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: Germany
Style: Empire
Table Mirror, France Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Table mirror in mahogany on oak with brass urn-shaped pinnacles and four drawers.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Empire Mantel Clock with Putto in Chariot, signed Thiery à Paris, Early 19th C.
Located in Greding, DE
Empire mantel clock made of fire-gilded bronze. The scene shows a putto in a richly decorated chariot pulled by a jumping poodle. The clockwork is elegantly integrated into the wheel...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
2 armchairs Classicism - Empire Walnut
Located in Würzburg, DE
✓ Top condition
✓ Wonderful wood carvings
✓ High quality walnut
Dimensions: W: 60cm H: 92cm D: 48cm
Item: Antique armchair
Item no.: 927
Epoch: Empire around 1800
Material: Walnut
...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Rare French Empire Mahogany Bookcase Library Jacob Desmalter
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Large and very unusual French Empire bookcase in beautifully figured mahogany veneer. Four glazed doors (original glass), interior with original shelves (two on each level allow an adjustment for larger...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Commode, Walnut Veneered with Caryatids, Austria, Vienna circa 1810/15
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very fine original Empire commode or chest of three drawers, walnut veneered with Caryatid pilaster columns, from Austria/Vienna about 1810-15.
Lovely book-matched Walnut Veneer on softwood. Excellent french polished surface.
Exceptional carved caryatid pilasters depicting of temple guards...
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron, Gold Leaf
20th Century French Empire Salon Sofa/Couch, Black
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century French Empire Salon Sofa/Couch, black
Very specific finely detailed carving work on solid ebonized beechwood. Partially gilded. Cum...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Beech
Empire Frame, Italy, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Wood stuccoed and gilded.
Rectangular frame with cymatium frieze and pearl strip, alternating shell and dolphin decorations in relief.
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Table in the Versace Style with 4 Columns Frame in Maple Root Veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Table in the Versace style with 4 columns frame in maple root veneer.
Made in Italy.
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Maple
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
20th Century Empire Style Bronze Casted Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and casted Bronze. Full plasticised, masculine historical Egyptian representation.
(T-Mr-20-Bp).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Impressive Royal Early 19th Century German Empire Mirror
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A rare early 19th century German Empire giltwood trumeau mirror. The large rectangular plate surmounted by a scrolled pediment enriched with wines leaves and a central medallion encl...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
20th Century Empire Style Courtly Lion Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Bird’s eye maple on solid pinewood, partially ebonized. Finely engraved Empire bronze fixtures.
(L-Sam-301).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Empire/ Charles X Gilt and Patinated Bronze Four-Light Wall Appliques
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Empire/ Charles X Gilt and Patinated Bronze Four-Light Wall Appliques or Sconces
A pair of Empire/ Charles X four-branch ormolu/gilt and patinated bronze wall lights “à la c...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Unusual Early 19th Century Swedish Carved Giltwood Console Table
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very decorative and unusual Swedish giltwood and ebonized console table with a white marble top supported by two sculptural griffins (part eagle, part sea creature).
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
French Portico Clock Signed Cellier à Paris, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Small portico clock made of gray marble with gilded applications. The cylindrical movement is enclosed between two columns, above which a figural top piece in the form of a seated Ch...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
20th Century Empire Style Table Decoration after J.B. Claude Odiot
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, engraved and silvered. Three columns shafts with full-plastic, finely engraved swans. Funnel-shaped insert.
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Royal Empire Mantel Clock / Pendulum Clock, Fire-Gilt, Around 1805-1815, Paris
Located in Berlin, DE
Royal Empire mantel clock / pendulum clock, fire-gilt, around 1805-1815, Paris
Solid bronze, fire-gilded, Paris around 1805-1815, original French Empire from the first period.
...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Putti Empire Chandelier Crystal Gold Basket Antique Brass Classic
Located in Berlin, DE
Elegant Vintage Chandelier with Charming Putti – Lovingly Restored in Berlin
This stunning chandelier is a true masterpiece, combining timeless elegance with delightful details. Fea...
Category
1940s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Antique Empire / Biedermeier Armchair, circa 1810, Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany solid wood, partially veneered. Semicircular backrests, Bergeren-form.
Restored and reupholstered with original Wollrips fabric covered.
(C-147).
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Early 19th Century Prussian Cast Iron Vases Urns Fer De Berlin
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A beautiful pair of cast iron vases (urns) on pedestal, attributed to the Royal Prussian Iron Foundries in Gleiwitz. This pair is modeled most likely aft...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Berlin Iron, Iron
French Restauration Period Ormolu Lyre Mantel Clock with Apollo Mask
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An unusual French Restauration period ormolu mantel clock. The elaborately pierced gilt bronze case in the form of a lyre, with an Apollo mask cresting, on a white marble stepped bas...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
21st Century Baroque Brass Empire Chandelier Crystal Lustre Lamp Antique Gold
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing a stunning Baroque Empire brass chandelier, an exquisite piece with fascinating embellishments reminiscent of the classic style of the Empire era. This is a new reproduct...
