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
Empire Wall Mirror, Baltic States, around 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Large wall mirror with brass profiles and mahogany veneered frame as well as a gable end rising in the middle. The mirror glass is frame-facetted.
Category
Early 19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique standing mirror Classicism - Empire Walnut
Located in Würzburg, DE
✓ Beautiful brass ornaments
✓ High quality wood selection
✓ Rare find
Dimensions: W: 78cm H: 106cm D: 48cm
Item: Antique mirror
Item no.: 932
Epoch: Empire around 1800
Material: Wa...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Nutwood
Early 19th Century French Empire Large Neoclassical Walnut Console Table
Located in Berlin, DE
Early 19th century French Empire Large Neoclassical Walnut Console Table
An elegant Empire period console table with a with marble top above a frieze d...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Baltic Set of 6 Empire-Armchairs, Mahogany, Design by Georg Friedrich Hetsch
Located in Göttingen, NI
A rare Baltic set of 6 Empire-armchairs - design by Georg Friedrich Hetsch
Mahogany richly carved and veneered
Side frame construction with inlaid upholstered seat on turned f...
Category
1820s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Princely Pomp Candlestick After Pierre Philippe Thomire
Located in Berlin, DE
Extremely finely chased and cast bronze. Fully sculpted figures (Viktoria). Carrying on the head and supporting with the hands torch-shaped shaft with 12 cornucopia, curved lighthous...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$8,327 Sale Price
20% Off
Early 19th Century Empire Mantel Clock by Ledure with Apollo or Eros
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The clock is signed on the enamel dial by the famous Parisian bronzier ”Ledure Bronzier à Paris” and the clockmaker ”Hedon Hr" (horloger). Patinated and fully sculpted bronze figure ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Cabinet, Empire around 1800, solid mahogany, 2-door
Located in Münster, DE
Cabinet, Empire around 1800, solid mahogany, 2-door, can be dismantled, original fittings, head and base with surrounding dentil frieze, lisettes with carved capitals, shellac wax po...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Torchères, Vienna, circa 1800
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of large Empire torches or candelabra on a three-pass base tapering to the top and inlaid with brass inlays in the form of acanthus leaves and floral motifs. Rising above three ...
Category
Early 1800s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$64,237 / set
Meißen Manufactory, Vide Poche with Silhouette Portrait Richard Wagner
Located in Epfach, DE
Richard Wagner lived in 1872 at the Hotel Fantaisie in Bayreuth for half a year until he was able to move into his later domicile with his family. As in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
20th Century Empire Style Horn-Formed Rolling Candlesticks French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and casted, partially silvered. Three stylized, horn-formed rolling candle sticks.
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$1,065 Sale Price
20% Off
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
$9,707 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Italian metal folding side table Empire style, yellow and black, Mid century
Located in Hamburg, DE
Transport your living space back to the opulent Empire era with this Italian folding table crafted from metal, dating back to around 1970. The Em...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
$618 Sale Price
20% Off
Empire Splendid French Saloon Table, Bronze Gilt
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely chased and gilded bronze in wax casting. Three curly legs connected with gutter. Medium with garland-shaped decoration. The legs are in the form of three winged, fully plastic...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, 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
Pair of Bronze Splendor Wall Appliqués / Sconces, Paris, 19th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of bronze splendor wall appliqués / sconces, Paris, 19th century
Fire gilded bronze. Five-flame frame for candles with rocaille and rosettes in relief. Colorless glass prism ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$24,029 Sale Price
20% Off
Early 19th Century Pair of Empire Bronze Female Caryatids Candelabras
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of early 19th century French empire gilt and patinated bronze female caryatids candelabras à la Grècque.
A beautiful pair of Empire gilt and patinated bronze candelabras deco...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Basket Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
20th Century Empire style basket chandelier
Classicist basket chandelier in Empire style.
Finely cast, Bronze silvered. Adorned with engraved swans and pearl cords.
(F-Ra-20).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire side table with drawers, Westphalia, c. 1780/90, walnut, maple, rosewood
Located in Münster, DE
Side table, Westphalia around 1780/90, walnut, maple, rosewood and other precious woods veneered and marquetry, original fittings, shellac-wax polish
Height 75 cm, width 49.5 cm, de...
Category
Late 18th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood, Maple, Rosewood
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
Pair of 19th Century Empire Ormolu and patinated Bronze Candelabra attr. Thomire
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of 19th century Empire ormolu and patinated bronze candelabra attr. Thomire
Each with a tapering leaf tip cast partially gilt and patinated bronze stem supporting three folia...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Empire Side Table, France 1810-15, Mahogany
Located in Leimen, DE
Empire Side Table – France, 1810, Mahogany Veneer with Elegant Base Design
This stunning Empire side table, crafted in France circa 1810, showcases timeless sophistication. Made wit...
Category
1810s 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
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
Lidded Service Terrine in Empire Style after J.B. Claude Odiot
Located in Berlin, DE
Silver engraved and silvered. Four columns with full moulded and finely
engraved swans.
