Empire Furniture
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.
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Carrara Marble, Brass
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood, Rosewood
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
1870s German Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Swedish Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Walnut
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Upholstery, Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Malachite, Ormolu
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Sapele Wood
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Textile, Mahogany
1950s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Gold Leaf
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Fabric, Mahogany
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany, Giltwood
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Furniture
Birch
19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Brass, Bronze
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Marble, Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Ormolu
1840s French Antique Empire Furniture
Giltwood
Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Steel
Mid-20th Century Swiss Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Ormolu
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Paper, Wood
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Metal
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Oak
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Granite
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Furniture
Slate, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century European Empire Furniture
Marble
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Bronze
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Ceramic, Porcelain
19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Wool
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Bronze
1840s French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Ormolu
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
1890s English Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany, Mirror
21st Century and Contemporary European Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass, Wire
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Bronze, Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Malachite
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Cherry
Mid-19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany, Oak
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass, Steel
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
1990s French Empire Furniture
Metal