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: Gray
Antique Fireplace Mantel Gray Marble Carved with Lion's Paws, Empire Style, 1800
Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)
Antique fireplace mantel in gray marble hand carved by an Italian artist, with lion's feet and wavy columns, Empire style, early 1800s, from an Italian noble home. Thanks to its refined color and its gentle shape, it lends itself to all those classy, elegant and suitable to be inserted even in a very modern context.
Empire lion paw fireplace...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Baccarat Crystal Champagne Flutes Set of 6
By Baccarat
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
A wonderful vintage set of 6/eight tall Harcourt 1841 Champagne flutes by Baccarat, France. Marked Baccarat, France in the bottom. No chipping or damage.
Pure, powerful and elegant ...
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Tavolino marmo bianco intarsiato e base in ferro battuto fatto a mano in Italia
Located in Rimini, IT
Tavolino da salotto realizzato con la tecnica decorativa dell' intarsio in scagliola su piano in marmo bianco Carrara, che appoggia su di un basamento in ferro battuto decorato in fo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Wrought Iron
Three Beautiful Rare Antique Copeland Spode Creamware Baskets with Underplate
Located in BAAMBRUGGE, NL
Three Beautiful Rare Antique Copeland Spode Creamware Baskets with Underplate ca 1800
Set of 3 antique Copeland Spode Creamware oval baskets w...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
Rare Antique Royal Copenhagen Blue Flower Tureen in Empire Style
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Rare antique Royal Copenhagen blue flower tureen in Empire style,
circa 1850s.
Measures: 40 x 25 cm.
In good condition. 1st. factory q...
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Baccarat Crystal Champagne Coupe Glasses Set of 8
By Baccarat
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
A wonderful vintage set of 8 Harcourt 1841 Champagne coupe glasses by Baccarat, France. Marked Baccarat, France in the bottom. No chipping or d...
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Fine Estate Baccarat Crystal Empire Style Jonzac Decanter
By Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
Fine estate Baccarat decanter in the rare Jonzac pattern which pairs beautifully with Empire and Harcourt patterns- the stopper is identical to Harcourt an...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
1970s Gilt Carved Resin Sculptural Wall Mirrors, Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning wall mirrors you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the best, ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Resin
Large Basket in Paris Porcelain resting on two cupids
Located in Paris, FR
Very large navette-shaped basket in white openwork porcelain with gold highlights, resting on two kneeling cupids carrying their quivers, on a base of the same shape and standing on claw or lion's paw feet. The oblong base is decorated on both sides with a mask in a central medallion and foliage ending in palmettes. This piece is said to be made in Paris porcelain.
What is Porcelaine de Paris?
The history of Parisian porcelain began late in the 18th century, in the 1770s, when Limousin kaolin was commercialised and the monopoly on porcelain manufacture that protected the royal Sèvres factory was violated. The French Revolution contributed to the proliferation of factories definitively freed from the Sèvres monopoly. Most of these factories were short-lived. They suffered from the economic crises of the Napoleonic wars. Despite these difficulties, Parisian porcelain manufacturers reached their peak in the 1820s. Thereafter, their numbers declined steadily, as the hope of making a lot of money from porcelain was dashed. Hence the closure of factories or their relocation to the provinces. That's why it's consistent to call hard, unmarked porcelain...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Set of Six Porcelain Bird Teacup Trios
Located in New York, NY
Set of six porcelain bird teacup trios. Strikingly modern looking antique set of six BFB Worcester trios of six teacups and six coffee cups with six sh...
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Suite Of 3 Engravings, Camposanto De Pisa, Lasinio And Molini Landi & Cie, Empir
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Suite of 3 large engravings from the Empire period, after the frescoes of the Camposanto in Pisa, the city's famous monumental cemetery, frescoes dating from the 14th century
The th...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Paper
1948-1951 Bing & Grondahl coffee service for 8, Denmark
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
1948-1951 Bing & Grondahl coffee service for 8, Denmark. In their rare & elegant "Empire" pattern with swags of flowers over fish scale molded borders. Consisting of 8 cups & saucers, 8 cake plates, leaf shaped sweetmeat, round shaped sweetmeat, cream & sugar with tray, and coffee pot with cover...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century French Empire Pair of Metal Wall Glass Mirrors, Parisian Décor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique French pair of wall mirrors with an arched top, made of hand crafted metal in good condition. The large mirror is consisting its original mirrored, leaded glass particular...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Three Beautiful Rare Antique Copeland Spode Creamware Vegetable Tureen with Lid
Located in BAAMBRUGGE, NL
Et of 3 antique Copeland Spode Creamware oval vegetable tureens with lid from ca.1800-
The border outside and inside are Handpainted decorate...
Category
Early 1800s English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
French Empire Period Circular Brass & Mirrored Footed Plateau, Early 19th Cen
Located in Atlanta, GA
Of circular form with a raised brass gallery, the brass cast in pattern, with antique mirrored top, raised on small lion’s paw feet.
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Queen Elizabeth ii Flag Union Jack Order of the Garter Honi Soit Mal Y Pense
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family
A Rare And Historical Queen Elizabeth II Flag Union Jack Order of the Garter HONI SOIT MAL Y PENSE from the 1950's.
