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
Mid Century Golden Sunburst Mirror, 1960s
Located in HEVERLEE, BE
Gilded resin sunburst mirror with convex mirror glass.
Rare example with a very unusual shape.
Beautiful eye catching design.
The golden mirror is in a very good condition.
...
Category
1960s Belgian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Resin
19th Century Black French Antique Empire Ebonized Mahogany Sofa Bench, Recamier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique French sofa bench-recamier made of hand crafted ebonized Mahogany, in good condition. The canapé is particularized by two side backrests, standing on four arched wooden...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Fabric, Ebony, Upholstery, Cotton
Bellanger French Empire Mahogany Pink and Red Stripe Upholstered Settee
By Bellanger
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style mahogany settee with a carved frame and striped blush pink and red upholstered seat, arms and back. (BELLANGER).
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Mahogany, Wood
French 19th Century Empire St. Alabaster and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and most impressive French 19th century Empire st. alabaster and ormolu chandelier. The nine arm twelve light chandelier is centered by a striking foliate acorn shaped or...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Continental Walnut Armchair
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality continental carved walnut armchair, remaining in very good condition.
Width: 73cm Depth: 102cm Height: 100cm.
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Monumental Antique French Empire Period Hall Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent over 200 year old French Empire Period (1804-1815) parcel gilt walnut armorial hall pedestal / plant stand.
Born in France in the early 19th century, most likely near the Italian border or Napoleonic territory in present day Northern Italy, most impressive palatial scale, exceptionally executed one-of-a-kind sculptural work, having carved fiolate apron with H monogram, decorative scroll work, stylized grotesque satyr mask with acanthus leaf accent, over high relief crest mural crown depicting four towers representing fortified city walls, shield escutcheon coat of arms with three fleur-de-lis above wavy lines depicting sea water in front of castle tower, supported by figural winged female caryatid, flanked by volute supports, joined by turned stretcher. circa 1810
Provenance / Acquisition:
An important San Antonio estate
Acquired from highly reputable auction house Austin Auction Gallery, est.1983, Austin, Texas. Texas Mansion Carved French and Italian Antiques catalog...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Elegant Danish Empire Armchair, circa 1810
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant and decorative Empire armchair. Made in mahogany, with light wood inlaid (lemon tree). Oval backboard in ebonised wood. Front of arms in the form of wooden cut grippers with ...
Category
1810s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Velvet, Wood, Fruitwood
Mahogany Drop Leaf Work Table, Early 19th Century American Empire
Located in Lomita, CA
An American Empire mahogany drop-leaf worktable ready for light tasks or to function as a beautiful piece.
Appraisers say it was probably produced in New York from 1825 to 1835. Desi...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Hardwood
19th Century, Pair of French Empire Style Wood Armchairs
Located in IT
19th century, Pair of French Empire style Wood Armchairs
This delightful pair of wood armchairs was made in France in the nineteenth century in the Empire style. The plant is strai...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century French Empire Large Neoclassical Walnut Console Table
Located in Berlin, DE
Early 19th century French Empire Large Neoclassical Walnut Console Table
An elegant Empire period console table with a with marble top above a frieze d...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Flamed Mahogany Desk Armchair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful French 19th century Empire st. flamed Mahogany desk armchair. The armchair is raised by stout elegantly scrolled legs with fine carved ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
20th Century Viennese Biedermeier Style Lyre Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Ebonize, partially bird’s-eye maple root veneer on solid Pinewood. Moulded Lions Masks with grisp rings. This so called lyre secretaire is the crowning...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Painted Empire Stool or Bench, Sweden, Late 19th Century
Located in Skanninge, SE
Very stylish stool/bench or banquette.
Late 19th Century. Painted wood and recently reupholstered.
With wood-carved Rams heads and hoof feat.
Painted wood in gray, green, and some...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Pair of French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Giltwood Stools
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome pair of French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and giltwood stools. Each circular stool is raised by three square tapered legs with the front leg displaying a handsome pa...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Giltwood
Pair of 19th Century Empire Ormolu Acanthus Motif Curtain Tie Backs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of 19th century Empire Ormolu Acanthus Motif curtain tie backs
France, 19th Century
A splendid pair of French Empire Ormolu acanthus motif curtain tie backs. Of typical circu...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
Pair of Chic French Empire Style Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of large French Empire style mahogany armchairs reupholstered in Ralph Lauren silk/linen fabric.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Linen, Upholstery, Mahogany
Pr of French Old Paris or Vieux Paris Urns Now Converted into Table Lamps, C1810
By Old Paris
Located in valatie, NY
Pr of French Old Paris or Vieux Paris urns now converted into table lamps c1810. Old Paris porcelain or Vieux Paris is very broadly defined as porcelain made by artisans in and aroun...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
French Empire Style Mantel Clock, circa 1820
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and stylish early 19th Century gilded ormolu and green marble mantle clock, having two classical maidens either side feeding Rams, an Eagle above the circular white...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Early 20th C Ebonised Mahogany Empire Style Chest of Drawers
Located in Troy, MI
Found in France, this circa 1910 Empire style mahogany chest of four drawers has a new ebonised finish and black marble top. Decorative columns on the front sides have brass trim and...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Französische Empire Konsole Aus Nussbaum Mit Halbsäulen
Located in Heiligenberg, DE
Empire Konsolen aus Nussbaum, frühes 19. Jahrhundert. Diese absolut streng gestaltete Konsole ist äußerst fein verarbeitet. Alle Sichtflächen sind mit einem dekorativem Bild aus Nuss...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
English Plant Flower Pot Holder Cachepot Jardiniere Lion Paw Feet
Located in New York, NY
An English copper plant or flower pot holder cachepot jardiniere w/Lion paw feet, circa early 20th century, England. Dimensions: 8" Diameter x 6.94" Height.
