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
Mirror, Hand Polished Mahogany, Carvings, Denmark, 1890s
Located in Lejre, DK
The mirror of hand-polished mahogany is a stunning piece from the late Empire period, hailing from Denmark around the 1890s. The rich, deep mahogany wood has been carefully hand-poli...
Category
1890s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Large Empire Style Painted Gilt Wood Wall Mirror or Trumeau
Located in Berlin, DE
Late 19th century large empire style painted gilt wood wall mirror or trumeau
Large rectangular mirror with architectural structure: the central field, consisting of a lower mirro...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
French Late 19th Century Barometer
By Selon Torricelli
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French late 19th century barometer.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Mirror, Mahogany, Carvings, Denmark, 1880
Located in Lejre, DK
The Mirror of hand-polished mahogany is a beautifully crafted piece of furniture that was made in Denmark during the late Empire period, around the 1840s. The mirror is made from hig...
Category
1880s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire St. Burl Walnut, Ormolu and Marble Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and extremely high quality French 19th century Empire st. burl Walnut, ormolu and Jaune de Sienne marble side table. The oblong shaped table is raised by impressive richly...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Continental Marble and Gilt Eagle Console Table
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire late 18th Century / early 19th Century console table with a variegated marble slab and gilt caved acanthus leaves wooden top supported on a gilt carved base depicting ...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Gold Leaf
Vieux Paris 'Old Paris' Tea Caddy or Apothocary Jar Painted with Harbor Scene
By Old Paris
Located in Mobile, AL
This empire period Old Paris tea caddy, canister or jar from the 1830's is sure to delight. It was likely designed and sold as a tea canister, but a lidd...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Empire Reverse Painted Still Life Giltwood Trumeau Wall Mirror 19th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique American Empire Trumeau mirror offers giltwood column form frame with upper having reverse painted floral still life, 19th century.
Measures - 34.5''H x 18.5''W x 3.5''D....
Category
19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Paint
Set of Empire Armchairs / Chairs, Maple Wood, Paris, 1825
Located in Berlin, DE
Seat group made of maple wood with rosewood intarsia, France, presumably G. Alphonse Jacob, the last of the famous Eben family, probably second quarter of the 19th century. Semi-circ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Maple
19th Century Spanish Regency / Isabelina Mallorquín Commode, Marquetry Inlay
Located in Madrid, ES
Often referred to as "Mallorquín" or "Catalana" style, this type of commode evolved in the early to mid 19th century in the Spanish province of Catalonia, taking design influences from various European...
Category
19th Century Spanish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A 19th century French Empire drop front secretary with black as a marble top and side columns with bronze mounts, three drawers below and one drawer above. Double brass locking syste...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Style Mahogany Middle Desk with Egyptian Décor, France 19th Century
Located in VERSAILLES, FR
It is composed of two boxes and a central tray opening with nine drawers in total. The desk is in mahogany veneer of very fine grain quality, the color of the mahogany is not dark but rather soft, in harmony with the slightly darker soft veining that embellishes this mahogany veneer. This desk is adorned with gilded bronzes depicting busts of Egyptian women, leafy motifs such as palmettes and laurel wreaths, diamonds. All the bronzes are original, none of them are added.
The top of the desk is embellished with empire green leathers gilded with iron. This "Return from Egypt" style desk is a fine example of the Empire style.
It can also be combined with our empire green leather office chair...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Mahogany Empire-Style Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An outstanding French Empire-style mahogany accent table with a unique basket wrapped around the pedestal. A circular wood top with raised trim rests on an apron housing two small dr...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Pinewood Book Shelf - Antique Cupboard
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique shelf cupboard in patinated Pinewood with top and lateral molding, in good condition. This early 19th Century furniture is perfect to display ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Pine
French 19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A statley 19th century mahogany secre´taire a` abattant from France, circa 1810. This desk has an exceptional charcoal marble top resting above a single drawer disguised into the apron. Just below the top drawer, the front of the desk folds forward to reveal a work area inset with vibrant red leather detailed with gold tooling. The leather is in great antique condition making this a comfortable place to work. When open, you can see the theatre is equipped with five drawers and a large, arched top cubby flanked with column forms. With the desk down the maximum depth is 32”; the writing surface is 28-½” heigh. The desk front...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
19th Century Pair of Empire / Biedermeier Solid Beech Bergeres, New Upholstered
Located in Darmstadt, DE
The pair of bergeres from the Empire / Biedermeier period was made of solid beech wood. The bergeres are completely reupholstered and covered with new fabric. The seat cushion is loo...
Category
19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Beech
Rare Empire Clock Cabinet Sideboard, Antique Northern Swedish Country Gustavian
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare antique clock cabinet from Sweden made during the transitional time between the gustavian and empire period. The cabinet is from Northern Sw...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Pine
French Empire 19th Century Mahogany Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A fabulous French mahogany commode from 19th century France, circa 1840’s. The stunning gray and white marble top with rounded front corners is in good antique condition with few signs of wear. The apron houses a hidden drawer, free of hardware. Making up the body of the piece, three larger drawers have more recently been fixed with a pair of laurel wreath cast...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Stone, Marble, Metal
Mirror, Mahogany, Carvings, Denmark, 1880
Located in Lejre, DK
The Mirror of hand-polished mahogany is a beautiful and unique piece of furniture from the late Empire period. This mirror was crafted in Denmark around the 1840s and features intric...
