Empire Furniture
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.
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Velvet, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Canvas, Upholstery, Giltwood
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Mahogany
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Metal
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Metal, Bronze
19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Brass, Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Crystal
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Fabric, Wood, Paint
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Marble
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
Early 2000s French Empire Furniture
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Wood, Burl
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Malachite, Ormolu
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Empire Furniture
Crystal
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
20th Century Empire Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Sterling Silver
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Stone, Marble, Metal
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood, Paint
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Empire Furniture
Mirror, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Brass
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Wood, Walnut
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1990s Philippine Empire Furniture
Iron
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Empire Furniture
Ash, Burl
1820s American Antique Empire Furniture
Cherry, Poplar
21st Century and Contemporary Czech Empire Furniture
Onyx, Metal
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Iron
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass, Steel
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Textile, Mahogany
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wool
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze, Ormolu
17th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Feathers
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass