Empire Furniture
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.
Style: Empire
Color: Brown
Baker Furniture French Empire Fruitwood Pedestal Center Table, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire style fruitwood pedestal breakfast table or center table
By Baker Furniture, "Milling Road" Collection
USA, late 20th century.
Measures: 38.25"W x 3...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
A pair of French early 19th century Empire period giltwood mirrors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive pair of French early 19th century Empire period Patinated and giltwood mirrors. The original mirrors plates are framed within an off white and gilt frame with bott...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
An Empire Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Commode, Marble Top, French, ca. 1820
Located in Banner Elk, NC
An Empire Commode in figured mahogany with a Belgian black fossilized marble top above a frieze drawer and three uniform drawers flanked by two squared columns, each with ormolu moun...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Empire period armchair in walnut, upholstery redone
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Empire period armchair in walnut, upholstery redone
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Tapestry, Walnut
Italian Bronze Double Inkwell 19th Century Siena Marble Empire - Napoleon III
Located in Madrid, ES
A Italian Bronze Double Inkwell 19th Century
Siena marble.
Empire - Napoleon III
Length: 28 cm. Height 9.5 cm. Depth 17.5 cm.
very good condition
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
French Empire Burlwood Chair
Located in Houston, TX
A 19th Century French Empire burl wood chair featuring stylized ormolu to include swans, lyre, acanthus and ribbons with lion's paw sabots. Seat newly upholstered in a dark chocolate...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Sterling Silver Snuff Box Empire Style Floral Motif
Located in Vienna, AT
This beautiful snuff box is made from sterling silver. Its inside is gold plated. Its shape is reminiscent of a book and lid and bottom are covered in a unique floral ornamental desi...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Empire Style Buffet in Mahogany and Gilt Bronze
Located in BARSAC, FR
Empire style sideboard in solid mahogany and rich ornamentation of gilded and chiseled bornze.
Opening with three doors, two of which are glazed, front uprights forming detached c...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Impt Pair of French Empire Ormolu Covered vases/Potpourris, Att. Thomier A Paris
Located in New York, NY
An Incredible and Rare Pair of 19th Century French Ormolu Covered Potpourris, Attributed to Thomier A Paris. This pair dates to 1810, which is the illustrious French Empire period. These remarkable urns serve as prime examples of the impeccable artistry and superior craftsmanship that characterized the first empire era. Notably, the urns feature figural cherub handles positioned atop rams' heads, engaging in musical endeavors, which adds an alluring touch of sophistication to their design.
The captivating allure of these urns is further enhanced by their meticulously hand-chiseled gilded bronze composition, adorned with a splendid two-tone finish. Standing at an impressive height of 24 inches, these urns exemplify an unwavering dedication to detail. Each urn boasts a main body adorned with elegantly crafted relief dancers...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Oak Dresser, circa 1920
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
An oak French Empire style dresser from circa 1920, with a drawer and display part. The cabinet has the original antique glass. Pilaster detailing...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Oak, Glass
French Empire Circular Table with Black Marble Top
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a classic French Empire mahogany circular center table, the black marble top over a wide frieze supported by round, slightly tapering columns with brass collars, joined by a ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Rare French, Early 19th Century Napoleonic Medal Cabinet
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Rare French early 19th century Napoleonic medal cabinet on four gilt bronze pawfeet, a hinged door to the top and front opening to reveal four drawers containing 184 very fine bronzed plaster medals...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Paper
Antique Empire Chairs from Around 1810-1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique Empire chairs from around 1900
Solid wood mahogany. Seat upholstered and covered with black fabric. Very stable and robust built. Hind...
Category
19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Especially beautiful Side Table, Pillar Commode Trumeau, Empire, ~1810-15, Italy
Located in Wien, AT
Beautiful pillar commode, trumeau - an original of the Empire era, made around 1810-15, in Italy.
