mahogany dry bar or drinks cabinet crafted in mahogany, Georgian styled with a delicate serpentine curve to the front to give it a classic line...
Wood
Very Rare Bar Cabinet by Charles Dudouyt, France, 1930s/40s
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
An very rare bar cabinet attributed to Charles Dudouyt, France, 1930s/40s. Structurally sound and ready to use. Some marks to the top surface and inside shelves. Fast shipping worldw...
Wood
Empire Style French Antique Bar
Located in Austin, TX
Bar cabinet from France in the Empire style. This piece is made of ebonized mahogany finished with a lustrous French polish of museum-quality. The cabinet supports a beautiful, origi...
Marble, Bronze
Empire Style Bar Cabinet, circa 1950
Located in Meulebeke, BE
A high quality Empire style bar cabinet with some great structure of the wood and some brass details on the legs.
Brass
Sold
H 84 in W 60 in D 22 in
Pulaski Keepsake Collection Oak Wood Bar with Griffins and 2 Stools - 3 Pc Set
By Pulaski Furniture Corporation
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pulaski Keepsake Collection Oak Wood Bar with Griffins 2 Stools - 3 Pc Set. Item features (1) Bar with leaded glass overhead, (2) Barstools, Brass bar...
Brass
Baker Furniture Empire Flame Mahogany Flip-Top Server or Bar Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Neoclassical or Empire style flip top server or bar cabinet. By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Book-matched flame mahogany, with ebonized columns, gold gilt...
Brass
Empire Bar Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
An Empire-style two-door cabinet is detailed with a single frieze drawer, column capitals, ivory-finish escutcheons, and set on raised block feet. The spacious interior fitted with a...
Wood
French Empire Style Curio Cabinet or Vitrine with Rouge Marble Top
Located in Milford, NH
A nice example of a mahogany French Empire style curio cabinet or vitrine the top with rouge marble top above a case with ormolu mounts and glazed doors with beveled glass and sides ...
Marble