Skip to main content

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.

to
695
2,719
2,013
4,713
106
94
198,623
115,487
44,253
33,293
16,612
12,259
10,858
10,844
9,982
8,889
7,333
6,680
6,478
6,423
6,265
6,142
4,913
3,744
245
3,047
1,421
200
490
351
222
106
15
83
50
46
48
75
54
53
23
2,685
2,009
1,472
1,002
819
4,020
2,753
410
284
242
4,913
4,869
4,891
45
33
19
18
13
Style: Empire
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 ...
Category

2010s Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Pair of 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Three Light Candelabras Sconces
Located in Pearland, TX
A gorgeous pair of 19th-Century French Empire gilded bronze three arm light wall sconces, circa 1850-1870. These beautiful sconces have a lovely gilt patina with foliate and floral d...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

French Blue Painted Bedside Nightstand End Table
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This French style side table features a single drawer with two door cabinet above. The table has been hand painted in Gustavian shade of blue and has been constructed from solid wood...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century Candlesticks - Empire Style - Gilded and Patinated Bronze - France
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Elegant pair of French candlesticks in Empire style, circa 1880–1890. Made of finely cast and engraved bronze with a beautiful contrast between the gilded and dark patinated sections...
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Massive Patinated and Gilt Bronze 5-Light Sconces, Wall Appliques
Located in Germantown, MD
A Massive Pair of Gilt and Patinated Bronze Five-Light Wall Appliques or Sconces, 20th Century, in the style of E.F. Caldwell. This pair is large and features a patinated putti form ...
Category

20th Century American Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Fine Pair of Italian Ormolu Wall Lights or Appliques in the French Empire Style
Located in Benington, Herts
Fine Pair of Italian Gilt Bronze Wall Lights or Appliques in the French Empire Style Italian - Circa 1880 These lovely wall lights are conceived as notched arrows with lion mask pl...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Ca.1700 Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1700 Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow - 21'' X 19'', Handmade and Needlework, Extremely Fine and Unique
Category

17th Century Belgian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wool, Feathers

1920’s French Empire Small Chandelier 3 Lights
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1920’s French Empire style small chandelier with swam’s heads. Unusual 3 lights. Green color
Category

1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Bronze Dore Door Knockers
Located in Queens, NY
2 French Empire style (20th Century) bronze dore door knockers with swan head (PRICED EACH).
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

A Fine Pair of Russian Empire Period Malachite And Ormolu Obelisks, Early 1800's
Located in New York, NY
A Monumental and Quite Rare Pair of 19th Century Russian Empire Ormolu Mounted Malachite Obelisks with Maiden Ormolu Mounts. Each obelisk is complete with four sides which terminate upwards to a triangular point. The bases are fitted with ormolu mounts which include hand-chased and hand-chiseled maidens holding flaming torches in either hand and on the other panel decoration of a vine with a winged bow. On top of the large ormolu mounts are smaller mounts which depict child masks in wings. Underneath and on top of the square base are ormolu mounts which depict acanthus leaves flourishing throughout with hand-chased and hand-chiseled fluted veins. The entire body of the obelisk is veneered with the most incredible and highest quality antique Russian malachite...
Category

1830s Russian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

Vintage Tapestry Depicting Angels 6.8X5.10
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category

Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Vintage Crystal Brass Basket Chandelier Ceiling Light With Tassels France, 1960s
Located in Bastogne, BE
Vintage Ceiling Light for 1 light point. Brass frame and crystal pendants. Manufactured in France. This beautiful chandelier has a classic style and is made of high quality materia...
Category

1960s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Gilt-Bronze and Malachite Empire-Style 'Aux Caryatides' Table After Desmalter
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in London, GB
A gilt-bronze and malachite Empire-style 'Aux Caryatides' centre table after Desmalter French, 20th Century Height: 82cm, diameter: 109cm This ma...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

