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.
Pair of Chic French Empire Style Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of large French Empire style mahogany armchairs reupholstered in Ralph Lauren silk/linen fabric.
Linen, Upholstery, Mahogany
Dutch Empire Console Table with Integrated Mirror Early 19th Century
Located in Meer, VAN
Dutch Empire Console Table with Integrated Mirror Early 19th Century A mahogany empire console table with integrated mirror, most probably Dutch. Early to mid 19th century. The des...
Mirror, Mahogany
French Empire Style Crystal Glass and Brass Chandelier, 1920's
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Charming French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1920s. This lovely piece has an ornate bronze frame hung with prisms of crystal glass. The crystal glass pr...
Crystal, Brass
Wonderful French Empire Neoclassical Regency Bronze Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire / neoclassical / Regency bronze and graduating crystal basket form chandelier with medusa heads and six candelabra sockets around the outer frame and a beau...
Crystal, Bronze
Antique Swedish Country Secretary Desk, Empire Period with Original Faux Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish antique country secretary desk from the empire period. Made in northern Sweden around 1840 with original untouched faux paint, an 19th century painter’s free interpretation o...
Pine
Baltic Neoclassical Mahogany, Brass & Leather Writing Desk, late 19th century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
BALTIC NEOCLASSICAL MAHOGANY, LEATHER AND BRASS BUREAU PLAT WITH CARTONNIER Eastern European, probably the Baltic States Circa late 19th century, the tambour cabinet with alterations...
Brass
Antique Monumental French Empire Bureau Plat Desk Writing Table 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fine antique French Empire ormolu mounted mahogany bureau plat, circa 1870 in date. The rectangular top has an inset gold-tooled green leather writing surface with a very...
Ormolu
French Empire Mantel Mirror, Gilt Wood & Glass, c. 1800
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French Empire mantle mirror (c. 1800) exhibits restrained surface decoration concentrated to intermittent, low-relief floral motifs that leave ample space for the gilt molding t...
Gold
$8,129Sale 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
Early 19th Century Paris White Porcelain Coffee/Teapot
Located in CA, CA
A Paris white porcelain and gold gilt neoclassical coffee/teapot, dating from the early 19th century. The gold gilt detailing features a shield, with two winged mythological creature...
Porcelain
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Exotic Animals 5 X 3
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...
Wool, Cotton
Pendant in brass with two light sockets and four candle holders, Empire style
Located in Stockholm, SE
Elegant pendant in brass with decor leafs and mascarones. Two light sockets and four candle holders, Empire style Sweden mid1900s. Rewired EU/Swedish standard.
Brass
$1,817Sale Price / item|30% Off
Lovely Pair of French Style Black Lacquer Side Tables
Located in London, GB
A Striking Pair of French Style Side Tables with Black Lacquer Finish and Floral Decoration Lovely Detail Dated C20th
Lacquer
Rare French Empire partially Gilt Mahogany Corner Console or Encoignure
Located in Greenwich, CT
A Fine and Rare French Empire Mahogany Corner Console or 'Encoignure', late 19th cent. with a triangular top of ebonized molded edge, raised on a finely sculpted giltwood winged car...
Mahogany
Fine Antique Gilt Framed Three Panel Mantle Mirror
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine and large Gilt wood Mantle Mirror with Empire and Regency styling, designed with three divided rectangular mirror plates in a carved and gilt frame with a straight moulded ...
Mirror, Giltwood
Pair of Danish Empire Mahogany With Inlay Arm Chairs
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of elegant Danish early 19th century empire armchairs. Crafted in mahogany and satinwood marquetry on backrest and apron. Apron and upper part of backrest decorated with diamo...
Hardwood, Mahogany, Satinwood
Pair of large Empire style Giltwood Upholstered Armchairs Fauteuils
Located in New York, NY
Pair of vintage (20th century) hand-carved giltwood armchairs in the French Empire style with lovely red upholstered seats, seatbacks and armrests with petit point embroidered flora...
Upholstery, Wood
$7,600 / set
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" ...
Porcelain
Antique 16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow - 29'' X 18''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique 16th-century Brussels tapestry pillow. Empire and Traditional Design.
Wool, Feathers
$1,498Sale Price|20% Off
Side table blue scagliola top metal base handmade in Italy by Cupioli available
Located in Rimini, IT
This table can be used as tea table, side table, lamp table it has multiple uses. The top is manufactured in scagliola art inlay, same technique of the "Paliotto" of the 16th century...
Iron
19th Century French Empire Pair of Antique Gilded Bronze Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold-black, antique French pair of dark patinated candle sticks made of hand crafted gilded bronze, in good condition. The detailed candle holders are particularized with flowers decoration, resting on a tripod foot. The Parisian décor...