The ...
Category
1950s English Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Cotton
19th Century French Marble Mantle
Located in New York, NY
An imposing 19th century French marble chimneypiece in the Empire style with lion’s paw feet above the plinth blocks supporting paneled jamb...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Breakfast Set, Cup and Saucer and Plate, Schierholz Plaue, Germany
Located in Chorzów, PL
Breakfast set, Germany. Trio Von Schierholz
Cup, saucer and plate.
Dimensions:
A cup: height 7 cm / diameter. 10.5 cm
Stand: Wed. 16 cm
Plate: Wed. 19.5 cm.
Category
Mid-20th Century German Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
King Edward VII Coronation Flag, 1902
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family
A rare and Historical Royal Coronation flag from The Coronation Of HRH King Edward VII, this flag was produced to commemorate t...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Cotton
19th Century French Antique Empire Crystal Glass Chandelier, Parisian Candelabra
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A round, antique French chandelier, pendant made of hand crafted polished brass, in good condition. The hand blown cut crystal prisms are attached, halted to the ceiling lamp brass f...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Metal, Brass
Large French Empire Mirror with Worn Gold Gilt Finish
Located in Bradenton, FL
Early 19th century French Empire mirror with original mercury glass mirror. Large scale Empire Gold Gilt mirror is a large statement piece. The...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Late 19th Century Empire Fireplace in Marble Vert de Grece
Located in Made, NL
Special antique fireplace carved in Greek marble 'Vert de Grece'. This Empire style Fireplace dates from the late 19th century (1890-1910).
The provenance of this fireplace is an ol...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Pair of Large French Planters
By Rouen
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Pair of large French planters.
Origin France, circa 1900.
Attributed roun.
Excellent condition. Material: porcelain.
No restorations
In 1644, Nico...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Austrian Clock Holder, Granite and Steel with Picture St Stephans Dome
Located in Stockholm, SE
A beautiful and exclusive clock stand made of steel and granite. Holding a picture of the Stephans-dome. The most famous church in Wienna, Austria.
High quality craftsmanship on all...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Granite, Steel
Early English 19th Century Pewter Plate
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small round pewter plate with London and makers mark on the rear side.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Pewter
Antique French Empire Style Gold Bronze Mounted Mahogany Mirror
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Empire style gold bronze mounted carved mahogany mirror.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Blue Marbleized Empire Wastebasket
Located in New York, NY
Blue marbleized empire wastebasket. Faux marble painted empire style wastebasket on gilt paw feet. France, 20th century
Dimensions: 9" L x 9" W x 9.88" H.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Set of Six White and Gold Empire Plates
Located in New York, NY
Set of six white and gold empire plates. Six near perfect antique condition Paris Porcelain neoclassical plates with gilt bands bordering stylized f...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Empire Side Table, Gray Marble Top, C 1810
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Danish Empire side table in mahogany.
Table top in Belgian gray marble.
Elegant inlay of dark hardwood on legs.
Copenhagen approx. 1810.
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Antique Carrara Marble Bathtub from the Early 19th Century
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Antique handcarved Carrara marble bath in Empire style. This beatiful sculpted white-grey marble bath with rings is made in the early 19th century....
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble
Two Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Plain Candlesticks with Lion Heads
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Two Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Plain candlesticks with lion heads.
Dated 1969-1974. Model number 1/15.
Measures: 23 x 8 cm.
In excellent ...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Empire Brass Chandelier Crystal Lustre Ceiling Light Antique Gold
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing an exquisite Empire Brass Chandelier, adorned with sparkling crystals, and professionally restored with love in Berlin. This timeless piece has been thoughtfully re-wired...
Category
1940s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Collection of French Opaline Apothecary Jars
Located in Copenhagen, K
Collection of 20 opaline apothecary jars from the 19th century.
Collection consists of 14 larger jars and 6 smaller jars.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Opaline Glass
Side table scagliola inlaid top iron base handmade in Italy by Cupioli available
Located in Rimini, IT
This table can be used as tea table, side table, lamp table it has multiple uses.
The top is manufactured in scagliola art inlay, same technique of the "Paliotto" of the 16th century...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
Bing & Grøndahl Empire Sauce Bowl in Hand-Painted Porcelain
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Bing & Grøndahl empire sauce bowl in hand-painted porcelain modelled with seahorses.
Early 20th century.
Measures: 23.5 x 15 x 11 cm.
In excellent condition.
Stamped.
2nd facto...
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of French Midcentury Steel and Glass Side Tables
Located in London, GB
A good pair of steel and glass side tables, made in France in the 1960s.
Made with an empire design, with pine cone finials and flower details.
Simple, elegant, mid century cra...
Category
1960s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Steel
Candelabras 5 Arms French Silver Plate 19th Century France
Located in New York, NY
Candelabras 5 Arms French Silver Plate 19th Century France . A pair of French silver plated candelabras. Decorated with leaves and flowers.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Pair of Spring loaded Russian Candleholders with Crystals and Cut Glass shades
Located in Canton, MA
Pair Russian candleholders with Colonial style crystals and glass shades. Marked in Cyrrilic, 1833, during the reign of Tsar Nicholas I
Material: Brass,Crystal
Style: Traditional...