1930s Hickory Chair Empire Klismos Mahogany and Upholstered Seat Side Chairs
Located in Germantown, MD
1930s Hickory Chair Company Empire Klismos style Mahogany and Upholstered Seat Side Chairs. Measure 18" in width, 21" in depth 34.5" tall. Seat height is 18".
Category

Early 20th Century American Empire Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany

Empire Neoclassical Gilt Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Empire Neoclassical gilt mirror. Antique Italian gilt Neoclassical mirror frame with interior leaf and dart holding with large ogee band and o...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Gesso, Mirror, Giltwood

19th Century French Empire Antique Chest with Marble Top & Lion Pulls
Located in New Orleans, LA
This French Empire chest features a rich wood grain, stately grey marble top, and striking lion-head pulls—embodying the grandeur and symmetry of early 19th-century neoclassical design.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

French Pair Empire Dore Bronze Winged Putti Candelabras
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Wonderful pair of French Napoleon III Empire style gilt doré and patinated bronze neoclassical four-arm candelabra with finely cast decorated detail. Each lamp features a classical w...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Chandelier with Figural Decoration, circa 1830
Located in Greding, DE
Magnificent twelve-light chandelier with four tiers, surmounted by a crown of stylized sunflowers. Crafted in bronze and cut glass prisms, the widest ring is adorned with a continuou...
Category

1830s German Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Oval Late Empire Pedestal Cabinet in Walnut with Bookmatched Burl
Located in Kastrup, DK
Oval pedestal cabinet from the Late Empire period, crafted in Copenhagen around 1820–30. This elegant piece is veneered in walnut and adorned with bookmatched walnut burl on the door...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

A French Empire gold mirror, 19th C.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Fine and Large Antique hand carved giltwood frame with beautiful floral, scroll and rosette decorations. A statement piece for your entryway...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood, Wood

Empire Centre Table
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
Empire Centre Table A large French Empire centre table in figured mahogany with ormolu mounts, bronze feet and the original dished yellow-veined da...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Elegant Damascus Jewelry Box - Rectangular, Inlay Marquetry with Red Velvet
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Discover the beauty of this elegant Damascus jewelry box, featuring intricate marquetry and a luxurious red velvet interior. This rectangular, flat box is ideal for storing jewelry, ...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Velvet, Wood

English Regency Style French Empire Silver Plated Large Urn Table Lamps - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Contemporary English Regency Style French Empire Silver Plated Large Urn Form Table Lamps with Twin Handles - a Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 35" H (to finial) x 26" H...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

Tobey Furniture Monumental Antique French Empire Mahogany and Brass Dining Table
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding palatial antique French Empire style monumental extension dining table By Tobey Furniture USA, Circa 1900 Gorgeous mahogany, with brass accents. Measures: 66"W x 5...
Category

Early 20th Century American Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Empire Period Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This truly stunning French mantel clock was crafted during the Empire period, and reflects the Neoclassical interests of the Emperor Napoleon I, whose influence over the decorative arts contributed toward a profound revival of beauties of the ancient empires. The mantel clock is crafted entirely in gilt bronze, and features a stepped base on four block feet. The base depicts a Classical relief panel to the front, showing female dancing figures and putti, as well as musical instruments. Surmounting the base is an arch featuring a central mask fountain and basin...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

19th Century Carved Giltwood Frame Wall Mirror
Located in Germantown, MD
An impressive late 19th Century Empire carved giltwood Mahogany wall Mirror, Circa 1890s. Measures 49.5" in width, 4" in depth and stands 33" in height.
Category

Mid-19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany, Giltwood

Bust of Napoleon Bonaparte
Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
Bust of Napoleon Bonaparte by Sitzendorf, in porcelain, hand-painted. Detailed example of the Emperor, dressed with bicorn hat, green uniform with medals, draped with a coat. On the...
Category