Metal, Bronze
$3,600Sale Price|46% Off
French Empire Bookcase in Walnut
Located in Doylestown, PA
An early 19th century French provincial biblioteque in walnut, with upper case with adjustable shelves and wire-grill doors over a lower pair of paneled cabinet doors, circa 1810.
Walnut
19th Century French Empire Chest of Drawers with Special Key, circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Small Empire chest of drawers with special key France Walnut first half of 19th century Dimensions: H x W x D: 92 x 98 x 51 cm Description: French Empire chest of drawers with rou...
Walnut
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
Antique French Empire Flame Mahogany Abattant with Figural Ormolu 19thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Empire abattant secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper drawer over drop front desk opening to interior with p...
Ormolu
Important and Very Rare Pair of Micromosaic, Malachite and Walnut Console Tables
By Antonio Deangelis
Located in London, GB
Important and very rare pair of micromosaic, malachite and walnut console tables Italian & Russian, early 19th century Measures: Height 89cm, width 106.5cm, depth 62cm These exceptionally beautiful antique console...
Malachite, Ormolu
French Empire Enfilade or Sideboard Console of Flame Mahogany with Marble Top
Located in Austin, TX
An elegant French Empire enfilade or sideboard console server of flame mahogany with original marble top, from the 19th century, featuring a frieze showing four drawers with reflecti...
Marble, Metal, Brass
American Empire Mahogany Wall Mirror, Shaped Design, 19th Century, USA
Located in Queens, NY
American Empire (19th Century) rectangular mahogany wall mirror with a shaped top and bottom.
Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire Flame Mahogany Marble Top Commode
Located in Carmine, TX
Elegant French Empire commode featuring richly figured flame mahogany veneers, a black marble top, three spacious drawers with gilt-bronze circular pulls, and imposing columnar sides...
Marble, Bronze
19th century Swedish burr birch tripod table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish burr birch tripod table circa 1860. Good quality piece of traditional furniture which showcases the nations favourite wood, birch. Square top with rounded corn...
Birch
French Empire Buffet, Figured Walnut & Marble, 19th Century, France
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An impressive French Empire buffet made of figured walnut in a rich auburn hue that coordinates with the dark marble top surface for a classic look. The stone shows pockets of dark g...
Marble
1940s Carved Gilt Wood Swan Barrel Chairs, Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning and rare, carved wood swan club chairs on castors set you could hope to find. In the style of George S...
Upholstery, Wood
$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
Egg Purple Red enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg Purple Red enamel is in 925/1000 sterling silver. Egg Purple Red enamel has fired enamels on guilloché has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand. Egg Purple Red...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century French Empire Pier Mirror
Located in Houston, TX
A handsome and stately French Empire mirror with gilded hand carved detail.
Mirror, Walnut, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Tapestry Pillow - 24'' X 15''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique 19th century French tapestry pillow. Tribal and traditional.
Wool
Pair of Early 20th Century French Empire Style Lapis Lazuli Side Tables
Located in Chicago, IL
A pair of Circa 1900 French Empire Style side tables made of lapis lazuli, malachite, and onyx. This is a beautiful set that has been marvelously handcrafted with a variety of high-q...
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Onyx, Brass
Late 19th Century Empire-Style Longcase Clock
Located in Paris, FR
Impressive mahogany longcase clock with gilt and sculpted decorative bronze elements such as fantastic animals, diamond-shaped patterns, scrollwork, and foliage. This floor clock is ...
Ormolu, Bronze
$2,362Sale Price|30% Off
19th Century French Hand Painted Wallpaper, Second Empire Era, E. Muller Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century roll of wallpaper, second Empire era, polychrome printing in the style of E. Muller enhanced with gold decorating cartridges with a floral cut of poppies and daisies. M...
Paper
French Empire Style Crystal Glass and Brass Three-Tired Chandelier, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire style crystal glass and brass three-tired chandelier, the 1930s. Charming and compact French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1930s. This lovely...
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
$255Sale Price / set|68% Off
Deshoulières Limoges Empire Tea Set, 15-Piece Fine Porcelain Set
Located in London, England
This Empire-style tea service, from Sologne, is a real jewel of the 20th century. Composed of 15 pieces in fine porcelain, each element is delicately decorated with fine gold, testif...
Gold Leaf
19th Century French Empire Lectern, Bronze and Wood, Antique, 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Early 19th century French Empire walnut lectern featuring a rotating stand. The solid walnut is hand-carved into a single support resting on a tripod base with three square feet. The...
