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: Florida
Style: Empire
19th Century French Empire Style Circular Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th Century French Empire style circular side table, or nightstand, made of beautifully patterned veneer of mahogany on pine with a dark gray St. Anne marble top. Door with small ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful and most elegant French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal centerpiece. This stunning centerpiece is raised by a circular Ormolu band with an intricate s...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Leather Armchairs Empire Style Midcentury
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this page.
Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A
Pair of Mid Century ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood, Giltwood
19th Century Bronze Ormolu Swan Koi Fish Empire Wood Marble Round Table
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning table you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the best, it being a most spectacular and beautifully presented bronze ormolu swans...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th century Biedermeier Empire/Neo-Classical st. Desk by Francois Linke
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and extremely high quality Continental 19th century Biedermeier Empire/Neo-Classical st. Burl Walnut, Ebonized Fruitwood, Giltwood and Ormolu Bureau Plat by Francois Li...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Two Tier Vintage Natural Alabaster Chandelier Pendant
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Natural Alabaster Two-Tier Chandelier Italian Beauty. It comes with 3 feet of brass chain and is ready to install ceiling canopy.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Alabaster, Marble
Pair of French Mid-19th Century Empire Style Ormolu Candelabras
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and large scale pair of French mid 19th century Empire st. ormolu and marble candelabras. Each candelabra is raised on a marble base with concave sides below the ormolu...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Pair Of French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany And Ormolu Mirrors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very architectural pair of French 19th century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu mirrors. The pair of mirrors display mirror plates flanked by two Mahogany columns. The columns have a...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
18Th. C French Empire Collection of Rare Straw Marquetry Bottles, Set of 7
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in, this rare and exceptional collection of seven French 18Th C. Straw Marquetry Bottles.
These were made by convicts in the 18Th century.
This is a very rare collection, you ...
Category
Mid-18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Straw, Blown Glass
Italian early 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Giltwood console and mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stately and most impressive Northern Italian early 19th century Empire st. patinated Mahogany, Giltwood and Veneered marble console and mirror. This stunning console and its origin...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
1980s Empire Style Sculptural Daybed Bench Ottoman
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, versatile piece you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the be...
Category
1980s English Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
French Mid-19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Marble Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very handsome French mid-19th century Empire style mahogany, ormolu and Vert de Patricia marble center table, circa 1850. The table is raised by three legs with rectangular support...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Leather and Gris St. Anne marble table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most elegant French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Leather and Gris St. Anne marble side/center/games table. This wonderful table is raised by Brass casters below t...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Sage Green French Empire Table Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
A French Empire style table lamp in sage green. A round central column is topped with an acanthus pressed brass capital beneath a matching sage green lampshade. The column sits above...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Hexagonal Center Table with Marquetry Inlay Surface
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century hexagonal shaped center table with Marquetry surface. Marquetry inlay features a knight on horseback with spear, fighting off a medieval animal. Table sits on a turned s...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of French Mid 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu Mounted Armchair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome pair of French mid 19th century Empire st. mahogany and ormolu mounted armchairs. The pair are raised by front square tapered legs that have pawed ormolu feet with a roset...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Style Kidney Shape & Brass Gallery 2 Tier Butler's Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Such an elegant French Empire Style Mahogany Butler's Table in a Kidney Shape with Brass Galleries,
There are two shelfs, top and bottom that have the reticulated Brass gallery
T...
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Russian 19th Century Empire St. Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and most impressive Russian 19th century Empire st. patinated bronze and ormolu eighteen light chandelier. The chandelier is centered by a fine inverted bottom finial w...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
20th Century Black French Pair of Large Marble, Gilded Bronze Table Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, vintage French pair of large table lamps made of hand crafted marble with a new round shade, in good condition. They are composed with its original switch, particularized by...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Vert Patricia Marble and Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Empire st. Vert Patricia marble and ormolu clock. The clock is raised by fine rectangular ormolu supports below the Vert de Patricia marble base. A str...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Gold Gilt Empire Style Lamp
Located in Tampa, FL
A single gold gilt lamp in the Empire style. It is very nicely gilded and at the bottom has company name. The lamp has the original plugs, socket and ha...
