Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
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
French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu Cabinet Vitrine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most impressive French 19th century Empire st. ormolu cabinet vitrine. The vitrine is raised by striking paw feet with luxuriant pierced palmette designs. Above the st...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany Buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French late 19th century Empire st. flamed mahogany buffet. This three drawers and four door buffet has the original interior shelf and is raised by four elongated support...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Mobiletti impero francesi in Mogano con fregi in bronzo e piano in un bel marmo
Located in Cesena, FC
Coppia di mobiletti impero (1850 circa).
Mobiletti impero francesi, in Mogano con fregi in bronzo, con colonna intera e piano in un bel marmo grigio, sportelli con ripiani interni.
...
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique half-round Empire chest of drawers, mahogany, around 1810
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique half-round Empire chest of drawers, mahogany, around 1810
Semi-circular body, one door in the middle flanked by full columns and one drawer each above and below. An extremel...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu And Marble Buffet/Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Ormolu and marble buffet/cabinet. The buffet is raised on two half round front and two back block supports below the straight apro...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Bureau Plat Desk, Empire Dummy Partners Desks
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous French Empire bureau plat
Classic French antique desk in kingwood with ormolu fixtures
We date this desk to circa 1930
Has drawers on both sides although one side they are decorative so this is a dummy partners desk
Great for a home office set...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Kingwood
Italian Neo-Classic Fruitwood Sideboard
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Empire Neo-classic (19th Century) fruitwood sideboard cabinet with a marble top over two doors flanked by columns with canted sides.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble
Late 19th Century Empire Style Chest with Ormolu Hardware and Mounts
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Late 19th Century Empire Style Chest with Ormolu Hardware and Mounts
Beautiful piece purchased in France.
Painted in Marie Antoinette Grey.
Age appropriate wear, see detailed phot...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood
$3,920 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Regency Empire Glass Etagere
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fantastic vintage Empire glass cabinet. A chic mahogany with gorgeous Ormolu detail. Interior mirror and glass make the cabinet really light up. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
19th Century Austrian Empire Style Walnut Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
Very fine 19th century Austrian Empire walnut commode. Exceptional wood finish and superb quality. A truly elegant piece that is sure to impress!.
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
Swiss Early 19th Century Empire Bureau Cabinet, Signed Hirschgartner
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This fine Empire drop-front secretary (secrétaire a'abattant or secrétaire en armoire) with a writing and standing desk is signed M. Hirschgartner. Hans Martin Hirschgartner (1766-18...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble
French Empire Style Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Vitrines / PAIR
Located in Dallas, TX
a handsome pair of Empire-style gilt bronze mounted (ormolu) mahogany marble top vitrines / display cabinets, each with two interior glass shelves, glass on three (3) sides, back and...
Category
19th Century English Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Museum Essay / Tabernacle Around 1810, Walnut
Located in Berlin, DE
Museum essay/tabernacle around 1810, walnut.
Extremely rare and high-quality tabernacle with very elaborate and rich inlaid marquetry in walnut/root veneer on fir wood.
High construction consisting of 3 elements. The tabernacle has many drawers...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Walnut, Fir
Pair of Italian 19th Century Empire St. Cherrywood Commodes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking pair of Italian 19th century Empire st. Cherrywood, ebonized Fruitwood and ormolu commodes. Each three drawer chest is raised by elegant square tapered legs below remarkab...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Empire Style French Mahogany Vitrine
Located in Berlin, DE
High-quality Cuba mahogany on solid softwood. Architecturally articulated body. Two-door, bent frame box on pressed, carved, poliementvergolddete claw feet. Recessed tower with two t...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Softwood
Burr-Amboyna, Marble, Gilt and Patinated Bronze Cabinet by Maison Krieger
Located in London, GB
This beautiful display cabinet was crafted by the prestigious furniture company, Maison Krieger. The firm was founded in 1826 by Antoine Krieger. Over the course of the 19th century,...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Mid-Century Italian Empire Style Walnut Chest
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome mid-century Italian Empire Style walnut chest. Featuring a gorgeous finish, lovely brass hardware and ebonized details. Makes an elegant statement!.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Russian Early 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany 'Bureau a Cylindre'
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very high quality and spectacular Russian early 19th century Empire style mahogany ' Bureau a Cylindre' with all original gilt and hardware...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
19th Century Empire Style French Mahogany Vitrine
Located in Berlin, DE
High-quality Cuba mahogany on solid softwood. Architecturally articulated body. Two-door, bent frame box on pressed, carved, poliementvergolddete claw feet. Recessed tower with two t...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Softwood
20th Century Empire Style Caryatide Tulip Veneer Commode
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century Empire style Caryatide tulip veneer commode
tulip veneer on solid pinewood. Architecturally structured front.