Category
2010s German Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Mahogany Empire Chest Of Drawers, Stamped Jacob Frères Rue Meslée, Paris c. 1800
Located in Greven, DE
Empire chest of drawers stamped Jacob Frères Rue Meslée
Paris
Mahogany
around 1800
Dimensions: H x W x D: 92 x 131 x 63 cm
Description:
Four carved, bronze-patinated paw feet supp...
Category
1790s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Wall Girdle/Wall Light after Antoine-André Ravrio
Located in Berlin, DE
Imperial Empire wall girdle to Antoine-André Ravrio 1759-1814.
Bronze, gilded or partly dark patinated. From acanthus of fullplastic herme / Amor adult with, holding a vase as a car...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire France Lyra-Shaped Curly-Legs Side Tables, circa 1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid wood and partly boned. Round leaf with black-and-white interspersed marble, over simple frame and lyra-shaped curly legs on three-sided ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
20th Century antique Empire Style Lion canapé Sofa beech bronze
Located in Berlin, DE
Imperial stylish lion Kanapee in Empire style. Finely detailed carving work on solid ebonized beechwood. Gilded. Winged, protruding lions heads in bronze.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Beech
18th Century Viennese Dark Green Painted and Giltwood Mantle Clock
Located in Berlin, DE
18th century Viennese dark green painted and giltwood pendule of unusual size in the form of a classical urn, the gilt-bronze dial with Roman numerals, surmounted by giltwood flowers...
Category
1790s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood, Wood
19th Century Empire Style French Mahogany Vitrine
Located in Berlin, DE
High-quality Cuba mahogany on solid softwood. Architecturally articulated body. Two-door, bent frame box on pressed, carved, poliementvergolddete claw feet. Recessed tower with two t...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Softwood
Neoclassical Empire Early 19th Century Mahogany Desk Armchair
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An unusual North European mahogany desk armchair with original brass castors. Fully carved armrests with eagle heads, the design probably by a designer from Berlin or Copenhagen (e.g...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
20th Century Empire Style Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and casted bronze. Full plasticized, feminine historical Egyptian representation.
(T-Mr-21-Bp).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century antique Empire style Chandelier with 8 Silver Swans brass
Located in Berlin, DE
Galvanized bronze and partly red patinated. Bowl-shaped body with pine finish. Starting from this, eight candlestick arms designed as swans with cylindrical spouts over a round eaves...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Spectacular Temple Guardian Antique Empire Style Table Birdseye Maple Veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Spectacular Temple Guardian Empire style table
Root on solid beechwood. A classical table with three monumental, fully ...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Birdseye Maple
Important Empire Early 19th Century Fauteuil by Jean-Joseph Chapuis
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Despite his long life, very little is known about the general production of menuisier (chairmaker) Jean-Joseph Chapuis (1765-1864) and even less about his use of bent laminates, which must be viewed as the most advanced of its kind until the appearance of Michael Thonet’s work of the 1830s.
The profound reverence for the classical world in enlightened circles in early 19th century Europe and the United States often resulted in the archaeological resurrection of the art, architecture, and design of ancient Greece and Rome. No chair employing the innovative technique of bending wood more boldly expresses this allegiance to the past than this armchair painted in le style antique and based on the ancient Roman sella...
Category
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Cane, Bentwood
20th Century Empire Style French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and silvered. Three stylized horn-formed rolling candlesticks.
(T-Mr-14-Bas).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Antique French Empire Style Gilt Brass Candlesticks, ca. 1890
Located in Barntrup, DE
Pair of antique French Empire-style gilt brass candlesticks from ca. 1890.
A beautiful and compact-sized pair of French Empire-style gilt brass candlesticks with removable bobeches (...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Swedish Giltwood Early 19th Century Empire Console Table
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine, giltwood Swedish console table, possibly by the Stockholm master cabinet maker Lundelius (1778-1823). The wooden top in faux marble painted, the base plinth is painted black....
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Original antique Empire Table circa 1860 - 1880 Mahogany veneer bronzed
Located in Berlin, DE
Original Empire table circa 1860-1870 from an Empire room.
The table stands on 3 feet of each foot 1 empire head cast in bronze.
Top condition.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Empire France Lyra-Shaped Curly-Legs Side Tables, circa 1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid wood and partly boned. Round leaf with black-and-white interspersed marble, over simple frame and lyra-shaped curly legs on three-sided retracted base plate and dis...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Pair of Stunning Russian Empire Period Ormolu Wall Sconces , ca. 1820s
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
A stunning pair of Russian empire period ormolu wall candelabras , ca. 1800s-1830s.
Category
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th Century Vase Pendule, Pendulum-Clock, Tardy à Lyon, Empire circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Antique vase clock
France
Fire gilded bronze
Empire around 1820
Dimensions: H x W x D: 41 x 13 x 12
Description:
Beautiful all gilt French mantel clock.