This piece of furniture has a wonderfully classic shape, with a base, a round body...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Early 19th Century French Extendable Dining Table, Demi Lune, Walnut
Located in Greven, DE
Extendable antique dining table for 8 people
France
walnut
early 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 79 x 116 x 70 cm
extendable to: H...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Fabulous Demi-Lune Console, Jardiniere, Mirror available, 1810, Empire, Austria
Located in Wien, AT
Wonderful demi-lune console, usable as jardiniere, made around 1810 in Austria, an original of the Empire era.
This wonderful wall console has a faceted mirror in the lower area. Th...
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Sheet Metal
19th Century French Bronze Inkwell with Roman Figure on Brown Marble Base
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate your office desk with this large Empire style inkwell. Created in France circa 1870 and rectangular in shape, the inkwell features a bron...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Lacquered Empire Style Sofa with Leopard Fabric
Located in San Francisco, CA
Great statement piece with white lacquer wood finish and leopard printed upholstery. Loads of drama for either a simple or layered decor.
Category
1950s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
19th Century French Flame Mahogany Napoleon Empire Period Mantel Clock
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A superb 19th century French Flame Mahogany Napoleon Empire Period Egyptian style Mantel Clock
This clock was produced in the Fr...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Empire Style Round Side Table, Country Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
An Empire-style Neo Classic wooden round side table in a rustic country finish, with a dish top, four tapered column legs and an X stretcher base.
Dimensions: 30" W x 30" D x 27....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Empire Original Oil Painting
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century Empire Original Oil Painting of 2 women by window
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Paint
Mid-19th Century Birch Empire Stool
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid-19th century birch empire stool, circa 1850.
Scandinavian empire period stool made in birch. Shaped support handles which flow through to the 4 splayed legs. Original floral t...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
19th Century Gold French Empire Gilded Bronze Table Clock, Antique Pendule
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold, antique French table clock, pendulum made of hand crafted fire-gilded bronze, in good condition. The circular enamel dial of the Pa...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Bronze
19th Century French Gilded Pinewood Wall Glass Mirror - Antique Wall Décor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black-gold, antique French wall mirror made of hand crafted gilded Pinewood with its original mirrored glass, in good condition. The particularized carved Parisian mirror...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Pine
Antique French Empire Crystal Regulator Clock
Located in Toledo, OH
A beautiful brass clock with gold dore finish. Beveled glass panels with a porcelain dial and time and strike. French works. Running condition. Corner crack in one glass panel.
Category
20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Empire Green Marble Top Carved Mahogany Console Table
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique console was crafted in France, circa 1880. Standing on scrolled front legs ending in paw feet, and pilaster legs in the rear over a stretcher platform bottom she...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Pair of 19th Century French Marble Top Carved Burl Walnut Gueridon Tables
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a living room or den with this elegant pair of antique round gueridons. Crafted in France circa 1870, each fruit wood table stands on three cabriole legs decorated with bron...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire period armchair in walnut, upholstery redone
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Empire period armchair in walnut, upholstery redone
2 small gaps at the top of the armrests,
which does not interfere with the stability of the chair
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Tapestry, Walnut
Empire Style Eglomise Mirrored Center Table E.J. Victor
By E. J. Victor
Located in Toledo, OH
Empire style eglomise mirrored round center table. Black finish painted leaf details and trim in gold. Distressed mirror top.
Category
20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror
Empire Period Armchair in Walnut, Upholstery Redone
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Empire period armchair in walnut, upholstery redone.
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Tapestry, Walnut
Vintage Italian American Federal-Style Oval Mirror with Eagle Motif
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Immerse yourself in the sophistication of our vintage Italian American Federal-style oval wall mirror. This exquisite piece is hand-crafted from premi...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Giltwood, Mirror
Early 19th Century Italian Napoleonic Era Somno Pedestal Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
Immerse yourself in the grandeur of the Napoleonic era with this exceptional early 19th century Italian somno pedestal cabinet. This cabinet is a true testament to the opulence and a...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Italian Empire Period Walnut Night Stand
Located in Prato, IT
Veneered in walnut, three drawers with black columns with caryatid head and pure gold base. Four ebonized turned legs.