Category
Early 18th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Pair Old Paris 'Vieux Paris' Porcelain Urns, France, 19th Century
By Old Paris
Located in Chappaqua, NY
Pair Old Paris porcelain urns, France, 19th Century. Hand-painted classical form urns. A different landscape scene on each urn. Lovely co...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
24-Karat Gold Leaf Giltwood Empire Beveled Mirror
Located in Barcelona, ES
Elegant Spanish 19th century gold leaf giltwood rectangular mirror with beveled glass.
Empire style.
Made of carved wood, gesso and 24-karat gold leaf finish. It has a nice aged pa...
Category
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Pair of Worcester Barr Flight Barr Porcelain Saucers with Bat-Printed Shells
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A pair of early transferware English porcelain saucers, made by the Worcester Porcelain Factory during the Barr, Flight & Barr period, 1807-1813.
The late 18th and early 19th cent...
Category
Early 19th Century British Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Side table blue scagliola top metal base handmade in Italy by Cupioli available
Located in Rimini, IT
This table can be used as tea table, side table, lamp table it has multiple uses.
The top is manufactured in scagliola art inlay, same technique of the "Paliotto" of the 16th century...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
Neoclassical Style Brass and Lacquered Metal Mirror with Cup and Swan Necks.
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This Empire style mirror is made of brass and lacquered metal with decoration. This is a French work, circa 1940.
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Swedish Empire Center Table
Located in Essex, MA
Circular top with wood edge surrounding a geometric mosaic of hard stones raised on a triangular tapered column and tripartite base with gilded scroll feet. From the estate of Willia...
Category
1820s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
French 1930s Empire Style Walnut Commode with Grey Marble Top and Black Columns
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style walnut commode from the early 20th century, with grey veined marble top four drawers and black columns. Created in France during the second quarter of the 20th ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Empire Style Sofa, XX th, Mahogany, Gray
Located in Nice, FR
Empire style sofa Structure in solid mahogany with brass medallions Renovated upholstery, thick cotton fabric, gray color. The large seat cushion is ...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Fabergé Porcelain Tea, Coffee Cups Set of Four in a Velvet Case
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Fine porcelain set of four Fabergé original porcelain coffee or tea cups, service for four.
Enjoy the start to your day with the classical sophistication only from Faberge.
These s...
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Brazilian Carved Empire Style Rock Crystal Obelisks Sculptures
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in Brazil and made of rock crystal, each obelisk is raised on a stepped square base and features exquisite craftsmanship with a tapered and pointed stem. Both elegant pieces ...
Category
2010s Brazilian Empire Furniture
Materials
Rock Crystal
Desk Set, Viennese Empire, c. 1815
Located in Greding, DE
Seven-piece desk set from Vienna in granite with polished steel mounts.
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Granite, Steel
French White and Gold Pierced Porcelain Compote Basket Tazza
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful French oval white and gold pierced Paris Porcelain compote basket tazza bowl in the Empire style, circa late 19th century, France...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Empire Mirror in Cherry Wood and Pure Gold Gilded Wood, circa 1810 Lucca Tuscany
Located in Prato, IT
Lucca Tuscany, early 19th century
Cherry veneer
Antique mirror
Capitals, bases, feet and central carving gilded with pure gold.
Dimensions: W 77 x H 150 cm.
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Cherry, Mirror
Period French Empire Neoclassical Wallpaper Screen by Zuber of Dufour
By Jean Zuber
Located in Essex, MA
Period Empire neoclassical wallpaper screen.
Either by Zuber of Dufour.
Was always intended as a screen.
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Paper
Neoclassical Empire Oval Gold Hand Carved Wooden Mirror, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Empire handcrafted mirror. Oval shaped hand carved wooden structure with gold foil finish.
Category
1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Pair of Empire Marble-Top Consoles
Located in Westwood, NJ
Pair of French Empire marble-top mahogany console tables with bronze mounts, sphinx capitals, mirror backs and plinth bases.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Fireplace Mantel in Verdi Antico and Statuary Marble
Located in London, GB
An antique Empire style fireplace in Verdi Antico marble with Statuary white marble semi detached columns to Jambs. The capitals in the Corinthian manner again carved in Statuary Mar...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Statuary Marble
Antique Meissen Empire Coffee Pot with Gold Decoration, 19th Century
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Antique Meissen Empire coffee pot with gold decoration. 19th century.
Measures: 27 x 20 cm.
1st factory quality.
In good condition with wear in the ...
Category
19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century French Hand Painted Wallpaper, Second Empire Era, E. Muller Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century roll of wallpaper, second Empire era, polychrome printing in the style of E. Muller enhanced with gold decorating cartridges with a floral cut of poppies and daisies.
M...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Paper
Limoges, France, Two Candlesticks and a Dish in Hand Painted Porcelain
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Limoges, France. Two candlesticks and a dish in hand painted porcelain with a green edge and gold decoration, 1930s-1940s.
The candlestick measures: 16 x 8 cm.
The dish measures: 2...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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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