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.
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Style: Empire
19th Century French Empire Commode or Chest of Drawers
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th Century French Empire style commode, or chest of drawers, made of solid and veneer of mahogany. Four dovetailed drawers: three with decorative cast brass pulls and escutcheons...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Late Empire French Walnut Chest of Drawers with Bronze Handles
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects.
Frenc...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
$3,666 Sale Price
31% Off
17th Century Antique Flemish Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Antique Flemish Tapestry Pillow
Category
17th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
Antique Mahogany Dining Room / Center Table with Gilt Highlights
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Empire Style mahogany round dining room table with gilt highlights, circa 1900. With a round top that opens (No Leaves) gilt decoration on edge of table top, a round central ...
Category
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Gilt Bronze Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Bradenton, FL
Heavy 19th century French Gilt Bronze Bouillotte Two Candelabra Lamp with Black Tole Shade. Shade is decorated with gilt wreaths that add contrast nicely with the black shade. Gilt f...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Late 18th C Italian Empire Double Pricket Chandelier
Located in Charleston, SC
A late-18th century Italian empire chandelier featuring two tiers supporting twelve arms. Fine chains of crystal swags hang from the candle arms, bobeches, and decorative metal leave...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Tôle
19th Century Italian Walnut Side Table / Writing Desk
Located in Carmine, TX
Empire side table / writing desk hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut. The table is very elegant in proportions and features two inset drawers of with beautiful hand-ma...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
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...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Large Solid Mahogany Boat Bed from the Empire Period
Located in Paris, FR
Large boat bed in solid mahogany flamed, mahogany veneer, with rich decoration of finely chased and gilded bronzes, Empire period. Four baluster uprights, dec...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Napoleonic French Empire Parcel-Gilt Mahogany Wine Cabinet Armoire 1810
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine quality French Empire Napoleonic period Mahogany & parcel gilt wine cabinet/armoire, circa 1810.
Made of the finest mahogany this cabinet has the shape of a secretaire ab...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Rare Set of Four Empire Rams Head Carved Mahogany Armchairs, Bergeres
Located in New York, NY
A spectacular suite of four Empire period carved mahogany armchairs custom upholstered in close nailed fine crimson leather with down filled seat cushions. Each stamped Jacob on the ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Painted Empire Stool or Bench, Sweden, Late 19th Century
Located in Skanninge, SE
Very stylish stool/bench or banquette.
Late 19th Century. Painted wood and recently reupholstered.
With wood-carved Rams heads and hoof feat.
Painted wood in gray, green, and some...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Egg White with blue garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimb
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg White with blue garlands is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg White with blue garlands has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg White with blue garlands i...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Darte Frères Faux Tortoise and Gilt Partial Coffee Service
By Darte Frères
Located in New York, NY
Darte Frères Faux Tortoise and Gilt Partial Coffee Service. Antique Empire Paris porcelain by Darte Frères 1795-1825 in a rich mocha faux tortoise pattern with neoclassical decorativ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 24" x 8"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category
17th Century Albanian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Feathers
$1,840 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Empire Salesman Sample Chest of Drawers
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Empire mahogany and birch salesman sample chest of drawers, circa 1820. With a rectangular birch top, a protruding frieze drawer, two larger lower...
Category
1820s European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French Empire Style Candelabras
Located in New York, NY
Stunning pair of bronze candelabras with a male figural base.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$7,400 / set
Marvelous MARBRO Mid Century Polished Brass Table Lamp! Huge Showpiece Lighting
Located in Peoria, AZ
SENSATIONAL!
MID CENTURY
MONUMENTAL
BRASS MARBRO LAMP!
MID CENTURY DECORATION ICON!
DUAL PULL STRING SOCKETS!
POLISHED BRASS
ORIGINAL SHADE & BRASS FINIAL
DIMENSIONS: 40" x 21"
In the forties and fifties, decorators would choose the most impressive lamp they could obtain and place it in a home's "picture window" so that all passerby and visitors could glimpse just how well the occupants lived!
Picture windows started disappearing in the late sixties, but demand for monumental lighting...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Gold
$4,000 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Black French Empire Polished Ebony Secretary, Antique Birch Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique French secretary with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Ebony, in good condition. The b...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French Empire mantle mirror (c. 1800) exhibits calculated restraint in the surface decoration, the gold gilt molding is largely plain and smo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
BVIZ Pair of Antique Ottoman Empire Gold Embroidery Pillows
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Recently made toss pillow pair from antique, Ottoman Empire raised gold metallic embroidery depicting scrolling vines in linear orientation, on mint green velvet. Hand trimmed with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Empire Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Feathers
French Antique Swan Neck Recamier Chaise Lounge
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A fine antique French walnut recamier or chaise lounge with carved swan heads at posts, lovely neutral vintage upholstery and bolster pillow, circa 1930. The chaise rests on four ca...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 20th Century Large Russian Imperial Brass Samovar Set
Located in Germantown, MD
A gorgeous, early 20th century large Russian imperial brass samovar set.