Coeval Carrara marble top.
Very good condition.
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble
Empire Style Mahogany Center Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Empire style mahogany center table with six turned column-form legs with reeded baluster carvings all raised on a six-point star shaped plinth base set on molded edge feet. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Mirror, Mahogany, Denmark, 1840
Located in Lejre, DK
Antique mirror with hand polished mahogany originally from Denmark around the 1880s.
Dimensions in cm: H: 153 W: 59.
Category
1840s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Period Armchair in Walnut, Upholstery Redone
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Empire period armchair in walnut, upholstery redone.
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Tapestry, Walnut
Italian 19th Century Empire St. Cherrywood and Ormolu Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and large scaled Italian 19th century Empire st. Cherrywood and ormolu mirror. The rectangular mirror is flanked by two circular columns with bottom block feet decorated b...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire-Style Marquetry Inlaid Mahogany and Bronze Center Table
Located in Houston, TX
This table is circular, banded with an egg-and-dart gadroon
Carved edge and fine marquetry inlay, supported by a polished
Bronze reeded column, mounted to a triangular-form platfor...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Preparatory Drawings Empire Antique Inspirations 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very nice sketches of characters. Representing different emotions, clothes and personalities. We have a portrait of a strong woman with arrows. Below this woman, there is a representation of oriental characters, also called barbarians during Antiquity. Finally, on the left, another woman is represented with her head in her hands and sitting on a Klismos chair. This chair is typical of the ancient period. It is written at the bottom right "March 15", surely the date of creation of this sketch.
The Empire style and period are inspired by Greco-Roman art, it is called the neoclassical. The woman on this drawing wears an empire style dress...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Paper
19th Century Grey-Green French Empire Antique Gilded Wood Trumeau Glass Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An early 19th century French Empire trumeau mirror, patinated in grey-green and embellished in partial in gilded finish, in good condition...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
19th Century Swedish Empire Marble Topped Drawer Chest Commode
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A Swedish Empire three-drawer commode chest veneered in burled bird's-eye elm emblematic of Baltic furniture in the 18th-19th centuries, the rectangular side columns mounted with brass Egyptian...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Elm
Empire Revival Lacquered Swan Neck Settee, 20th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
Elegant French Empire style settee offers a truly spectacular silhouette that is sure to impress. Wonderfully detailed featuring a reeded top rail, down swept arms are intricately ha...
Category
1970s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Wood
French Empire Walnut Wood Rounded Coffee Table White Marble from Carrara Top
Located in IT
Empire Mahogany Wood Rounded Coffee Table with White Marble from Carrara Top
19th century Italian Empire rounded coffee table in mahogany wood.
Original Bronze details such as ...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble
Large Empire Frame
Located in BARSAC, FR
Rare Empire frame in green lacquered stuccoed wood and ornaments retouched with fine gold.
With its original glass.
Ideal for framing a prestigious engraving or Empire pastel.
W...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
BALKWILL & PATCH Antique 19th Century Empire Style Rosewood Dresser with Mirror
Located in Charlotte, NC
An antique Empire style dresser with attached mirror by Balkwill & Patch Furniture Co. Rosewood with classic Empire styling, upper gallery...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Rosewood
Regency Style Bulls Eye Eagle Mirror
Located in New York, NY
A large Regency style mirror with birds eye maple round frame and domed glass central mirror. Topped with a large hand cast black resin eagle and accented on the bottom with matching...
Category
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Resin, Birdseye Maple
Antique Set of Two Armchairs in Mahogany Empire Style, 1920
Located in Lejre, DK
A pair of Danish Empire style hand-polished mahogany armchairs with striped fabric from around the 1920s.
Measurements in cm: H:84 W:52 D:47 SH:50
This product will be inspected ...
