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: Pennsylvania
Style: Empire
Pair of French Empire Style Carved Fruitwood Open Armchairs
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This pair of 19th century fruitwood armchairs feature carved acanthus leaves and reeded arms.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
French Empire Marble and Bronze Lamp
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This fine quality 19th Century bronze and green marble lamp base is of columnar form. It features Neoclassical motifs including floral swags and...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Mid century vintage Italian brass and porcelain whimsical decorator lamp
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a mid-century vintage Italian made decorator table lamp. The table lamp features a botanical inspired bouquet flowers with handmade porce...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Antique American Empire Style Mahogany 4 Section Stacking Barrister Bookcase
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Empire Style Mahogany 4 Section Stacking Barrister Bookcase. Item features carved paw feet, 4 glass doors, stacking form, very nice antique bookcase. Top 2 sections ...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Urn Form Lamp Base
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This detailed bronze urn form lamp features gilt bronze highlights including lepard head handles, and acanthus leaves.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Empire Brass Bronze Urn Finial Slender Column Andirons - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Brass Bronze Urn Finial Slender Column Andirons with Desirable Patina and Branch Feet - a Pair. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurements: 22" H x 11.5" W x 18" D.
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique French Empire Regency Inlaid Mahogany Swivel Piano Harpist Stool Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Regency Inlaid Mahogany Swivel Piano Harpist Stool Chair. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 33" H x 17.5" W x 18" D x 20" Seat height.
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Figural Bronze and Marble Round Glass Tazza Low Side Tables - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Style Figural Bronze and Marble Round Glass "Tazza" Low Side Tables - a Pair. Item features thick round glass tops, heavy marble bases with bronze figural ormol...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Vintage French Empire Mahogany 25" Round Coffee Table with Brass Gallery
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Mahogany 25" Round Coffee Table with Ornate Brass Gallery and Carved Tapered Legs. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 21.5" H (to gallery) x 25" W x 25" D. 2...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique French Empire Figural Bronze Sphinx Green Marble Desk Top Double Inkwell
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Figural Bronze Sphinx Green Marble Desk Top Double Inkwell. Item features decorative cast bronze sphinx like figures all mounted on an oval green marble base wh...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Stiffel Empire Style Burnished Brass & Porcelain Table Lamps (A) - Pair
By Stiffel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Stiffel Empire Style Lacquered Burnished Brass & Porcelain Table Lamps (A) - Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 37" H (to finial) x 27" H (to light socket) x 6.5" W...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Empire Style Mahogany Bow Front Chest Dresser with Bronze Paw Feet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Empire style mahogany bow front chest dresser with bronze paw feet. Item features cast bronze metal paw feet, bowed front, lion head pulls, solid wo...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Italian Neoclassical French Empire Green & Gold Painted Wooden Column Pedestal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Italian Neoclassical / French Empire Style Green & Gold Painted Carved Wood Column Pedestal. Circa 1900, (painted finish appears to...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
Empire Upholstered Chairs, Set of 10
Located in Annville, PA
This set of 10 Empire Upholstered Chairs features 2 arm chairs as well as 8 side chairs. All of the chairs in this set feature a fully upholstered back for maximum comfort. And the d...
Category
2010s Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany
French Empire Neoclassical Style Chest of Drawers, Late 19th C
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Empire Neoclassical style mahogany chest of drawers with ormolu mounts, late nineteenth century.
This three drawer waln...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Waldorf Astoria Hotel Empire Cut Glass Dish Pendant Light
Located in New York, NY
Empire style pendant light with a cast glass dish and bronze decorative frame. These elegant lights graced many of the main corridors of the Waldorf Astoria. This requires three stan...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage French Empire Style Brass Cannonball Column Form Branch Foot Andirons
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Brass Cannonball Column Form Branch Foot Andirons - a Pair. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 24" H x 10" W x 17" D.
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique American Empire Walnut Leaf Carved Pier Wall Console Mirror
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Empire Walnut Leaf Carved Pier Wall Console Mirror. Circa 19th Century. Measurements: 38" H x 22" W x 4.5" D
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
Maitland Smith French Empire Green Greek Key Sunburst Round Dining Center Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Maitland Smith attributed French Empire Style Green Lacquer Greek Key Sunburst Round Dining/Center Table. Item features thick round glass, green paint lacquered top with sunburst center and Greek Key border, dark brown and gold pedestal...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood, Lacquer
Antique French Empire Bronze Urn Finial Fireplace Andirons w/ Paw Feet - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Bronze Urn Finial Fireplace Andirons w/ Paw Feet and Desirable Patina- a Pair. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurements: 25" H x 11" W x 11" D.