Category
1940s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
French Turn of the Century Empire st. Ormolu and Crystal centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and finely detailed French Turn of the Century Empire st. Ormolu and Crystal centerpiece. The stunning cut Crystal bowl is raised on four straight legs displaying clawed f...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Armchairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome French mid-19th century Empire style mahogany and ormolu mounted pair of armchairs. The pair are raised by front square tapered legs that have pawed ormolu feet and e...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
pair of French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu side chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality pair of French 19th century Neo-Classical/Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu side chairs. Each wonderful chair is raised on four square curved legs all connec...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Black French Antique Wrought Iron Napoleon III Candelabra
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black antique, late 19th century French floor candle holder, candelabra hand crafted in very ornate fer forge work with wrought iron scrolls and seven candle holders, in good condi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Wrought Iron
French 19th century Belle Epoque Period Empire st. Bronze and Ormolu lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A high quality and most impressive French 19th century Belle Epoque Period Empire st. patinated Bronze, Ormolu and Rouge Griotte Marble lamp. The stunning candelabra mounted into a l...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
An Italian early 19th century Mahogany, Giltwood and veneered marble console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stately and most decorative Northern Italian early 19th century Empire st. patinated Mahogany, Giltwood and veneered marble console. This stunning cons...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Breccia Marble
French Brass and Leather Side Table Maison Jansen Style
Located in Bradenton, FL
French Maison Jansen Style Brass and Tooled Leather Side Table. Rectangular table features leather inserts on the two shelves, and acorn finials. The four acorn finials cap each of t...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Austro-Hungarian Empire 1880 Budapest Vesta Tinder Box In .900 Sterling Silver
Located in Miami, FL
An Austro-Hungarian mechanical vesta tinder case.
Beautiful antique fusee vesta tinder case, created in Budapest Hungary around the 1880. It was crafted during the Austro-Hungarian ...
Category
1880s Hungarian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
French 19th Century Empire Period Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Psyche Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and most detailed French 19th century Empire period ormolu mounted mahogany Psyche mirror. The mirror is raised by an impressive ormolu support below a thick mahogany b...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu, Bronze & Fruitwood Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome Continental mid 19th century Empire st. mahogany, ormolu, patinated bronze and ebonized fruitwood drop front secretary. The secretary is raised by four square tapered...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
pair of French 19th century Empire st. Rouge de France marble and Ormolu urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most decorative pair of French 19th century Empire st. Rouge de France marble and Ormolu urns. Each wonderful lidded urn is raised by an Ormolu rimmed circular marble base supporti...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Mid 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu Portico Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French mid 19th century Empire st. ormolu portico clock. The clock raised on a rectangular base with finely chased borders and satin and burnish finish interlocking circ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th century Empire st. flame Mahogany, Ormolu and Leather desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful and most elegant French 19th century Empire st. flame Mahogany, Ormolu and Leather desk. This exceptional desk is raised by eight Mahogany legs with superbly detailed Orm...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Vintage Regency Empire Glass Etagere
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fantastic vintage Empire glass cabinet. A chic mahogany with gorgeous Ormolu detail. Interior mirror and glass make the cabinet really light up. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu Cabinet Vitrine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most impressive French 19th century Empire st. ormolu cabinet vitrine. The vitrine is raised by striking paw feet with luxuriant pierced palmette designs. Above the st...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Very Handsome Pair of French Polished Verte Marble and Ormolu Cassolettes
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A charming pair of polished verte marble and bronze doré cassolettes, double handles with snake motif on rim of candleholder opening with acanthus detailing throughout and front moun...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Italian Mid-19th Century Empire Style Mahogany Consoles from Naples
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational pair of Italian mid 19th century Empire st. freestanding flamed mahogany consoles from Naples, Italy. The consoles are raised by double mottled rectangular bases with b...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
French 1870 Pair of Empire Candle Holders Lamps Ormolu with Gray Dotted Granite
Located in Miami, FL
French empire pair of candle holders lamps.
Exceptional pair of antique candleholders, created in Paris France during the imperial period of Napoleon III, circa 1870. They was designed with French empire neoclassical patterns, masterfully crafted with parts made up in gilt bronze ormolu and patinated bronze. Mounted in fluted columns pedestals carved from gray dotted Granite, with polished finish. Embellished with garlands and putties mounted in a four square and stepped bases.
Weight: Combined of 12 Pounds (5.45 Kilos).
Measurements: 15 Height by 4.50 Length by 5.15 Width Inches, (38 x 11.43 x 13.08 Cm).