Early 20th Century German Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique French Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A superb antique French Empire-style gilt and Patinated Bronze Chandelier. This chandelier is designed in the French Empire style, executed in gilt and patinated bronze. The structur...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Patinated Bronze Candelabra Lamps.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Pair 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Patinated Bronze Candelabra Lamps. Pair of elegant antique French Empire bronze four light candelabras converted to table lamps. The outstandi...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century Tribute Box to Napoleon Bonaparte
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
A very beautiful rectangular box made of fine porcelain, decorated in the imperial style of the First Empire. The decoration, dominated by green and gold tones, illustrates the refin...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Brass Basket Empire Sac a Pearl Chandelier Crystal Lustre Lamp Antique Gold 2
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing a stunning Brass Basket Empire Sac-a-Pearl Chandelier, an exquisite piece adorned with mesmerizing crystals, evoking the classic style of the Empire era. This is a new re...
Category

2010s German Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Vintage French Tole Empire Style 6 Light Chandelier
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Gorgeous Vintage French Tole Painted 6-light Empire Style Chandelier with bright Gilt details. A style popular for almost 200 years, this Empire Chandelier is simply gorgeous. Our ow...
Category

1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Early 19th Century French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Classic antique Early 19th Century French Empire drop front secretary desk made with magnificent high quality flame mahogany adorned with bronze doré mounts and its original gray mar...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

A Bronze French Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
A French Empire style bronze chandelier.
Category

1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Empire Style Bronze Mantel Clock, circa 1870
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 19th century French Empire style gilt bronze mantle clock. The foliate and fruit engraved gilt-brass dial with enamel painted roman numerals. Inside with eight day movement w...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Enamel

Swedish Backgammon in Curly Karelian Birch with Playing Pieces, Empire 1820/30s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Swedish Backgammom Box in Curly Karelian Birch with Playing Pieces, Swedish Empire (Karl Johan) 1820/30s. Complete with two Die made in bone and Playing Pieces for two players. This beautifully crafted backgammon box...
Category

1820s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Empire Mahogany & Bronze Twin Size Daybed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French 19th Century Empire mahogany twin size daybed with applied bronze decorations. Structurally sound with repair done on legs, see photos. Nice finish, bolt together construction...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Ottoman Silver-Inlaid "Jambiya" Dagger with Sheath
Located in Middleburg, VA
An elegant 19th-century Ottoman Jambiya, richly decorated with intricate silver inlay and highlighted with the deep black sheen of traditional niello work. Both the sheath and the fo...
Category

Mid-17th Century Turkish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Silver, Metal

Pair French Miniature Portraits Of Commander Jean-baptiste Raymond De Lacrosse
Located in Bilzen, BE
A Pair of Napoleonic Portrait Miniatures Commander of Jean-Baptiste Raymond de Lacrosse Jean-Baptiste Raymond de Lacrosse (1760-1829) Career Joined the French Navy in the 1780sPartic...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

Napoleonic Empire Antique Giltwood Wall Mirror c1850s
Located in High Peak, GB
P0290 Outstanding 19th century Napoleonic Empire gilded wall mirror / over mantel mirror of versatile form, can be positioned either way, having replacement glass in moulded gold lea...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold Leaf

An empire mantel clock "AU PORTEFAIX" after Jean andre reiche
Located in Harrington Park, NJ
MANTEL CLOCK "Au bon sauvage" or "PORTEFAIX", late Empire, after a design by J.A. REICHE (Jean-Andre Reiche, 1752-1817), Paris, 19th century. Gilt ...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

19th century Swedish flame birch chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish flame birch chest of drawers circa 1880. Fine quality Swedish chest with flame birch veneered drawer fronts. Birch top with rounded and moulded edge. Fitted ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Birch

19th Century Empire Revival Side Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Period Empire side chair: This highly stylized chair has brass inlay and ormolu features to include reclining goddesses, feathers and detailed Roman feet all newly upholstered in a b...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

