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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
19th Century French Empire Walnut Fall-Front Secretaire
Located in Southampton, NY
Grey marble top above a single long drawer, two columns with gilded detailing on either side of fall-front desk enclosing six small drawers surrounding one larger drawer and original...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Leather, Walnut, Giltwood

19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk & Black Leather Drop Leaf Top Hrh
Located in West Hollywood, CA
19th C. royal antique burl wood secretary desk & black leather drop leaf top HRH . Very rare early 19th century secretary " Secrétaire a' Aba...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

A Russian Neoclassical Roll Top Writing Desk
Located in New Haven, CT
A most elegant Russian Plumpudding mahogany cylinder desk, circa 1810. Raised on four tapered legs the lower case holds seven drawers and two sliding shelves with leather tops that e...
Category

1810s Russian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

French Empire Style Mahogany Bookcase
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) mahogany bookcase cabinet with bronze trim and 2 glass doors.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Antique North German Pine Sun Armoire with Gesso Appliqué
Located in Miami, FL
This exceptional one-of-a-kind armoire from the area of Bremen has the original pink gesso appliqués, circa 1790.  Fabricated from a beautiful knot-less dense pine, the carved ribbed...
Category

1790s German Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Gesso, Pine

Antique Empire Chest of Drawers in West Indies Mahogany with Mythological Scenes
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Empire commode in a light-colored Cuban/ West Indies mahogany with satinwood inlays featuring an upper drawer with small inlaid lidded compartments with original turned knobs. Line inlays continue throughout the plinth, with the top banded in ebonized trim. The top drawer is inlaid with a pair of opposing griffins whose tails sprout oak leaves. A mythological scene in the center arch of the middle drawer appears to be a depiction of Ariadne (daughter of King Minos of Crete) and Dionysus (or Bacchus: the god of wine, mirth and an itinerant wanderer). He is squeezing the juice from a bundle of grapes into her goblet. It could portray their first meeting at Naxos, upon awakening to the reality that she had been left behind by Theseus. Ariadne had saved Theseus from the Minotaur by providing him with an escape route...
Category

19th Century Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Satin, Mahogany, Satinwood

Pair of French Empire Mahogany and Bronze Bookcases
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire-style (19th Century) mahogany and bronze trimmed 2 plexiglass door bookcases. (PRICED AS Pair)
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

19th Large Empire Style Mahogany Bookcase from French Chateau
Located in Marseille, FR
Large Empire style mahogany bookcase. There are zippers on all pediments. This library is adorned with gilded bronzes. Its dimensions are impressive. It comes from the Château de Faï...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Small Empire Chest of Drawers in Cuban Mahogany, Denmark, circa 1810
Located in Miami, FL
A very lovely small Empire chest in mahogany with satinwood inlays, ebonized details and brass rosettes, with three drawers of various depths, and resting on a plinth with scalloped ...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Empire Chiffonier Ebonized, Danish, Approx. 1840
Located in Kastrup, DK
Late Empire black ebonized mahogany chest of drawers / tall boy, with raised semi-oval top. Seven drawers flanked by gilt quarter columns. Brass keyholes. Denmark, Copenhagen Appro...
Category

19th Century Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Extremely Decorative Secretary Empire Style with Dummies Books
Located in Berlin, DE
Noble veneer on solid softwood. Rectangular body on chiseled bronze claw feet. Architecturally structured front with dummy and brass framed brass frames. Slightly conical pilasters o...
Category

20th Century Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Early 19th Century Berlin Mahogany Armoire
Located in London, by appointment only
Germany, circa 1825. A Berlin mahogany display cabinet having a stepped pediment inlaid with boxwood stringing above partially glazed doors divided...
Category

Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

1830s French Empire Mahogany Chest with Four Drawers and Gilded Edges, Commode
Located in Miami, FL
1830s French Empire mahogany chest with four drawers and gilded edges Beautiful wooden root.
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

Exceptional French Empire Neoclassical "Retour d'Egypte" Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exceptional French Empire Neoclassical "Retour d'Egypte" cabinet. All original, including the marble top.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Maslow Freen French Empire Style Breakfront Bookcase China Cabinet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Maslow Freen French Empire style breakfront bookcase China cabinet with brass grill. Item includes 2 part construction, 8 swing doors, working lock and key, 1 dovetailed drawer, 15 a...
Category

20th Century American Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wood

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

Unique Austrian Empire Secretary/Writing Desk, Material Mahogany, Wien 1820-1829
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Empire secretary or writing desk, (Cylinder) Material: Mahogany. Completely restored, Shellac polish. Period: 1820-1829 Source: Austria, Wien. We guarantee safe a the cheapest air ...
Category