French Empire
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (1808-1873) was Emperor of France from 1852 to 1870 under the name of Napoleon III. In a way, the artistic codes of the Napoleon III style, also called Second Empire style, were presented at the Exhibition of 1844, during the reign of Louis-Philippe d'Orléans. The second Empire style, also known as the Napoleon III style, is a highly eclectic style of architecture and decorative arts, which uses elements of many different historical styles, and also made innovative use of modern materials, such as iron frameworks and glass skylights. It flourished during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III in France (1852–1870) and had an important influence on architecture and decoration in the rest of Europe and North America. Major examples of the style include the Opéra Garnier (1862–1871) in Paris by Charles Garnier, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Church of Saint Augustine (1860–1871), and the Philadelphia City Hall (1871–1901). The architectural style was closely connected with Haussmann's renovation of Paris carried out during the Second Empire; the new buildings, such as the Opéra, were intended as the focal points of the new boulevards.
Comfort was the first priority of Second Empire furniture...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Granite, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair Of French 19th Century Empire St. Patinated Wood And Giltwood Armchairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking pair of French 19th century Empire style Patinated wood and Giltwood armchairs. The pair of throne chairs are raised on impressive front quiver like circular tapered legs ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Giltwood
French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome French 19th century Empire st. mahogany and ormolu mirror. The original mirror plate is flanked by two most impressive architectural columns with rounded feet, elegan...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Alabaster And Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and most impressive French 19th century Empire st. Alabaster and Ormolu chandelier. This four arm eight light chandelier is centered by a striking foliate acorn shaped Or...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Baltic 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu, Patinated Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality Baltic 19th century Empire st. ormolu, patinated bronze and crystal chandelier. The two tiered eight arm twenty four light chandelier is centere...
Category
19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th century Empire st. flamed Mahogany, Ormolu and Verde Marble cabinets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most impressive pair of French 19th century Empire st. flamed Mahogany, Ormolu, and Verde Antico Marble cabinets. Each four drawer two door cabinet is raised by two fr...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Sèvres Porcelain, Gilt, Onyx, And Ormolu Pedestal
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Sèvres Porcelain, Gilt, Onyx, and Ormolu pedestal. This beautiful pedestal is raised by a square stepped Onyx base with fou...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th century Empire st. Lemon and patinated wood center table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A finely detailed French 19th century Empire st. Lemon and patinated wood center table. This very unique oval table is raised by four statement making legs displaying large scale paw...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
French 19th Century Empire St. Three Piece Porcelain from Limoges, France
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very handsome 19th century French Empire st. three piece Limoges porcelain set, from Limoges, France. The three pieces, one bowl and two vases, are hand painted with wonderful scen...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely elegant French 19th century Empire st. ormolu and Baccarat crystal chandelier. The eight arm chandelier is centered by a striking solid crystal ball below a ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Faux Painted Wood, Giltwood and Marble Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive French 19th century Empire st. faux painted wood, giltwood and Gris Turquin marble side/center table. The circular table is raised by a most decorative triangular base ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany, Ormolu and Marble Buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century Empire st. flamed mahogany, ormolu and fossilized black marble Buffet. The buffet is raised by elegant circular feet below striking architectural colum...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Turn of the Century Bronze Small Picture Frame
Located in Tampa, FL
A bronze empire style small picture frame is from the turn of the century. The precious frame still has its original silk moire fabric inside from when it...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Italian 19th century Empire st Mahogany, Giltwood, patinated Wood console tables
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most decorative pair of Italian 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Giltwood, and patinated Wood console tables. Each unique freestanding demi lune console is raised by ...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Giltwood
Russian 19th Century Empire St. Patinated Bronze, Crystal, and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and extremely decorative Russian 19th century Empire st. patinated bronze, crystal, and ormolu chandelier. The twelve arm chandelier is centered by a Fine solid crystal...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century Scandinavian Birch Empire Bureau Secretary with Bookcase, c. 1820
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Scandinavian Empire/Biedermeier secretary in beautiful birch wood with mahogany interior, Denmark, circa 1820. The highly sculptural form makes this piece an outstanding ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Pair of French 19th century Empire st. Patinated and Giltwood mirrors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and architectural pair of French 19th century Empire st. Patinated and Giltwood mirrors. Each palatially scaled mirror with it's original mirror plates is raised on a s...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Giltwood
French 19th Century Empire Style Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Six-Arm Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Empire st. patinated bronze and ormolu six arm chandelier. The chandelier is centered by a richly chased ormolu bottom finial amidst decorative foliate...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Russian 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Deux-Corps Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive and grand scale Russian 19th century Empire st. mahogany and ormolu Deux-Corps cabinet. The cabinet is raised by fine ball feet encased by handsome ormolu claws. Ab...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Italian 19th Century Empire St. Cherrywood Commodes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking pair of Italian 19th century Empire st. Cherrywood, ebonized Fruitwood and ormolu commodes. Each three drawer chest is raised by elegant square tapered legs below remarkab...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
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.