Diameter:26cm,
height: 28 cm.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
Gold Leaf, Iron
$6,661 Sale Price
27% Off
Early 19th Century North Italy Neoclassical Walnut Giltwood Overmantel Mirror
Located in Berlin, DE
Early 19th Century North Italy Neoclassical Empire period Walnut and Giltwood Overmantel Mirror
A very rare and elegant North-Italian walnut veneered and giltwood overmantel mirror...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Giltwood
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
Fine Early 19th Century Empire Russian Inkstand, St. Petersburg, circa 1810
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine Russian Empire gilt- and patinated bronze desk top inkstand, St. Petersburg, circa 1810. Rectangular shaped base raised on four turned fee...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Empire Console Tables with Bronze Details, circa 1820
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This pair of Empire console tables features unusual, turned mahogany legs in the front that are decorated with beautiful, fire-gilded bro...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Set of Three Antique Empire Side Chairs, 19th Century, Biedermeier
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of three antique Empire side chairs, 19th century, Biedermeier.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
$5,828 Sale Price / set
38% Off
Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Architects Table by Jean-Joseph Chapuis
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An elegant and attractive early 19th century Empire mahogany architects table by Jean-Joseph Chapuis (1765-1864). The double ratcheted hinged rectangular top lined with dark green oi...
Category
19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze
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
20th Century, Empire Style Silvered Ceiling Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, silvered. Finely engraved. Bell shaped, traffic-light styled corpus.
(F-Ra-25).
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
19th Century Unique Empire Wall Mirror, circa 1820
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany with gilded bronze fittings. Solid softwood, Cuba mahogany veneer. Original glass, finely chased bronze fittings.
(M-32).
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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
Noble 20th Century in Empire Style Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and antique silvered. Columns as holder for four sweeping candelabra arms.
(T-Ra-11).
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 retracted base plate and dis...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Original Antique Empire Library / Shelve / Vitrine, circa 1860-1880 Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
Empire Biblithek, circa 1860s-1880s from an Empire room
Mahogany with beautiful empire figures, cast bronze.
Very rare to get today.
3 glass doors, interior with glass shelves, ...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Original antique Empire Sofa / canapé circa 1860-1870 Empire Room mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
Original Empire sofa circa 1860-1870 from an Empire room.
Massive mahogany cast with Empire caryadites bronze.
Top condition.
Measurments:
width:140cm
Height: 100cm
Depht: 80cm.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
20th Century Empire Style Chandelier Referred to Empress Joséphine
Located in Berlin, DE
Majestic splendid chandelier in Empire style referred to Empress Joséphine.
Exceptionally cine, engraved and cast Bronze. Basket-formed corpus from h...
Category
20th Century French 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
Candelabra in Empire Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved. Column-shaft as holder for four Sweeping
candelabra arms.
Diameter:30cm
height:52 cm.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
20th Century Empire Style Four Sweeping Arms Candlestick/Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Monumental candelabra in Empire style.
Bronze, finely engraved and silvered. Chanelled columns with black patination, as holder for four sweeping candelabra arms.
(T-Ra-14).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
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 Empire Style Bronze Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and silvered bronze. Full plasticised, masculine historical Egyptian representation.
(T-Mr-20-Bas).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
20th Century Empire Style Basket Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
Classicist basket chandelier in Empire style.
Finely engraved Bronze. Adorned with engraved swans and pearl cords.
(F-Ra-19).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Wall Light Lamp
Located in Berlin, DE
Decorative wall light in Empire style.
Finely engraved and cast bronze. Three stylized, full horn-formed, sweeping light arms.
(F-Sam-1).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Classicist Basket Chandelier silver in antique Empire Style brass hand crafted
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely chased and silver-plated bronze. Basket-shaped body made of hand-wired pearl cords with a leaf rosette and a pine knob at the end, connected by a w...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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 Three Claw-Feet French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved, silvered. On three claw-feet, several times structured, fluted column-shaft.
(T-Mr-15-Bp).
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Bronze Silvered Three Claw-Feet French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved, silvered. On three claw-feet, several times structured, fluted column-shaft.
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$1,113 Sale Price
20% Off
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 Empire Style Basket Applique or Wall Lamp
Located in Berlin, DE
Majestic basket applique in the Empire style.
Extremely finely chased and cast bronze. The basket-shaped body made of hand-cut French ball prisms is connected by a broad, ornamental...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Candelabra in Empire Style silver
Located in Berlin, DE
Silver, finely engraved, silvered. On three claw-feet, several times
structured, fluted column-shaft.
Measures:
Height: 73.5 cm,
diameter 25 cm.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
Swiss Early 19th Century Empire Bureau Cabinet, Signed Hirschgartner
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This fine Empire drop-front secretary (secrétaire a'abattant or secrétaire en armoire) with a writing and standing desk is signed M. Hirschgartner. Hans Martin Hirschgartner (1766-18...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Gilt-Bronze and Cut-Glass Chandelier
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine early 19th century Swedish five-light crystal chandelier. The rim supporting four candle branches and a central candle nozzle above a tiered base hung with glass lustres, conn...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Classicist Basket Chandelier in antique Empire Style silver brass hand carved
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely chased and silvered bronze. Basket-shaped body made of hand-wired pearl strings in the course with leaf rosette and a final pince-nez pin. Connect...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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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