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 Pair of Engravings of "Description of Egypt"
Located in Madrid, ES
Two engravings from the book "The Description of Egypt", a major publication by the scholars who accompanied Napoleon, which included descriptions and engravings made by these schola...
Wood, Paper
$28,000 / set
Set of four directoire chairs
Located in New York, NY
A suite of four Empire chairs with gilt-bronze mounts and green silk upholstery. France, early 19th century.
Silk, Giltwood
French Empire Giltwood Bed Corona
Located in Essex, MA
With acorn and oak leaf crest and scrolled swans. Probably used over a bed.
Other
Antique French Billiard, Snooker or Kitchen Island Brass Chandelier, 1850s
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
A huge and impressive French Empire brass chandelier for billiard/snooker or kitchen island. Lamp socket: 2 x E27 or E26 ( US) for standard screw bulbs. France, circa 1840 - 1860s....
Brass
$2,462
Bookcase
Located in London, England
French mahogany Empire style part glazed 2 door bookcase with applied brass beading. Circa 1890.
Mahogany
$4,680Sale Price|20% Off
Square shaped Dore Bronze Mounted Cut Crystal Jewelry Box, by Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
Square Shaped Dore Bronze Mounted Cut Crystal Jewelry Box, by Baccarat A cut crystal jewelry box formed with a square profile and stepped architectural outline. The body is construc...
Crystal, Bronze
Set of 4 French Empire Carved Mahogany Dining Chairs in the Maison Jansen Style
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
An elegant and highly refined set of four French Empire style side chairs, executed with remarkable sophistication and craftsmanship in the manner and quality associated with the leg...
Silk, Mahogany
A Mid Twentieth Century Empire style parcel gilt bench by Baker Furniture Co.
Located in Winnetka, IL
A Mid- Twentieth Century Empire style walnut bench having gilt lions' heads handholds and paw feet by Baker Furniture Company. Original brass plaque on the underside states "made i...
Walnut
19th Century Empire French Chest of Drawers with marble on top
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Empire Chest od Drawers with white marble on top, France, Ca. 1830 Spectacular Commode with original white marble on top and original empire legs. Front of d...
Walnut
French Empire Style Brass and Crystal Glass Basket Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire-style brass and crystal glass basket chandelier. Charming and compact French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1950s. This lovely piece has an or...
Metal, Brass
Vintage Flame Mahogany Convertible Game Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exquisite antique flip-top games table is a testament to 19th-century craftsmanship, featuring a breathtaking flame mahogany veneer that ripples with deep, shimmering grain. Dra...
Brass
Set of Ten Empire Floral Decorated Gilt Banded Plates
Located in New York, NY
Antique set of ten Empire white and gilt plates with center floral bouquets; with underglaze red markings for L. Ernie 61 Rue du Bac., France, early 180...
Porcelain
Antique French Empire Fruitwood Console Table with drawer, Early 20th Century
Located in Miami, FL
Antique French Empire- Biedermeier fruitwood console table with drawer and bronze details In good original condition with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beaut...
Bronze
Maitland Smith Italian Tole Wall Sculpture Lavabo 3 Piece Set
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Elegant wall lavabo or wash basin with beautiful detail throughout including floral and various instruments. Lavabos are gracious religious bowls for the lavabo ceremony of washing t...
Metal
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
French Empire Mahogany and Gilded Bronze Cheval Mirror
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A centrally pivoted cheval mirror with gilded bronze mounts; the arched beveled mirror framed in mahogany with gilded bronze rosettes; the mirror...
Bronze
Mid 19th century Swedish ebonised dressing table with classical detail
Located in London, GB
A decorative and functional ebonised Swedish dressing table in a Empire style with angular cornice and applied gilt rosette detail to the support columns of the mirror. The dressing ...
Wood
French Empire Style Commode Caryatid Bronze Figural Columns & Pink Marble
Located in Clifton Forge, VA
This is an adorable petite commode with wonderful grained veneer and blackened flat columns on the sides which have a bronze woman's head on the top and bronze feet on the bottom. It...
Walnut
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
Empire style. Huge glass table lamp by Waterford Crystal, Ireland, 1960s
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Huge table lamp from Waterford Crystal, Ireland, 1960s. The glass body is 39 centimeters high made of one-piece molded glass with engraved and cutted details. The base and the struct...
Metal, Brass, Bronze, Chrome
$25,203Sale Price / item|20% Off
Crystal Chandelier Empire Sac a Pearl Big Large Palace Lamp Chateau Lustre
Located in Berlin, DE
Montgolfière Style Chandelier - Empire Elegance with Customizability Introducing a new Montgolfière style chandelier that exudes the charm of the Empire era, reimagined with modern ...
Crystal, Iron, Wire
pair of French early 19th century 1st Empire Period Mahogany benches
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality pair of French early 19th century 1st Empire Period Mahogany benches. Each wonderful bench is raised by four scrolled legs with carved lion paws at the bo...
Mahogany
Pair of French Mahogany Armchairs With Rams Heads Attributed to Jacob Desmalter
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of French Empire mahogany ram's head armchairs attributed to celebrated French furniture maker Jacob Desmalter ( 1770 - 1841 ). Circa 1805. 30" h x 25.5" w x 25" d Se...
Mahogany
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...
Brass
$5,300 / item
French Ivory Lantern
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Ivory lantern, based on a French design, the delicate hand-painted decoration on the slatted glass adds texture. The motif on the coronet is reflec...
Metal
Pair of French 19th Century Brass Candlesticks
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A pair of French Empire style brass candlesticks from the 1800’s with a beautiful silhouette and nice heft in the patinated metal to add intrigue to a mantel or dining table. Subtle,...
Brass
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks. With intricate raised decoration in the form of geometric and foliate patterns. The middle of each candlestick is fluted and ...
Bronze
Period Empire Bench with Four Carved and Parcel Gilt Lion Heads
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A superb and exceptionally rare Empire bench in cherry wood, distinguished by four exquisitely carved and parcel-gilt lion heads. It’s perfect proportions as well as masterfully hand...
Cherry, Giltwood
$98,000Sale Price / set|30% Off
Rare Pair French Retour D'egypt Terracotta Lions Sculptures Statues Los Angeles
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rare Pair French Retour D'egypt Terracotta Lions Sculptures Statues Los Angeles , Exceptional fine pair of Large French Retour D'egypt period terra...
Terracotta
19th Century American Empire Four Drawer Chest in Tiger Maple
Located in Milford, NH
A beautiful example of an American Empire four drawer chest in tiger maple with striking wood grain, scrolled legs with porcelain casters, diamond inlay escutcheons, wooden knobs, an...
Brass
Mahogany Empire Bow Front Corner Cabinet
Located in Kastrup, DK
Danish empire bow fronted corner cabinet in flame mahogany. Bow front with a single door, dressed with brass lock in the middle, flanked by f...
Bronze
French Empire Desk, Blond Mahogany & Black Leather, Circa 1920
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This amazing large French Empire Desk is made of blond flamed mahogany with a beautiful black leather top. It has 2 extensions on each side and 4 drawers.
Leather, Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Empire Bouillotte Green Tole Three Light Table Lamp.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Early 19th Century French Empire Bouillotte Green Tole Three Light Table Lamp. Beautiful French Empire brass Bouillotte lamp with three swan decorated scrolled arms. A finely chise...
Metal, Bronze
$8,162Sale Price|30% Off
Faux Malachite Empire style Centre Table
Located in London, GB
Stunning French Empire Style Center Table Faux Malachite Stunning Center Table
Ormolu
$3,840Sale Price|20% Off
Elegant Antique French Carved Wood Recamier Bench with Bronze Mounts
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Elegant and rare French 19th century mahogany recamier bench having pronounced curved sides and lovely carved cabriole legs that terminate in gilded hairy paw feet. There are other g...
Bronze
$112,019Sale Price|20% Off
Monumental Pair of Italian Empire Gilt Bronze Candleholders or Floor Lamps, 1800
Located in Rome, IT
Impressive pair of Italian Empire finely chiseled ormolu Flambeaux, on triform base, each with 25 scrolled gilt-bronze candle arms. Attributed to Luigi Manfredini the famous bronze a...
Bronze
$4,854Sale Price|20% Off
French Painted Zinc Bathtub from 1800
Located in Vienna, Austria
This French zinc bathtub is in original condition: without a drainage hole, with a wood subframe, two handles and beautiful blue painting and decoration on both sides. Seems to be wa...
Zinc
Vintage Italian Bouillotte Lamp by Chapman, Turned Wood & Brass, 1960s
Located in Winter Park, FL
A vintage Italian bouillotte style lamp made in Italy by The Champman Manufacturing Company. Turned wood base with brass four arm candelabra and original green tôle shade with eglomi...
Brass, Tôle
$4,200Sale Price|20% Off
Side table with secret compartments, Westphalia, c. 1800, plum, maple, rosewood
Located in Münster, DE
Rare side table with secret compartments, Westphalia, c. 1800, plum wood, maple and rosewood veneered on softwood, table top with floral banding and vase motif, ingenious mechanism w...
Fruitwood, Maple, Rosewood
Antique French Empire Style Tole Chandelier, Circa 1890's.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Empire Style Tole Chandelier, Circa 1890's. We have 2 of these chandeliers available, and they are sold individually.
Metal
$420Sale Price|20% Off
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.
Bronze
Italian Empire Period Center Table Early 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
The round top a white marble, crisply edged and set above a beautifully grained mahogany or rosewood veneered apron. The base features a fluted black column rising from a triangular ...
Marble
19th Century French Empire Style Mahogany Pedestal Side Table W/ Marble Top
Located in Astoria, NY
An exquisite late 19th-century French Empire-style guéridon side table, sourced directly from Provence and meticulously restored. Handcrafted from solid mahogany, the table features ...
