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.
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Item Ships From: Denmark
Style: Empire
Console table with round legs made in mahogany wood from 1920s
Located in Lejre, DK
Console table or hall table from the 1920s, made of mahogany with round, elegantly turned legs. The table's slim design makes it ideal as a functional piece of furniture in the hall ...
Category
1920s Danish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Late Empire North German Corner Cabinet In Polished Mahogany From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
The antique Senempire corner cabinet from Northern Germany, made of polished mahogany and dated to the 1840s, is a splendid representative of the elegance and sophistication typical ...
Category
1840s German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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
Antique Late Empire Corner Cabinet With Shelves Made In Mahogany From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
The antique Late Empire corner cabinet with mahogany shelves from the 1840s is an impressive piece of furniture history that exudes elegance and timeless beauty. The corner cabinet i...
Category
1840s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Danish Late Empire Mahogany Secretary Bureau
Located in Kastrup, DK
Late empire secretary bureau in mahogany veneered oak with beautiful grain.
In 2 parts.
Desk top offers three bowed doors. A concave door in the mid...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Oak, Mahogany
Danish Late Empire Tobacco Box in Nobel Wood, Lid with Walrus Tooth
Located in Kastrup, DK
Late empire tobacco box in rosewood.
The top of the lid is adorned with a walrus tooth.
Denmark 1830-1840.
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Danish 19th Century Antique Leather Klismos Chairs, set of 2
Located in Store Heddinge, DK
A beautiful 19th-century oak Klismos chair, crafted in Denmark in the around 1860s. The design, featuring a wide, curved backrest and sabre legs, harkens back to Ancient Greece (5th ...
Category
19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Faux Leather, Beech, Oak
Large Empire Bureau Of Hand Polished Mahogany With Inlaid Wood from 1820s
Located in Lejre, DK
This grand Empire bureau is a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship of the 1820s, crafted from hand-polished mahogany adorned with intricate inlaid wood detailing. Its imposing pr...
Category
1820s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Sevres Style Swan Cream Cups
Located in Copenhagen, K
A beautiful pair of Sevres Style cream cups, in the form of gilded Swans.
Category
18th Century and Earlier European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Mirror Made In Mahogany With Carvings, Danish Design From 1880s
Located in Lejre, DK
This mirror, crafted from hand-polished mahogany and adorned with intricate carvings, is a stunning example of Danish craftsmanship from around the 1880s. The rich, warm tones of th...
Category
1880s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Late Empire Column Table Made In Mahogany From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
The late Empire column table from the 1840s is a magnificent example of furniture craftsmanship from that era. Crafted from rich mahogany, this table exudes elegance and sophisticati...
Category
1840s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Plateau Mirror
Located in Copenhagen, K
Plateau mirrors was used on the dining or dressing table, in front of guest of honor, to put flowers or candles on.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Enameled Bread Basket, Denmark
Located in Copenhagen, K
Amazing 19th century enamel bowl or bread basket.
Category
Late 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Large Late Empire Upholstered Bench with Carved Gilt Carvings
Located in Kastrup, DK
Decorative and elegant Late Empire bench with upholstered seat. Frame crafted in beech with original white color and delicate gilt woodcarved details. Resting on elegant turned taper...
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Beech
J.L. Jensen - 19th Century Danish Golden Age Oil Painting of Kingfishers
Located in Kastrup, DK
Johan Laurentz Jensen (J. L. Jensen), 1800–1856
Painting: A detailed and vividly colored bird motif depicting a pair of kingfishers (Halcyon cyanoventris) nestled in lush green foli...
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Danish Empire Mahogany Wall, Pier Mirror, 1820s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Mahogany wall mirror with gilt detailing. Manufactured in Denmark in the early to mid-19th century.
Category
1820s European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Boxwood Tabatière with Erotic Enamel Plaque and Gilded Bronze Acce
Located in Kastrup, DK
A French Empire tabatière, exquisitely crafted from boxwood.
The lid is adorned with an erotic enamel plaque, elegantly framed by a gilded bronze band, while the underside features a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Antique " KPM " Empire Porcelain Cup
Located in Kastrup, DK
KPM Porcelain cup decorated with a finely hand painted depiction of two women in nature. Inside with gilding (light wear to the gilding).
KPM (Königlich...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Austrian Empire Center Table Cherry & Lime Stone
Located in Kastrup, DK
A Austrian Empire center table with a single drawer. Cherry veneer with ebony trim and inlayed limestone top on elegantly tapered legs with ebony feet....
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Limestone
Empire Chiffonier Ebonized, Danish, Approx. 1840
Located in Kastrup, DK
Late Empire black ebonized mahogany chest of drawers / tall boy, with raised semi-oval top.
Seven drawers flanked by gilt quarter columns.
Brass keyholes.
Denmark, Copenhagen Appro...
Category
19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of French Empire Andirons in Wrought Iron with Brass Finials
Located in Kastrup, DK
A charming pair of French Empire andirons crafted from wrought iron, featuring elegant brass finials on the front tops.
These fireplace supports are presented in their original, unto...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron
Pair of Naïve Allegorical Landscape Paintings Sign, Christian Georg v. Lind
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of naïve allegorical landscape paintings.
Oil on canvas
Signed Lieutenant Christian Georg V. Lind , 1837 and 1838.
See text on the back.
In original gilded Damgaard frames....
