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 Black French Pair of Empire Pinewood Cabinets, Antique Sideboard
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique French pair of cabinets made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The detailed commodes are supported by four short arched feet, consisting its origi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Fabergé Limoges Porcelain Hand Painted Egg Decorative Table Tray Ashtray
By Fabergé
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and stunning Fabergé Limoges French porcelain hand painted parcel gilt tray.
Created exclusively by House of Fabergé and Limoges porcelain as ...
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$514 Sale Price
60% Off
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
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Bergere Chairs Attributed to Francois Linke
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Bergere Chairs Attributed to Francois Linke
Dimensions : 36.5" Tall X 25" Wide X 21" Deep SH - 17.5" AH...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
Empire-Style Crystal and Brass 'Bonbonnière', or Sweet Box
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very decorative Empire-style crystal sweet box, or Bonbonnière, intricately clad in a gilt-brass frame, with elaborately worked gilt metal mounts of the ar...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Sublime 19th Century French Empire Chandelier
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Sublime French Empire chandelier.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Tôle
Grand French Empire Mahogany Gilt Bronze Mounted Console Table
Located in Benington, Herts
A Very Fine and Extremely Large Mahogany Empire Period Console Dessert With Finely Cast Gilt Bronze Mounts
French Paris Circa 1815-25
The present piece of furniture is rather ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Pier Mirror
Located in Houston, TX
A handsome and stately French Empire mirror with gilded hand carved detail.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Walnut, Giltwood
A Pair Of Early C20th Italian Giltwood & Toleware Wall Sconces
Located in London, GB
A Fine Pair of Italian Giltwood and Toleware Wall Sconces from the Early 20th Century in the Empire Style.
The sconces are adorned with delicate ...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Italian Empire Style Commode
Located in Houston, TX
1900s Italian Empire mahogany chest of drawers with gilt bronze ormolu, keys and black marble top.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Empire Style Bronze-Mounted Kingwood D-Shape Console Table, 20th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
French Empire Style Bronze-Mounted Kingwood D-Shape Console Table
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Kingwood
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...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
Antique French Empire Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Figural Clock By Jouquet a paris
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite antique French Empire neoclassical gilt bronze figural clock signed by Jouquet a Paris.. This unusual clock is surmounted by a s...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Enamel
Near Pair Empire Mahogany Fauteuil de Bureau, Early 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
A rare near pair of finely crafted Empire-style desk chairs, attributed to renowned French cabinetmaker Jacob Desmalter, dating from circa 1800–1809. These elegant chairs feature bol...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Portrait of a Boy, Circa 1810, Life-size
Located in Doylestown, PA
A charming life-size portrait of a young boy in a formal high-collared coat holding a French dictionary, oil-on-canvas, circa 1810 in an age appropriate gilt-wood frame. The portrait...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Canvas
Empire Clock, "Cupid & Psyche"
Located in Atlanta, GA
A superb gilt and patinated bronze Empire clock. Rouge griotte marble.
Signed bled a Paris. Silk thread suspension. France, circa 1804
Dimensions: Height 32" x width 21" x depth 11...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Beautiful tablelamp originally a Empire Candlestick i bronze. From 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Beautiful Table Lamp, originally a Empire Candlestick i Bronze from France during the 1820s.
Newly rewired electricity
New lampshades in black lacquer with gilding on the inside t...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire Mahogany Console
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French 19th century mahogany console in the Empire style with marble top. The gray, Saint Anne-type marble is in wonderful anti...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
19th French Empire Period Gilt Wood Oval Mirror
Located in Miami, FL
19th French Empire period gilt wood oval mirror
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
French 19th Century Empire Bedside Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome mahogany French Empire bedside table from the 19th century. This stunning bedside has a beautiful top, made of St. Anne marble, ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Gilt Bronze and Malachite Centre Table
Located in London, GB
French gilt bronze and malachite centre table
French, 20th Century
Height 79cm, diameter 69cm
This very elegant 20th century French...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
A fine 19th c French mahogany and gilt bronze marble top sideboard by Krieger
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine 19th century French mahogany and gilt bronze mounted marble top sideboard signed Antoine Krieger. Flame mahogany with fine gilt bronze mounts .