1900's Swedish Empire 6 Lights Chandelier with Cobalt Blue Glass
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1900 Swedish Empire chandelier with Cobalt blue glass inset, with 6 lights
Category

Early 1900s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Large French Empire Style Glass and Gilt Bronze 18-Light Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This 19th century French chandelier is designed in the Empire style and wrought from gilt bronze and strings of cut glass. The chandelier features a lower dome-shaped body below an o...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Small Scale Early 19th Century French Empire Period Burl Walnut Commode, Chest
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This small scale early nineteenth century French Empire period book matched burl walnut commode or chest features a Saint Anne marble top and two classic half columns that flank the ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair of French Empire Patinated and Gilt Bronze Candelabra, 19th Century
Located in El Monte, CA
This impressive pair of gilt and patinated bronze candelabra is a quintessential example of the French empire style. Drawing from Greco-Roman influence, each candelabra features a ce...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porphyry, Bronze

Pair of Russian Tazzas, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of dolomite tazzas, Shelyabinsk region (Urals), fire-gilt bronze. Russia, Ekaterinburg, 19th century. Provenance: Ex collection Dolf Selbach (1929-2010).
Category

19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Stone, Bronze

Antique Empire 19th Century Wood Carved Chandelier France Solid Oak 6 Lights
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Simply amazing! This fully hand-carved Empire style chandelier in solid oak from France 19th century. The chandelier has 3 male figures & 3 female figures on its arms all displayed...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Oak

Large Empire Period Mahogany Extending Dining Table
Located in London, GB
Large Empire period mahogany extending dining table French, c. 1810 Fully open: Height 77cm, width 446cm, depth 178cm Shorter: Height 77cm, width 326cm, depth 178cm A striking repr...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

19th Century Brown-Black German Small Empire Iron Coffer, Antique Table Decor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, black antique German coffer made of hand crafted iron, particularized with griffins, torchères and tendril motifs on the wall and pinecone mode on the lid, in good condition. The small detailed decor piece represents the Empire time period...
Category

Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Iron

Austrian Empire Console Table with back mirror and Swan Pedestals
Located in Miami, FL
Austrian console table from the Karl Johan Period in walnut and ebonized wood. Drawer in frieze. The table is decorated with Swans that are painted in a gold color to imitate oxidize...
Category

Mid-19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

Empire Style Table Lamp (No Shade). Bronze, Marble
Located in Madrid, ES
Empire style lamp (without shade). Patinated bronze. marble base Table lamp elevated on a marble base, it is shaped like a vase with handles in the shape of simplified swan heads, fo...
Category

20th Century European Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair White Neoclassical Campagna Vases
Located in New York, NY
Pair White Neoclassical Campagna Vases. Pair of Paris Porcelain all white glazed porcelain two part vases with double mask handles. France 1810. Dimensions: 9.5" diameter x 13.5" ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Beautiful pair of Empire Table Lamps, originally candlesticks from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Beautiful pair of Empire Table Lamps in Bronze. Originally a pair of Empire candlesticks from the 1820s, converted to table lamps in the early 20th Century. Newly rewired electrici...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century empire revival mahogany pier mirror
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century empire revival mahogany pier mirror circa 1870. Excellent quality pier mirror using the finest mahogany.  Architectural cornice top with cresent shape which showcases t...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

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

English Needlework Pillow 1850 - 24" x 11"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

1850s Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wool, Feathers

A Pair of French Empire Style Ormolu and Bronze Candelabra, Late 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Pair of French Empire Style Ormolu and Bronze Candelabra, Late 19th Century Provenance: ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Empire Style Painted Iron Bench, 19th Century, French
Located in El Monte, CA
A highly decorative and unique 19th century French empire painted and parcel gilt cast iron upholstered bench. Parcel gilt border is of a rich gold with warm red undertone painting jester...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Iron

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.

Still Thinking About These?

All Recently Viewed