Tray and bowl included. Measures 16" in width, 16" in depth and stands 22.5" tall.
Category
Early 20th Century Russian Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Late 19th Century French Empire chandelier
Located in New York, NY
late 19th Century French Empire chandelier with swam head's. Original finish and patina.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Style Mahogany Bedside Cabinet
Located in Forney, TX
A French Empire style marble-top mahogany bedside cabinet (nightstand - end table) with elegant beautifully aged warm rustic patina. circa 1870
Hand-crafted in France in the secon...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique Empire Style Mahogany Swan Grecian Sofa Newly Upholstered
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Empire Style Mahogany Swan Grecian Sofa Newly Upholstered In a Green Velvet
This antique classic Empire style carved mahogany tufted Grecian s...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Wood, Mahogany
Antique Turkish Oushak Floral Rug 10'x7'10''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Turkish Oushak Floral Design 10'x7'10''
Category
Early 1900s Turkish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Very period design. Cool and unusual composition between gilded and dark patin...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Antique Mahogany, Marble Chest of Drawers
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, antique French single chest of drawers made of hand crafted shellac polished Mahogany, veneered on Oakwood in good condition. The rectangular cupboard is composed with a grey-white marble top, the inside is consisting one shelf, enhanced by its original brass hardware and keys, standing on two wooden feet and two lion feet. The detailed carved cupboard represents the First French Empire time...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Metal, Brass
Italian Empire White Murano Opaline Beads Drops Beaded Tole Chandelier, c 1900
Located in Firenze, Toscana
One of a kind! Housing 6 lights, sitting in crystal bobéches, dripping with white opaline beads and vintage crystal prisms. Will be rewired with certified UL US sockets for the USA...
Category
Early 1900s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
18th Century French Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
18th Century French Tapestry Pillow 15" X 11", Circa 1850s
Category
18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
Empire Style Sugar Bowl in 800 Silver, Italy, 1950s
Located in Palermo, IT
Empire style sugar bowl in 800 silver, Italy, 1950s
It belonged to my maternal great-grandparents and is in excellent condition. Very small signs of the time. Gr. 166,00.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver
$464 Sale Price
20% Off
20th Century Mirrored Top & Mahogany Wood Sideboard/Credenza By Dessin Fournir
Located in Tarry Town, NY
This exquisite sideboard, crafted by the renowned Dessin Fournir company in the mid-20th century, exemplifies superb craftsmanship and elegant design. Constructed from beautifully gr...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Empire Monumental Walnut and Velvet Throne Chair
Located in Queens, NY
"French Empire style (19th Cent) monumental walnut throne chair with carved figure with wreath and red cut velvet upholstery
Antique condition. Show...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Velvet
Antique Carrara Marble Bathtub from the Early 19th Century
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Antique handcarved Carrara marble bath in Empire style. This beatiful sculpted white-grey marble bath with rings is made in the early 19th century....
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble
French Empire Style Bronze Lantern
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large bronze French Empire style lantern.
Category
20th Century Spanish Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Fine and Beautiful 19th C Empire Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Library Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine and beautiful Empire mahogany and gilt bronze decorated Empire library viewing cabinet. All original with fine gilt bronze pawed feet. Adjustable shelves, hand pegged.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Wooden Bed Italian Manufacture, Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage wooden bed entirely hand made and realized in Italy in he early 20th Century.
Can be also used as a sofa.
Good condition.
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
A Gilt-Bronze Mounted Empire Style Mahogany Settee
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Gilt-Bronze Mounted Empire Style Mahogany Settee.
France, Circa 1890.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Paris Porcelain Wash Jug and Bowls
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An elegant, three-piece set of old Paris porcelain in the style of Lebon-Halley with a pitcher, bowl, and deep plate in creamy porcelain accented by luxurious gold trim. The undersid...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold
Pair of Elegant Empire Table Lamps in Bronze. Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Elegant Empire Table Lamps in bronze, early 19th Century France, originally candlesticks.
Includes new black lacquer lampshade with gold details, giving the lamp a warm and ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Rectangular Wall Mirror with Beige and Gilt Frame
Located in Barcelona, ES
Empire Style Mirror, France, 1930s.
Beautiful Empire style rectangular mirror in beige patina with neoclassical relief foliage and floral ornamentation with gilded details .
The fra...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiselled details.