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Walnut Pedestal Table with Round Marble Top and Tripod Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire period walnut table from the 19th century with circular marble top, pedestal and tripod base. Evoke the elegance of 19th-century France with this resplendent French E...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
18th Century French Gilded Pinewood Wall Glass Mirror - Antique Wall Décor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique rectangular mirror inscribed in a Pinewwood frame, gilded, the pediment formed by an openwork flower basket spilling sinuous gar...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood, Pine
Antique Chandelier. Empire style chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exquisite and rare Empire style chandelier with elaborate gilt bronze frame and crystal pyramids and pendalogues. France, circa 1900.
Dimensions: Height 58" Diameter 34"
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Hexagonal Center Table with Marquetry Inlay Surface
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century hexagonal shaped center table with Marquetry surface. Marquetry inlay features a knight on horseback with spear, fighting off a medieval animal. Table sits on a turned s...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Empire Crystal Chandelier Crystal Beads Tiered Crystal Prisms French
Located in Berlin, DE
Magnificent Empire Chandelier with Crystal Beads and Crystal Prisms – Expertly Restored
This impressive chandelier in the classic Empire style, inspired by French design from the la...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and most decorative French 19th century Empire St. mahogany and ormolu center table. The circular table is raised by fine bun feet below elegant scrolled legs with hand...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair Antique French Empire Style Bronze and Crystal Hoop Form Wall Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique (late 19th century) gilt bronze sconces in the French empire style, of hoop form with three inch crystal pendants and three candle holders. All pendants are brand ne...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique Empire Bed Maple Burl & Brass Ancient Grece Theme French 19th C
Located in Labrit, Landes
Antique Empire maple and brass bed.
This bed, which has already survived almost two centuries, is in excellent condition: solid and sound, the inlaid illustrations are of exceptiona...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Empire Secretary, Germany, Prussia, C. 1815
Located in Greven, DE
North Germany / Prussia
Birch
Biedermeier / Empire around 1815
Dimensions: H x W x D: 174 x 102 x 55 cm
Description:
Very exclusive secretary from the Prussian North German Biedermeier period around 1815.
Piece of furniture standing on pointed legs with two drawers at the bottom, the writing flap above, another drawer above and a hidden head drawer at the very top.
The piece of furniture is veneered in exciting grained birch wood. Due to the different color hangings within the wood and the interplay of hues associated with it, we also refer to it as "flamed" birch.
The beautiful wood is complemented by blackened moldings and beautiful fire-gilded bronze hardware in beautiful quality.
The interior of the writing compartment is veneered in apple tree.
We see a stair-like rise to a central door flanked by pilasters. Drawers of different sizes and two large compartments with dividers for letters and papers complete the secretary part.
Looking at the piece of furniture from above, we see an old shipping label. According to it, the secretary was loaded onto the train at the station "Odertor" in Wroclaw. The destination was probably Berin. Corresponding mmarkings we find on the back panel.
Piece of furniture made in wonderful quality craftsmanship. A true testament to the high quality of Prussian furniture...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch, Fruitwood
Especially beautiful Side Table, Pillar Commode Trumeau, Empire, ~1810-15, Italy
Located in Wien, AT
Beautiful pillar commode, trumeau - an original of the Empire era, made around 1810-15, in Italy.
This piece of furniture has a wonderfully classic shape, with a base, a round body...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Mahogany Chest of Three Drawers with Marble Top, Sweden circa 1820-40
Located in Round Top, TX
A fine mahogany empire chest of drawers with canted fluted sides, tapered feet and marble top.
This elegant chest of drawers has been restored and is ready to be placed and enjoyed. ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Egg style Faberge folding photo holder Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on engraved tripod with octagonal folding photo holder for 6 photos inside, in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated, with translucent fired enamels on guilloché and pure gold “pa...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 20" x 12"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category
17th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Feathers
$1,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair French Empire Brass, Ebonized & Giltwood Wood Table / Buffet Lamp
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of French Empire Brass, Ebonized and Giltwood Wood Table / Buffet Lamps
Measures 6" in width, 6" in depth and 33" in height to the top of the finial and 26" to the top of the li...
Category
20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Empire Clock, Miniature Matelot "Au Bon Sauvage", circa 1815
Located in Greven, DE
Miniature Empire Bronze Clock - Matelot
Paris
fire-gilded and patinated bronze
early 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 18 x 14 x 9 cm
Description:
Very rare miniature of the famous Pendule Matelot "Au Bon Sauvage". The depiction deals with an important topic of the time, trade with the colonies.
The rectangular base stands on pressed ball feet. Attached to the front, we see two cornucopias filled with exotic fruits and held by a bow.