Bronze
Italian Genovese Empire Chandelier 1780 in Gilded Wood and Crystal Twelve Lights
Located in Milano, MI
Extraordinary Genovese Chandelier circa 1780 with Twelve Lights with transparent and blue crystals. Large Empire chandelier in Sculpted and Gilded Wood from the late 18th century, li...
Crystal, Iron, Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century French Empire Style Alabaster and Bronze Six-Light Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
Elegant French Empire chandelier featuring a sculptural alabaster bowl and six-point illumination. A refined French Empire–style chandelier distinguished by its balanced proportions...
Alabaster, Brass, Bronze
Pair 20th Century Empire Patinated and Green Marble Urn Form 7-Light Candelabra
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of 20th Century Empire Style Patinated and Green Marble Urn Form Seven-Light Candelabra. Each candelabrum has seven candle holders.They are made of patinated bronze and green...
Marble, Bronze
Antique Spanish Savonnerie Rug
Located in Closter, NJ
Under the direction of Pierre Dupont and Simon Lourdet carpet production commenced in France in the early 17th Century. In 1608, a workshop was set up in the Louvre, followed by the ...
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Italian Console Table
Located in Allerum, SE
19th century Italian gilded and painted console table from the Empire period in it's original condition. Ca 1810, Italy.
Wood
$6,555Sale Price / item|20% Off
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
19th Century French Empire Period Mahogany Armchair
Located in Dallas, TX
A refined 19th century French Empire period armchair, handcrafted in richly toned mahogany with the disciplined architectural lines and restrained classical elegance associated with ...
Silk, Mahogany
French Empire Vanity Mirror with Original Reverse Etched Glass Panels circa 1800
Located in valatie, NY
French Empire vanity mirror with original reverse etched glass panels, circa 1800, of classical figures. It has original gilded classical mounts. ...
Wood, Mirror
Elegant Early 20th Century Empire-Style Crystal Beaded Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This refined Empire-style chandelier exudes understated opulence with its graceful silhouette and cascading strands of faceted crystal beads. Likely of French or Northern European or...
Crystal, Metal
19th Century Antique Empire Style Cigar Box with Cedar Interior
Located in Stockholm, SE
A lovely empire style wooden box probably produced in Sweden. The box is 14 x 14 cm (5.6" x 5,6") in diameter and 23.5 cm (9.4") high. It is in excellent condition except from that t...
Glass, Wood
19th Century Swedish Empire Console Table
Located in Allerum, SE
Fine 19th century painted and gilded Swedish Empire console table with an Carrara marble top. ca 1820 Sweden.
Carrara Marble
$22,400Sale Price|20% Off
Rare French Empire Clock in Gilt and Patinated Bronze Signed Lepaute
By Jean-André Lepaute 1
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An extremely rare and important French Empire mantle clock signed by the master clock making dynasty of Jean-Andre Lepaute and his brother Jean-Baptiste Lepaute. The case, in the form of an antique portal...
Bronze
Late Empire Bench in Mahogany, Denmark c. 1820
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Late Empire bench crafted in beautiful mahogany with profiled round legs in the classic Empire style. The bench has been newly upholstered in a soft dove-blue fabric, creatin...
Fabric, Mahogany
Thomasville French Louis Philippe Burlwood Marble Top Four-Drawer Dresser Chests
By Thomasville
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful pair of French Empire or Louis Philippe style four-drawer dressers or chests of drawers By Thomasville USA, Late 20th Century Gorgeous burl wood, with thick beveled ma...
Marble, Brass
Elegant Pair of Empire-style Armchairs, Made in Denmark, circa 1900.
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant pair of Danish Empire-style armchairs, circa 1900. An elegant pair of armchairs crafted in the Danish Empire style, dating from around 1900. Constructed in beautifully figu...
Fabric, Wood, Beech
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...
Wool, Cotton
Antique Empire Cylinder-Top Secretary with Bookcase in Burled Ash
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An exceptional Empire secretary bookcase in fine burl ash wood. Denmark or North Germany, circa 1800. The bookcase features a tiered bonnet w...
Ash, Burl
Empire Style Beaded Crystal Basket Chandelier, Late 20th Century
Located in Milano, MI
A late 20th century Empire style beaded crystal basket chandelier with a classical circular brass structure and three E27 lights inside.Light bulbs can be replaced unscrewing the bro...
Crystal, Bronze
Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood, Brass, and Ebonized Center Table
Located in South Bend, IN
An elegant French Empire or Neoclassical tea table or center table By Baker Furniture USA, Late 20th Century Cherry wood base, with mo...
Brass