Category
Early 20th Century English Empire Furniture
Materials
Copper
Cupboard Empire Style, 19/20th Century, France
Located in Madrid, ES
Cupboard
Empire taste 19/20th century, France.
Mahogany, mahogany veneer and other hardwoods.
Upper body with four glass doors and pediment cymbal, lower body with four drawers ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Coronation Flag, 1937
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family
A Rare And Historical Royal Coronation Flag from The Coronation Of HRH King George VI in 1937. Flag shows King George VI alongside Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor...
Category
1930s English Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Cotton
Back Room Mirror in Lacquered Wood
Located in Alba, IT
Beautiful mirror in the back of the room in gold and green lacquered wood characterized in the central part by a large medallion within festoons, while festoons with floral motifs st...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Gold French Empire Hexagonal Giltwood Verre Églomisé Barometer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold patinated, antique French hexagonal barometer made of handcrafted giltwood, in good condition. The top part of the Parisian décor piece is enhanced by flower carvings. The glass dial is particularized with Verre Églomisé. The thermometer represent the First French Empire time...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
20th Century Empire Neoclassical Mahogany Wood Pedestal Plant Stands, a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Late 20th century French Empire neoclassical style mahogany wood pedestal plant stands - a pair. Item features solid wood construction, beaut...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Set of Nine Horse Breeds Lithographs by Italian Giarre 1822 Firenze
By Luigi Giarrè
Located in Milan, IT
Horse breeds known in Europe, Firenze 1822 a unique set of nine stone lithographs by the Italian painter, engraver and printmaker Luigi Giarrè (circa 1772-1844).
Italian publisher Litografia Ridolfi, active in Florence in 19th century.
The collection consists of nine prints and an additional slightly smaller one with the legenda, from the key of the lithograph collection by the painter Luigi Giarrè, we desume that the whole collectione originally should consist of twelve works, containing The Most Beautiful Breeds of Horses Known in Europe, such as Normando Arabic, English (runner), Spanish, Egyptian...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paper
French Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Chest of drawers or “commode” made of flamed mahogany in the French Empire style. This piece has ebonized columns and is finished in a lustrous French polish. There are four dovetail...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Gold French Empire Gilded Bronze Table Clock, Antique Pendulum
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 Empire Portico Mantel Clock in Original Glass Dome
Located in Dallas, TX
Keep time in your office, study, or atop your mantel with this elegant antique clock in the original glass dome. Crafted in France, circa 1870, the portico clock stands on a wooden g...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Empire Chest of Drawers Cherry Wood with Black Colones and Black Marble Top
Located in Weiningen, CH
EMPIRE chest of drawers cherry wood with black colones and black marble top
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
19th Century Walnut Pair of Bookcases Boiserie de Bibliothèque
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A rare pair of heliocodal French Directoire library bookcases in solid walnut. This type of bookcases is also known as 'boiseries de Bibliothèque' a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
20th Century French Oil Painting of Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor by S. Chapin
By Chapin
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage French oil on canvas painting of Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor in a hand carved original gilded wooden frame, painted by S. Chapin in good condition. The wall décor art pie...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Giltwood
Antique Empire Bookcase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An extraordinary antique empire bookcase in great condition completed and restored by our professional craftsmen team. This elegant piece is th...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of French Empire-Style Ebonized and Parcel Gilt Bergeres
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of handsome empire style chairs from the late 20 th century.
These chairs have a curved and reeded backs, the gilded arm.
Fronts in the form of swans, the seat frames with gil...
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
French Empire Patinated Bronze and Aluminum Columnar Floor Lamp
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style floor lamp with an Ionic columnar form, constructed in aluminum and brass with a heavy patina and mounted with a brass two-light fixture and a black painted woode...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Aluminum, Brass, Bronze
Empire style Coffee Set Porcelain Darte Frères
By Darte Frères
Located in Paris, FR
Very rare coffee set composed of 5 pièces : 4 cups with their saucer, and 1 sugar bowl. Whole set in porcelain with stripes patterns made of gold. Handles are painted in red, with an Egyptian-style gilt figure on it. Inner part half gilt.