Marble
$1,984Sale Price|20% Off
Empire Era Fire-Gilt Bronze Clock Representing a Figure in Neo-Egyptian Style
Located in 263-0031, JP
A French patinated and fire-gilt clock depicting a standing figure in the neo-Egyptian style, Empire Era, 1800-15. The silk-thread mechanism is in good working condition with key and...
Bronze
Rich Mahogany Antique American Empire Round Pedestal Center Table
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Rich looking round mahogany American Empire antique center table with ebonized pedestal and gilded details. Structurally sound having turned feet and castors. A 48” round piece of ...
Wood, Mahogany, Giltwood
Swedish 19th century inlaid empire revival birch side table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century inlaid empire revival birch work table circa 1880. Rectangular top surface veneered in birch and decorated with a inlaid border. Single lockable drawer fitted with pine...
Birch
$5,950Sale Price / set|30% Off
2 Antique French Sarregumines Majolica Snake Serpent Mantel Vase Urn 17"
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of very large and impressive late 19th century Sarregumines majolica pottery vases - classical urn shape with coiled double headed snake / serpent handles, brown and white multi...
Majolica
Big Crystal Beaded Empire Dome Chandelier circa 1900
Located in Firenze, Toscana
I have two similar, if interested. Housing one light, will be rewired and ready to hang. We use certified UL US sockets and appropriate sockets for all other countries. Strands and ...
Crystal
Le Style Empire, Décoratations, Extérieures Et Intérieures, Mobilier, Bronzes
Located in valatie, NY
Le Style Empire: Décoratations, Extérieures et Intérieures, Mobilier, Bronzes. Printed in Paris by Chez F. Contet. All volumes are 1st Ed's with the exception of volume 1 which is a ...
Paper
Porcelaine de Paris - Coffee cup and saucer 'Litron', early 19th century
Located in DELFT, NL
Elegant cup and saucer, of the model 'Litron' with elaborate gilt decoration of vine leafs Fair condition; Little hairline. Tiny fleebites to the rims and little loss of gold. Unma...
Porcelain
Light Green Patinated Chest of Drawers with Silvered Accents, late 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Large late-18th-century chest of drawers with four drawers and a clearly articulated rectangular case. The drawer fronts and case are defined by molded paneling. The chest stands on ...
Wood
Vintage French Table Lamps, Handcrafted Marble & Gilded Bronze, 1920s
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...
Marble, Bronze
Late 18th Century Round Wooden Engraved Snuffbox Pillbox
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small round Danish late 18th Century snuffbox or pillbox featuring elaborate engravings. Very versatile piece that could also hold jewelry or small trinkets on a vanity. This piece m...
Wood
19th Century French Empire Table
Located in Chicago, IL
In the French Empire (1804-1815) period, grandeur was often measured in gilt bronze—sphinxes, swags, laurel wreaths gilded to catch the light. But every so often, a piece turns up th...
Mahogany
$86Sale Price|50% Off
Victoria Czechoslovakia Decorative Porcelain Plate, Cobalt Blue, 22 cm
Located in London, England
Victoria Austria porcelain decorative plate, handmade. With its predominance in cobalt blue accentuated with real details, it adds a note of elegance and sophistication to any enviro...
Gold Leaf
Walnut Display Cabinet Bookcase with Adjustable Shelves, Sweden circa 1850-70
Located in Round Top, TX
This stunning walnut display cabinet standing at 7' tall/ and 8' wide will make a grand and elegant statement piece. Enlarge close up photos to appreciate the exceptional grain of th...
Glass, Walnut
American Empire Bronze Eagle Sculpture, 19th Century, USA, Signed Art
Located in Queens, NY
American Empire style (19th Cent) bronze figure of eagle perched on crossed arrow base (signed)
Bronze
Montgolfiè Antique Lok Crystal Chandelier Empire Sac a Pearl Lamp Chateau New
Located in Berlin, DE
Montgolfière Style Chandelier - Empire Elegance with Customizability Introducing a new Montgolfière style chandelier that exudes the charm of the Empire era, reimagined with modern ...
Crystal
$2,200 / set
Set of Ten White and Gilt French Empire Plates
Located in New York, NY
Set of ten white and gilt French Empire plates. Empire white and gilt plates with under-glaze red markings for L. Ernie 61 Rue du Bac., France, early 1800....
Porcelain
Late 19th Century birch sewing table with contents
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Late 19th century birch sewing table with contents circa 1895. Good quality find on our travels around Sweden, complete with contents which we decided to keep with the piece. Bookm...
Birch
French 19th Century Mahogany Empire-Style Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An outstanding French Empire-style mahogany accent table with a unique basket wrapped around the pedestal. A circular wood top with raised trim rests on an apron housing two small dr...
Mahogany
$3,250 / set
French Empire Bronze Candlestick-Cassolettes, 2
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of French Empire Gilt Bronze Urn Form Candlestick-Cassolettes, the covered torch form lids with convertible bobeches, Greek key, and garland motif. 2.75" H x 2.75" W x 7....
Bronze