1820s Austrian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

19th Century Nutwood and Bronze Empire Miniature Chiffonier / Chest of Drawers
Located in Lisse, NL
Handcrafted masterpiece from the mid-1800s. This unique, top quality and great condition miniature is an absolute joy to own and look at. Top quality miniatures are hard to find and...
Category

Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze, Brass

Empire Banquette or Window Seat in Birch with Marquetry Inlays, circa 1800
Located in Miami, FL
A Swedish Empire banquette/sofa in birch with marquetry embellishments which include foliage and urns and line-inlaid figures of the four cardinal virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance. Lower cabinets open to reveal drawers, while top cabinets offer shelving. Note: Needs upholstery...
Category

Early 1800s Swedish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Birch

French Empire Style Ambonya Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style (circa 1860) amboyna wood & gilt bronze mounted cabinet with a Pair of side doors securing and centering 6 Pair of drawers under a dark green marble top.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Danish Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
A Danish Empire mahogany and fruitwood commode, circa 1820s, the rectangular top with a bow-front and canted corners above four conforming drawers and fruitwood canted sides, the top...
Category

1820s Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Duncan Phyfe American Empire Mahogany Sideboard
By Duncan Phyfe
Located in New York, NY
American Empire mahogany sideboard with two pedestal cabinets and 4 carved column supports centering a lower mirror under 3 drawers ...
Category

Late 18th Century American Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany, Mirror

Empire Acajou Mouchete Mahogany Mounted Commode, Attributed to Bernard Molitor
By Bernard Molitor
Located in Berlin, DE
A fine Empire acajou mouchete mahogany commode in the manner of Bernard Molitor (1755-1833). A rectangular oak corpus veneered with acajou mouchete mah...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

North German Empire Sun Armoire in Original Faux Bois and Stenciled Finish, 1815
Located in Miami, FL
A stately and rare armoire in the original faux bois and gold stenciled finish with carved pediment top, sunburst motif and carved ionic capitals, Bremen, Germany, circa 1815. Dimen...
Category

Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Pine

French Empire Mahogany Bibliothéque Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
French Empire flame mahogany 2 door bibliothèque cabinet with with wire mesh and tapered square column sides having gilt bronze trim with classical heads.
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Pair Of Russian Neoclassical Style Cabinets or Commodes Marble Top
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of Maison Jansen Russian neoclassical style cabinets. These massive and impressive cabinets are wonderfully bronze mounted and each support a greenish black and white veined mar...
Category

1950s Unknown Vintage Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble

Antique North German/Danish Empire Cylinder-Top Secretary with Bookcase, c. 1815
Located in Miami, FL
From the Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein region of Germany, once part of Denmark, a very handsome Empire secretary with bookcase in ash with inlays and marquetry silhouettes of neoclassical Roman images. Cylinder top opens to a pull-out desk which offers a felt-lined lectern or writing surface flanked by sliding storage compartments, as well as a series of small drawers and a central cabinet. Above desk, are three cupboards and below, there are three long drawers. Northern Germany or from the Danish Jutland region, circa 1815. Note: Green baize on writing surface can be replaced with leather. Measures: 46" wide x 21" deep x 83" high (With desk top open...
Category

Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Ash

French Empire Dressing Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stylish and chic French Empire piece dates from the napoleioic period of the early 19th century and is fabricated in mahogany with inset leather top, elongated, hand-carved swan...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Leather, Mahogany, Giltwood

Empire / Early Biedermeier Corner Cabinet in Mahogany, Sweden, circa 1815
Located in Miami, FL
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 Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany, Satinwood

Neoclassical Mahogany Empire Bookcases
Located in New Haven, CT
This beautiful pair of mahogany Empire bookcases is decorated with gilt bronze mounts portraying armorial motifs, winged Nike figures, swans and garlands. ...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

Antique Empire Chest of Drawers in Cuban Mahogany with Interior Writing Surface
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Empire chest or commode with bowed front offering four drawers on tapered feet in the finest book-matched Cuban (West Indies) mahogany. Satinwood inlays depicting two sph...
Category

1810s Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany, Satinwood

French Empire Style Mahogany Chest with Brown Marble Top
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style (19th Century) mahogany chest with 4 drawers and bronze handles and escutcheons with a brown marble top.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Brass

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

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

Unusual Empire Mahogany Chest with Dressing Mirror, ca. 1810
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Unusual Empire Mahogany Chest with Dressing Mirror, dating from the first quarter of the 19th century and French in origin. The piece ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mirror

19th Century French Mahogany Chest of Drawers with a Dark Gray Stone Top
Located in Dallas, TX
An early 19th century French Empire mahogany commode with bronze mounts and a dark gray stone top. The chest of drawers is very handsome and functional and is in very good condition...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Stone, Bronze

French Empire Period Bookcase
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French Empire Period bookcase. Early 19th century, the bookcase wears a beautiful flamed blond mahogany marquetry. Original old window glass.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

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

A Pair of Danish Empire Style Mahogany 3-Drawer Marble Topped Bow-Front
Located in San Francisco, CA
A handsome pair of Danish empire style mahogany 3-drawer marble-topped bow-front chests with brass inlay and bronze mounts; each with thick Napoleon machete mable top above a bowed cabinet...
Category

19th Century Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Pair of Antique Irish Chiffoniers
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare pair of traditional Irish chiffoniers or sideboards crafted with mahogany and celebrating several early 19th century styles, including empire and regency. Featuring high quality...
Category

19th Century Northern Irish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

French Antique Ormolu Mounted Two-Piece Marble-Top Cabinet in the Empire Style
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French antique ormolu-mounted two-piece marble-top cabinet in the Empire style. Crafted in solid mahogany with fabulous bronze mounts reminiscent of the Empire style using Egypt...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Antique Mahogany Empire Secretary with Extraordinary Inlay, circa 1810-1820
Located in Round Top, TX
Extraordinary antique Empire secretary desk circa 1810-1820 from Denmark or N. Germany. The cabinet is made in three sections and covered...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Italian Neo-Classic Fruitwood Sideboard
Located in New York, 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

Viennese Early 19th Century Empire Commode
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This rare and unusual side cabinet displays very characteristically the elegance of Viennese Empire furniture from the early 19th century. The white marble-top above a long single dr...
Category

19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Italian Empire Neoclassical Walnut and Parcel-Gilt Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire neoclassical walnut and parcel-gilt secretary Handsome masculine Empire campaign desk on stand with pivoting dressing mirror below balustraded cornice with ball finial...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood, Walnut

Empire/ Biedermeier Corner Cabinet w/ Faux-Bois, Bremen, Germany, c. 1810
Located in Miami, FL
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 Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Pine

Small Empire Chest of Drawers in Mahogany with Marble Columns, Sweden, c. 1790
Located in Miami, FL
A beautiful Empire commode in Cuban mahogany with marble columns flanking two drawers and resting on tapered square feet. Brass key plates and pulls were added in the late 1800s. Fre...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Empire Pedestal Mahogany Cabinet with Faux Tortoise Columns, Denmark, circa 1810
Located in Miami, FL
A handsome and unusual form, this Empire pedestal cabinet in mahogany with line inlays has carved acanthus capitals on tapered torch-like columns that are in rich birch wood and have...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Ebony, Mahogany

French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Period two Part Flame Mahogany Drop Front Abattant. Item features beautiful tapered capitol, brass hardware, mother of pearl keyhole covers, inlaid interior wit...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Irish Cuban Mahogany Acanthus Carved Sideboard. Circa 1840
Located in Hollywood, SC
Irish Cuban mahogany three drawer sideboard with carved scrolled gallery, gadrooned molded edge, carved eagle heads, flanking lower cabinets, original brasses, and terminating on acanthus carved...
Category

1840s Irish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Period Empire Italian Commode
Located in New Orleans, LA
Exceptional Empire walnut commode with neoclassical giltwood carved appliques.
Category

Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Classical Mahogany Pedestal Sideboard Attributed to Vose, Boston
By Isaac Vose
Located in Milford, NH
A spectacular mahogany and mahogany veneer Classical or Empire pedestal sideboard, attributed to Isaac Vose, Boston, fitted with one large central drawer fl...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Period Danish Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
Danish Empire - or what we would refer to as "Biedermeier" - chest of drawers. Beautifully inlaid with walnut and golden birch. Key included.

Engraved on back "Renov...
Category

19th Century Danish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany, Birch, Walnut

Antique Neo-Egyptian French Empire Style Desk
Located in New York, NY
This mahogany desk in the French Empire style features extensive gilt bronze mounts on every face. Its craftsmanship is very high, comparable to works by Maison Krieger. The drawers ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

Italian Empire Style Walnut Chest of Drawers, 19th Century, One of a Pair
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large-scale Italian Empire period three drawer chest with beautiful figural walnut veneers, and having original gilt bronze hardware. Excellent antique condition with some recent r...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

Empire Style Mahogany Bookcase Bibliotheque, French, Late 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
An exceptional French mahogany bookcase - bibliotheque with finely cast gilt bronze mounts and interior fitted with 4 shelves. Late 19th century with original key. Very Fine top qual...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Ormolu

French Empire Walnut Three Drawer Chest
Located in Bradenton, FL
Elegant French empire style walnut chest with black granite marble top. Chest features a wonderfully figured burl walnut with three storage drawers with original brass hardware. Vers...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Marble

Dutch Empire Style Breakfront Bibliotheque
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A practical Empire style bookshelf made of mahogany, perfect for storing your books and display objects. The center and deepest cavity has a single 16” deep adjustable shelf flanked ...
Category

20th Century Dutch Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

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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