The basic form is in the shape of an urn vase with lid...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
20th Century Candelabra after Pierre Philippe Thomire
Located in Berlin, DE
Princely splendid candelabra after Pierre Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) exceptionally fine engraved and moulded bronze. Fully moulded designed f...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Caryatide Tulip Veneer Commode
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century Empire style Caryatide tulip veneer commode
tulip veneer on solid pinewood. Architecturally structured front.
(D-Sam-66).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Tulipwood, Wood
Pair of Empire Style Sconces Wall Lights, Germany, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Add a touch of opulence to your home with this charming pair of sconces. Perfect to enhance any chic or eclectic home. We'd love to see it hanging in an entryway as a charming welcom...
Category
1960s German Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Small Early 19th Century Empire Commode with 3 Drawers and Tapered Legs, 1810
Located in Berlin, DE
This charming early 19th-century Empire commode, crafted around 1810, exudes a sophisticated elegance. The rich, red-brown walnut veneer is beautifully complemented by brass inlays, ...
Category
Early 1800s German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Living Room Suite in the Antique Empire Style Beech Hand Carved
Located in Berlin, DE
Very exact fine-carved sculpture made of solid, blackened beechwood. Poliment gold-plated. Scratched frame on sculpturally carved legs ending in claws. Armrests volute-shaped bent in...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Candlesticks Empire Pattern by WMF Art Nouveau Silverplated
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
Beautiful pair of antique candlesticks by WMF are stunning examples of silverplated pewter craftsmanship, made during the Art Nouveau period around 1900. They are part of the "Empire...
Category
1890s German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate, Pewter
Rare Pair of Early 19th Century Empire Bronze Vases, French or German
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A rare and decorative pair of early 19th century Empire gilt and patinated bronze vases of campana form on a stepped square marble base. The everted egg-and-dart rim above a finely chased frieze depicting putti playing music.
This or a similar pair of vases belonged to the collection of the Queen Louise of Prussia...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Dresser, Chest of Drawers, Mirror, stamped Jean-Joseph Chapuis, Brussels c. 1810
Located in Greven, DE
Antique dressing table - stamped Chapuis
Brussels
Mahogany
Empire around 1810
Dimensions: H x W x D: 178 x 91 x 56 cm, height without mirror: 82 cm
Description:
Elaborately crafted early 19th century dressing table...
Category
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Empire Wall Sconces in Bronze with Flower Basket Motif, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pair of nice sconces. Each fixture requires a European E14 candelabra bulb, bulb up to 40 watts. Each wall light has a beautiful patina and gives each room an eclectic statement. Mad...
Category
1950s Swedish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Cabinet / cupboard in antique Empire Style Mahogany Veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid wood. High-arched, architecturally designed corpus, single-door base, open-sided shelf, flanked by columns with capitals and bases of finely chiselled bronze, sligh...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Brass Empire Hanging Chandelier for Four Candles
Located in Dresden, DE
Early 19th-Century Brass Chandelier for four candles
Height: 65 cm
Diameter: 45 cm
Brass
An elegant addition to any room or entrance way, this Empire lamp holds 4 candles and crea...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Gilt Bronze Chandelier with Eagle Heads and Arrows, 1930s
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
A large French empire style six-light gilt and patinated bronze chandelier with eagle heads and arrows, circa 1930s.
Socket: 6 x E14 for standard screw bulb.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Étagère, Germany circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Empire-style étagère standing on tapered legs with patinated brass sabots and wooden ball finials. Four shelves, bordered by delicate brass profile, provide elegant storage space. Th...
Category
1810s German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Mantel Clock with small Satyrs, 1st Half 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Mantel clock on an oval marble base, adorned with fire-gilded bronze appliqués. The clock is supported by fully sculpted satyr figures carrying an overflowing gilded fruit basket. Em...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Monumental Empire Style Crystal and Bronze Sconces, Austria, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pair of gilt bronze and crystal 1930s or older, waterfall sconces in empire style. Each fixture requires three European E14 candelabra bulbs, each bulb up to 40 watts. The wall light...
Category
1930s Austrian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Metal
Large Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Urn, Amphora Table Lamp
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
Large, heavy Empire style gilt and patinated bronze Amphora table lamp decorated with fine ornaments and garlands on a square base supported by four feet covered with leaves. Five-li...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Monumental Empire Style Candle Wall Sconces Candlestick, Italy, 1970s
By Palladio
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pair of giltwood candlestick wall sconces 1970s in empire style. Each fixture requires two candles. The wall lights have a beautiful patina and gives each room an eclectic statement.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
French Empire Style Crystal and Brass Sconce Wall Light, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
This adorable Empire-style sconce features a brass frame draped with crystal glass beading on the top level and three tiers of crystal glass pendants on the bottom.
Two interior ligh...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Metal
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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