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Frederick Cooper hand painted porcelain table lamp
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a vintage Frederick Cooper hand painted porcelain table lamp. This Frederick Cooper lamp is handpainted in the Empire style with tones of dark cobalt blue, gold and green. Th...
Category
1990s American Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Biedermeier Louis Philippe Burl Walnut Chest Dresser with Mirror
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Biedermeier/Louis Philippe Burl Walnut Chest Dresser with Mirror (No marble top). Item features 5 dovetailed drawers, turn carved bun feet, beautiful wood grain, great antiqu...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
French Empire Gilt Bronze and Marble Figural Lamp Base
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This fine quality lamp base features a gilt classical frieze, and a patinated bronze figure of a classical maiden.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
A French ebonized Empire style marble top coffee table with bronze mounts.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French ebonized Empire style marble top coffee table with bronze mounts circa 1940.
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
A crotch mahogany Empire wall mirror circa 1830.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A crotch mahogany Empire wall mirror circa 1830.
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
Vintage French Empire Brass Bronze Column Flame Finial Fireplace Andirons - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Brass Bronze Column Flame Finial Fireplace Andirons - Pair. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 19.5" H x 8" W x 19" D.
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Iron
Vintage French Empire Tole Metal Oval Shade Small Brass Bouillotte Desk Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Tole Metal Small Brass Bouillotte Desk Lamp with Adjustable Height Oval Shade. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 19" H (to finial) x 8.5" H (to light socket...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Round Table with Empire Bases 60-115 inch
Located in Annville, PA
The Round Table with Empire Bases 60-115 inch is a high quality 60 inch round table when closed. The field of the table top being produced from the...
Category
2010s Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique American Empire Floral Spiral Carved Mahogany Round Library Center Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Empire Floral Spiral Carved Pie Crust Mahogany Round Library Center Table. Circa 19th Century. Measurements: 29" H x 30" Diameter.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Empire Neoclassical Style Brass Harp Lyre Side Chairs - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Neoclassical Style Brass Harp / Lyre Back Side Chairs - a Pair. Item features solid wood construction, harp backs, finely cast brass or bronze mounts, white dis...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Pair Signed E F. Caldwell Neo-Classical Style Bronze Sconces
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome pair of signed Caldwell bronze sconces are in the neo-classical style. They feature Antique motifs including anthemion, and leopard heads.
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique Pair of French Empire Neoclassical Louis XVI Harp Lyre Back Side Chairs
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of antique harp back side chairs with brass or bronze mounts in the French Empire / Louis XVI taste. Item features solid wood construction, harp back...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Antique French Empire Style Flame Finial Brass and Cast Iron Andirons - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Style Flame Finial Brass and Cast Iron Andirons - a Pair. Circa Early to Mid 20th Century.
Measurements: 20" H x 9" W x 16" D.
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron
French Empire Mahogany Gilt Bronze Gentleman's Desk
Located in New York, NY
Procured from an esteemed estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, this desk showcases the timeless craftsmanship of the French Empire period.
Crafted from rich mahogany, this desk features...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Wood Mirror Front Gold Lion Storage Bar Black Marble Top
Located in New York, NY
This piece was acquired from an estate located in Greenwich, Connecticut. French Empire mirrored front wood bar with black marble top. It features two drawers and storage shelves on ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
French Empire Solid Mahogany Regency Side Chairs Figural Bronze Ormolu, a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire solid mahogany Regency side chairs with figural bronze ormolu - a pair. Item features finely cast ornate bronze ormolu, slightly curved backrest, solid wood fra...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Empire Paw Foot Brass Pierce Decorated Fireplace Mantle Piece
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire style paw foot brass pierce decorated fireplace mantel (fireplace) piece, circa late 19th century. Measurements: 7" H x 48" W x 15.5" D.
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique French Empire Bronze Figural Swans Paw Foot Pedestal Base Low Side Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Bronze Figural Swans Paw Foot Pedestal Base Low Side Table. Item features an ornate bronze pedestal base with swans and paw feet, beautiful wood grain, very nic...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage French Empire Red Painted Tole Metal Bouillotte Desk Table Lamp w/ Shade
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Red Painted Tole Metal Bouillotte Table Desk Lamp with Gold Gilt Painted Details. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 18" H (to finial) x 11" H (to light sock...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
A Pair of custom Empire style crotch mahogany console tables.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Elegant and finely crafted, this pair of custom console or pier tables showcases the bold symmetry and classical influence of the Empire style. Each table features richly figured cr...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Vintage French Empire Green Tole Metal Gold Swan Painted Urn Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Neoclassical Green Tole Metal Gold Swan Painted Urn Form Table Lamp. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 32" H (to finial) x 26" H (to light socket) x 7.5" W ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Early 19th Century French Empire Bronze NIKE Figural Candelabra
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This stately patinated and fire gilt bronze candelabrum is of the finest quality, and retains its original finish.