The backplate of this sconce features a central round pla...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Large early 19th century gilded over mantle
Located in Budleigh Salterton, GB
Large early 19th gilded over mantle , great decorative mirror
French circa 1830’s with original mirror and back boards
Some minor damage to the plaster work and some foxing to th...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gesso
Art Nouveau Crystal and Gilt Brass Bottle with Stopper 19th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A pretty crystal, stoppered bottle, intricately clad in an openwork gilt-brass motif of entwined poppies and mistletoe. This square-sided Art Nouveau period bottle features a simple,...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
19th Century Swedish antique rustic genuine Empire table country original paint
Located in Boden, SE
Early 19th Century Swedish antique Rustic Empire Provincial table from Skellefteå Västerbotten,Northern Sweden.
The table is scraped by hand to its well preserved original color.
The...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Pine
Late 18th Century Empire Roll Top Writing Desk, Nutwood, AT ca. 1790/1800
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Absolute extraordinary and rare late 18th century roll top writing desk from the period around 1790/1800 in Austria. This noteworthy, elegantly designed nutwood writing desk was artfully handcrafted in the transition period from the so-called "Josephinism" (1780-1790) to the famous Empire era (1800 - 1815). The extravagant executed mirrored veneer work as well as the superb shape, reflects perfectly the form language of this famous, long past period. According to the previous owner´s story who owned the castle where we found this outstanding looking, valuable Empire roll top desk...
Category
Late 18th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Antique Bronze Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique bronze chandelier, from 1950's with non-electrified with 24 candle holder chandelier was in
Ex-Vice-president Dan Quayle office in ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$46,400 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Library Chairs
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An excellent quality pair of 19th century mahogany
library armchairs, in the French empire taste, having
swept back and moulded scrolling arms with C-scroll
supports raised on elegant moulded sabre legs
(A relative typical design in the early to mid-19th century
these chairs are in the French Empire taste which was most
popular at the time, with the added benefit of being much
more sturdy and practical than the English Regency Chaise...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Odysseus and Theseus French Empire Mantle Clock by André Antoine Ravrio
Located in New Orleans, LA
Odysseus and Theseus French Empire Mantel Clock
André Antoine Ravrio
Circa 1800
This monumental Empire mantel clock by André Antoine Ravrio, whose case is crafted entirely of gilded...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Museum Court Empire Armchair circa 1830, Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
Museum court Empire armchair circa 1830, mahogany
Solid mahogany body. Empire beginning of the 19th century. Armrests, curved volute-shaped, ending in carved dolphins. Rectangular b...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century Pair of French Patinated Bronze Sculptures Candelabra Candleholders
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of heavy patinated bronze sculpture candelabra, France, mid-19th century. Two female sculptures holding a candleholder raised on a b...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Neoclassical Style Malachite and Gilt Bronze Side Tables
Located in London, GB
Pair of French neoclassical style malachite and gilt bronze side tables
French, 20th century
Dimensions: Height 85cm, diameter 50cm
These striking octagonal guéridons are crafte...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
19th Century French Empire Console with Carrara Marble Top
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th Century French Empire console table having a rectangular Carrara marble top, on mahogany table base with single frieze drawer, raised on square-section, tapering legs capped and...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble
1920's Persian Sarouk Carpet with Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
79018 Antique Red Persian Sarouk Rug, 04'02 x 06'06. This hand-knotted wool antique Persian Sarouk rug is a testament to the opulent artistry and enduring legacy of Persian weaving....
Category
Early 20th Century Persian Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
1880 Antique French Needlepoint Pillow - 19 X 18
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1880 antique French needlepoint pillow. 19 X 18, tribal and traditional, handmade and authentic.
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
$1,920 / item
Antique Rug Ivory Tree Of Life Organic Handwoven Oriental Area Rug
Located in Wembley, GB
An extraordinary early 20th-century Ivory rug with an incredible densely woven multi-coloured tree-of-life design with two sinuous trees on each side of the central field, each with ...
Category
1890s Caucasian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton, Natural Fiber, Organic Material
Set of Ten White and Gilt French Empire Plates
Located in New York, NY
Set of ten white and gilt French Empire plates. Set of ten Empire white and gilt plates with under-glaze red markings for L. Ernie 61 Rue du Bac., France, e...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$1,850 / set
Marble and Brass Round Pedestal Lion Paw Feet Plant Stand
Located in New York, NY
A substantial European round marble and brass pedestal with Lion paw feet base in the Empire style, circa 20th century. Images #5 and 6 show size comparison. Marble top is a combinat...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Pair French Empire Style Arrow Horn Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of Antique French Empire style brass horn and arrow motif wall sconces. Each with 2 candelabra size lights with black and gold clip on shades. Newly wired, added are 5" round ba...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$1,695 / set
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.