Category
1920s Danish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of French 19th C.Empire Period Old Paris Porcelain Swan Handle Vases
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of French 19th century Empire Period Old Paris porcelain swan handle vases. Each is beautifully hand-painted with a green colored ground and further adorned with 24K gold-painted accents around the neck, handles, and bases. The vases are of a slender amphora form with git swan handles and two-tone matte and shiny 24K gold decoration throughout. Each vases body is hand-painted with landscape decoration which depicts a beautiful outdoor gazebo...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
French 1810s Empire Console Table in Mahogany
Located in Ulm, DE
Console table with columns
Mahogany, shellac hand polished
Empire, France around 1810
Dimensions:
Width: 71,5 cm
Height: 80 cm
Depth: 33,5 cm.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
Antique Sofa, 20th Century
Located in Kerepes, HU
Dimensions:
Height: 40 (seat), 70 ( six backrests ) cm Width: 80 cm Length : 175 Seat ( 210 whole ) cm.
Category
Early 20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Original Antique French Empire Sofa Mahogany Veneer with Columns
Located in Berlin, DE
Original French Empire sofa, circa 1800.
Mahogany,
right and left, each with columns and fire-gilt bronze fittings.
Some bronze are missing.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Empire Antique Mahogany, Marble Chest of Drawers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, antique French single chest of drawers made of hand crafted shellac polished Mahogany, veneered on Oakwood in good condition. The rectangular cupboard is composed with a grey-white marble top, the inside is consisting one shelf, enhanced by its original brass hardware and keys, standing on two wooden feet and two lion feet. The detailed carved cupboard represents the First French Empire time...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Metal, Brass
Mid-19th Century Birch Root Occasional Table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Good quality Swedish birch root table, solid burr birch circular top, standing on shaped stem and scrolled legs.
Rich golden colour.
Area of restoration to the top were a wood knot w...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Attractive Vintage Vase Kaiser, Pavillon, Germany Porcelain Large Vase
By Kaiser
Located in Bastogne, BE
Attractive vintage vase with handles by Kaiser, Pavillon, Germany.
Baluster-shaped vase made of white high quality porcelain with gilding ...
Category
1980s German Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Danish Late Empire Birch Armchairs With Inlay, 1810-1820
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of elegant late empire armchairs.
Crafted in birch wood with marquetry inlaid on backrest in the form of vases. Fine line inlays on backrest and apron.
The tops of the bac...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Early 20th C Empire Bronze & Gilt Mounted Mahogany Console / Wall Mirror
Located in Germantown, MD
An Early 20th century Empire Neoclassical Brass Mounted and Mahogany Wall Mirror in good condition. Solid Mahogany frame. Measures 18" in width and 36" tall. Mirror glass is 15"W x 2...
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Mahogany and Gilt Metal Large Wall Mirror in Empire Taste
Located in Pewsey, GB
This is a large and imposing mahogany and gilt metal mounted wall mirror in the Empire taste, some aging to silvering of mirror plate as seen. Very heavy.
Length 167 cm and Width ...
Category
1920s British Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Living Room Suite in the Antique Empire Style Beech Hand Carved
Located in Berlin, DE
Very exact fine-carved sculpture made of solid, blackened beechwood. Poliment gold-plated. Scratched frame on sculpturally carved legs ending in claws. Armrests volute-shaped bent in...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Empire furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Modenese Gastone, Europa Antiques, Baker Furniture Company, and Gherardo Degli Albizzi. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $56 and tops out at $955,603 while the average work can sell for $4,296.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Vintage Flower Button
Black Lacquered China Cabinet
Black Lacquer China Cabinet
Antique Wooden Lock
Brass Shelf Display
Brass Display Shelf
Campaign Style Cabinet
Vintage Receipt
Black Glass Display Case
Burled Walnut Cabinets
Wooden Display Case
Zenith Used
Charms Golden
Vintage 90S Patterns
Wooden Cabinet Pulls
Vintage Glass Panel Doors
Vintage Glass Panel Door
Black Gold Rug