A young sailor, dressed in a raffia skirt and feather jewellery...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Rouge Marble and Gilt Bronze Lamps
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of rouge marble and gilt bronze baluster shaped oil lamps, later fitted for electricity, the necks and bodies decorated with gilt bronze banding and garlands and accented with l...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
$14,000 / set
French White and Gold Pierced Porcelain Compote Basket Tazza
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful French oval white and gold pierced Paris Porcelain compote basket tazza bowl in the Empire style, circa late 19th century, France...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$1,320 Sale Price
20% Off
Nordiska Kompaniet, desk in beech from Hotel Knaust, Sweden 1931.
Located in Stockholm, SE
Desk in beech from Hotel Knaust by Nordiska Kompaniet / NK, Sweden 1931.
With brass details and signed with NK badge and tracking number (easy to see who ordered the furniture and w...
Category
1930s Swedish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Beech
19th century Swedish birch root shaped occasional table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish burr birch shaped occasional table circa 1870.
Fine quality table which is ideal for multiple uses around the home. Scalloped shaped top which has been beautif...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Superb & Rare Empire Mahogany and Brass Inlaid Chair
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Superbly elegant and unusual late 19th century Empire style chair having curved back adorned with small gorgeous Medusa head, inlaid in perfect places including the reeded legs with ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair Of Large Empire-Style Silver Candle Holders, Hermann Südfeld, Vienna, c1890
Located in Vienna, AT
Two large, elegant, simple silver candlesticks on a round base, round foot grooved on the sides, smooth shaft raised in the centre with a profiled constriction, shaft widening conica...
Category
1890s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver
Antique Dutch Empire Burl Wood veneered desk or sofa table
By Chapuis
Located in Den Haag, NL
Superb Dutch Empire Burl Wood -veneered sofa table ,On Iron casters
On four shaped scroll feet joined by a baluster turned beech stretcher, the top ...
Category
1820s Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Burl
19th Century French Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
19th Century French Tapestry Pillow 13" X 11"
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu, Crystal and Breccia marble inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu, Crystal and Breccia marble inkwell. This wonderful rectangular inkwell is raised on circular toupie shaped Ormolu f...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Empire Style Ormolu Bronze 'Ceres' Mantel
Clock, After Thomire
Located in Madrid, ES
Following a model by early 19th century Paris sculptor and bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire, and showcasing many of the neoclassical design elements common to the Empire Style popula...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$3,911 Sale Price
40% Off
Circa 1850 Antique French Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1850 Antique French Pillow
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Empire French Mahogany Console Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
Second Empire French Mahogany and parcel gilt console table with varigated marble top and single drawer.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Leather and wooden Empire style side/desk chair from the early 20th century
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered is this stylish green leather and wood Empire-style side or desk chair from the early 20th century.
This green leather and wooden chair from the early 20th century can be us...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Sterling Silver Box Striped Fire Enameled Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Sterling silver Jewel box with Rectangular rounded corners gold plated with translucent fire enamel stripes on guilloche and hand engraved with late Russian Empire style ornament app...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Pair of 19th Century Empire Wall Sconces
Located in Casteren, NL
Pair of 19th century Empire wall sconces made of bronze.
This wall scones were originally gas lamps later transferred to electric lamps.
Originates France, circa 1870.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$2,133 Sale Price / set
28% Off
Pair of French Empire Style Carved Fruitwood Open Armchairs
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This pair of 19th century fruitwood armchairs feature carved acanthus leaves and reeded arms.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu Executive Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely handsome and impressive French 19th century Empire st. mahogany and ormolu executive desk. At the frieze is a central wider drawer flanked by smaller drawers at each sid...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
A Pair of Empire Marble Gueridon Side Tables Raised On Ebonized Column Supports
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Pair Of Matching French Empire Style Marble Gueridon Side Tables Raised On Column Supports United By A Triform Base and Side Drawer.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
French, Mid-19th Century Empire-Style Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-19th century
The petite mahogany knee-hole desk with a central drawer and two slender drawers on each side,
with gilt-bronze mounts and inset tooled green leather writing su...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
18th Century Antique North German Pine Sun Armoire with Gesso Appliqué
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
This exceptional one-of-a-kind armoire from the area of Bremen has the original pink gesso appliqués, circa 1790. Fabricated from a beautiful knot-less dense pine, the carved ribbed...
Category
1790s German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gesso, Pine
$7,500 Sale Price
40% Off
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
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.
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