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 French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Carrara Marble, Brass
1820s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal, Ormolu, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Tôle, Brass
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Ormolu
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Paper
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Bronze
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Ash
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Amethyst, Quartz, Marble, Ormolu
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Pine
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Brass
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Rock Crystal, Brass
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Wood, Paint, Paper
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
16th Century Belgian Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Feathers
2010s German Empire Furniture
Crystal, Iron, Wire
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Gold, Bronze
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Malachite, Ormolu
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
1970s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Onyx, Travertine, Gold, Gold Plate
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Giltwood
16th Century Belgian Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Feathers
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Crystal
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Fabric, Mahogany
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century Persian Empire Furniture
Wool
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass, Zinc
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Bronze
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
15th Century and Earlier European Antique Empire Furniture
Stone, Travertine
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Paint
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary European Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass, Wire
1890s English Antique Empire Furniture
Crystal
2010s German Empire Furniture
Crystal
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Bronze, Iron
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Mirror, Mahogany
20th Century Empire Furniture
Crystal
20th Century American Empire Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
1810s Spanish Antique Empire Furniture
Rosewood
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Oak, Walnut
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Metal
20th Century Dutch Empire Furniture
Brass, Bronze