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.
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
$4,122Sale Price / item|20% Off
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
$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 Highwood, 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
$2,862
H 29.14 in W 33.47 in D 17.33 in
1950s Art Deco Midcentury Italian Walnut Burl and Mirror Mosaic Dry Bar Cabinet
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Vittorio Dassi, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern dry bar cabinet, in beautiful veneer walnut briar burl wood, two doors and with antique brass handles. When opened, on the sides an a...
Brass
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
Mid-Century Folding Bar Cabinet, Italy circa 1950s
Located in New York, NY
An Italian modernist folding bar cabinet. Bar folds open in the middle and is finished on all sides to be free standing. Mahogany, teak, patinated...
Mahogany
$2,840Sale Price|20% Off
H 79 in W 79 in D 21 in
1970s Vintage Wall Display Cabinet with Dry Bar, Brass & Glass
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and handle all the shipping details. However, if you let us know what 1st Dibs is quoting you and give us your zip code, we can sometimes ship it for less and get it to you faster. For a shipping quote, click on "ASK THE SELLER" under the purchase button and provide your zip code. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Vintage 3 Piece 1970s wall display...
Brass
$6,011Sale Price|50% Off
H 85.44 in W 85.44 in D 17.72 in
Signed Luciano Frigerio Rare Italian Inlaid Bar Cabinet "Paganini", 1975s
By Luciano Frigerio di Desio, Luciano Frigerio
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This bar cabinet was designed by master furniture maker Luciano Frigerio and features a label with his signature which attests to its authenticity. The inlay of the central doors was...
Walnut, Maple
$1,889
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 Ico & Luisa Parisi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Vittorio Dassi, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti
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
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
$3,295
H 35.5 in W 37.5 in D 18 in
Rosewood Dry Bar Cabinet by M. Hayat & Bros, Brass Inlay, Mid-Century
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
French Neo Classical Hand Painted Wine Cabinet Rack, 1980s
Located in Germantown, MD
Amazing French neo classical wine cabinet / Rack with three top drawers. Hand Painted and glazed. Middle drawers comes with built in wine opener case with beautiful smooth wine opene...
Textile, Fruitwood, Paint
Rare Jules Buoy Custom Cabinet / Shelves/ Dry Bar, c 1931
By Jules Buoy
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare Custom Art Deco, Bauhaus cabinet with removable mirror and ingenious double hinged doors with circular cutout pulls, Designed by architect and designer Jules Buoy, Made for Carlo's Salzedo's Summer Harp Colony in Camden , Maine, Amazing design, color, patina ,Reminiscent of famed designs by Paul Frankl, Donald Deskey, Kim Weber...
Wood
$2,800
H 29.75 in W 24 in D 18 in L 29.75 in
Vintage Compact Danish Teak Expandable Dry Bar Cabinet by Dyrlund
By Dyrlund
Located in San Jose, CA
Mid-Century Modern compact dry bar cabinet in teak model no. 7739 manufactured by Dyrlund, Copenhagen. This clever piece features an extendable serving top with an easy to maintain black laminate surface. Equipped with two dovetail drawers, a stainless steel ice bucket, one adjustable shelf, and plenty of storage for cocktail glasses and bottles. Accented with a modern aluminum square knob...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
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