Work from the early 19th century period, in the style of Empire or made during it.
Signed with red letters stamped "DARTE / FRERES / A PARIS" on the saucer.
Darte Frères was a Parisian porcelain...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
French Empire Mahogany Table with Gold Gilt Ormolu Mounts and Black Granite Top
Located in Savannah, GA
"The French Empire style which impacted furniture design and other arts was popular from about 1804 to 1815, lasting longer in some areas. It developed in France under the reign of e...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Granite, Brass
Large French Neoclassical Mahogany Roll-Top Desk
Located in Troy, NY
French mahogany Empire desk of stately proportions, with a roll top, revealing a double row of total six drawers under an open shelf, as well as a sliding writing surface with inset ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Mahogany Desk, circa 1850
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The rectangular top inset with a beige tooled leather writing surface and slide outs on both ends. Above five drawers, the reverse side with dummy drawers raised on columnar legs wit...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French 1960 Iroko & Marble Sellette or Plant Holder Three Legs Empire St, c 1960
Located in Labrit, Landes
This plant holder or sellette is from the French midcentury period.
The top tray is in black marble.
As frequently in the empire style, brass rings adorn the top and bottom of each...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Louis XVI Style Table Vitrine Brass Inlay
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
FRENCH EMPIRE STYLE LIFT-TOP VITRINE: Beveled glass lift-top vitrine with glass sides revealing an orange upholstered bottom. Corners and diminishing legs are fluted and have copper ...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Empire Style Gueridon
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th Century French mahogany marble topped Gueridon, having three circular tapering column supports, each with gilded ormolu capitals and classical ormolu motifs to th...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
19th Century Empire Period Mahogany Mirror, Type "Psychee"
Located in Sofia, BG
Empire period mahogany mirror. The triangle topped frame holding the mirror supported on two columns with two removable bronze candleholders. Standing on four carved griffon legs, th...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
German Wooden Biedermeier/ Empire Trumeau Mirror with Brass a Appliques
Located in Hamburg, DE
The pillar mirror, also called trumeau is from the German Biedermeier period. The frame is made of mahogany and root wood veneer. On the frame above the mirror is a mythological scen...
Category
Early 18th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
1900s Restored Antique Empire Mahogany Side Table with Giltwood Accents
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Immerse yourself in the grandeur of the past with our 1900s Antique Empire Side Table, a true testament to the artistry and craftsmanship of ...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood, Mahogany, Wood, Lacquer
Porcelain Tea Service, 1900
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Porcelain tea service, 1900
Porcelain tea service with battle decoration signed and marked, in the Napoleon Bonaparte style, 1900
Measures: H: ...
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Demilune Cabinet
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
French demi lune sideboard in mahogany. Empire, circa 1820.
Two-door corpus in demi lune form. Mahogany veneered on oak. One drawer. Newer slightly overhanging granite top instea...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Granite
French Empire Mahogany Mantle Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stately, Empire style mantle mirror from France with some light foxing throughout the original mercury mirror plate. The minimally carved mahogany has ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Empire Armchair, France, circa 1800-1810
Located in Belmont, MA
This gorgeous French Empire armchair features a very pretty mahogany veneer. The highlight of this piece are the finely carved dolphin shaped armrests. This Classic Empire piece date...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century Gold French Gilded Wood Barometer, Antique Parisian Thermometer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A rare antique finely worked French barometer with lyre shaped crest thermometer above a large hexagonal framed barometer. The Parisian décor piece is m...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
French 19th Century Empire Bibliotheque
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This two-door French Empire bibliotheque is framed on either side by columns that go all the way to the feet. The top and bottom of the columns are...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Large Vienna Empire Column Clock With Jacquart Automaton, Around 1820
Located in Vienna, AT
Splendid Viennese clock, ebonized fruitwood, with four alabaster columns in front of mirrored glass, above, flanking the cylindrical clock case, carved ...
Category
1820s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Empire St. Faux Painted Wood, Giltwood and Marble Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive French 19th century Empire st. faux painted wood, giltwood and Gris Turquin marble side/center table. The circular table is raised by a most decorative triangular base ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Mahogany Empire Bow Front Corner Cabinet
Located in Kastrup, DK
Danish empire bow fronted corner cabinet in flame mahogany.
Bow front with a single door, dressed with brass lock in the middle, flanked by f...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu Desk Armchair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and unique French 19th century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu desk armchair. The armchair is raised by handsome lightly curved square legs with finely carved recessed d...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Sofa, 1810-15
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique Empire settee dates back to around 1810-15 and comes from France. The elegant settee has a cherry wood frame with hand carved details on armrests and front legs. The sett...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Cherry
French Empire Commode with Beautiful Inlay & Bookmatched Veneer, Early 19th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire commode with beautiful inlay and book-match veneers, from the early 19th century. This antique chest from France features a rectangular-shaped, book-match veneer top,...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique 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.
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