Category
Mid-18th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Canvas
Antique Mirror With Frame Made In Mahogany, Denmark From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
This antique mirror, crafted from hand-polished mahogany and originating from Denmark around the 1880s, is a stunning example of late 19th-century design and craftsmanship.
The fram...
Category
1840s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Yellow Empire Oval Metal Bread Basket with Brass Accents and Engraved Handles
Located in Kastrup, DK
Empire Bread Basket in Oval Form, Crafted from Metal with Ochre Finish.
This elegant Empire bread basket features an oval shape, crafted from metal with an ochre-colored finish. The...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Vintage Danish Malm Candle Holders, 1950s. Set of 4.
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish Malm Candle Holders, 1950s. Set of 4.
Two pairs of candleholders in malm, which is a brass alloy with added copper. The cobber gives the brass a darker color.
The hei...
Category
1950s Danish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Danish Late Empire Mahogany With Inlay Bureau / Secretair
Located in Kastrup, DK
Rare Danish early 19th century secretary or slant front bureau.
Exquisitely crafted from mahogany with fabulous marquetry decoration in black n...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bone, Mahogany, Satinwood, Walnut
Sampson & Dalilah "At The Gate Of Prison" Colored Copper Engraving
Located in Kastrup, DK
Sampson & Dalilah, At the gate of prison.
Colored copper engraving in contemporary Empire mahogany frame with internal line intarsia, gilt with ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Paper
Antique Decorative Swedish Cast Iron Garden Table
Located in Kastrup, DK
Decorative Swedish cast iron garden table. C 1860-1880
Painted leg formed as griffins.
Made in decorative style and high quality.
"The griffin is a ...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
Mirror With Frame Made In Mahogany With Marquetry From 1890s
Located in Lejre, DK
This pair of mahogany mirrors with marquetry from the 1890s is a splendid example of late 19th-century craftsmanship and design. Each mirror features a beautifully crafted mahogany f...
Category
1890s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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
19th Century Empire Chandelier
Located in Copenhagen, K
Beautiful large Empire chandelier with original candleholders, restored and cleaned.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Large B&G, Bing & Grondahl Vase in Pink with Handles in Gold, Early Stamp
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Large B&G, Bing & Grondahl vase in pink with handles in gold.
Early stamp. Dated 1865.
1st. assortment. In perfect condition.
Measures 29.5 x 14.5 cm.
Category
1860s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Empire B&G 10 p. Coffee Service, Bing and Grondahl, B&G No. 102
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Empire B&G 10 p. Coffee service.
Bing and Grondahl, B&G No. 102.
Contents: 1.25 dl. Measures: 7.8 cm. x 6.2 cm
Old No. 102. New No. 305.
1st. factory quality., in...
Category
20th Century Danish Empire Furniture
Sensational B&G 'Bing & Grondahl' Large Egg Shaped Vase in Empire Style
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Sensational B&G (Bing & Grondahl) large egg shaped vase in Empire style on stand. Lid with mythological figures in biscuit. Decorated with the Stock Ex...
Category
20th Century Danish Empire Furniture
Large Antique B&G Bing & Grondahl Vase in Purple with Handles in Gold
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Large antique B&G Bing & Grondahl vase in purple with handles in gold with faun-face.
Early stamp. Dated 1888, with monogram.
1st. factory quality. In perfect condition...
Category
1880s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Antique Empire Table with Flaps and Marquetry in Birch Wood from 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
The Empire dining table, an antique piece featuring intricate intarsia work, crafted from birch wood and originating from Denmark in 1840, is a remarkable testament to the craftsmans...
Category
1840s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Set Of 2 Antique Empire Style Armchairs Made In Mahogany From 1920s
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
Mirror Made In Mahogany With Carvings From 1880s
Located in Lejre, DK
This mirror, crafted from hand-polished mahogany and adorned with intricate carvings, is a stunning example of Danish craftsmanship from around the 1880s. The rich, deep tones of the...
Category
1880s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Table Mirror With Frame Made In Walnut From 1880s
Located in Lejre, DK
This small table mirror, crafted from walnut wood and dating back to around the 1880s, is a charming and elegant example of late 19th-century design...
Category
1880s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Mirror Made In Mahogany, Marquetry From 1910s
Located in Lejre, DK
This small mirror, crafted from mahogany wood and featuring intricate intarsia, dates back to around the 1910s. It is a beautiful example of early 20th-century craftsmanship and desi...
Category
1910s Danish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Set of Five 19th Century Glasses with Gold Leaf Motive
Located in Copenhagen, K
Very nice set of five German glasses with gold motives. Gilding very nicely preserved.
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass
Danish 18th Century Empire Mirror
Located in Copenhagen, K
Elegant Empire mirror with hand-painted flowers and statue in the upper glass part.
Category
18th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
Jepthas "Distress at Meeting His Daughter" Colored Copper Engraving
Located in Kastrup, DK
Jephthah's Distress at meeting his Daughter.
Painted by H. Singelton. Engraved by W. Bond
Colored copper engraving in contemporary Empire mahogany frame...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mahogany, Paper
Danish Early 19th Century Empire Tobacco Box
Located in Kastrup, DK
A charming mahogany tobacco box in an architecturally intriguing form. The top of the lid is adorned with a small knob of bone.
Great quality and craftsmanship.
Empire. Denmark, ...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bone, 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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