Category
1880s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Consulat Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The rectangular arched padded back above a padded seat and tapering front legs topped with the head of a sphinx and ending in paw feet.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Mahogany
19th Century American Empire Mahogany Gentleman's Shaving or Dressing Mirror
Located in Germantown, MD
19th Century American Empire gentleman's tilt-top shaving mirror of mahogany. The original mirror glass is in a beveled frame with a dome top and is supported by beautifully crafter ...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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 Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Fir
19th Century French Empire Fruitwood Armoire Cupboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century French empire fruitwood armoire cupboard circa 1810.
Made in 1 piece and of grand proportions. Shaped cornice with 2 double door cupboards below. Upper cupboard opens...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Empire period ormolu and mahogany swans' heads stool
Located in London, GB
Empire period ormolu and mahogany swans' heads stool
French, Early 19th Century
Height 68cm, width 77cm, depth 39cm
This beautiful antique stool is a class...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Buffet Cabinet, by François Linke
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire style gilt-bronze mounted marquetry buffet cabinet, by François Linke, Paris.
This handsome buffet or side cabinet has its original Swedish green marble top. The veneers are of the finest figured acajou flammé. The frieze is fitted with a long drawer with citronnier and ebonised marquetry panel depicting a Etruscan chariot...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Empire German Ormolu Mntd Mahogany Turtle Feet Jardiniere, Klinkerfuss & Münch
By Johannes Klinkerfuss
Located in New York, NY
A Fantastic and Very Important Empire Period German Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Jardiniere Mounted on Dore Bronze Turtle Feet, In The Manner Of Johannes Klinkerfuss And Casimir Münch. Th...
Category
1810s German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Swedish Paperweight in Marble, Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Swedish paperweight in the marble in the shape of a cannon barrel. Beautiful patina. Empire, early 19th century.
Minor chips (se pictures)
Wear con...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Set Four Klismos Chairs COM
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage blond Klismos chairs with newly upholstered seats. Send your fabric and we can upholster at no extra charge and quick turnaround.
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
French 1890s Empire Style Lit en Bateau Doll Bed with Out-Scrolling Accents
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style wooden lit en bateau doll bed from the late 19th century, with out-scrolling accents. Created in France during the last quarter of ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique English Brass Fireplace Trivet Ottoman or Stool
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Antique late 19th-century brass English fireplace footman trivet. The footman is an elegant nod to days gone by and would be a great decorative accent p...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Empire Style Armchair, 1850
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Empire style armchair made around 1850 in black wood and green-yellow velvet.
Has some nice sculptural details carved in the wood. Is easy to mo...
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Large French Empire Style Gilt-Bronze and Malachite Centre Table
Located in London, GB
A large French Empire style gilt-bronze and malachite centre table.
French, 20th century.
Height: 85cm, width: 160cm, depth: 79cm
This superb table, a grand and highly impressiv...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
Antique Swedish Empire Gilded Marble Pedestal or Geridong
Located in Kramfors, SE
Gilded empire pedestal or geridong from the mid 1800s, around 1840. The pedestal is from Sweden and is gilded with a white marble top in Carrara marble. The pedestal is in good vinta...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble
French 19th Century 1st Empire Chandelier
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This eye-catching chandelier was crafted in France in the early 1800’s during the 1st Empire period. Composed of a patinated bronze bowl with a cone-shaped neck. The bowl’s base is d...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Mirror, Mahogany, Carvings, Denmark, 1880
Located in Lejre, DK
Mirror of hand-polished mahogany, with carvings, made in Denmark from around the 1880s.
Dimensions in cm: H:118 W:53
This product will be inspected thoroughly at our professional...
Category
1880s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Set of 6 American Empire Style Carved Wood Gondola Dining Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Set of 6 American Empire wood dining chairs in mahogany veneer with sloped gondola backs with an openwork, urn-form center topped by a carved foliate neoclassical crown...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Style Marble Top table with bronze mounts
Located in Houston, TX
Elegant tall side table made of mahogany with black marble top. It
Is well made with exceptional bronze dore gilt mounts in the empire
Style with a tapered leg ending in bronze dore ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Petite Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Petite chest of drawers from France made of flamed Cuban mahogany with four dovetailed drawers and a rich array of finely cast bronze hardware. The commode features half detached col...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Mahogany Centre Table in the Empire Style
Located in Martlesham, GB
19th Century French mahogany centre table in the Empire style, having a wonderful decorative segmented top with engraved brass moulding, the ...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry and Burl Side Tables, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of French Empire style two-tier end tables or nightstands
By Baker Furniture
USA, Circa 1960s
Carved cherry wood, with burl wood banding and satinwood string...
Category
1960s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Cherry, Satinwood, Burl
French 19th Century Empire Symmetrical Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This beautiful Empire style mirror is dripping with exceptional details. The giltwood frame has a fantastic patina throughout, with spots of French red peaking through. Detailed moti...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mercury Glass, Wood, Giltwood
Late 19th Century French Empire Style Walnut Console Table with Marble Top
Located in Fayetteville, AR
Standing at 44.5 inches in height, this tall late nineteenth century French Empire style walnut console table features columns at the front corners and a Saint Anne marble top. A sin...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
George III Mahogany Gilded Empire Style Mirror, circa 1780
Located in Lincoln, GB
This George III mahogany gilded Empire style mirror is 150cm tall with beautiful detailing all around. There is some fantastic gilding around the edges, with a particularly magnifice...
Category
18th Century British Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
Large Psyche Mirror in Walnut and Bronze Empire Style, circa 1900
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
large psyche mirror in walnut and bronze Empire style, circa 1900.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style High Sided Bench with Gilt Details and Mohair Velvet Upholstery
Located in Troy, MI
Circa 1920s French Empire style wooden stool has an antique white painted frame with gilded details and new gray mohair velvet upholstery. Two stools available at the time of posting...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Gesso, Upholstery, Wood
Vintage French Empire Style Mahogany Paw Feet Side Tables, a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Mahogany Paw Feet Side Tables - a Pair. Item features a claw foot tripod pedestal base, lower shelf, beautiful woodgrain,...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Empire Convex Mirror
Located in Chicago, IL
A stunning early 19th century French Empire mahogany framed convex mirror with a thin gilt bronze laurel wreath trim. Unlike most convex mirrors ...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
Italian Midcentury Empire Style Painted and Upholstered Bench with Ram Heads
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian midcentury Empire style painted bench with carved ram heads and new upholstery. This exquisite Italian painted bench features a nicely curved seat that has been recovered ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century Empire Antique Mahogany Marble Top Pier Console Table
Located in Shippensburg, PA
EMPIRE MAHOGANY PIER TABLE WITH MARBLE COLUMNS
Continental, circa mid-19th century
Item # 109OYP14M
A good 19th century pier table with a gray marble top situated over a squared apron with flamed mahogany veneers raised over sienna marble columns capped with exquisitely chiseled ormolu mounts and stretched with a broad lower shelf over bun feet. The center features an old mirror framed...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
19th Century Empire Sofa Berlin Brandenburg Mahogany Carved Gilded Lions
Located in Epfach, DE
Provenance: noble Family "von Puttkamer" from Berlin Brandenburg; on the back original marked with pencil "Henriette von Puttkamer" and a transport sticker, made of paper, from the railway "Waren (Müritz)" (Henriette v. P. lived from 1799 until 1878)
This piece of furniture from the time of the German Empire has a tasteful lightness that is underlined by the extraordinary design. Both ends of the backrest are crowned by a reclining, hand-carved and gilded lion...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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 Furniture
Materials
Brass
Mirror, Mahogany, Carvings, Denmark, 1880
Located in Lejre, DK
Mirror of hand-polished mahogany, with carvings, made in Denmark from around the 1880s
Dimensions in cm: H:130 W:63.
Category
1880s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Empire Period Officer's Trunk
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb officer's trunk in wood and iron from the Empire period 19 century
Very beautiful and rare trunk covered with a thin layer of iron and resting ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
Distinguished Scandinavian Empire Inlaid Mahogany Wall Mirror, C. 1830
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This fine Empire period Mahogany wall mirror features an upper section centering a socalled Patera oval fruitwood inlay, the mirror glas accented with French style square raised corn...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Fruitwood, Mahogany
Vintage Kronleuchter aus Facettiertem Kristall Im Empire-Stil
By Ars Murano
Located in Berlin, DE
Empire style crystal chandelier decorated with rich ornamental brass patterns. The chandelier has 4 well chiseled brass arms that support the candles, 8 lights (4 external and 4 internal E14/ E27). Elegant and very bright chandelier...
Category
1890s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Tavolino in marmo con intarsi base legno fatta a mano in Italia disponibile
Located in Rimini, IT
Cream marble round dining table or gueridon table
size: diam. 80 cm h. 74
inches 31.50 h. 29.13
This table has been handcrafted by skilled artist using the old technique
of the sca...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
18th Century, Empire Walnut Wood 2-Drawer Chest
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Chest of drawers with two drawers on pointed feet. Beautiful walnut veneer with ribbon inlays on pine body. The furniture has a very clear beautiful design without much ornamentation...
Category
Late 18th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of French Empire Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Mounted Armchairs
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A striking pair of late French Empire mahogany armchairs, highly decorated with gilded bronze mounts on the upper back rail and all round the bottom of the seat as well. The curved open front arms terminate in carved dolphins. The chairs have been re-upholsterd in a cream and dark green striped antique silk fabric...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silk, Mahogany
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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