The figure of Nike (Winged Victory) standing on a gilt globe holds...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Stiffel Empire Style Burnished Brass & Porcelain Table Lamps (B) - Pair
By Stiffel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Stiffel Empire Style Lacquered Burnished Brass & Porcelain Table Lamps (B) - Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 37" H (to finial) x 27" H (to light socket) x 6.5" W...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique French Empire Patinated Bronze Corinthian Column Candlestick Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Patinated Bronze Corinthian Column Candlestick Table Lamp. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 47" H (to finial) x 34" H (to light socket) x 8.5" W x 8.5" D...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Empire Bronze Swans Green Tole Metal Shade Bouillotte Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Bronze Swans Green Tole Metal Shade Bouillotte Table Desk Lamp. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 26" H (to finial) x 12" H (to light socket) x 13" W x 9....
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage French Empire Brass Metal "Smoky" Celluloid Column Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Rare Vintage French Empire Style Brass Metal "Smoky" Celluloid Column Table Lamps - a Pair. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 35" H (to finial) x 25" H (to light socket) x 5" W...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Wynwood Flex Steel Empire Carved Cherry Wood Glass Display Curio China Cabinet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Empire Style Carved Cherry Wood Glass Display Curio China Cabinet by Wynwood Flex Steel. Item features a carved wood backsplash, spiral carved columns, original label, 2 drawers, 2 a...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mirror, Cherry
Antique Empire Brass Cast Iron Lion Head Spiral Twist Paw Feet Andirons - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Brass Lion Head Spiral Twist Paw Feet Cast Iron Andirons - a Pair. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 24" H x 10" W x 18" D.
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron
Vintage French Empire Bronze Hunting Dog Marble Base Desk Pen Holder
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Bronze Hunting Dog Marble Base Desk Pen Holder. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 3.5" H x 6.5" W x 3.25" D.
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Mid 20th century Empire inspired newly upholstered bench
Located in Allentown, PA
Presenting a mid-century vintage French empire inspired upholstered bench. This beautiful bench has French empire hand carved elements at the top corners and at the feet. The bench h...
Category
1950s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
French Empire Neoclassical Brass Candlestick Student Oil Style Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Neoclassical Style Patinated Brass Candlestick Student "Oil Lamp Style" Table Lamp. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 24" H (to light socket) x 9.5" W x 6....
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Vintage French Empire Brass Candelabra Bouillotte Desk Lamp w/ Tole Metal Shade
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Brass Candelabra Small Bouillotte Desk Lamp with Burgundy Painted Oval Tole Metal Shade. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 21" H (to finial) x 11" H (to li...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair French Empire Bronze and Marble Campana Form Urns
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome pair of Classical style urns are finely cast featuring acanthus leaves, mask form handles, and laurel leaf wreaths on Sienna marble plinth form bases.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage French Empire Brass & Italian Black Marble Column Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Italian Black Marble & Polished Brass Column Table Lamps With Black Textured Shades - a Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 27.5" H (to finial) x...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Restored Empire Crystal 6 Arm Brass Frame Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
This Empire style chandelier is a captivating piece of history. Meticulously restored, it features a brass frame adorned with sparkling crystals and six arms, radiating timeless eleg...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
20th century modern empire style stool with cowhide upholstery
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a late 20th century Empire inspired upholstered stool. The stool has been newly upholstered in a natural cowhide and sits on top of an aluminum Empire style base.
Category
1990s American Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
19th C Italian Biedermeier Mahogany Reclining Lounge Chair w/ Cast Iron Hardware
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th C Italian Biedermeier Mahogany Reclining Lounge Chair with Cast Iron Hardware. Item features a reclining back, solid wood frame, beautiful wood grain, distressed finish, nicely ...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
Antique French Empire Gold Gilt Cherub Vitrine Curio Cabinet w/ Onyx Pedestal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Winged Cherub Gold Gilt Vitrine Curio Cabinet. Item features onyx stone top, angel/cherub legs with wings, paw feet, distressed gold gilt finish, glass on all s...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Onyx
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.