Empire Furniture
From 1804–15, Napoléon I reigned as the emperor of France, bringing the country into a new era of opulence after the fall of the monarchy and the tumultuous years of the French Revolution. He declared, “We must have very solid things, made to last 100 years.” Empire-style furniture followed suit, with imposing pieces constructed from mahogany and adorned with gilded ornaments. Expanding on the neoclassicism popularized in the previous century — such as in Louis XVI style — Empire style borrowed from the great civilizations of antiquity, from Egypt to Greece and Rome, to connect this nascent empire to the power of the past.
Napoléon I believed the production of fine furniture would reflect the stature of the republic, with his official architects Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine leading the way with their work on his residences.
Luxurious materials, symmetrical shapes and bold colors characterize antique Empire-style bedroom furniture, armchairs, cabinets and other structures, with frequent motifs including mythological creatures, geometric designs, acanthus leaves, eagles, bees (the imperial emblem) and swans, a favorite of Empress Joséphine.
Flat surfaces, like marble tabletops, were accented with decadent details, such as the bronze furniture mounts made by sculptor Pierre-Philippe Thomire for the French palaces. Martin-Guillaume Biennais, who worked as the imperial goldsmith, crafted intricate luxury objects that mixed wood, fine metal, mother-of-pearl and ivory. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
The style became popular abroad, influencing the American Empire style. Stately pieces carved with sprigs of olives by cabinetmaker Pierre-Antoine Bellange were acquired by American President James Monroe for the White House in 1817.
Find a collection of antique Empire tables, lighting, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
Late 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century British Empire Furniture
Brass
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Silk, Upholstery, Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Marble, Serpentine, Ormolu
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Slate, Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Slate, Bronze
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Brass
1860s English Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Marble
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Leather, Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Wood, Mahogany, Giltwood, Burl
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Pewter
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Velvet, Wood, Mahogany
Early 1900s American Antique Empire Furniture
Rosewood
1820s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Walnut
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Bronze
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
1910s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Bronze
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Mirror, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Furniture
Mahogany
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Furniture
Mahogany
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Paper
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass