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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: England
Style: Empire
Mid 19th century Swedish ebonised dressing table with classical detail
Located in London, GB
A decorative and functional ebonised Swedish dressing table in a Empire style with angular cornice and applied gilt rosette detail to the support columns of the mirror. The dressing ...
Category

1850s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair Marble Pedestal Stands - French Empire Table Column Supports
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Elegant pair of French Empire style marble pedestal stands Classical pair of stands perfect for displaying marble busts or vases Big pair with intricate ormolu fixtures which are ori...
Category

1980s Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

A Pair of Empire Marble Gueridon Side Tables Raised On Ebonized Column Supports
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Pair Of Matching French Empire Style Marble Gueridon Side Tables Raised On Column Supports United By A Triform Base and Side Drawer.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Pair Bronze Candelabras - Large French Cherub Manner Clodion
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous pair of French Empire style bronze cherub candelabras Good size to them at three feet - 91 cm - tall Classic French Empire look, great interiors driven pair In the manner of...
Category

1980s Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

An Empire Style Table de Salon, with Tiger's Eye Gemstone Top
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Table de Salon, with Tiger's Eye Gemstone Top. The rectangular top is veneered in Tiger's Eye gemstone in radiating geometric patterns. ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Pair of French Empire Style Ormolu, Wood and Marble Pedestals
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Empire style ormolu, wood and marble pedestals French, 20th Century Height 83cm, diameter 52cm This superb pair of French 20th century pedestals celebrates the ver...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Large French Empire Style Tent Chandelier
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large French Empire Style Tent chandelier This is a lovely piece, quite a large chandelier, it has an aged brass frame hung with large crystals, com...
Category

Early 20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Empire Period Ormolu Mounted Malachite Allegorical Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Empire period ormolu mounted malachite allegorical mantel clock French, early 19th century Measures: Height 50m, width 21cm, depth 14cm This fine mantel clock is an excellent ex...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze

French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Ormolu French Empire clock, drumhead case with applied frieze decoration to the base, standing on turned and engraved feet. Superb engine turned dial centre, the gilded dial with Roman numerals, original hands and floral cast bezel surround. Convex glass to the rear supporting the eight day movement with outside countwheel striking and silk suspension. The whole surmounted by a gilded winged...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

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

Two Reclaimed Tall Outdoor Braziers or Torchieres
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
Each standing at 165cm (64.96 inches) tall, these spectacular reclaimed 20th century outdoor braziers or vintage garden torchieres bring grandeur and prestige to any property. Imagine the pair placed either side of an entrance to a lavish mansion or framing the steps at the bottom of the courtyard to a countryside estate. They are of a huge and prominent scale and deserve to be in equally impressive surroundings. Sourced from a property in London, these reclaimed outdoor braziers date from the early 20th century. Each features a domed steel dish...
Category

Early 20th Century English Empire Furniture

Materials

Limestone, Steel, Iron

19th Century Empire Style Ormolu Table Mirror
Located in London, GB
19th century Empire style ormolu table mirror French, 19th Century Height 56cm, width 37cm, depth 4cm, depth when open 46cm This fine table ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Pair of French Empire Style Malachite, Lapis Lazuli and Ormolu Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Empire style malachite, lapis lazuli and ormolu vases French, 20th Century Height 78cm, width 47cm, depth 30cm Skilfully crafted by French craftsmen, the unusual mixt...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Ormolu

Pair of Late 19th Century French Empire Style Picture Frames
Located in London, GB
Pair of late 19th century French Empire style picture frames French, Late 19th century Height 16cm, width 11.5cm, depth 2/ 7 cm Circular in shape and mounted in an easel style, this...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

Giltwood Carved Eagle on Verde Antico Fluted Marble Column
Located in London, by appointment only
A superb and richly carved giltwood eagle perched on rocks with open wings, the eagle's head looking to its left and fitted with a separate giltwood wreath...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Empire Style Mahogany Bibliothèque (Display Cabinet) with Brass Mounts
Located in London, GB
Empire Style Mahogany Bibliothèque (Display Cabinet) with Brass Mounts, a captivating piece that exudes timeless elegance and sophistication. Crafted from luxurious mahogany and ador...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

A Pair Of Gilt Brass French Bouliotte Style Candle Lamps
Located in London, GB
A pair of Mid 20th century Gilt Brass Bouliotte style table lamps with new grey fabric shades. The circular plinth base with reeded stem supporting two tall candle style arms. Circul...
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of Bouillotte Lamps
Located in London, GB
Pair of bouillotte lamps in toleware and bronze, in the French Empire manner.
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Large Empire Period Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Large Empire period gilt bronze mantel clock French, early 19th Century Measures: Height 52cm, width 28cm, depth 17.5cm This superb Empi...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Pair of Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
A pair of Empire gilt and patinated bronze candelabra. Each with a winged Victorian female figure carrying a torchère on their hea...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Siena Marble, Bronze

19th Century French Mahogany and Ormolu Bookcase in the Empire Style
Located in London, GB
An exceptional and fine library breakfront bookcase by Antoine Krieger of Paris In the Empire taste, this wonderful piece shows careful selection of matched flame mahogany veneers, contrasted by finely chiselled mercury gilded ormolu bronze mounts. The glazed, four door upper section is surmounted by ormolu laurel wreath victory garlands, and acanthus leaves to the cornice, the lower four blind doors having central caduceus mounts, emblematic of Mercury’s staff; the outer doors showing central Apollo masks, with acanthus leaves in a cruciform pattern; the cornered motifs being rosettes with conforming acanthus leaves; the pilaster columns are capped by stylised Tuscan capitals. The four oak lined drawers have Grecian Lyre backplates to the handles, and the locks are signed by the maker. The bookcase is elevated on toupie ‘cotton reel’ feet. The very finest workmanship has gone into this piece, as evinced by the ethereal ‘gold dust’ ormolu mounts, with the crispest of ciselure, and the breathtaking quality of the mahogany veneers. This piece, originally conceived by Percier and Fontaine, adopting the decoration from the Antique, is signed by Antoine Krieger of Paris. Circa 1860 Percier and Fontaine published in 1812 the ‘bon ton’ design collection, ‘Recueil des Decorations Interieurs...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Rare French Napoleonic Empire Sienna Marble Fireplace Mantel
Located in London, GB
A very important 19th century (circa 1820) French Empire Sienna marble fireplace with elaborate ormolu enrichments to frieze and jambs. The flu...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Siena Marble

Pair of Antique French Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Chairs
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique French Empire style mahogany and gilt bronze chairs French, 19th century Dimensions: Height 93cm, width 51cm depth 48cm This pai...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century French Empire Mahogany, Gilt and Marble Topped Dressing Table
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in London, GB
Constructed using a fine Honduras mahogany with gilt highlights, Bleu Tarquin marble and richly dressed with fire gilt ormolu mounts of the highest quality. The table of lyre end sup...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19th Century French Bronze Figure of Napoleon
Located in London, GB
An early 19th Century well-cast bronze statue of Napoleon in full uniform, standing on square socle with applied ormolu laurel leaf wreath, ending o...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Pair French Side Tables Painted Lacquer Occasional
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous pair of French Empire style side tables Feature a lacquer finish and hand painted floral motifs Very colourful interiors pair with original gilt fixtures Good size to these ...
Category

1920s Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Pair Empire Console Tables Kingwood 1890
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a pair of antique French Empire style console tables Clean and minimal design and circa 1890 on this pair Ormolu fixtures are original Offered in great shape ready fo...
Category

1890s Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Kingwood

19th Century Italian Giltwood and Marble Top Occasional Table
Located in London, GB
A good centre table in the Italian impero manner Constructed in carved gold leaf giltwood, and having a St Jean brecciated marble top; of circular form, the tripartite base of canin...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

French 19th Century Marble Top Gueridon
Located in London, England
Marble top French Empire style mahogany gueridon with brass mounts. Fantastic condition. Fully restored. Circa 1850.
Category

1850s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Antique Green & Sienna Marble Fireplace Mantel
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
This surround was reclaimed from a property in Ascot, UK. It features carved Sienna marble end blocks and fluted Sienna frieze and jambs. Opening Height 90 cm (35.43 in) Opening Wi...
Category

Early 20th Century English Empire Furniture

Materials

Siena Marble, Marble

Mid 19th century Danish empire mahogany mirror on cabinet
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Danish mahogany mirror on cabinet circa 1860. Beautiful piece of mid 19th century Danish furniture strong in the influence of the regency period. Comprising of 2 p...
Category

Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Mahogany

Pair of French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Wall Lights
Located in London, GB
Pair of French gilt and patinated bronze wall lights French, 20th Century Height 103cm, width 50cm, depth 44cm Drawing inspiration from the sophisticated Empire style, these wall li...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Empire style gilt bronze sconces French, 20th Century Measures: Height 88cm, width 38cm, depth 35cm This elegant pair of sconces is wrought from gilt bronze in th...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Pair of Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze and Marble Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of neoclassical style gilt bronze and marble vases French, early 20th century Measures: Height 52cm, width 21cm, depth 19cm Each vase in this pair, crafted from gilt bronze...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu, Bronze

Printing Block Wallpaper Complete Repeat Empire Acanthus Leaf Roundel
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Rare woodblock with complete repeat. Of interest to wallpaper collectors or as a conversation piece in the home as a decorative carved wallhanging. A rare, large 19th Century French wallpaper...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Oak

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

An Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Satinwood Buffet Cabinet
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Satinwood Buffet Cabinet. The attractive and original Verde Antico marble top above three freize drawers. The central door with a burr-amboyna l...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Inlaid Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
French 19th century Marquetry two-drawer commode with a wonderful marble top. Featuring wonderful inlaid decoration, this commode conveys typical Empire styles. A great storage pi...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair of French Neoclassical Style Lapis and Gilt Bronze Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of French neoclassical style lapis and gilt bronze vases French, late 19th century Measures: Height 46cm, diameter 19cm Each vase in this pair, crafted from gilt bronze mou...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Ormolu, Bronze

French Painted Toleware and Brass Desk Lamp A lovely piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
French Painted Toleware and Brass Desk Lamp A lovely piece, adapted from an original oil lamp, the lamp has a single brass sconce and opposite we can see the secretary bird both set...
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Late 18th Century Golden Painted Eagle Statue
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A late 18th century gold painted papier mache eagle with wings spread and on a rectangular wooden base. Originally from Birr Castle, Ireland.An impressive late 18th century gold pain...
Category

Late 18th Century Irish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Paper

Pair of Empire Console Tables
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A large pair of Empire console tables with green marble tops and large scale ormolu mounts. With symmetrical eagle motifs on the legs an...
Category

19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Empire Style Gueridon in the Manner of Jacob-Desmalter, circa 1880
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Empire style gilt-bronze and mahogany gueridon, with a Verde antico marble top, in the manner of Jacob-Desmalter. French, circa 1880. The circular Verde antico marble ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Empire Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Six-Light Bowl Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This beautiful bowl chandelier is designed in the Empire style, which flourished in France in the period 1804-14, when Napoleon Bonaparte was Emperor. The style is defined as a phase...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Antique French Empire Style Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
Antique French Empire style chest of drawers French, 19th century Measures: Height 86cm, width 127cm, depth 57cm This beautiful ches...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Pair of Empire Style Seven-Light Candelabra
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Pair of Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble Seven-Light Candelabra. These palatial sized candelabra date to the First Empire period. As becoming of ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Griotte Marble, Bronze

Large French Empire Style Glass and Gilt Bronze 18-Light Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This 19th century French chandelier is designed in the Empire style and wrought from gilt bronze and strings of cut glass. The chandelier features a lower dome-shaped body below an o...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

French Empire Duchesse Brisée Armchair in Parcel Gilt
Located in London, GB
A fine early nineteenth-century French Empire period duchesse brisée armchair with accompanying footstool. This set is in the original paint with applied gilded highlights. The restr...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Pine

French Empire Vitrine Display Cabinet 1860
Located in Potters Bar, GB
French Empire two door display vitrine Shaped glass to doors and original ormulo fittings Intricate marquetry panels on lower doors Hand crafted from kingwood circa 1860 Bought from ...
Category

1860s Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Glass, Kingwood

Empire period bronze and ormolu Grecian style pair of classical urns, circa 1830
Located in Central England, GB
This superb quality pair of French Empire classical twin handled urns is very stylish and cast in very heavy solid bronze with alternate sections highlighted with original ormolu whi...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Side Chair
Located in London, GB
Empire style mahogany and gilt bronze side chair French, late 19th century Measures: Height 94cm, width 52cm, depth 52cm Crafted from mahogany, this unusual side chair...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Gilt Metal and Tole Table Lamp
Located in London, GB
A beautiful antique gilt metal and tole table lamp, made in England and dating from around the 1920’s. It is of superb quality, with fine and intricate details. The tole shade is or...
Category

1920s British Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

French Empire Influenced Chandelier, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century French Empire influenced chandelier, having a coronet with chains hanging down to the chandelier that has twelve branch sconces each with swan heads, a fl...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th century Swedish empire elm marble top console table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish elm marble top console table circa 1860. Fine quality console table of grand proportions.  Shaped marble top standing on an elm base.  Single concealed draw...
Category

1860s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Pair of Empire-Style Neoclassical Gilt and Patinated Bronze Stands
Located in London, GB
A pair of Empire-style Neoclassical gilt and patinated bronze stands French, 20th Century 42cm high x 31cm wide x 31 cm depth Made from patinated bronze and gilt bronze in the French Empire style, with Neoclassical influences, these excellent stands were made in France in the 20th century. Placed upon four small gilt feet...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French Empire Mahogany Settee, Early 19th Century
Located in London, by appointment only
Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Settee An Empire finely carved dark figured mahogany three seat settee, the back is surmounted by facing scrolls with strigilated flutes be...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

French Empire Style Gilt-Bronze and Mahogany Five-Piece Salon Suite
Located in London, GB
French Empire style gilt-bronze and mahogany five-piece salon suite French, Late 19th Century Sofa: Height 107cm, width 162cm, depth 65cm Armchair: Height 101cm, width 68cm, depth 6...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Pair of ormolu mounted and lacquered metal curule chairs in the Empire style
Located in London, GB
These beautiful, simple, and sophisticated, curule chairs were executed in the Empire style, combining the majesty of Roman rule with Napoleonic imperial France. Long a symbol of rule and power, curule chairs originally appeared in the Roman Republic, called sella curulis, seats reserved exclusively for those who held imperium, i.e. those who held positions of military or governmental command. Inherited by many subsequent civilisations, and a favourite of European kings wishing to frame their own authority within this Roman tradition, they feature heavily in Empire period France, holding a particular associated with Napoleon. These particular pieces are made of lacquered metal and are mounted with ormolu...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Metal

Impressive Empire Style Buffet by Maison Krieger
Located in London, GB
Impressive Empire style buffet by Maison Krieger French, circa 1900 Measures: Height 199cm, width 217cm, depth 66cm This magnificent Empire style c...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu, Bronze

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

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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