(D-Sam-66).
Category
20th Century Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood, Tulipwood
Empire Style Desk Rich Register of Gilded Bronze
Located in Marseille, FR
Lady's desk with Empire style mahogany, base decorated with griffins, very beautiful register of gilded bronzes oak drawer bottoms, top and zippers trimmed with brown and green Moroc...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Bronze
Furniture in Rosewood and Violet Plated 19th Century
By France"
Located in Madrid, ES
Called at the time -demicommode- this furniture is a medal after: Jean-François Leleu (1729 - September 3, 1807) convenient that was delivered to the bedroom of the Duchess of Bourbo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Antique French Empire Style Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
Antique French Empire style chest of drawers
French, 19th century
Measures: Height 86cm, width 127cm, depth 57cm
This beautiful ches...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Style Chest
Located in Austin, TX
Chest of drawers from France in the Empire style. This petite chest of drawers is made of mahogany that has been ebonized and finished with a lustrous French polish of museum quality...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Early 19th Century Empire St. Walnut, Ormolu and Marble Chests
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most impressive pair of French early 19th century Empire st. walnut, ormolu, and Bleu Turquin marble chests. Each three-drawer chest is raised by elegant square tapere...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Kingwood, Ormolu and Marble buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Mouchette Mahogany, Burl Ash, Santos Mahogany, Kingwood, Ormolu, and Giallo Antico marble buffet. This stunning three draw...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Somno Cuban Mahogany Egg Cup
Located in Beaune, FR
Rare somno egg cup in Cuban mahogany opening with a door with a gray Sainte Anne marble top. Empire style, this somno is in good condition.
Dimensions
...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble
French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu, Mahogany and Marble Buffet Vitrine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most impressive French 19th century Empire st. ormolu, mahogany and white Carrara marble buffet vitrine. The buffet is raised by handsome block supports centering an elegant raised frieze decorated with a fine ormolu band with scrolled foliate movements. At the center are two doors with glass panes each adorned with striking mottled ormolu fillets, fine rosettes and exceptional pierced palmettes. The two outer doors are flanked by striking architectural columns with outstanding foliate ormolu plinths and capitals. The outer doors also display central glass panes framed within an elegant ormolu band with scrolled designs. The doors open to reveal one adjustable shelf in each section and beautiful cream curtains...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire Style Neoclassical Burl Walnut Buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very attractive French 19th century Empire st. Neo-classical burl walnut three door and three drawer buffet. The buffet is raised by square tapered legs with an ebony filet and orm...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Burl Elm, Ebony, Tulipwood, and Ormolu Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and high quality French 19th century Empire st. burl elm, ebony, tulipwood, and ormolu cabinet. The large scale three door cabinet is raised by a straight base with an ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire Style Burl Walnut, Ormolu and Glass Cabinet/Vitrine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French 19th century Empire st. burl walnut, ormolu and glass cabinet/vitrine. The vitrine is raised by fine bun feet below the straight support decorated ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Cabinet / cupboard in antique Empire Style Mahogany Veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid wood. High-arched, architecturally designed corpus, single-door base, open-sided shelf, flanked by columns with capitals and bases of finely chiselled bronze, sligh...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Bookcase in Walnut
Located in Doylestown, PA
An early 19th century French provincial biblioteque in walnut, with upper case with adjustable shelves and wire-grill doors over a lower pair of paneled cabinet doors, circa 1810.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
$3,600 Sale Price
46% Off
French Empire Architect's Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
French Empire architect's desk.
Flame grain mahogany veneers, leather covered drawers.
Category
1810s Unknown Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Leather, Wood
Empire case pieces and storage cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire case pieces and storage cabinets 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 case pieces and storage cabinets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire case pieces and storage cabinets made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Scandinavia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original case pieces and storage cabinets, popular names associated with this style include Modenese Gastone, Europa Antiques, Baker Furniture Company, and Maison Krieger. 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 case pieces and storage cabinets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $800 and tops out at $445,969 while the average work can sell for $5,989.
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